Traumatic brain injury (TBIs) necessitates a rapid and comprehensive medical response to minimize secondary brain injury and reduce mortality. Emergency medical services (EMS) clinicians serve a critical role in the management of prehospital TBI, responding during an initial phase of care with significant impact on patient outcomes. We used versions two and three of the Brain Trauma Foundation (BTF) Prehospital Guidelines for the Management of Traumatic Brain Injury and the NASEMSO National Model Clinical Guidelines to determine key elements for a TBI prehospital protocol and included common factors across sources such as recommendations concerning patient monitoring, hypoxia, hypotension, hyperventilation, cerebral herniation, airway management, hyperosmolar therapy, and transport destination. We then conducted a cross-sectional evaluation of publicly available statewide EMS clinical protocols in the US to determine the degree of alignment with national guidelines. We calculated descriptive statistics for each factor in the state protocols. Despite adoption of some evidence-based recommendations for a standard approach to the prehospital management of patients with TBI, we found significant variability in statewide EMS treatment protocols for management of severe TBI, especially in the recommended frequency of patient reassessment and for the management of suspected herniation. Most statewide protocols provided guidance regarding oxygenation, ventilation, and blood pressure management that aligned with evidence-based guidelines. While most protocols did address management of oxygenation and ventilation, one in four protocols had no specific guidance for managing hypoxia and only 31% of protocols recommended avoiding hyperventilation. For the management of suspected cerebral herniation, over half of statewide protocols recommended hyperventilation, whereas only 31% explicitly advised against hyperventilation regardless of TBI severity. Interestingly, 94% of protocols do not mention the use of hyperosmolar therapy for TBI patients, neither recommending use or avoidance of hyperosmolar therapy. In conclusion, we found inconsistent adoption of national recommendations in available statewide protocols for prehospital TBI management. We identified significant gaps and variation in statewide protocols regarding patient monitoring and reassessment, as well as in several key areas of severe TBI management.

UNASSIGNED: Emergency medical services (EMS) provide health care in situations with limited time and resources. Challenges arise when introducing novel medications, treatments, or technologies or modifying existing practices in these settings. Effective implementation strategies are pivotal for their success. This study aims to identify and categorize potential facilitators and barriers in the implementation of prehospital EMS through a review of relevant research articles.
UNASSIGNED: We searched PubMed and EMbase to identify studies published before December 2023, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for our search strategy and scoping review. We included original articles written in English that report on the factors that influence the implementation in prehospital settings. We extracted and categorized the factors into different themes.
UNASSIGNED: Out of the 371 retrieved papers, we selected 19 (5%) for inclusion in this review. We extracted 46 influencing factors from the selected articles and categorized them into ten themes: (1) Outer system, (2) Inner system, (3) Practitioner characteristics, (4) Resources, (5) Communication and collaboration, (6) Patient factors, (7) Intervention characteristics, (8) De-implementation of prior practices, (9) Logistical issues, and (10) Quality improvement.
UNASSIGNED: This study examined the literature on EMS implementation factors and proposed a 10-theme EMS model framework. Key factors include training/education, equipment/tools, communication with hospitals, and practitioners\' attitudes.

BACKGROUND: Falls are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among older adults in the USA. Current approaches to fall prevention often rely on referral by primary care providers or enrolment during inpatient admissions. Community emergency medical services (CEMS) present a unique opportunity to rapidly identify older adults at risk for falls and provide fall prevention interventions in the home. In this systematic review, we seek to assess the efficacy and qualitative factors determining success of these programs.
METHODS: Studies reporting the outcomes of fall prevention interventions delivered by EMS were identified by searching the electronic databases PubMed, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, CINAHL and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials through 11 July 2023.
RESULTS: 35 studies including randomised and non-randomised experimental trials, systematic reviews and qualitative research primarily from Western Europe, the USA, Australia and Canada were included in our analysis. Current fall prevention efforts focus heavily on postfall referral of at-risk community members. CEMS fall prevention interventions reduced all-cause and fall-related emergency department encounters, subsequent falls and EMS calls for lift assist. These interventions also improved patient health-related quality of life, independence with activities of daily living, and secondary health outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS: CEMS programmes provide an opportunity for direct, proactive fall prevention on the individual level. Addressing barriers to implementation in the context of current emergency medical systems in the USA is the next step toward widespread implementation of these novel fall prevention interventions.

BACKGROUND: Parenteral ketorolac and intravenous (IV) acetaminophen have been used for prehospital analgesia, yet limited data exist on their comparative effectiveness.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the comparative effectiveness of IV acetaminophen and parenteral ketorolac for analgesia in the prehospital setting.
METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional evaluation of patients receiving IV acetaminophen or parenteral ketorolac for pain management in a large suburban EMS system between 1/1/2019 and 11/30/2021. The primary outcome was change in first to last pain score. Subgroup analysis was performed on patients with traumatic pain. We used inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and propensity score matching (PSM) to estimate the treatment effect of acetaminophen versus ketorolac among all patients and the subgroup of those with traumatic pain.
RESULTS: Of 2178 patients included, 856 (39.3%) received IV acetaminophen and 1322 (60.7%) received parenteral ketorolac. The unadjusted mean change in pain score was -1.9 (SD 2.4) for acetaminophen group and -2.4 (SD 2.4) for ketorolac. In the propensity score analyses, there was no statistically significant difference in pain score change for the acetaminophen group versus ketorolac among all patients (mean difference, IPTW: 0.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.16, 0.37; PSM: 0.15, 95% CI -0.13, 0.43) and among those with traumatic pain (unadjusted: 0.18, 95% CI -0.35, 0.72; IPTW: 0.23, 95% CI -0.25, 0.71; PSM: -0.03, 95% CI -0.61, 0.54).
CONCLUSIONS: We found no statistically significant difference in mean pain reduction of IV acetaminophen and parenteral ketorolac for management of acute pain.

BACKGROUND: Enhanced detection of large vessel occlusion (LVO) through machine learning (ML) for acute ischemic stroke appears promising. This systematic review explored the capabilities of ML models compared with prehospital stroke scales for LVO prediction.
RESULTS: Six bibliographic databases were searched from inception until October 10, 2023. Meta-analyses pooled the model performance using area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and summary receiver operating characteristic curve. Of 1544 studies screened, 8 retrospective studies were eligible, including 32 prehospital stroke scales and 21 ML models. Of the 9 prehospital scales meta-analyzed, the Rapid Arterial Occlusion Evaluation had the highest pooled AUC (0.82 [95% CI, 0.79-0.84]). Support Vector Machine achieved the highest AUC of 9 ML models included (pooled AUC, 0.89 [95% CI, 0.88-0.89]). Six prehospital stroke scales and 10 ML models were eligible for summary receiver operating characteristic analysis. Pooled sensitivity and specificity for any prehospital stroke scale were 0.72 (95% CI, 0.68-0.75) and 0.77 (95% CI, 0.72-0.81), respectively; summary receiver operating characteristic curve AUC was 0.80 (95% CI, 0.76-0.83). Pooled sensitivity for any ML model for LVO was 0.73 (95% CI, 0.64-0.79), specificity was 0.85 (95% CI, 0.80-0.89), and summary receiver operating characteristic curve AUC was 0.87 (95% CI, 0.83-0.89).
CONCLUSIONS: Both prehospital stroke scales and ML models demonstrated varying accuracies in predicting LVO. Despite ML potential for improved LVO detection in the prehospital setting, application remains limited by the absence of prospective external validation, limited sample sizes, and lack of real-world performance data in a prehospital setting.

UNASSIGNED: Intranasal (IN) medications offer a safe non-invasive way to rapidly deliver drugs in situations where intravenous (IV) access and intramuscular (IM) administration is challenging or not feasible. In the prehospital setting, this can be an essential alternative in time critical situations including trauma management, seizures, and agitated patients. However, there is a paucity of evidence summarizing its efficacy in this environment. This systematic review aims to assess the current evidence supporting the use of IN medicine (midazolam, ketamine, fentanyl, morphine, glucagon, and naloxone) in the prehospital setting alone.
UNASSIGNED: A systematic literature search (PROSPERO CRD42023440713) of PubMed, Web of Science, OVID Medline, \"Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials,\" Cochrane reviews and Embase was performed from inception to June 2023 to identify studies where IN medications were administered to patients in the prehospital setting. All randomized controlled trials, observational cohort studies, case series, and case reports were included. Papers not written in English, review articles, abstracts, and non-published data (including letters to the editor) were excluded. The methodological quality of the included studies was interpreted using the Cochrane risk of bias tool and rated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. No funding was received.
UNASSIGNED: From 4818 studies, 39 were included (seven for midazolam, five for ketamine, twelve for fentanyl, one for diamorphine, two for glucagon, and twelve for naloxone). A total of 24,097 patients were treated with IN medications across all the studies. There were five moderate quality, four low quality, and thirty very low quality studies. The potential efficacy of IN fentanyl and ketamine was demonstrated consistently throughout the studies with less clear evidence for midazolam, morphine, glucagon, and naloxone. This review was severely limited by the study quality, with most studies demonstrating \"high concerns\" for bias.
UNASSIGNED: Prehospital IN medication administration has wide-ranging potential, particularly for administering analgesia. There are likely to be certain populations, for example, pediatrics, that will benefit the most, although conclusions are limited by the quality of evidence currently available. We encourage additional research in this area, particularly with robust prospective double-blind RCTs.

BACKGROUND: The need for a stronger evidence-base in paramedicine has precipitated a rapid development of prehospital research agendas. Paramedics are increasingly involved in research, leading to changes in their role. Yet, the integration of research responsibilities has proven to be challenging, resulting in varying attitudes and levels of engagement.
OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aimed to explore paramedics\' views and experiences of research as researchers during training and within practice.
METHODS: A systematic search was performed across six databases. Qualitative empirical peer-reviewed articles that discussed paramedic perspectives on engaging with research activity were included. Of 10,594 articles identified initially, 11 were included in the final synthesis after quality appraisal. Data were extracted and subjected to narrative synthesis.
RESULTS: The following four themes were identified: motivation to engage, moral dilemmas, structural issues within the profession, and reflections on trial involvement. Attitudes toward research, understanding of related concepts, and the drive for patient benefit were interwoven core issues.
CONCLUSIONS: Research was highly valued when links to patient benefit were obvious, however, this review highlights some cultural resistance to research, particularly regarding informed consent and changes to standard practice. Paramedic research methods training should provide structured opportunities to explore concerns and emphasize the role of research in developing a high-quality evidence base to underpin safe practice. Currently, there is inadequate organizational support for paramedics to engage effectively in research activity, with minimal allocations of time, training, and remuneration. Without properly integrating research activity into the paramedic role, their capacity to engage with research activity is limited.

BACKGROUND: Organ donation is a life-saving intervention that provides hope for patients with end-stage organ failure, improving their longevity and quality of life. However, the demand for organs far exceeds the supply, leading to a significant disparity between patients on transplant waiting lists and the availability of suitable organs. To address this issue, innovative strategies, such as uncontrolled donation after circulatory death (uDCD) programs, have been proposed to expand the donor pool to the prehospital setting.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to systematically map the literature and comprehensively evaluate the involvement of prehospital healthcare professionals in identifying potential organ donors, as well as the barriers and systems impacting this process.
METHODS: A scoping literature review was conducted guided by the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews. Four electronic databases and grey literature were searched for articles examining the participation of prehospital healthcare professionals in the organ or tissue donation process. Relevant data were extracted, organised into narrative and tabular formats, and presented.
RESULTS: A total of 33 articles were included for analysis, predominantly focusing on uDCD programs. The review identified a limited evidence-base regarding the role of prehospital healthcare professionals in organ donation. Four common themes emerged: discrepancies in criteria, decision-making processes, bridging strategies, and ethical considerations.
CONCLUSIONS: This scoping literature review highlights the significant role of prehospital healthcare professionals in identifying and recruiting organ donors from non-traditional settings. Established uDCD systems show promise in alleviating the burden on transplant waitlists. However, there is a lack of consensus on enrolment criteria, transportation, and ethical considerations for uDCD. Further research is needed to address these gaps, establish evidence-based guidelines, and ensure the efficient and ethical utilisation of potential organ donors from unconventional settings.

BACKGROUND: Airway management is a cornerstone in the prehospital care of critically ill or injured patients. Surgical cricothyrotomy offers a rapid and effective solution when oxygenation and ventilation fail using less-invasive techniques. However, the exact indications, incidence, and success of prehospital surgical cricothyrotomy are unknown, with variable rates reported in the literature. This study aimed to examine prehospital indications and success rates for surgical cricothyrotomy within a large, suburban, ground-based Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system.
METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of 31 patients who underwent paramedic performed surgical cricothyrotomy from 2012 through 2022. Key demographic parameters were analyzed, including the incidence of cardiac arrest, call type (trauma versus medical), initial airway management attempts, number of endotracheal intubation (ETI) attempts before surgical airway, and average time to the establishment of a surgical airway in relation to the number of ETI attempts. Surgical cricothyrotomy success was defined as the acquisition of four-phase end-tidal capnography reading. The primary data sources were the EMS electronic medical records, and descriptive statistics were calculated.
RESULTS: A total of 31 patients were included in the final analysis. Of those who received a surgical cricothyrotomy, 42% (13/31) occurred in the trauma setting, while 58% (18/31) were medical calls. In all patients who underwent surgical cricothyrotomy, the median (IQR) time to the procedure was 17 minutes (IQR = 11-24). In trauma patients, the median time to surgical cricothyrotomy was 12 minutes (IQR = 9-19) versus 19 minutes (IQR = 14-33) in medical patients. End-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) detection and placement success was confirmed in 94% (29/31) of patients. Endotracheal intubation was attempted in 55% (17/31) before subsequent surgical cricothyrotomy, with 29% (9/31) receiving more than one ETI attempt. The median time to surgical cricothyrotomy when multiple prior intubation attempts occurred was 33 minutes (IQR = 23-36) compared to 14.5 minutes (IQR = 6-19) in patients without a preceding intubation attempt.
CONCLUSIONS: Prehospital surgical airway can be performed by paramedics with a high degree of success. Identification of the need for surgical cricothyrotomy should be determined as soon as possible to allow for rapid securement of the airway and to ensure adequate oxygenation and ventilation.

UNASSIGNED: Confirming proper placement of an endotracheal tube (ETT) is important, as accidental misplacements may occur and lead to critical injuries, potentially leading to adverse outcomes. Multiple methods are available for determining the correct ETT placement in prehospital care.
UNASSIGNED: To assess the accuracy and reliability of the different methods used to confirm endotracheal intubation in prehospital settings.
UNASSIGNED: A comprehensive literature search was performed in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases for studies that were published between 1-June-1992 and 12-June-2022 using a combination of predetermined search terms. Studies that met the inclusion criteria were included and assessed for risk of bias using \"Risk of Bias in Non-randomized Studies of Intervention\" tool.
UNASSIGNED: Of the 1016 identified studies, nine met the inclusion criteria. Capnography and point-of-care ultrasound showed high sensitivity and specificity rates when applied to confirm ETT placement in prehospital care. Other methods including capnometry, colorimetric detectors, ODDs, and auscultation showed varied sensitivity and specificity. Patient comorbidities and device failure contributed to decreased accuracy rates in prehospital care. Capnography was less reliable in distinguishing between endotracheal intubation and right main stem intubation, which is known as a complication in out-of-hospital endotracheal intubation. Point-of-care ultrasound was more accurate and reliable in detecting oesophageal and endobronchial misplacements. ETCO2 monitors, i.e., capnometry and colorimetric detectors, were less reliable in patients with low perfusion states.
UNASSIGNED: This systematic review showed that there is no single method with 100% accuracy in confirming the correct ETT placement and detecting the occurrence of accidental oesophageal or endobronchial misplacements in prehospital care. Further studies with a larger sample size are needed to assess the accuracy of multiple confirmatory methods in prehospital settings.