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Purpose: Introducing advanced hemodynamic monitoring might be beneficial during Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) care. However, it should not increase the on-scene-time, it should be easy to use and should be non-invasive. The goal of this study was to investigate the feasibility of non-invasive cardiac output measurements by electrical cardiometry (EC) and the quality of the EC signal during pre-hospital care provided by our HEMS., Methods: A convenience sample of fifty patients who required HEMS assistance were included in this study. Problems with respect to connecting the patient, entering patient characteristics and measuring were inventoried. Quality of EC signal of the measurements was assessed during prehospital helicopter care. We recorded the number of measurements with a signal quality indicator (SQI) ≥ 80 and the number of patients having at least 1 measurement with a SQI ≥ 80. Furthermore, the SQI value distribution of the measurements within each patient was analysed., Results: In the experience of the attending HEMS caregivers application of the device was easy and did not result in increased duration of on-scene time. Patch adhesion was reported as a concern due to clammy skin in 22% of all cases. 684 measurements were recorded during HEMS care. In 47 (94%) patients at least 1 measurement with an SQI ≥ 80 was registered. Of all recorded measurements 5.8% had an SQI < 40, 11.4% had an SQI 40-59, 14.9% had a SQI between 60 and 79 and 67.8% had SQI ≥ 80., Conclusion: Cardiac output measurements are feasible during prehospital HEMS care with good quality of the EC signal. Monitoring was easy to use and quick to install. In our view it is an promising candidate for the prehospital setting. Further research is needed to determine its clinical value during clinical decision making., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Background: Patients in cardiac arrest must receive algorithm-based management such as basic life support and advanced (cardiac) life support. International guidelines dictate diagnosing and treating any factor that may have caused the arrest or may be complicating the resuscitation. Ultrasound may be of potential value in this process and can be used in a prehospital setting. The objective is to evaluate the use of prehospital ultrasound during traumatic and non-traumatic CPR and determine its impact on prehospital treatment decisions in a Dutch helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS)., Methods: We conducted an observational study in cardiac arrest patients, of any cause, in whom the Nijmegen HEMS performed CPR with concurrent echocardiography. The participating physicians had to adhere to Advanced Life Support protocols as per standard operating procedure. Simultaneous with the interruptions of chest compressions to allow for heart rhythm analysis, ultrasound-trained HEMS physicians performed echocardiography according to study protocol. The HEMS nurse and physician recorded patient data and data on impacted (supported or altered) patient treatment decisions., Results: From February 2014 through November 2016, we included 56 patients who underwent 102 ultrasound examinations. Sixty-two (61%) ultrasound examinations impacted 78 treatment decisions in 49 patients (88%). The impacted treatment was related to termination of CPR in 32 (57%), fluid management (14%), drugs selection and doses (14%), and choice of destination hospital (5%). Causes of cardiac arrest included trauma (48%), cardiac (21%), medical (14%), asphyxia (9%), and other (7%)., Conclusion: Prehospital echocardiography has an impact on patient treatment and may be a useful tool to support decision-making during CPR in a Dutch HEMS.

A 71-year-old man underwent facial reconstructive surgery and a tracheotomy after nasal carcinoma. Several hours after surgery, accidental decannulation occurred and the patient died because the airway could not be resecured in time. This incident led to the implementation of an algorithm for emergency airway management in patients with a surgical airway after tracheotomy or laryngectomy. All such patients have an information sheet attached to their bed, together with the appropriate algorithm. This helps staff to provide care in a standardised manner in cases of airway emergency and prevents fixation errors or omission of treatment options.

Objective: To study whether there are differences between day and night in the dispatch of helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) and in their response and travelling times, medical treatment and transport of patients., Design: Retrospective, descriptive study., Method: All data on helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) missions available 24/7 from Nijmegen, the Netherlands, during 2007 and 2008 were collected. All missions in this period were divided into daytime and night-time missions. Next, the reason for dispatch, the duration of distinct times during the mission, the method of transport of the HEMS team, medical treatments and patient transport were compared., Results: In 2007 and 2008 the HEMS team was dispatched 2891 times. 1107 patients were treated during daytime and 479 during the night. The mean distance to the incident scene was longer for night missions. During night-time the HEMS team was dispatched more often for road traffic accidents and violence-related accidents but less often for falls, drowning, horse riding accidents and people becoming trapped (non-traffic-related). There were no differences in medical treatment given by the HEMS physician between day and night, but fewer patients were transported by helicopter at night. Travelling times and on-scene times were only slightly different., Conclusion: The number of dispatches of the HEMS team at night was higher than expected, but night missions were cancelled more often due to weather conditions than missions by day. Prehospital times and operations of the Netherlands HEMS differed slightly between day and night.

Background: Diagnostic ultrasound is increasingly used by nonradiologists in trauma victims and critically ill patients. In the emergency department, the extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma and Polytrauma Rapid Echo-evaluation Program protocol are often used to assess these patients. Dutch Polytrauma Rapid Echo-evaluation Program-trained Emergency physicians are implementing the use of ultrasound in the emergency department but might encounter barriers to overcome. Objectives: This study aims to explore individual experiences of Dutch emergency physicians. Methods: We performed a qualitative study by conducting semi-structured interviews in Dutch emergency physicians working in a Level 2 emergency department that completed the 2-day Polytrauma Rapid Echo-evaluation Program course at least 1 year before the interviews. Data were analyzed using directed content analysis. Results: Eight emergency physicians employed by eight different hospitals were interviewed. Thirteen categories were identified in the transcribed interviews and these were combined into four general themes: (1) the desire to develop the Emergency Medicine specialty, both nationally and local; (2) incentives to start using ultrasound; (3) exploring practical applications of ultrasound; and (4) barriers faced while implementing emergency physician-performed ultrasound on the emergency department. The interviewees regard the course to be a solid base and are eager to independently perform ultrasound examinations, although challenges are faced. Conclusion: This exploratory study provides essential insight in Dutch emergency physicians implementing ultrasound in their emergency department. It shows that there is a need to develop a quality assurance system and it identified barriers that have to be dealt with. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Due to advancements in technology, the use of a portable ultrasound (US) machine in the out-of-hospital setting is increasingly feasible. It has diagnostic and therapeutic advantages and may improve the management and treatment of patients. It can be used in-flight and can be easily taught to flight clinicians who have little previous experience with this modality. Study Objectives: The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of ultrasound chest examinations on the care of patients treated by a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS). Methods: Since 2007, portable US has been used by the HEMS of Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Data on every air medical flight are routinely collected in a database. Every portable US examination of the chest performed between 2007 and 2010 was reviewed for this study. Data on patient characteristics, properties of US examinations, US diagnoses, and impact on medical treatment were collected and analyzed. Results: Of a total of 2572 patients, 326 portable US examinations of the chest were performed on 281 (11%) patients. The mean duration of a portable US examination was 2.77 (SD 1.30) min, and the duration decreased over time. After the US examination, the plan for treatment changed in 60 (21%) patients. In 10 patients (4%) the plan to place a chest tube was abandoned. In 10 patients (4%) the initially selected destination for definitive care changed, and it changed to a lower-level hospital more often than to a higher-level one. In 9 patients (3%), cardiopulmonary resuscitation was stopped and in 31 patients there were other changes. Conclusion: Out-of-hospital US examinations can alter and improve treatment decisions and destinations for definitive care. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: Objective: To determine the incidence and success rate of out-of-hospital tracheal intubation (TI) and ventilation of children, taking account of the type of healthcare provider involved. Methods: A prospective observational study to analyse a consecutive group of children for which a helicopter-transported medical team (HMT) was called. In all cases, the emergency medical service (EMS)-paramedics arrived at the scene first. Data regarding type of incident, physiological parameters, treatment, and survival until hospital discharge were collected and subsequently analysed. Results: Of the 300 children examined and treated by the HMT on scene, 155 (52%) children required out-of-hospital tracheal intubation. Ninety-five children had an initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) rating of 3–4: the EMS-paramedics performed bag-valve-mask-ventilation (BVMV) until arrival with subsequent TI carried out by the HMT (54 children, survival 63%) or the EMS-paramedics performed TI themselves (41 children, subsequent correction of tube/ventilation by HMT in 37% and survival rate 5%). Two hundred and five children had an initial GCS of 5–15, from which 60 children required TI (survival rate 67%) and 145 children required no TI (survival rate 100%). Conclusion: We do not recommend early TI by EMS-paramedics in children with a GCS of 3–4. The rate of complications of this procedure is unacceptably high. BVMV is the preferred choice for ventilation by paramedics, whenever possible. Out-of-hospital TI performed by HMT is safe and effective. The HMT has skills in advanced airway management not provided by the EMS. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]