PRE-HOSPITAL EMERGENCY CARE: EVALUATION OF AN AUSTRALIAN SYSTEM |
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Authors: | P. BJORKLÜ ND,M. F. O'ROURKE |
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Affiliation: | Intern, St Vincet's Hospital, Darlinghurst, NSW;Associate Professor of Medicine. St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, NSW |
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Abstract: | The efficacy of the Sydney ambulance paramedic service in dealing with out-of-hospital cardiac and other emergencies was examined. The outcome of 182 cases (from a total of 1,799 casualty calls) treated by a paramedic service was compared with the outcome of 104 similar cases (from a total of 2,376 calls) treated by a general duties service. There were 33 cases of cardiac arrest in the general duties group; resuscitation was attempted in 12 and none survived. There were 49 cases of cardiac arrest in the paramedic group; resuscitation was attempted in 21 cases and 4 survived. There were 35 cases of suspected myocardial infarction in the general duties group; 7 died compared with 58 cases and 4 deaths, in the paramedic group (mortality 20%, cf. 7%; difference not significant). The increased cost of a paramedic call, less than half of an entire hospital day, appears justified by better results. |
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Keywords: | Emergency care cardiac arrest ambulance services myocardial infarction |
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