Convulsive Patients Transported by a Physician-staffed Helicopter in Japan Had Better Outcomes in the Keyword-triggered Dispatch Compared to Postcontact Emergency Medical Technician-triggered Dispatch

Abstract

Introduction: We retrospectively analyzed convulsive patient outcomes transported by a physician-staffed Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (doctor helicopter [DH]) using the keyword-triggered dispatch with data from the Japan DH Registry System (JDRS). Upon receiving an emergency call containing critical keywords, such as an ongoing convulsion at the firefighting central command room, immediate dispatch of the DH is requested, in addition to dispatching an ambulance. The keyword-triggered dispatch relied on data obtained from the JDRS.

Methods: Details from the JDRS database included patient age, sex, cardiac arrest presence upon DH contact, vital signs, DH dispatch timing (keyword-triggered dispatch/emergency medical technician [EMT]-triggered dispatch), medical intervention details, and 1-month outcomes (cerebral performance category [CPC]; CPC1, 2: Good; CPC 3-5: Poor). Subjects were divided into keyword (keyword-triggered dispatch) and control (EMT-triggered dispatch) groups for comparison.

Results: Of 1201 patients, all evacuated from the scene, 617 were in the keyword group, and 584 in the control group. No significant differences existed between groups for cardiac arrest, respiratory and heart rates, CPC, or mortality. The keyword group had lower average age, systolic blood pressure, and medical intervention ratio but a higher median Glasgow Coma Scale and good outcome ratio.

Conclusion: This first report on the keyword-triggered dispatch as a prognostic factor for convulsive patients evacuated by DH using the JDRS.

Keywords: Convulsion; doctor helicopter; outcome.