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Critical care paramedics: Where is the evidence? A systematic review

Von Vopelius-Feldt, Johannes; Wood, John; Benger, Jonathan

Critical care paramedics: Where is the evidence? A systematic review Thumbnail


Authors

John Wood

Jonathan Benger



Abstract

© 2014, BMJ Publishing Group. All rights reserved. Objectives: Paramedic-delivered prehospital critical care is an established concept in a number of emergency medical services around the world and, more recently, has been introduced to the UK. This review identifies and describes the available evidence relating to paramedics who routinely provide prehospital critical care as primary scene response (critical care paramedics, or CCP). Methods: A systematic search of electronic databases was performed: CENTRAL, EMBASE, MEDLINE (through EMBASE and Web of Knowledge) and Web of Science (through Web of Knowledge). Results: The search identified 12 relevant publications, one of which was a randomised controlled trial. The remaining 11 were retrospective studies. Five studies compared CCPs with physician-led care. Three of these publications demonstrated improved outcomes with physician care, while two showed no difference. Four further publications examined CCPs versus non-physician-led care and found improved outcomes (two studies), mixed effects (one study) and no difference (one study) for CCPs. Finally, three publications addressed the addition of skills to CCP competencies. A randomised controlled trial of CCP rapid sequence induction (RSI) and tracheal intubation demonstrated improved neurologic outcomes. CCP tube thoracostomy was shown to have similar complication rates to the same procedure performed in the emergency department, while addition of a non-invasive ventilation protocol to CCP practice had no effect on long-term mortality. Conclusions: There is limited evidence to support the concept of paramedic-delivered prehospital critical care. The best available evidence suggests a benefit from prehospital RSI carried out by CCPs in patients with severe traumatic brain injury, but the impact of CCPs remains unclear for many conditions. Further high-quality research in this area would be welcome.

Citation

Von Vopelius-Feldt, J., Wood, J., & Benger, J. (2014). Critical care paramedics: Where is the evidence? A systematic review. Emergency Medicine Journal, 31(12), 1016-1024. https://doi.org/10.1136/emermed-2013-202721

Journal Article Type Review
Acceptance Date Sep 12, 2013
Publication Date Jan 1, 2014
Deposit Date Jan 9, 2015
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Emergency Medicine Journal
Print ISSN 1472-0205
Electronic ISSN 1472-0213
Publisher BMJ Publishing Group
Volume 31
Issue 12
Pages 1016-1024
DOI https://doi.org/10.1136/emermed-2013-202721
Keywords critical care paramedics, systematic review
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/940913
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/emermed-2013-202721
Additional Information Additional Information : This is the author's accepted manuscript. The final published version is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/emermed-2013-202721.

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