Search

• Chest injuries represent one of the most common diagnoses in severely injured patients. Chest imaging plays a prominent role in the assessment of patients with blunt trauma. A reliable, economic, bedside, and rapidly accomplished screening test can be pivotal. • We aimed to compare the accuracy of E-FAST to that of the NEXUS chest algorithm in detecting blunt chest injuries. • Our study concluded that E-FAST is highly specific for the detection of hemothorax, pneumothorax, and chest injuries compared with the NEXUS chest algorithm, which demonstrated the lowest specificity. However, the NEXUS chest algorithm showed a higher sensitivity than E-FAST and hence can be used effectively to rule out thoracic injury. • The African Journal of Emergency Medicine is the official journal of the African Federation for Emergency Medicine. It is an international, peer-reviewed journal aimed in particular at supporting emergency care across Africa I understand the objectives of the journal and have formatted the manuscript to fit the style and needs of the journal. Chest imaging plays a prominent role in the assessment of patients with blunt trauma. Selection of the right approach at the right time is fundamental in the management of patients with blunt chest trauma. [1] A reliable, economic, bedside, and rapidly accomplished screening test can be pivotal. [2] The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of extended- focused assessment with sonography for trauma (E-FAST) to that of the National Emergency X-Radiography Utilisation Study (NEXUS) chest algorithm in detecting blunt chest injuries. This descriptive cross-sectional study included 50 polytrauma patients with blunt chest trauma from the emergency centre of Suez Canal University Hospital. E-FAST and computed tomography (CT) were conducted, followed by reporting of NEXUS criteria for all patients. Blinding of the E-FAST performer and CT reporter were confirmed. The results of both the NEXUS algorithm and E-FAST were compared with CT chest results. The NEXUS algorithm had 100% sensitivity and 15.3% specificity, and E-FAST had 70% sensitivity and 96.7% specificity, in the detection of pneumothorax. In the detection of hemothorax, the sensitivity and specificity of the NEXUS algorithm were 90% and 7.5%, respectively, whereas E-FAST had a lower sensitivity of 80% and a higher specificity of 97.5%. E-FAST is highly specific for the detection of hemothorax, pneumothorax, and chest injuries compared with the NEXUS chest algorithm, which demonstrated the lowest specificity. However, the NEXUS chest algorithm showed a higher sensitivity than E-FAST and hence can be used effectively to rule out thoracic injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trauma deaths account for 8% of all deaths in Egypt. Patients with multiple injuries are at high risk but may be saved with a good triage system and a well-trained trauma team in dedicated institutions. The incidence of missed injuries in the Emergency Centre (EC) of Suez Canal University Hospital (SCUH) was found to be 9.0% after applying Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) guidelines. However, this rate is still high compared with many trauma centers. Improve the quality of management of polytrauma patients by decreasing the incidence of missed injuries by implementing the Sequential Trauma Education Programs (STEPs) course in the EC at SCUH. This interventional training study was conducted in the SCUH EC that adheres to CONSORT guidelines. The study was conducted during the one month precourse and for 6 months after the implementation of the STEPs course for EC physicians. Overall, 458 polytrauma patients were randomly selected, of which 45 were found to have missed injuries after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria. We assessed the clinical relevance of these cases for missed injuries before and after the STEPs course. Overall, 45 patients were found to have missed injuries, of which 15 (12%) were pre-STEPs and 30 (9%) were post-STEPs course. The STEPs course significantly increased adherence to vital data recording, but the reduction of missed injuries (3.0%) was not statistically significant in relation to demographic and trauma findings. However, the decrease in missed injuries in the post-STEPs course group was an essential clinically significant finding. STEPs course implementation decreased the incidence of missed injuries in polytrauma patients. Thus, the STEPs course can be considered at the same level of other advanced trauma courses as a training skills program or possibly better in dealing with trauma patients. Repetition of this course by physicians should be mandatory to prevent more missed injuries. Therefore, the validation of STEPs course certification should be completed at least every two years to help decrease the number of missed injuries, especially in low-income countries and low-resource settings. • Injuries from trauma in emergency & accidents is a concerning global problem and has been identified as a national crisis in almost all African countries. • The incidence of missed injuries is still high in university hospitals compared with many trauma centers. • The STEPs course used in limited-resource settings and was designed to improve services in ECs by training residents and physicians with good materials in a four-day course. Materials include a combination of lectures, interactive sessions (e.g., radiology review, splinting workshop, and airway workshop), and a half-day veterinary procedure laboratory. • After the implementation of the STEPs course, the incidence of missed injuries decreased to 9%. • The STEPs course may be considered at the same level of other advanced trauma courses as a training skills program or possibly better in dealing with trauma patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Delayed discharge" is defined as patients who remain hospitalised beyond the time of being fit for discharge after a decision of discharge has been made by the managing team. There is no standardised amount of time defining delayed discharge documented in the literature, and there is a lack of evidence about this topic in Egypt. This study is a quality improvement project aiming to identify the factors associated with discharge delays at a single centre in Egypt in order to address this issue. A prospective observational study included all trauma patients admitted to a University Hospital in Egypt over two months. The time of the decision of discharge and actual discharge time were recorded by reviewing patients' medical records. The patients and their caregivers were asked to fill in a questionnaire about the reasons for delayed discharge. Potential reasons for the delayed discharge were classified into system-related, medical and family-related factors. The study included 498 patients with a median age of 41 years (9–72). The median time from discharge decision until actual discharge was 3 h. System-related factors were documented in 48.8% of cases, followed by medical factors (36.3%), and family-related factors (28.1%). When controlling for age, gender and injury severity score using a logistic regression analysis, longer time to discharge (≥3 h) showed a stronger association with medical factors [adjusted OR (95% CI) = 5.44 (2.73–10.85)] and family-related factors [adjusted OR (95% CI) = 7.94 (3.40–18.54)] compared to system-related factors [adjusted OR (95% CI) = 2.20 (1.12–4.29)]. Although system-related factors were more prevalent, medical and family-related factors appear to be associated with longer discharge delays compared to system-related factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite agreement in the literature that "stable" blunt trauma patients may be managed conservatively, in Egypt many such patients receive operative management. This paper presents the results of a pragmatic, prospective, observational study to evaluate outcomes of non-operative (NOP) versus operative (OP) management of blunt abdominal solid organ trauma in hemodynamically stable adults admitted to Tanta University Emergency Hospital (TUH) in Egypt. A prospective observational study enrolled adult blunt abdominal trauma patients with solid organ injury at TUH over a 3-year period (June 2014–June 2017). Inclusion criteria were age ≥18 yr, mean arterial pressure >65 mm Hg, heart rate <110 bpm, hematocrit ≥7 mg/dl, and abdominal organ injury diagnosed by ultrasound or computed tomography (CT). Excluded patients were those with pelvis and femur fractures; patients with penetrating abdominal trauma; predominate burn injuries, children and pregnant women. All patients were assigned to non-operative or operative management based on clinician preference. Outcomes of interest were 30-day mortality, blood transfusion volume, and length of stay. Descriptive statistics and χ2 were used to compare outcomes. During the study period, 4254 trauma patients presented to TUH. Of these, 790 had blunt abdominal trauma and 111 (14.1%) met inclusion criteria. Injury severity scores for each group were comparable (24 ± 10 – NOP vs. 28 ± 11 – OP, p = 0.126). NOP received less transfused blood (213.41 ± 360.3 ml [NOP] vs.1155.17 ± 380.4 ml [OP] (p < 0.0001)) but had a longer length of stay (8.29 ± 2.8 [NOP] vs. 6.45 ± 1.97 days [OP] (p = 0.012)). There was no difference in mortality between groups (p = 0.091). Our study demonstrated that non-operative management in Egypt of blunt abdominal trauma was safe and resulted in fewer procedures, fewer units of blood transfused, and no increase in mortality. Longer length of stay for non-operative patients might reflect treating physician caution in their management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The primary objective of this study is to better understand the preferences of the general public regarding cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) education as it relates to both format and the time and place of delivery.Methods: Survey data were collected from a convenience sample at large public gatherings in Baltimore, Maryland, between May 23, 2015, and February 11, 2017. The survey was a 23-item single-page instrument administered at fairs and festivals.Results: A total of 516 surveys were available for analysis. Twenty-four percent of the total population reported being very confident in performing CPR (scoring 8 to 10 on a Likert scale). Thirty-two percent of respondents who had previously taken a CPR class reported being very confident in performing CPR. A stepwise decline in reported confidence in performing CPR was observed as the time from last CPR class increased. Among all respondents the most favored instruction style was an instructor-led class. Least favorable was a local learning station at an event. The most favored location for instruction were libraries, while community festivals were least favored.Conclusion: Respondent preferences regarding the location and style of the training differed little between socioeconomic groups. Instructor-led instruction at local libraries was the most preferred option. CPR education offered at local learning stations during events and at community festivals were least favored among respondents. This study's findings can be used to more effectively structure CPR outreach and educational programs in an attempt to increase rates of bystander CPR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lactate clearance has been developed into a marker of resuscitation in trauma, but no study has compared the predictive power of the various clearance calculations. Our objective was to determine which method of calculating lactate clearance best predicted 24-hour and in-hospital mortality after injury.Study Design: Retrospective chart review of patients admitted to a Level-1 trauma center directly from the scene of injury from 2010 to 2013 who survived >15min, had an elevated lactate at admission (≥3mmol/L), followed by another measurement within 24h of admission. Lactate clearance was calculated using five models: actual value of the repeat level, absolute clearance, relative clearance, absolute rate, and relative rate. Models were compared using the areas under the respective receiver operating curves (AUCs), with an endpoint of death at 24h and in-hospital mortality.Results: 3910 patients had an elevated admission lactate concentration on admission (mean=5.6±3.0mmol/L) followed by a second measurement (2.7±1.8mmol/L). Repeat absolute measurement best predicted 24-hour (AUC=0.85, 95% CI: 0.84-0.86) and in-hospital death (AUC=0.77; 95% CI, 0.76-0.78). Relative clearance was the best model of lactate clearance (AUC=0.77, 95% CI: 0.75-0.78 and AUC=0.705, 95% CI: 0.69-72, respectively) (p<0.0001 for each). A sensitivity analysis using a range of initial lactate measures yielded similar results.Conclusions: The absolute value of the repeat lactate measurement had the greatest ability to predict mortality in injured patients undergoing resuscitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To estimate rates of emergency department (ED) visits for mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) among older adults. We defined possible mild TBI cases to assess underdiagnoses. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: National sample of ED visits in 2009-2010 captured by the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. Participants: Aged 65 years and older. Measurements: Mild TBI defined by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification, codes (800.0x-801.9x, 803.xx, 804.xx, 850.xx-854.1x, 950.1x-950.3x, 959.01) and a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 14 or more or missing, excluding those admitted to the hospital. Possible mild TBI was defined similarly among those without mild TBI and with a fall or motor vehicle collision as cause of injury. We calculated rates of mild TBI and examined factors associated with a diagnosis of mild TBI. Results: Rates of ED visits for mild TBI were 386 per 100 000 among those aged 65 to 74 years, 777 per 100 000 among those aged 75 to 84 years, and 1205 per 100 000 among those older than 84 years. Rates for women (706/100 000) were higher than for men (516/100 000). Compared with a possible mild TBI, a diagnosis of mild TBI was more likely in the West (odds ratio = 2.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-5.24) and less likely in the South/Midwest (odds ratio = 0.52; 95% confidence interval, 0.29-0.96) than in the Northeast. Conclusions: This study highlights an upward trend in rates of ED visits for mild TBI among older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of the study is to examine the effect of the opening of a freestanding emergency department (FED) on the surrounding emergency medical services (EMS) system through an examination of EMS system metrics such as ambulance call volume, ambulance response times, and turnaround times.Methods: This study is based on data from the county's computer-aided dispatch center, the FED, and the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission. The analysis involved a pre/post design, with a 6-month washout period. The preintervention period was April to October 2010, and the postintervention period was April to October 2011. Data were analyzed using standard t tests.Results: The average daily number of EMS-related calls received in the computer-aided dispatch center was lower after the FED opened (16.3 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 15.7-16.9] vs 15.8 [95% CI, 14.9-16.9]). One-fourth of all patients were transported by ambulance to the FED after it opened. Use of the FED and adjacent hospitals increased by 8647 visits (15.8%) during the study period. Turnaround time for the county's ALS units decreased from 26.8 (95% CI, 26.2-27.5) to 25.1 (95% CI, 24.3-25.8) minutes. The ambulance out-of-service interval decreased from 87.3 (95% CI, 86.0-88.5) to 81.1 (95% CI, 79.7-82.4) minutes. Based on change in out-of-service this study had a small effect size (Cohen's d = 0.33).Conclusions: The opening of an FED was associated with a modest improvement in time-specific EMS system metrics: a decrease in ambulance turnaround time and shorter out-of-service intervals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Objective: The percentage of patients leaving before treatment is completed (LBTC) is an important indicator of emergency department performance. The objective of this study is to identify characteristics of hospital operations that correlate with LBTC rates.Methods: The Emergency Department Benchmarking Alliance 2012 and 2013 cross-sectional national data sets were analyzed using multiple regression and k-means clustering. Significant operational variables affecting LBTC including annual patient volume, percentage of high-acuity patients, percentage of patients admitted to the hospital, number of beds, academic status, waiting times to see a physician, length of stay (LOS), registered nurse (RN) staffing, and physician staffing were identified. LBTC was regressed onto these variables. Because of the strong correlation between waiting times measured as door to first provider (DTFP), we regressed DTFP onto the remaining predictors. Cluster analysis was applied to the data sets to further analyze the impact of individual predictors on LBTC and DTFP.Results: LOS and the time from DTFP were both strongly associated with LBTC rate (P<.001). Patient volume is not significantly associated with LBTC rate (P=.16). Cluster analysis demonstrates that physician and RN staffing ratios correlate with shorter DTFP and lower LBTC.Conclusion: Volume is not the main driver of LBTC. DTFP and LOS are much more strongly associated. We show that operational factors including LOS and physician and RN staffing decisions, factors under the control of hospital and physician executives, correlate with waiting time and, thus, in determining the LBTC rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: We describe how geographic information systems (GIS) can be used to assess and compare estimated transport time for helicopter and ground emergency medical services. Recent research shows that while the odds of a trauma patient's survival increase with helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS), they may not increase to the extent necessary to make HEMS cost effective. This study offers an analytic tool to objectively quantify the patient travel time advantage that HEMS offers compared to ground emergency medical services (GEMS). METHODS: Using helicopter dispatch data from the Maryland State Police from 2000-2011, we computed transport time estimates for HEMS and GEMS, compare these results to a reference transport time of 60 min, and use geospatial interpolation to extrapolate the total response times for each mode across the study region. RESULTS: Mapping the region's trauma incidents and modeling response times, our findings indicate the GIS framework for calculating transportation time tradeoffs is useful in identifying which areas can be better served by HEMS or GEMS. DISCUSSION: The use of GIS and the analytical methodology described in this study present a method to compare transportation by air and ground in the prehospital setting that accounts for how mode, distance, and road infrastructure impact total transport time. Whether used to generate regional maps in advance or applied real-time, the presented framework provides a tool to identify earlier incident locations that favor HEMS over GEMS transport modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The communities of sub-Saharan Africa face a disproportionate burden of acute injury and illness. While acute care systems can substantially lower the morbidity and mortality associated with a wide range of medical and surgical conditions in adults and children, few healthcare facilities in the region adopt an integrated approach to resuscitation and stabilization. The term acute care encompasses the health system components used to treat patients with urgent or emergent conditions, and governments, health care facilities, funders, and academic institutions would benefit from a clearer understanding of acute care in an African context. In November 2011, the African Federation of Emergency Medicine held the first in a series of conferences on acute care in Africa to engage stakeholders in the development of consensus statements for the region. This first meeting engaged a range of acute and emergency care providers working in sub-Saharan Africa, and effective acute care was defined as: The provision of initial resuscitation, stabilization, and treatment to acutely ill and injured patients, and delivery of those patients to the best available definitive care, regardless of their ability to pay. Focus areas included: (1) Acute care referral systems (pre-facility, transfer, and field care), (2) Facility-based acute care, (3) Emergency medicine specialist training, (4) Emergency nursing, (5) Sustainability strategies (advocacy, policy, and funding). The resulting consensus document is presented here and will be expanded and specified in future sessions of the conference series. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: Infection with the HIV has developed into a chronic illness, with longer-term complications increasingly being seen. There is increasing evidence that infection with HIV may be associated with a hypercoagulable state. This study examines the association of HIV infection with the incidence of both pulmonary embolism and deep venous thrombosis. Methods: This study was a weighted analysis of data from National Hospital Discharge Survey, a national annual probability survey of discharges from short-stay non-Federal hospitals, from 1996-2004. The risk of pulmonary embolism and/or deep venous thrombosis in an HIV+ individual was ascertained for each age group by calculation of an odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). A common OR was computed across strata to evaluate the overall association between PE/DVT and HIV while adjusting for effects of age. Results: The overall age-adjusted OR indicates a statistically significant increase of 43% for PE in HIV+ individuals as opposed to HIV− individuals (OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.39–1.46). This increase differs by age group, with age group 21 to 50 years having the highest odds for PE among HIV+ individuals (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.54-1.63). Conclusions: The data supports the hypothesis that HIV-infected individuals are more likely to have clinically detected thromboembolic disease as opposed to non–HIV-infected individuals. This study reveals up to a 43% increase in OR of developing a PE, 10% increase in developing a DVT, and 40% increase in developing PE or DVT in an HIV-infected individual over the 9-year study period after adjusting for age. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Emergency care serves a key function within health care systems by providing an entry point to health care and by decreasing morbidity and mortality. Although primarily focused on evaluation and treatment for acute conditions, emergency care also serves as an important locus of provision for preventive care with regard to injuries and disease progression. Despite its important and increasing role, however, emergency care has been frequently overlooked in the discussion of health systems and delivery platforms, particularly in developing countries. Little research has been done in lower- and middle-income countries on the burden of disease reduction attributable to emergency care, whether through injury treatment and prevention, urgent and emergency treatment of acute conditions, or emergency treatment of complications from chronic conditions. There is a critical need for research documenting the role of emergency care services in reducing the global burden of disease. In addition to applying existing methodologies toward this aim, new methodologies should be developed to determine the cost-effectiveness of these interventions and how to effectively cover the costs of and demands for emergency care needs. These analyses could be used to emphasize the public health and clinical importance of emergency care within health systems as policymakers determine health and budgeting priorities in resource-limited settings. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The emergency department (ED) is an essential component of the public health response plan for control of acute respiratory infectious threats. Effective respiratory hygiene in the ED is imperative to limit the spread of dangerous respiratory pathogens, including influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome, avian influenza, and bioterrorism agents, particularly given that these agents may not be immediately identifiable. Sustaining effective respiratory control measures is especially challenging in the ED because of patient crowding, inadequate staffing and resources, and ever-increasing numbers of immunocompromised patients. Threat of contagion exists not only for ED patients but also for visitors, health care workers, and inpatient populations. Potential physical sites for respiratory disease transmission extend from out-of-hospital care, to triage, waiting room, ED treatment area, and the hospital at large. This article presents a summary of the most current information available in the literature about respiratory hygiene in the ED, including administrative, patient, and legal issues. Wherever possible, specific recommendations and references to practical information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are provided. The “Administrative Issues” section describes coordination with public health departments, procedures for effective facility planning, and measures for health care worker protection (education, staffing optimization, and vaccination). The patient care section addresses the potentially infected ED patient, including emergency medical services concerns, triage planning, and patient transport. “Legal Issues” discusses the interplay between public safety and patient privacy. Emergency physicians play a critical role in early identification, treatment, and containment of potentially lethal respiratory pathogens. This brief synopsis should help clinicians and administrators understand, develop, and implement appropriate policies and procedures to address respiratory hygiene in the ED. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The emergency department (ED) is an essential component of the public health response plan for control of acute respiratory infectious threats. Effective respiratory hygiene in the ED is imperative to limit the spread of dangerous respiratory pathogens, including influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome, avian influenza, and bioterrorism agents, particularly given that these agents may not be immediately identifiable. Sustaining effective respiratory control measures is especially challenging in the ED because of patient crowding, inadequate staffing and resources, and ever-increasing numbers of immunocompromised patients. Threat of contagion exists not only for ED patients but also for visitors, health care workers, and inpatient populations. Potential physical sites for respiratory disease transmission extend from out-of-hospital care, to triage, waiting room, ED treatment area, and the hospital at large. This article presents a summary of the most current information available in the literature about respiratory hygiene in the ED, including administrative, patient, and legal issues. Wherever possible, specific recommendations and references to practical information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are provided. The “Administrative Issues” section describes coordination with public health departments, procedures for effective facility planning, and measures for health care worker protection (education, staffing optimization, and vaccination). The patient care section addresses the potentially infected ED patient, including emergency medical services concerns, triage planning, and patient transport. “Legal Issues” discusses the interplay between public safety and patient privacy. Emergency physicians play a critical role in early identification, treatment, and containment of potentially lethal respiratory pathogens. This brief synopsis should help clinicians and administrators understand, develop, and implement appropriate policies and procedures to address respiratory hygiene in the ED. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The event of high emergency department (ED) utilization or inaccessibility to the ED may result in hospital after hospital in a city not accepting new patients in need of urgent medical care. We call this a cascading event. In this paper, we investigate cascading events among 11 EDs in Baltimore City in 2018 and 2019 using a two-state Markov model. Additionally, the transition probabilities are used to monitor the evolution of cascading events. Meanwhile, we predict the expected remaining hours in each state. After we calculate and compare the probabilities of having a cascading event for each ED, we finally identify the similarity and heterogeneity among EDs using cluster analysis. The findings of our study reveal that the continuous yellow alerts at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center (JH Bayview), Sinai Hospital, and the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) are associated with a large chance of having a cascading event in the city that affects all 11 hospitals. Weekdays dramatically increased chances of having a cascading event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Objective: Helicopter emergency medical services (EMS) has become a well-established component of modern trauma systems. It is an expensive, limited resource with potential safety concerns. Helicopter EMS activation criteria intended to increase efficiency and reduce inappropriate use remain elusive and difficult to measure. This study evaluates the effect of statewide field trauma triage changes on helicopter EMS use and patient outcomes.Methods: Data were extracted from the helicopter EMS computer-aided dispatch database for in-state scene flights and from the state Trauma Registry for all trauma patients directly admitted from the scene or transferred to trauma centers from July 1, 2000, to June 30, 2011. Computer-aided dispatch flights were analyzed for periods corresponding to field triage protocol modifications intended to improve system efficiency. Outcomes were separately analyzed for trauma registry patients by mode of transport.Results: The helicopter EMS computer-aided dispatch data set included 44,073 transports. There was a statewide decrease in helicopter EMS usage for trauma patients of 55.9%, differentially affecting counties closer to trauma centers. The Trauma Registry data set included 182,809 patients (37,407 helicopter transports, 128,129 ambulance transports, and 17,273 transfers). There was an increase of 21% in overall annual EMS scene trauma patients transported; ground transports increased by 33%, whereas helicopter EMS transports decreased by 49%. Helicopter EMS patient acuity increased, with an attendant increase in patient mortality. However, when standardized with W statistics, both helicopter EMS- and ground-transported trauma patients showed sustained improvement in mortality.Conclusion: Modifications to state protocols were associated with decreased helicopter EMS use and overall improved trauma patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]