Purpose of the study: Prehospital treatment and release of the patient may reduce emergency department (ED) crowding. Avoidance of inappropriate transports of patients or transport that the patient may perceive as superfluous may improve patient satisfaction. However, when releasing patients on site, safety is paramount. Our study aims to investigate the diagnostic patterns and the outcome in patients treated and released at the discretion of the attending prehospital anaesthesiologist in a physician-manned prehospital rapid response unit.
Material and methods: This retrospective study was set in the Odense municipality in the region of Southern Denmark. We studied all patients released at the scene from January 1st, 2011, to December 31st, 2020. Patient data were manually extracted from the in-hospital and prehospital medical records.
Results: We identified 3141 cases. 384 patients were excluded. Thus, 2757 cases were analyzed. The median patient age was 40 years. 47% of patients were female. The mortality rates were: 48-hour mortality: 2.2%; 7 days: 3.0%; 30 days: 4.5%. 59 of 60 patient that died within 48-hours were terminally ill and left in their homes to die a dignified death. When adjusting for these patients the mortality rates were: 48-hour mortality: 0.04%; 7 days: 0.8%; 30 days: 2.4%.75% of the population were assigned unspecific diagnoses within the ICD-10 chapters XVIII, XIX, and XXI. 239 (8.7%) patients had renewed contact with the EMS or the ED within 48 hours. Patients with respiratory diseases had the highest rate of renewed contact. 14.9% of these patients had an ED contact within 48 hours of being released at the prehospital scene.
Conclusion: Patients treated and released sought renewed ED contact in 8.7% of cases. However, caution should be exercised when releasing patients with respiratory symptoms at the scene. Mortality rates in non-conveyed patients were lower than in comparable populations.

Non-conveyance in an anesthesiologist-manned mobile emergency care unit

Implementation of the Guidelines - How do we put the new ERC Guidelines into practice?

On 16 and 17 June, we are organising our first-ever hybrid congress. You will be able to join us live at the beautiful conference venue in Antwerp, Belgium and present your Poster. 

We are happy to welcome you to Resuscitation 2022!