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Reduced emergency department stabilization time before cranial computed tomography in patients undergoing air medical transport.
- Source :
-
Air medical journal [Air Med J] 1997 Jul-Sep; Vol. 16 (3), pp. 73-5. - Publication Year :
- 1997
-
Abstract
- Introduction: Advanced patient stabilization skills provided by air medical providers were hypothesized to result in streamlined emergency department (ED) stabilization of patients with head injuries requiring urgent cranial computed tomography (CCT). The goal of this study was to compare initial ED stabilization times between air- and ground-transported patients requiring urgent CCT and emergency neurosurgical hematoma evacuation.<br />Setting: Academic Level trauma center (annual ED census 60,000) receiving patients from ground EMS and a nurse/paramedic air medical transport team.<br />Methods: This retrospective study identified, from a database of 15 months of ED visits, consecutive group of adults who had CCT performed within 60 minutes of ED arrival and underwent emergent craniotomy for intracranial hematoma. Demographics, hemodynamic status, patient acuity, and time intervals between ED and CCT suite arrivals were compared between air and ground patients using chi-square, Fisher's exact, and t-tests (p = 0.05).<br />Results: Eleven air- and 39 ground-transported patients were eligible. All patient acuity data were similar between groups. Air patients were more likely to be intubated (100% versus 71.8%, p = .04) and had shorter mean ED stabilization times (29 versus 40 minutes, p = .02) than the ground.<br />Conclusion: This study suggests that advanced patient stabilization offered by air medical transport may result in reduced ED stabilization time for patients requiring urgent craniotomy.
- Subjects :
- Academic Medical Centers organization & administration
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Craniotomy
Female
Hematoma diagnostic imaging
Hematoma physiopathology
Hematoma surgery
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Retrospective Studies
Severity of Illness Index
United States
Air Ambulances statistics & numerical data
Craniocerebral Trauma diagnostic imaging
Emergency Service, Hospital organization & administration
Time and Motion Studies
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Transportation of Patients statistics & numerical data
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1067-991X
- Volume :
- 16
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Air medical journal
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 10169178
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/s1067-991x(97)90018-3