Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine

COVID-19 UPDATES

Air ambulance services are facing several challenges when dealing with highly infectious patients. We collect here all most recent research updates on COVID-19 emergency procedures published in the journal to make them easily discoverable to the research community

GCS ≤ 8: IS INTUBATION THE FIRST CHOICE?

Despite the relationship between the level of consciousness and intubation need is not yet sufficiently subject to evidence-based medicine, it is customary to believe that a patient with GCS ≤ 8 should be intubated to avoid aspiration, or aspiration pneumonia/pneumonitis, and consequently, reduce mortality. Does the coma's state etiology have a word on this?  Read more in D. Orso et al. study.

WHAT'S PRIMARILY TO CARE IN PATIENTS TRAPPED IN MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISIONS?

Prolonged entrapment and/or intrusion into a vehicle after a collision is considered high risk for significant injury. Extrication methods are focused on the prevention of secondary spinal injury through movement minimisation and mitigation .....but which types and in what rate other time-critical injuries occur?
T. Nutbeam et al. analysed data from 63,625 injured patients to help guide meaningful patient-focused interventions and future extrication strategies.

EFFICIENT AND TIMELY AIRWAY MANAGEMENT FOR TRAUMA PATIENTS

Hypoxia and adverse events associated with intubation occur frequently during emergency airway management particularly when repeated attempts at laryngoscopy are required.
K. Crewdson et al. investigate whether the introduction of apnoeic oxygenation would reduce the frequency of desaturation in a population of trauma patients undergoing PHEA

VIRTUAL REALITY: IMMAGINARY WORLD OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE REAL WORLD

Virtual Reality (VR) is a computer-generated simulation of the real or imaginary world that offers real time interaction opportunities. Every conceivable scenario can be implemented in a virtual world via the software and offers the user numerous possibilities.
Because of this high level of immersion, VR is an interesting and promising new way of teaching in a medical context, and its use is quickly expanding.
Read an interesting implementation for cardiopulmonary resuscitation training in this review by M- Issleib et al.

WHY DO INFANTS NEED OUT-OF-HOSPITAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES?

Infants form a small but distinct group in pediatric EMS care, with specific characteristics differing from the overall pediatric population. The challenges encountered in emergency medical services  contacts with children are likely most pronounced in infants. Experiencing challenges and feeling anxious when attending to pediatric patients may lead into true patient safety hazards, as significant medication errors. Jelena Oulasvirta et al in this cohort study evaluate specifics needs, skills and challenges.

CHALLENGES IN MOUNTAIN RESCUE

Multiple trauma management in mountain environments can be demanding. Safety of the rescuers and the victim has priority and time for on-site medical treatment must be balanced against the need for rapid transfer to a trauma centre and should be as short as possible. Read the Evidence based guidelines of the International Commission for Mountain Emergency Medicine (ICAR MedCom) for physicians and other advanced life support personnel.

PROS & CONS OF SMARTPHONE-BASED ACTIVATION OF COMMUNITY FIRST RESPONDERS FOR OUT OF HOSPITAL CARDIAC ARREST

A Community First Responder (CFR) is a local volunteer who agrees to undertake training in Basic Life Support. Over the past decade Smartphone-based activation (SBA) of Community First Responders (CFR) to out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) has gained much attention and popularity throughout Europe. C. Metelmann et al. review the current state of SBA of CFR in five European countries, reveal pros & cons, and presents consensus statements to support public decision making on future strategies.

REBOA: WHERE ARE WE & WHERE DO WE GO?

The role of the Resuscitative Endovascular Occlusion of the Aorta (REBOA) has been recently rediscovered and many trauma centres and some pre-hospital services are considering whether endovascular resuscitation should have a place in their services. M.A. Thrailkill et al. from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda give a comprehensive and balanced description of the techniques, the evidence to date and where the immediate future is likely to take us.

The top five research priorities in physician-provided pre-hospital critical care

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