From: Is advanced life support better than basic life support in prehospital care? A systematic review
Reference | Author(s) of review, year, country | description of a review | contents of the review | assessment of the review | conclusion |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 | Liberman et al. 2000, Canada | non-systematic review, traumas only | 15 studies from years 1983-1997; classification according to quality: 1. medium quality 5 studies favouring ALS, 1 study favouring BLS. 2.high quality: 1 favouring ALS, 1 study favouring BLS 3. very high quality: 1 favouring ALS, 6 favouring BLS | In general the quality of studies was poor, many studies quite old, the follow-up periods starting even from 1930's. | 7 studies favourintg ALS, 8 studies favouring BLS. Studies of higher quality favouring BLS. |
6 | Sethi et al. 2000 England | A systematic Cochrane-review | Only one study included | No difference between ALS and BLS | |
7 | Nicholl et al. 2003, England | A systematic review on the effectiveness of helicopter services | 36 original studies | HEMS better than ground transportation, mortality OR = 0,86, not statistically significant. | |
8 | Koskinen 2005, Finland | thesis for master's degree in health economics, contains a non-systematic review | 36 original studies | In general the quality of studies was poor | cost-effectiveness of a helicopter service was assessed to be 5750 €/life year gained (confidence interval 2000 - 24500€) |
9 | Isenberg and Bissel, 2005, Canada | A non-systematic review, four parts: 1. trauma 2. cardiac arrest 3. cardiac infarct 4. distubances of consciousness | 20 original articles, 2 meta-analyses from years 1984-2004 | 1. Trauma: 14 studies, 8 favouring ALS, 6 BLS. All new studies favouring BLS 2. cardiac arrest: early resuscitation and defibrillation associated with better survival, no special effect of ALS detected. 3. Cardiac infarct: 1 study, no difference between ALS and BLS. 4. Disturbances of consciousness, 1 study, no difference between ALS and BLS. | In general results favouring BLS. Review for paramedic-ALS only, physician-ALS excluded. |
10,11 | Thomas 2004, Thomas 2007 | Qualitative review, renovation by a new version | No conclusion | ||
1 | Liberman 2007 | Opinion-based article about trauma treatment, grounded by a non-systematic review | In general favouring BLS. |