Prehospital emergency care
Audio Summaries

The Prevalence of Adverse Events After Prehospital Neuromuscular Blockade-Assisted Airway Management

Aug 3, 2026

The authors aimed to estimate the prevalence of adverse events associated with prehospital neuromuscular blockade-assisted airway management in the United States. Their study found that 27.5% of patients experienced at least one adverse event, with hypoxemia being the most common at 25%, highlighting the need for emergency medical services to implement measures to mitigate these risks.

National Characteristics of Emergency Medical Services in Rural and Frontier Areas: A 2024 Update on Rural-Urban Differences in EMS Care

Jul 30, 2026

The authors aimed to update the understanding of rural-urban differences in emergency medical services (EMS) care and outcomes using data from the 2024 National EMS Information System. They found that rural EMS responses had higher on-scene mortality rates and greater air-medical use compared to urban responses, with the rural trauma-mortality disparity largely attributable to patient characteristics rather than geographic factors. Notably, the previously observed rural disadvantage in stroke mortality was no longer present, indicating improvements in stroke care systems.

Prehospital resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) in patients with major trauma and cardiac arrest: a systematic review

Jul 30, 2026

This systematic review aims to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of prehospital resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) in patients experiencing major trauma and cardiac arrest. The findings indicate that while REBOA can be successfully deployed in a majority of cases, survival rates and complications vary significantly, highlighting the need for more robust studies to better understand its impact on patient outcomes in prehospital settings. Overall, the evidence remains limited due to methodological limitations and a lack of comprehensive data on survival rates.

Determinants of Timely Prehospital Thrombolysis Administration within a Pharmacoinvasive STEMI Network in Victoria, Australia

Jul 29, 2026

The authors aimed to determine the proportion of patients receiving prehospital thrombolysis (PHT) within 30 minutes of first medical contact (FMC) and to identify factors influencing timely administration within a pharmacoinvasive STEMI network in Victoria, Australia. They found that only 32.5% of patients achieved this timely treatment, with delays linked to older age, mild pain severity, after-hours presentations, and the need for clinical consultation. The study highlights significant opportunities for improving the efficiency of thrombolysis administration in emergency settings.

The estimated prevalence of multiple record encounters in the National Emergency Medical Services Information System

Jul 29, 2026

The authors aimed to evaluate the prevalence of multiple record encounters within the National Emergency Medical Services Information System (NEMSIS) to better understand the extent of potentially related records for single patient care episodes. Their analysis of over 36 million EMS records revealed that 99.4% represented unique episodes of care, with only 0.5% involving multiple records, indicating that while duplicate documentation is rare, it should still be considered in analyses, especially for specific clinical subpopulations.

Signs of Life During Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Jul 21, 2026

The authors aimed to evaluate the prevalence of signs of life during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) resuscitation and their association with survival outcomes. They found that 25.3% of treated OHCA patients exhibited at least one sign of life, with those signs being strongly linked to improved survival rates, particularly when observed after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). This study suggests that recognizing signs of life can provide valuable prognostic information during prehospital resuscitation efforts.

Emergency Medical Services Physician-Led Activation for Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Jul 17, 2026

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an EMS physician-led prehospital activation protocol for extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) in patients experiencing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) with refractory ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation. The findings indicated that 4.3% of OHCA patients were eligible for ECPR, with a successful activation rate of 66.7% and a survival rate to hospital discharge of 40% among those who underwent cannulation. The authors suggest that further research is necessary to assess the broader impact of this protocol on patient outcomes.

Differential association of prehospital physician presence with outcomes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: Secondary analysis of a nationwide registry

Jul 17, 2026

The authors aimed to determine whether the presence of a physician during prehospital care affects survival outcomes in patients experiencing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) across various subgroups. Their analysis of a nationwide registry revealed that physician involvement was associated with improved neurological outcomes at 30 days, particularly in patients with unwitnessed arrests, although no significant benefit was observed in those receiving extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR). The authors suggest that these findings warrant further prospective studies to better identify which patient subgroups may benefit most from physician presence.

National Patterns of Pediatric Emergency Department Utilization by Arrival Mode and Geographic Setting: Final Data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey 2016-2022

Jul 17, 2026

The authors aimed to characterize national patterns of pediatric emergency department (ED) utilization from 2016 to 2022, focusing on the mode of arrival (EMS vs. non-EMS), metropolitan status, and changes in diagnostic composition. They found that while children represented about 22% of all ED visits, only 4.4% arrived by EMS, with these cases typically being of higher acuity and increasingly involving psychiatric conditions. The study highlights the significant yet infrequent nature of pediatric EMS encounters and the need for improved pediatric readiness in emergency care systems.

Developing an EMS Research Reading List for EMS Practitioners

Jul 16, 2026

The authors aimed to create a prioritized reading list of high-impact primary research publications relevant to emergency medical services (EMS) to aid practitioners and leaders in identifying essential literature. By soliciting input from experts and evaluating recent EMS studies published between 2021 and 2023, they identified ten key articles that should be emphasized in EMS education and practice to enhance evidence-based out-of-hospital care.