Presentation of the Prehospital Emergency Research Network and an analysis of bibliometric indicators for scientific productivity in out-of-hospital care. / Presentación de la Red de Investigación en Emergencias Prehospitalarias (RINVEMER) y análisis bibliométrico de la producción científica en emergencias prehospitalarias.

TEXT: Through research we advance scientific understanding and its application in medical practice. Many of the advances in out-of-hospital emergency care are extracted from hospital settings, perhaps because of the difficulties inherent to our prehospital environments: heterogeneity, obstacles to data collection, biases not controlled for, among other limitations. Research networks offer opportunities to create connections among researchers and facilitate homogeneous data collection. We introduce the Prehospital Emergency Research Network (whose Spanish acronym is RINVEMER) and analyze bibliometric indicators of Spanish productivity in this specialty. Since 1975, a total of 512 articles have been published in journals with impact factors by 381 authors working in Spanish prehospital settings. The first such article published after the creation of the Web of Science appeared in 1999. The 61 authors affiliated with the emergency health services of Andalusia, a public company, made up the largest single author group. Publication productivity increased substantially in the last 2 years. A total of 63 PhD theses have been registered in this specialty - 8 of them at the University of Oviedo. With the growth of Spanish out-of-hospital research in recent years, we expect the creation of the RINVEMER network to improve collaboration among our researchers.

TEXTO: La investigación permite mejorar el conocimiento científico y su aplicación a la práctica profesional. En la asistencia extrahospitalaria, muchos de los avances provienen de entornos hospitalarios, quizás debido a dificultades inherentes al entorno extrahospitalario (heterogeneidad, dificultad en la recogida de datos, sesgos no controlados). Las redes de investigación permiten, entre otras cosas, la interconexión de distintos investigadores y la homogenización en la recogida de datos. En este artículo presentamos la Red de Investigación en Emergencias Prehospitalarias (RINVEMER) y los resultados de un análisis bibliométrico de la producción científica en emergencias prehospitalarias en España. Desde 1975 se han publicado 512 trabajos en revistas indexadas en la Web of Science (el primero en 1999), realizados por 381 investigadores españoles del ámbito de las emergencias prehospitalarias [máximo en Empresa Pública de Emergencias Sanitarias (EPES) de Andalucía, con 61 autores], con un claro incremento en los últimos 2 años. Además, se han realizado 63 tesis doctorales (máximo en Universidad de Oviedo, con 8). La producción científica en emergencias extrahospitalarias en España ha crecido sustancialmente en los últimos años, y la creación de RINVEMER permitirá mejorar las interconexiones entre los investigadores.

Presentación de la Red de Investigación en Emergencias Prehospitalarias (RINVEMER) y análisis bibliométrico de la producción científica en emergencias prehospitalarias / Presentation of the Prehospital Emergency Research Network and an analysis of bibliometric indicators for scientific productivity in out-of-hospital care

La investigación permite mejorar el conocimiento científico y su aplicación a la práctica profesional. En la asistencia extrahospitalaria, muchos de los avances provienen de entornos hospitalarios, quizás debido a dificultades inherentes al entorno extrahospitalario (heterogeneidad, dificultad en la recogida de datos, sesgos no controlados). Las redes de investigación permiten, entre otras cosas, la interconexión de distintos investigadores y la homogenización en la recogida de datos. En este artículo presentamos la Red de Investigación en Emergencias Prehospitalarias (RINVEMER) y los resultados de un análisis bibliométrico de la producción científica en emergencias prehospitalarias en España. Desde 1975 se han publicado 512 trabajos en revistas indexadas en la Web of Science (el primero en 1999), realizados por 381 investigadores españoles del ámbito de las emergencias prehospitalarias [máximo en Empresa Pública de Emergencias Sanitarias (EPES) de Andalucía, con 61 autores], con un claro incremento en los últimos 2 años. Además, se han realizado 63 tesis doctorales (máximo en Universidad de Oviedo, con 8). La producción científica en emergen- cias extrahospitalarias en España ha crecido sustancialmente en los últimos años, y la creación de RINVEMER permitirá mejorar las interconexiones entre los investigadores.

Through research we advance scientific understanding and its application in medical practice. Many of the advances in out-of-hospital emergency care are extracted from hospital settings, perhaps because of the difficulties inherent to our prehospital environments: heterogeneity, obstacles to data collection, biases not controlled for, among other limitations. Research networks offer opportunities to create connections among researchers and facilitate homogeneous data collection. We introduce the Prehospital Emergency Research Network (whose Spanish acronym is RINVEMER) and analyze bibliometric indicators of Spanish productivity in this specialty. Since 1975, a total of 512 articles have been published in journals with impact factors by 381 authors working in Spanish prehospital settings. The first such article published after the creation of the Web of Science appeared in 1999. The 61 authors affiliated with the emergency health services of Andalusia, a public company, made up the largest single author group. Publication productivity increased substantially in the last 2 years. A total of 63 PhD theses have been registered in this specialty — 8 of them at the University of Oviedo. With the growth of Spanish out-of-hospital research in recent years, we expect the creation of the RINVEMER network to improve collaboration among our researchers.

Use of emergency medical transport and impact on time to care in patients with ischaemic stroke. / Utilización de transporte sanitario urgente por los pacientes con ictus isquémico e impacto en los tiempos de atención.

INTRODUCTION: According to numerous studies, using emergency medical services (EMS) to transport stroke patients to hospitals decreases diagnostic and treatment delays. OBJECTIVES: To determine the frequency of use of EMS by stroke patients in Bizkaia (Spain), analyse the factors associated with using EMS, and study the impact of EMS on time to care. METHODS: We gathered data from 545 patients hospitalised for acute ischaemic stroke and recruited consecutively. Data were obtained from the patients' medical histories and interviews with the patients themselves or their companions. We studied the following variables: previous health status, stroke symptoms and severity (NIHSS), type of transport, and time to medical care. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors associated with use of EMS and care delays. RESULTS: Patients transported to hospital by the EMS accounted for 47.2% of the total. Greater stroke severity, arriving at the hospital at night, and poor functional status at baseline were found to be independently associated with use of EMS. Use of EMS was linked to earlier arrival at the hospital. Door-to-imaging times were shorter in the EMS group; however, this association disappeared after adjusting for stroke severity. Revascularisation was more frequent among patients transported by the EMS. CONCLUSIONS: EMS transport was associated with shorter prehospital delays. Effective health education programmes should be developed to promote EMS transport for patients with stroke symptoms. In-hospital stroke management should also be improved to reduce time to medical care.

Comparison of the Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment system versus the Prehospital Advanced Triage Model in multiple-casualty events. / Comparación de los sistemas de triaje META y START en un ejercicio simulado de múltiples víctimas.

OBJECTIVES: . The main purpose of this simulation of a multiple-casualty event was to compare the performance of 2 triage methods: the Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment (START) system and the Prehospital Advanced Triage Model (META in its Spanish acronym). The secondary objectives were to analyze times, order of evacuations, and appropriateness of treatments. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cluster randomized trial that included 16 groups assigned to use either the START system or the META for managing casualties in a simulated event (an airline crash). Each group had 4 members. We recorded times, order of evacuation, and appropriateness of treatment. RESULTS: The mean (SD) evacuation time was 48 minutes and 39 seconds (15 minutes, 52 seconds) in the START arm and 48 minutes and 4 seconds (17 minutes, 21 seconds) in the META arm (P=.829). The patients with greatest need of immediate care were evacuated more quickly in the META arm (31 minutes and 36 seconds [8 minutes, 27 seconds]) than in the START arm (41 minutes and 6 seconds [10 minutes, 39 seconds]) (P=.024). Evacuation of the subgroup of patients requiring emergency surgery was also faster in the META arm (24 minutes and 12 seconds [4 minutes] than in the START arm (44 minutes and 49 seconds [8 minutes, 36 seconds]) (P=.001). Analysis of the order of evacuation under the 2 triage systems revealed that 14 of the first 19 patients evacuated required immediate medical care and 5 of the first 14 evacuated required priority surgical treatment in the START arm. In the META arm, all of the first 14 patients evacuated required immediate medical care and 5 of the first 7 patients evacuated required priority surgical treatment. The rate of appropriate treatment was 92% in the META arm and 63% in the START arm (P=.023). CONCLUSION: Use of the META system might improve prehospital times and the order of evacuation of patients, particularly patients who need immediate medical care or urgent surgery. The META might also increase the likelihood of appropriate treatment in multiple-casualty events.

OBJETIVO: El objetivo principal fue comparar dos sistemas de triaje (Simple Triage and Rapid Treatmet, START vs. Modelo Extrahospitalario de Triaje Avanzado, META) en un mismo incidente simulado de múltiples víctimas (IMV). Los objetivos secundarios fueron analizar los tiempos y el orden de evacuación, y la adecuación del tratamiento. METODO: Ensayo aleatorizado por conglomerados que incluyó 16 grupos de 4 miembros asignados al sistema de triaje START o META en un ejercicio simulado de gestión a las víctimas de un accidente aéreo. Se recogieron los tiempos y el orden de evacuación, y la adecuación del tratamiento. RESULTADOS: El tiempo de evacuación total fue de 48 min 39 s (DE 15 min 52 s) en el grupo START y de 48 min 4 s (DE 17 min 21 s) en el grupo META (p = 0,829). Los pacientes con necesidad de atención inmediata se evacuaron más rápidamente en el grupo META que en el START, tanto en el grupo completo (31 min 36 s [DE 8 min 27 s] vs 41 min 6 s [DE 10 min 39s ]; p = 0,024) como en los que además precisaban tratamiento quirúrgico urgente (24 min 12 s [DE 4 min] vs 44 min 49 s [DE 8 min 36 s]; p = 0,001). El orden de evacuación de pacientes fue: los de necesidad de atención inmediata en las 19 primeras posiciones (14 de 19) y de atención inmediata con prioridad quirúrgica en las 14 primeras posiciones (5 de 14) en el grupo START; y los de necesidad de atención inmediata en las 14 primeras posiciones (14 de 14) y de atención inmediata y con prioridad quirúrgica en las 7 primeras posiciones (5 de 7) en el grupo META. La frecuencia de tratamiento adecuado fue de un 92% en el caso del META y de un 63% en el caso del START (p = 0,023). CONCLUSIONES: El triaje META, en comparación con el START, podría mejorar los tiempos extrahospitalarios y el orden de evacuación de los pacientes, especialmente en el caso de aquellos con necesidad de atención inmediata y de atención inmediata con prioridad quirúrgica, así como la adecuación del tratamiento, en los IMV.

[Prehospital emergency care of patients with acute heart failure in Spain: the SEMICA study (Emergency Medical Response Systems for Patients with Acute Heart Failure)]. / Atención prehospitalaria a los pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca aguda en España: estudio SEMICA.

OBJECTIVES: To study the means of emergency transport used to bring patients with acute heart failure (AHF) to hospital emergency departments (EDs) and explore associations between factors, type of transport, and prehospital care received. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We gathered the following information on patients treated for AHF at 34 Spanish hospital EDs: means of transport used (medicalized ambulance [MA], nonmedicalized ambulance [NMA], or private vehicle) and treatments administered before arrival at the hospital. Twenty-seven independent variables potentially related to type of transport used were also studied. Indicators of AHF severity were triage level assigned in the ED, need for admission, need for intensive care, in-hospital mortality, and 30-day mortality. RESULTS: A total of 6106 patients with a mean (SD) age of 80 years were included; 56.5% were women, 47.2% arrived in PVs, 37.8% in NMAs, and 15.0% in MAs. Use of an ambulance was associated with female sex, age over 80 years, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a history of AHF, functional dependency, New York Heart Association class III-IV, sphincteral incontinence, labored breathing, orthopnea, cold skin, and sensory depression or restlessness. Assignment of a MA was directly associated with living alone, a history of ischemic heart disease, cold skin, sensory depression or restlessness, and high temperature; it was inversely associated with a history of falls. The rates of receipt of prehospital treatments and AHF severity level increased with use of MAs vs. NMAs vs. PV. Seventy-three percent of patients transported in MAs received oxygen, 29% received a diuretic, 13.5% a vasodilator, and 4.7% noninvasive ventilation. CONCLUSION: Characteristics of the patient with AHF are associated with the assignment of type of transport to a hospital ED. Assignment appears to be related to severity. Treatment given during MA transport could be increased.

OBJETIVO: Investigar, en los pacientes diagnosticados de insuficiencia cardiaca aguda (ICA) en servicios de urgencias hospitalarios (SUH), su forma de llegada, los factores asociados al tipo de transporte usado y el tratamiento prehospitalario administrado. METODO: En pacientes diagnosticados consecutivamente de ICA en 34 SUH españoles se recogió: forma de llegada (transporte sanitario medicalizado ­TSM­, no medicalizado ­TSNM­ o propio ­TP­) y tratamiento prehospitalario administrado. Se estudiaron 27 variables independientes potencialmente relacionadas con el tipo de transporte utilizado. Como indicadores de gravedad se registraron nivel de triaje en urgencias, necesidad de ingreso y de cuidados intensivos, mortalidad intrahospitalaria y a 30 días. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 6.106 pacientes [edad: 80 años (DE:10), 56,5% mujeres]; 47,2% llegaron en TP, 37,8% en TSNM y 15,0% en TSM. El uso de transporte sanitario se asoció a ser mujer, edad > 80 años, enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica, antecedentes de ICA, dependencia funcional, NYHA III-IV, incontinencia esfínteres y presentar disnea, ortopnea, piel fría y depresión del sensorio/inquietud. La asignación de TSM se asoció directamente a vivir solo, antecedente de cardiopatía isquémica, presentar piel fría, depresión del sensorio o inquietud y temperatura elevada e inversamente al antecedente de caídas. Los traslados en TP, TSNM y TSM registraron porcentajes crecientes de tratamiento prehospitalario, y su gravedad también fue progresivamente creciente. El 73% de pacientes trasladados con TSM recibió oxígeno, el 29% diurético, el 13,5% vasodilatador y el 4,7% ventilación no invasiva. CONCLUSIONES: Existen características del paciente con ICA relacionadas con el tipo de recurso asignado para su traslado al SUH, y dicha asignación parece corresponderse con la gravedad del episodio. El tratamiento durante el TSM podría incrementarse.

[Incidence of acute agitation and variation in acute agitation management by emergency services]. / Incidencia y variabilidad de manejo de la agitación aguda en los servicios de emergencias médicas.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the management of acute agitation by Spanish emergency medical services (EMS) and assess the incidence of acute agitation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational descriptive study based on aggregate data from unpublished internal EMS reports. RESULTS: Seven participating emergency services received 4 306 213 emergency calls in 2013; 111 599 (2.6%, or 6.2 calls per 1000 population) were categorized as psychiatric emergencies. A total of 84 933 interventions (4.2%, or 4 per 1000 population) were required; 37 951 of the calls concerned agitated patients (1.9%, or 2 cases per 1000 population). Only 3 EMS mandated a specific procedure for their responders to use in such cases. CONCLUSION: The agitated patient is a common problem for EMS responders. Few teams apply specific procedures for managing these patients.

OBJETIVO: Evaluar la incidencia y el manejo de la agitación aguda por los servicios de emergencias médicas (SEM) en España. METODO: Estudio observacional descriptivo que utiliza datos agregados de las memorias de actividad o datos internos no publicados de los SEM. RESULTADOS: Durante el año 2013, los 7 SEM participantes recibieron 4.306.213 llamadas, de las cuales 111.599 (2,6%; 6,2 llamadas/1.000 habitantes) fueron categorizadas como psiquiátricas. Las actuaciones requeridas por motivos psiquiátricos fueron 84.933 (4,2% del total de actuaciones; 4,0 actuaciones/1.000 habitantes) y, de estas, 37.951 fueron por pacientes agitados (1,9% del total de actuaciones; 2,0 actuaciones/1.000 habitantes). Solo 3 SEM disponían de un procedimiento específico para los equipos asistenciales de atención al paciente psiquiátrico y al paciente agitado. CONCLUSIONES: El paciente agitado es un problema común en los equipos asistenciales de los SEM. Pocos de estos equipos cuentan con procedimientos específicos de actuación ante estos casos.

[Mass gatherings: a systematic review of the literature on large events]. / Gestión de la atención médica en las reuniones masivas de personas (mass gatherings): revisión sistemática.

OBJECTIVES: We reviewed the literature on mass gatherings published worldwide to determine event types and topics or epidemiologic aspects covered. Articles using the term mass gatherings indexed in the Scopus database between 2000 and 2015 were reviewed. Of the 518 returned, we selected 96 with relevant information. The main event types studied were related to sports (46%), music (25%) or religious/social content (23%), and the most commonly studied locations were the United States (n=21), the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (n=17), Australia (n=11), and the United Kingdom (n=10). The four most often studied events were the Hajj (n=17), the Olympic games (n=13), World Youth Day (n=8), and the FIFA World Cup (n=6). The main topics studied were models of health care (n=55), health care evaluation by means of rates of patients presenting for care or transferred to hospitals (n=21), respiratory pathogens (n=18), syndromic surveillance (n=10), and the global spread of diseases (n=10). Mass gatherings are an emerging area of study addressed by various medical specialties that have focused on studying the health care models used at such events. Emergency medicine is particularly involved with this research topic.

OBJETIVO: Se revisa la gestión de las reuniones masivas de personas a nivel mundial con el propósito de conocer los eventos, temas y aspectos epidemiológicos abordados. Para ello, se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica de los documentos que utilizaban el concepto "mass gathering" indexados en la base de datos Scopus entre 2000 y 2015. De los 518 documentos recuperados se seleccionaron 96 con información relevante para su análisis específico. Los principales tipos de eventos estudiados fueron los deportivos (46%), musicales (25%) y religiosos/sociales (23%) desarrollados en Estados Unidos (n = 21), Reino de Arabia Saudita (n = 17), Australia (n = 11) y Reino Unido (n = 10). Los cuatro principales eventos fueron el Hajj (n = 17), Juegos Olímpicos (n = 13), Día de la Juventud (n = 8) y mundiales de fútbol (n = 6), y se evaluaron los diferentes modelos de asistencia sanitaria (n = 55), los ratios de presentación de pacientes y de traslado a hospitales (n = 21), los patógenos respiratorios (n = 18), la vigilancia sindrómica (n = 10) y la globalización de enfermedades (n = 10). Creemos que las reuniones masivas de personas constituyen un área de conocimiento incipiente vinculada con diferentes especialidades médicas, particularmente la medicina de emergencias, que se centra en la investigación de los modelos de asistencia sanitaria.

[Epidemiological characteristics of out-of-hospital cardiorespiratory arrest recorded by the 061 emergencies system (SAMU) in the Balearic Islands (Spain), 2009-2012]. / Características epidemiológicas de las paradas cardiorrespiratorias extrahospitalarias registradas por el sistema de emergencias 061 (SAMU) de la Comunidad Autónoma de las Islas Baleares (2009-2012).

OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiology of out-of-hospital cardiorespiratory arrest (OHCA) and identify factors associated with recovery of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). DESIGN: Observational study of OHCA registered on a continuous basis in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) database during 2009-2012. SETTING: The islands of Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera (Balearic Islands, Spain). PATIENTS: OHCA in patients ≥ 18 years of age. The main variables were: Patient sex, age, probable cause, place of arrest, bystander, witnessed, basic life support (BLS), shockable rhythm, intervention time, semi-automatic defibrillator (AED), duration of cardiopulmonary arrest (CA), and ROSC. Independent variables were defined according to the Utstein protocol, and the dependent variable was defined as ROSC. RESULTS: The EMS treated 1170 OHCAs (28/100,000 persons-year). We included 1130 CA. The mean age was 61.4 years (73.4% males). Most CA (72.3%) were of cardiac etiology, and 84.7% were witnessed. A total of 840 (74.3%) received BLS and 400 (47.6%) did so before arrival of the EMS (45 by bystander relatives). AED was available in 330 cases CA (29.2%) (96 with shockable rhythm). The interval between emergency call and BLS and between emergency call and advanced life support was 8.4 and 15.8min, respectively. Shockable rhythm was monitored in 257 CAs (22.7%). ROSC occurred in 261 (23.1%). Factors associated with ROSC were age, shockable rhythm, BLS before EMS arrival, and CA duration less than 30min. CONCLUSION: The incidence rate of the OHCA is low. The proportion of patients receiving BLS from relatives was low. Age, shockable rhythm and BSL before EMS arrival were associated with ROSC.

Urgências clínicas: perfil de atendimentos hospitalares / Emergencia médica: perfil del hospital de llamadas / Clinical emergencies: profile of hospital assistance

Mudanças no perfil de morbi-mortalidade por doenças crônicas não transmissíveis trazem repercussão para o atendimento às urgências/emergências hospitalares. Este estudo teve por objetivo caracterizar perfil dos atendimentos de urgência clínica, segundo variáveis demográficas, epidemiológicas e tempo de permanência, em hospital de Ensino, do interior de São Paulo, 2007. Trata-se de pesquisa descritiva, exploratória e documental, utilizando dados oficiais, analisados segundo estatística descritiva, discutidos a partir de referencial teórico de reorganização do atendimento a urgências/emergências clínicas. No período ocorreram 5.285 atendimentos clínicos, a maior parte usuários do sexo masculino (54,1%), com escolaridade de ensino fundamental (73,9%), faixa etária de 18 a 59 anos (62,8%). Doenças do aparelho circulatório foram mais frequentes e o tempo de permanência na unidade foi inferior a 6 horas (39,8%). A caracterização dos atendimentos clínicos do serviço de urgência/emergência fornece subsídios para organização do trabalho na unidade de estudo e no próprio hospital.

Cambios en la morbilidad y mortalidad por enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles no traen repercusiones para asistir a los departamentos de urgencias/emergencias hospitalarios. El objetivo fue caracterizar el perfil de la atención de urgencia, según las variables demográficas, epidemiológicas y de estancia en el hospital de Enseñanza, del interior de São Paulo, 2007. Investigación documental, descriptiva, exploratoria, a partir de datos oficiales, analizados por estadística descriptiva, discutidos a través del marco teórico de reorganización de la atención de emergencia/emergencias clínicas. En el periodo, ocurrieron 5.285 tratamientos clínicos, con usuarios del sexo masculino (54,1%), con estudios primarios (73,9%), de 18 a 59 años (62,8%). Enfermedades del aparato circulatorio fueron más frecuentes y la duración de la estancia en la unidad fue de menos de seis horas (39,8%). La caracterización de la atención clínica en servicio de urgencia/emergencia proporciona subvenciones para el trabajo en la unidad de estudio y en el hospital.

Changes in the morbidity and mortality profile from chronic non-communicable diseases affect the urgency/emergency care services. We aimed to characterize the profile of emergency clinical care, according to demographic and epidemiological variables and length of stay in a teaching hospital in the interior of São Paulo, 2007. This is a descriptive, exploratory and documentary research that used official data, analyzed by descriptive statistics, discussed based on the theoretical framework of reorganization of urgency and emergency clinical care. In this period there were 5,285 clinical assistances, most were male (54.1%), with elementary education (73.9%), aged from 18 to 59 years (62.8%). Diseases of the circulatory system were the most frequent and the average length of stay in the unit was less than 6 hours (39.8%). The characterization of clinical care in the urgency/emergency service enables the work organization in the study unit and in the hospital.

Perfil das ocorrências em um serviço de atendimento móvel de urgência / Profile of events in a mobile emergency care service / Perfil de las ocurrencias en un servicio de urgencias móvil

O Atendimento Pré-Hospitalar (APH), criado pelo Ministério da Saúde em 1996, é uma modalidade de assistência àsurgências e emergências fora do âmbito hospitalar recente no Brasil, com a finalidade de atender toda e qualquersituação que vise à manutenção da vida. O objetivo deste estudo é caracterizar os atendimentos prestados peloServiço de Atendimento Móvel de Urgência (SAMU) de um município da região oeste de Santa Catarina, no anode 2011. Caracteriza-se como uma pesquisa de caráter descritivo, baseada em análise documental do sistema deinformação do SAMU, realizado de janeiro a dezembro de 2011. Foram analisados 937 atendimentos, dos quais 392foram de causas clínicas e 332 relativos aos traumas de várias etiologias. Houve predominância de atendimentos nogênero masculino com 59%. A faixa etária com maior número de atendimentos foi de 21 a 40 anos, para ambos ossexos. O período noturno totalizou 35,44% das ocorrências; o dia da semana concentrou-se no domingo, com 18%das ocorrências no mês de dezembro; 62,4% dos atendimentos ocorreram em via pública; 84% dos atendimentostiveram como desfecho o transporte para o hospital. Concluiu-se que o SAMU é um serviço importante e necessáriopara o atendimento qualificado e ágil das ocorrências de urgência e emergência.

The Prehospital Care (PHC) created by the Ministry of Health in 1996 is a kind of urgent and emergency care outsidethe hospital, recent in Brazil, that aims to assist any situation that aims at maintaining life. The aim of this study isto characterize the services rendered by the Mobile Emergency Care Service in a municipality in the western regionof Santa Catarina, in the year 2011. This is a descriptive research, based on document analysis of the informationsystem of the Mobile Emergency Care Service (SAMU), conducted from January to December 2011. A number of 937calls were analyzed, of which 392 were clinical causes and 332 related to traumas of several etiologies. There was apredominance of males who were assisted, 59%. The age group with the highest number of assistance was 21 to 40years for both sexes. The night calls represented 35.44% of the occurrences, the day of the week with most prevalenceswas Sunday with 18% of occurances in December, 62.4% of the visits occurred on public roads, 84% of visits had asoutcome the transportation to hospitals. It could be concluded that SAMU is an important and necessary service forthe efficient care of urgent ocurrences and emergency.

La atención prehospitalaria (APH), creado por el Ministerio de Salud en 1996, es una forma de asistencia, recienteen Brasil, para las urgencias y emergencias fuera del ámbito hospitalario, con el fin de atender cualquier situaciónque vise preservar la vida. El objetivo de este estudio fue caracterizar la atención ofrecida por el Servicio de AtenciónMóvil de Urgencia (SAMU) en un municipio de la región oeste de Santa Catarina, en el año 2011. Investigación deenfoque descriptivo, basada en análisis documental del sistema de información del SAMU, realizada entre eneroy diciembre de 2011. Se analizaron 937 registros, de los cuales, 392 fueron causas clínicas y, 332, relativos atraumas de diversas etiologías. Hubo un predominio asistencial del sexo masculino con 59%. El grupo de edad conmayor número de atenciones fue el de 21 a 40 años para ambos sexos. El período nocturno totalizó 35,44% de lasocurrencias; entre los días de la semana, del mes de diciembre, el domingo concentró el 18% de las ocurrencias; el62,4% de las atenciones se produjeron en vía pública; el 84% de las atenciones tuvo como desenlace el transporte alhospital. Se concluye que el SAMU es un servicio importante y necesario para la atención cualificada y ágil de lasocurrencias de urgencia y de emergencia.