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Biomedical subjects

Erika Frischknecht Christensen

Publications and source records attributed to Erika Frischknecht Christensen.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

[Advanced prehospital care in patients with life-threatening conditions--survival rate, health status and functional level].

INTRODUCTION: In Aarhus, Denmark, advanced prehospital care was carried out by anaesthetists working in a rendezvous model with ordinary ambulances. The effect on the patient was evaluated by the physician on scene. The purpose of the study was to evaluate survival rate, health status and functional level in patients after lifesaving prehospital care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive data were reported to a prehospital database and the National Patient Registry. Data on survival from 1998 to 2000 were retrieved. Functional level was studied in lifesaving cases in the year 2000. We interviewed the general practitioners (GPs) involved according to EuroQol. The EuroQol interview concerned health status and function level. RESULTS: In 1998-2000, prehospital anaesthetists attended a total of 11,684 patients. Treatment was described as lifesaving in 238 (2%) of the cases, and 63% of the patients (151/238) were alive one year later. In the year 2000, 79 patients were identified as having had lifesaving treatment, and 48 were alive one year later; 67% (32/48) were without functional impairment according to EuroQol. The most frequent diagnoses were self-intoxication and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. CONCLUSION: Lifesaving prehospital care, as evaluated by the prehospital physician on scene, was performed in 2 percent of all cases attended by a prehospital anaesthetist. Of these patients, the majority were alive after one year and without functional impairment, according to their GP. The diagnoses were varied.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2005

[From accident to trauma center--the lapse of time for patients with severe head injuries].

INTRODUCTION: Early neurosurgical intervention and specialised neurointensive care have been shown to decrease morbidity and mortality in cases of severe head injury. This makes quick or direct transfer to a trauma centre essential. The aim of this study was to investigate the time from the time of the accident required for secondarily transferred patients with head injury to arrive at the trauma centre in Aarhus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a descriptive study based on consecutive data on patients secondarily transferred to Aarhus Trauma Centre in 2003. Only patients with head injury admitted to the neurosurgical intensive care unit were included. The time of the accident was defined as the time of dispatch of the ambulance. RESULTS: A total of 89 patients were transferred secondarily to the trauma centre in Aarhus 2003; 43 of these had head injury. The median Glasgow Coma Score was 6.5 (3-15). The median time from accident to arrival at the trauma centre was 3 hours and 50 minutes (44 minutes to 20 hours, 4 minutes), and 42% of the patients arrived later than 4 hours after the injury. The distance from the primary hospital to the trauma centre was between 1.9 and 172 kilometers, and there was no association between distance and time. DISCUSSION: The time from accident to arrival at the trauma centre was long, considering the severity of the injuries and the short distances involved. Direct transfer from the site of accident to the trauma centre would almost certainly improve the time. This study gives a reference value for the Danish trauma system.

Craniocerebral Trauma↗
PubMed2002

[Seriously injured patients intubated at the accident site. A three-year survey from the mobile emergency care unit in Aarhus].

BACKGROUND: The success rate of out-of-hospital endotracheal intubations performed by paramedics has been questioned. It seems to be difficult to achieve and keep a routine. The aim was to describe the severity of injuries and the number of such intubations in trauma patients treated by the Mobile Emergency Care Unit (MECU) staffed with an anaesthetist. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The case records of all trauma patients on whom the MECU, Arhus, performed endotracheal intubation at the accident site from 1 May 1997 to 30 April 2000 were studied. Lesions were classified according to the abbreviated injury scale (AIS), and the injury severity scores (ISS) were calculated. Severe injury was defined as an ISS > 15. RESULTS: Over the three-year period the MECU attended 2546 trauma patients, 95 (3.7%) of whom were intubated at the site. In one case, endotracheal intubation was not possible and cricothyrotomy had to be performed. Of the patients intubated at the site 65 had an ISS > 15. This, according to previous studies, corresponded to about 20% of all severely injured patients arriving at our hospital. Sixty patients had severe lesions in the head region. In sixty-eight cases (72%) endotracheal intubation was preceded by anaesthesia. DISCUSSION: Out-of-hospital endotracheal intubation of trauma patients was not a frequent intervention, as compared to all emergency calls, but it was relatively frequent in the severely injured brought to our hospital. If endotracheal intubation is to be one of the available interventions in the prehospital setting, this study confirms that it should preferably be done by physicians experienced in intubation and anaesthesia.

Abbreviated Injury Scale↗
PubMed2002

[Prehospital treatment of patients with acute exacerbation of chronic pulmonary disease. Before and after introduction of a mobile emergency unit].

INTRODUCTION: A Mobile Emergency Care Unit (MECU), manned by an anaesthesiologist and a member of the ambulance crew, was introduced in the city of Arhus in 1997. Endotracheal intubation is not performed by ambulance personnel in Denmark. The aim of this study was to describe the influence of prehospital treatment given by the MECU on the rate of endotracheal intubation, hospitalisation, and survival rate in patients suffering from acute exacerbation of chronic pulmonary disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We examined the data registered for patients with chronic pulmonary disease, who called for an emergency ambulance. The study covered two periods of three months: before the introduction of the MECU (September to November 1996) and after (September to November 1997). RESULTS: The study comprised 139 patients (72 patients before, 67 patients after). The MECU attended 57% of the patients. Endotracheal intubation was performed in eight patients: two before and six patients after, four of whom were intubated on the spot. Owing to the treatment given by the MECU on the spot, fewer patients were hospitalised, i.e. 50 patients (75%) versus 67 patients (93%) (p < 0.01). The survival rates were 76% before and 85% after. DISCUSSION: The MECU was a useful supplement to the ambulance service. The MECU intubated patients with acute exacerbation of pulmonary disease in the case of life-threatening respiratory failure, and in less severe cases treated the patients at home. Thus, prehospital treatment by a physician meant fewer admissions to hospital.

Acute Disease↗