Successful prehospital ECMO in drowning resuscitation after prolonged submersion

An 18-year-old drowning victim was successfully resuscitated using prehospital veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO). Despite 24 min of submersion in water with a surface temperature of 15 °C, the patient was cannulated on-scene and transported to a trauma center. After ICU admission on VA-ECMO, he was decannulated and extubated by day 5. He was transferred to a peripheral hospital on day 6 and discharged home after 3.5 weeks with favorable neurological outcome of a Cerebral Performance Categories (CPC) score of 1 out of 5. This case underscores the potential of prehospital ECMO in drowning cases within a well-equipped emergency response system.</p

Analysis of prehospital perimortem caesarean deliveries performed by Helicopter Emergency Medical Services in the Netherlands and recommendations for the future

Background: Prehospital perimortem caesarean delivery (PCD) is a rarely performed procedure. In this study, we aimed to examine all PCDs performed by the four Helicopter Emergency Medical Services in the Netherlands; to describe the procedures, outcomes, complications, and compliance with the reco

A Nationwide Retrospective Analysis of Out-of-Hospital Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Treated by Helicopter Emergency Medical Service in the Netherlands

Contains fulltext : 243898.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access)OBJECTIVE: There is generally limited but conflicting literature on the incidence, causes, and outcomes of pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. This study was performed to determine the incidence and outcome of pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest reported by all helicopter emergency medical services in the Netherlands and to provide a description of causes and treatments and, in particular, a description of the specific interventions that can be performed by a physician-staffed helicopter emergency medical service. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed of all documented pediatric (0 < 18 years of age) out-of-hospital cardiac arrests from July 2015 to July 2017, attended by all 4 Dutch helicopter emergency medical service teams. RESULTS: Two hundred two out-of-hospital cardiac arrests were identified. The overall incidence in the Netherlands is 3.5 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in children per 100,000 pediatric inhabitants. The overall survival rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest was 11.4%. Eleven (52%) of the survivors were in the drowning group and between 12 and 96 months of age. CONCLUSION: Helicopter emergency medical services are frequently called to pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the Netherlands. The survival rate is normal to high compared with other countries. The 12- to 96-month age group and drowning seem to have a relatively favorable outcome

Characteristics, management and outcome of prehospital pediatric emergencies by a Dutch HEMS

Background: In prehospital care, the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) can be dispatched for critically injured or ill children. However, little detail is known about dispatches for children, in terms of the incidence of prehospital interventions and overall mortality. The primary objective of this study is to provide an overview of pediatric patient characteristics and incidence of interventions. Methods: A retrospective chart review of all patients ≤ 17 years who received medical care by Rotterdam HEMS from 2012 until 2017 was carried out. Results: During the study period, 1905 pediatric patients were included. 59.1% of patients were male and mean age was 6.1 years with 53.2% of patients aged ≤ 3 years. 53.6% were traumatic patients and 49.7% were non-traumatic patients. 18.8% of patients were intubated. Surgical procedures were performed in 0.9%. Medication was administered in 58.1% of patients. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was necessary in 12.9% of patients, 19.9% were admitted to the intensive care unit and 14.0% needed mechanical ventilation. Overall mortality was 9.5%. Mortality in trauma patients was 5.5% and in non-trauma group 15.3%. 3.9% of patients died at the scene. Conclusions: Patients attended by HEMS are at high risk of prehospital interventions like CPR or intubation. EMS has little exposure to critically ill or injured children. Hence, HEMS expertise is required to perform critical procedures. Trauma patients had higher survival rates than non-traumatic patients. This may be explained by underlying illnesses in non-traumatic patients and CPR as reason for dispatch. Further research is needed to identify options for improving prehospital care in the non trauma pediatric patients

Procedural sedation by advanced practice providers in the emergency medical service in the Netherlands:a retrospective study

Background: Procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA) is a technique of administering sedatives to induce a state that allows the patient to tolerate painful procedures while maintaining cardiorespiratory function, a condition that is frequently desired prehospital. Non-physician prehospital clinicians often have a limited scope of practice when it comes to providing analgesia and sedation; sometimes resulting in a crew request for back-up from physician-staffed prehospital services.“. This is also the case if sedation is desirable. Advanced practice providers (APPs), who are legally authorized and trained to carry out this procedure, may be a solution when the physician-staffed service is not available or will not be available in time. Methods: The aim of this study is to gain insight in the circumstances in which an APP, working at the Dutch ambulance service “RAV Brabant MWN” from January 2019 to December 2022, uses propofol for PSA or to provide sedation. With this a retrospective observational document study we describe the characteristics of patients and ambulance runs and evaluates the interventions in terms of safety. Results: During the study period, the APPs administered propofol 157 times for 135 PSA and in 22 cases for providing sedation. The most common indication was musculoskeletal trauma such as fracture care or the reduction of joint dislocation. In 91% of the situations where propofol was used, the predetermined goal e.g. alignment of fractured extremity, repositioning of luxated joint or providing sedation the goal was achieved. There were 12 cases in which one or more adverse events were documented and all were successfully resolved by the APP. There were no cases of laryngospam, airway obstruction, nor anaphylaxis. None of the adverse events led to unexpected hospitalization or death. Conclusion: During the study period, the APPs performed 135 PSAs and provided 22 sedations. The success rate of predetermined goals was higher than that stated in the literature. Although there were a number of side effects, their incidences were lower than those reported in the literature, and these were resolved by the APP during the episode of care. Applying a PSA by an APP at the EMS “RAV Brabant MWN” appears to be safe with a high success rate.</p