Emergency Intubation by Ambulance Crews

Doubts over the ability of ambulance crews to master the skills required to provide emergency intubation have been raised by Danish researchers, according to a study published in the September issue of the British Medical Journal.

The study involved 220 severely injured patients who were intubated by a mobile emergency care unit that was staffed with an anesthetist. The mobile unit brought 172 of these patients to a hospital, and 74 were intubated before reaching the hospital. Of these, thirty-six (58%) who were given anesthetics and one who was not given anesthetics all survived at least six months. The results contrasted with an earlier study of emergency helicopter service in London, which found that intubation without drugs was hopeless.

The environment out of hospitals is different, and support and resources are limited, said the authors. "We question whether anesthesia and intubation of trauma patients can be mastered and routinely be maintained by ambulance personnel.” The researchers were from the University Hospital of Aarhus (Denmark).




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U. Hospital of Aarhus