Blunt trauma patients with prehospital pulseless electrical activity (PEA): poor ending assured.

Background: The paucity of information on the outcome of patients experiencing prehospital pulseless electrical activity (PEA) after blunt injury led to the present study.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed of all blunt trauma victims with prehospital PEA from 1997 to 2001 in an urban county trauma system.

Results: One hundred ten patients, 78 men and 32 women, met study criteria.

The utility of helicopter transport of trauma patients from the injury scene in an urban trauma system.

Background: Continuing controversy surrounding the value of scene helicopter evacuation of urban trauma victims led to the present study.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed of all patients brought to our trauma center from the injury scene by helicopter from 1990 to 2001.

Results: The study included 947 consecutive patients, 911 with blunt trauma and 36 with penetrating injuries.