Assessment of HEMS Teams Performance in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA)

Abstract

Introduction:

The Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) procedures constitute one of the most quantifiable indicators of the quality of Emergency Medical Services (EMS). In Poland, HEMS teams perform such procedures both during primary missions and when they support EMS teams.

Aim:

To carry out a retrospective analysis of OHCA related calls received from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2016.

Methods:

During the relevant period there were 2,447 OHCA related calls. Of those, 308 cases were excluded from the analysis because no cardiac arrest was confirmed or the patients showed signs of death that prevented any emergency procedures.

Results:

The Return of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC) was achieved in 1,119 cases. Resuscitation was clearly much more effective if CPR procedures were commenced prior to the arrival of the HEMS team. The groups in which higher survival rates were obtained included women, patients younger than 40 and patients who had signs of shockable rhythms. The use of HEMS team allowed for faster transport of patients to relevant specialist institutions, specifically if an invasive cardiological intervention was needed.

Discussion:

The use of HEMS teams in OHCA related calls indicates that such actions are highly effective both in primary missions and when HEMS teams support other EMS terms. An additional advantage is the possibility of quick transportation to a relevant specialist medical center.