Evaluation of the prehospital management of road traffic fatalities in Victoria, Australia

INTRODUCTION: This study was undertaken to identify prehospital system and management deficiencies and preventable deaths between 01 January 1997 and 31 December 1998 in 243 consecutive Victorian road crash victims with fatal outcomes. METHODS: The complete prehospital and hospital records, the deposition to the coroner, and autopsy findings were evaluated by computer analysis and peer group review with multidisciplinary discussion. RESULTS: One-hundred eighty-seven (77%) patients had prehospital errors or inadequacies, of which 135 (67%) contributed to death. Three-hundred ninety-four (67%) related to management and 130 (22%) to system deficiencies. Technique errors, diagnosis delays, and errors relatively were infrequent. One of 24 deaths at the crash scene or en route to hospital was considered to be preventable and two potentially preventable. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of prehospital deficiencies has been addressed by a Ministerial Task Force on Trauma and Emergency Services and followed by the introduction of a new trauma care system in Victoria.