Pre-hospital anaesthesia and assessment of head injured patients presenting to a UK Helicopter Emergency Medical Service with a high Glasgow Coma Scale: a cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Patients who sustain a head injury but maintain a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of 13-15 may still be suffering from a significant brain injury. We aimed to assess the appropriateness of triage and decision to perform prehospital rapid sequence induction (RSI) in patients attended by a UK Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) following head injury.

Design

A retrospective cohort study of patients attended by Kent Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance Trust (KSSAAT) HEMS.

Setting

A mixed urban and rural area of 4.5 million people in South East England.

Participants

GCS score of 13, 14 or 15 on arrival of the HEMS team and clinical findings suggesting head injury. Patients accompanied by the HEMS team to hospital ('Escorted'), and those that were 'Assisted' bu

SUBMITTER: Bootland D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6377567 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature