Table 1 Clinical Characteristics of Primary HEMS Missions
From: Mechanical chest compression devices in the helicopter emergency medical service in Switzerland
Variable | Women, n = 101 (21%) | Men, n = 377 (79%) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Trauma n = 17 (17%) | Non-Trauma n = 84 (83%) | Trauma n = 53 (14%) | Non-Trauma n = 324 (86%) | |
Age, mean ± SD | 59 ± 17 | 58 ± 17 | 53 ± 17 | 58 ± 17 |
Autopulse standby | – | – | – | 15 (5%) |
Asphyxiation/Drowning | 9 (53%) | – | 11 (21%) | – |
Avalanche/Hypothermia | 2 (12%) | – | 8 (15%) | – |
Blunt multiple trauma | 6 (35%) | – | 32 (60%) | – |
Other/Unknown | – | – | 2 (4%) | – |
Presumed cardiac | – | 27 (32%) | – | 144 (44%) |
Respiratory | – | – | – | 4 (1%) |
Other/Unknown | – | 57 (68%) | – | 176 (54%) |
Defibrillation | – | 40 (48%) | 5 (9%) | 198 (61%) |
In flight | – | 1 (1%) | – | 12 (4%) |
AED | – | 3 (4%) | – | 17 (5%) |
Initial cardiac rhythm | ||||
VF/VT | 1 (6%) | 33 (39%) | 1 (2%) | 168 (52%) |
PEA/Asystole | 16 (94%) | 33 (39%) | 49 (92%) | 109 (34%) |
Unknown | – | 18 (21%) | 3 (6%) | 47 (15%) |
Lay CPR before EMS arrival | 7 (41%) | 36 (43%) | 25 (47%) | 187 (58%) |
ROSC | 4 (24%) | 59 (70%) | 20 (38%) | 225 (69%) |
Intubation | 17 (100%) | 84 (100%) | 53 (100%) | 309 (95%) |
Transport with ongoing CPR | 3 (17%)* | 8 (10%) | 12 (23%)* | 26 (8%) |
Time on scene | ||||
< 30 min | 1 (6%) | 13 (15%) | 10 (19%) | 90 (28%) |
30–60 min | – | 19 (23%) | 23 (43%) | 78 (24%) |
> 60 min | – | 4 (5%) | – | 4 (1%) |
Unknown | – | – | – | – |
Outcome | ||||
Hospital discharge | – | 11 (13%) | 1 (2%) | 76 (23%) |
Death | 17 (100%) | 48 (57%) | 52 (98%) | 180 (56%) |
Unknown | – | 25 (30%) | – | 68 (21%) |