Prehospital anaesthesia by a helicopter emergency medicine service: a review
O'Neill, Ronan Topping, Andrew Monaghan, Darren O'Rorke, Glenn Hay, Philip Mitchell, Hannah McFetridge, Lisa
O'Neill, Ronan
Topping, Andrew
Monaghan, Darren
O'Rorke, Glenn
Hay, Philip
Mitchell, Hannah
McFetridge, Lisa
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Abstract
Background:
The Northern Ireland (NI) Ambulance Service launched its helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) in 2017.
Aims:
This paper reviews the first 200 cases of prehospital emergency anaesthesia (PHEA).
Methods:
A retrospective review of the NI HEMS intubation database between 29 July 2017 and 28 February 2021 was conducted.
Findings:
PHEA was delivered as rapid sequence intubation (RSI). There was a 100% RSI success rate. The mean 999 call to RSI time was 65.9 minutes (median=61 minutes), with 14.6% of procedures carried out within the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence target of 45 minutes or less. The first pass oral intubation rate was 89.3%. There was a significant difference in the number of male compared to female patients (men=145; women=55; P≤0.0001).
Conclusion:
PHEA delivery by the HEMS since it was set up has been successful provided in a safe, robust manner. Reducing the 999 call to RSI time in line with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence target was identified as an area for development.
Abstract published with permission