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Background: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) enables measurement of the slope of the increase in minute ventilation in relation to carbon dioxide elimination during exercise (the VE/VCO2 slope). Several studies have shown that the VE/VCO2 slope is a strong marker for postoperative complications and mortality. However, current thresholds for adverse outcomes are generated from historical data in heart failure patients. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of 158 patients with lung cancer who underwent lobectomy or pneumonectomy during 2008–2020. The main outcome was major pulmonary complications (MPC) or death ≤30 days of cancer surgery. Patients were first categorized using two different single threshold approaches; the traditional threshold of 35 and the highest Youden value from the receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis. Secondly, patients were categorized into three risk groups using two thresholds. These two thresholds were determined in an ROC analysis, where the VE/VCO2 slope values generating either a 90% sensitivity (lower threshold) or a 90% specificity (upper threshold) for the main outcome were chosen. The frequency of complications was compared using Chi2. The overall model quality was evaluated by an area under the curve (AUC) analysis. Positive predictive values (PPVs) and negative predictive values (NPVs) are presented. Results: The two thresholds, <30 (90% sensitivity) and >41 (90% specificity), created three risk groups: low risk (VE/VCO2 slope <30, n=44, 28%); intermediate risk (VE/VCO2 slope 30–41, n=95, 60%) and high risk (VE/VCO2 slope >41, n=19, 12%). The frequency of complications differed between groups: 5%, 16% and 47% (P<0.001). Using two thresholds compared to one threshold increased the overall model quality (reaching AUC 0.70, 95% confidence interval: 0.59–0.81), and identified a high sensitivity threshold (VE/VCO2 slope <30) which generated a NPV of 95% but importantly, also a high specificity threshold, Funding Agencies|ALF, Region Ostergoetland, Sweden; [ROE-981535]; [ROE-965416]

Background: The complexity of modern road tunnel systems may delay an efficient rescue effort. Capable decision-making is needed to limit time to care. The Swedish ambulance commander, responsible for the on-scene ambulance personnel, may lack education and experience from managing road tunnel incidents. Their competence is sometimes questioned by fellow emergency services commanders. Such marginalization may obscure the medical focus and give the ambulance commander a subservient role. The ambulance commander’s role and lack of knowledge need to be explored and addressed to potentially improve their competence in managing road tunnel incidents. Aim: The overall aim of this thesis was to explore the possibilities of strengthening the decision-making ability of ambulance commanders to create more efficient rescue efforts in road tunnel incidents. Methods: In studies I and II, interviews were conducted with ambulance commanders (n=18) in Norway and Sweden concerning their experience in managing real and simulated road tunnel incidents. In study III, interviews were conducted with participants (n=19) from organizations that collaborates with the Swedish ambulance services in road tunnel incidents, about their opinions on how the ambulance commanders can improve their incident management. In study IV, an e- learning course was created based on the findings of studies I–III. The course influence on the ambulance commander’s ability to make decisions in road tunnel incidents was tested through an intervention study (n=20) which contained two simulations of major road tunnel incidents. Results: In study I, the requirement of familiarity with the tunnel system and involved organizations tasks were highlighted as important for the Norwegian ambulance commanders in their leadership role. In study II, the Swedish ambulance commanders described their leadership role as greater than that at the incident site, e.g., caring for their colleagues and being proactive, although having, Bakgrund: Våra vägtunnlar blir alltmer komplexa vilket kan leda till fördröjning av räddningsinsatsen. Skickliga beslut behöver fattas för att minska tiden till vård. Sjukvårdsledaren, ansvarig för ambulanspersonalen på skadeplatsen, anses sakna utbildning och erfarenhet från att leda skadehändelser i vägtunnlar. Deras kompetens ifrågasätts ibland av befäl från samverkande blåljusorganisationer. Denna typ av marginalisering kan leda till att det medicinska fokuset hamnar i skymundan och att sjukvårdsledaren får en underställd roll. Sjukvårdsledarens roll och kunskapsbrist behöver utforskas och adresseras för att potentiellt stärka deras kompetens att leda skadehändelser i vägtunnlar. Syfte: Det övergripande syftet med denna avhandling var att undersöka möjligheterna att stärka sjukvårdsledarnas förmåga att fatta beslut, för att skapa mer effektiva sjukvårdsinsatser vid skadehändelser i vägtunnlar. Metod: I studie I och II genomfördes intervjuer med sjukvårdsledare (n=18) i Norge och Sverige avseende deras erfarenheter av att leda verkliga och simulerade skadehändelser i vägtunnlar. I studie III genomfördes intervjuer med deltagare (n=19) från organisationer som samverkar med den svenska ambulanssjukvården vid skadehändelser i vägtunnlar avseende deras uppfattning om vad sjukvårdsledaren behöver för att förbättra sitt sätt att leda. I studie IV utvecklades och testades en internetbaserad utbildning som baserats på fynden i studie I—III. Kursens påverkan på sjukvårdsledarens förmåga att fatta beslut vid skadehändelser i vägtunnlar testade genom en interventionsstudie (n=20) som innefattande två simuleringar av stora skadehändelser i vägtunnlar. Resultat: I studie I framkom det att förtrogenhet med tunnelsystemet och samverkande organisationers uppgifter var viktigt för de norska sjukvårdsledarna i deras ledarroll. I studie II beskriver svenska sjukvårdsledare ledarrollen som något som är mer omfatt

Introduction and aim Road tunnels are important parts of today’s infrastructure and society, but also with potential for many injured in case of an incident and a challenging work environment for emergency services organisations. If a mass-casualty incident (MCI) occurs in a road tunnel, specific challenges in terms of safety, heat, smoke, long distances to the injured and lack of and contradictory information will impact the response and how collaboration is established (Holgersson et al., 2020; Lockey et al., 2005). In addition, sharing information during responses is, however, often limited due to the lack of knowledge and understanding of each other’s work processes at an individual and organisational level (Sederholm et al., 2021). A key for collaboration here is a good understanding of how their own, and collaborative organisations interpret and operate in a potentially shared task (Edwards, 2012; Wolbers et al., 2017). Thus, the road tunnel environment is one area where research has pointed to the need for a shared understanding of incidents across the organisations (Casse & Caroly, 2019) and for arenas facilitating exchange of experiences and reflections upon work procedures to develop collaboration (Njå & Svela, 2018; Hylander et al., 2022). This calls for activities that could stimulate work-integrated learning. While exercises and simulations are valuable in enhancing response preparedness, the perceived effects have been reported to vary in terms of learning and usefulness (see e.g., Roud et al., 2021). In addition, exercises and simulations are expensive and time consuming, calling for alternative but still effective learning activities for developing collaboration. This abstract aim to present and critically explore an innovative learning activity for development of joint knowledge to improve MCI response in road tunnel environments. Design and participants The learning activity analysed for this abstract was a series of four focus groups á 4, The general theme of the conference is: “WIL in the service of society”

OBJECTIVES: Increased demands are placed on emergency services and their role and ability to act in incidents in challenging environments, for example, road tunnels. Collaboration between officers from emergency services (fire brigade, police and ambulance services) is important for an effective rescue effort. In Gothenburg, Sweden, a position as a senior ambulance officer (SAO) within the emergency medical services (EMS) has been introduced to support the regular force during major incidents. The aim of this paper was to explore the perceptions and experiences of the SAO's new management role in challenging incidents, such as those occurring in road tunnels. DESIGN: A qualitative interview study. SETTING: The study was carried out from February to June 2019 in Gothenburg, Sweden, which is a municipality with several road tunnels and a population of approximately 580 000 people. SAOs collaborate with the corresponding function within the police and fire brigade, both having senior officers at major incident sites. PARTICIPANTS: Twelve SAOs. METHODS: The study used semistructured interviews. The collected data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: According to SAOs' experience, prehospital medical management included not only leadership, but also planning, training and indepth knowledge of, for example, tunnel environments. Furthermore, SAOs adopted an encouraging and teaching role for their colleagues. SAOs' responsibilities also included proactive planning together with the fire brigade and police, which was regarded as enhancing interorganisational collaboration. An overall theme emerged which the SAOs described as 'A new holistic approach to EMS leadership and management'. CONCLUSIONS: The participants considered that the new SAO role not only seems to improve the prehospital medical management, but also makes the EMS command structure during challenging incidents symmetrical with the fire brigade and police command structure. The implementat