The dead and the dying - a difficult part of EMS transport: A Swiss cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Most deaths occur in the pre-hospital setting, whereas mortality in the emergency department (ED) is low (<1%). However, our clinical impression is that some patients are being transported to hospital in devastating conditions with no likelihood of survival, but demanding extensive hospital resources. The decision on whether to transport a dying person to hospital or not is a difficult task for emergency medical services (EMS) personnel. As there is little epidemiological data about these patients, this paper aims to describe this special population.

Methods

Retrospective cross-sectional study on adult patients transported by ground ambulance to the ED of a Swiss university hospital, who died during their stay in the ED between January 2008 and December 2012. Data

SUBMITTER: Hasler RM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5828436 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature