Emergency call utilization over a 10-years period: an observational study in Region Zealand, Denmark, 2013-2022.

Background: Improving prehospital emergency care requires a comprehensive understanding of the efficiency of emergency medical services and demand fluctuations. The medical emergency call is the primary contact between citizens and the emergency medical dispatch center, serving as the gateway to accessing emergency assistance. This study aimed to characterize the emergency call population and analyze the development of emergency call utilization in Region Zealand in Denmark during a 10-years period.

Patient flow analysis with fast-track MRI for suspected stroke in the emergency department and associated non-comprehensive stroke center.

Background: Good outcomes in stroke care require swift diagnostics, for which magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as first-line brain imaging is superior to computed tomography scans. Reduced length of stay (LOS) in hospital and emergency departments (ED) may optimize resource use. Fast-track stroke MRI was implemented as the primary imaging technique for suspected stroke, in the ED at Copenhagen University Hospital-Herlev and Gentofte in 2020.

An assessment of long-term complications following prehospital intraosseous access: A nationwide study.

Background: The guidelines for Advanced Life Support issued by the European Resuscitation Council recommend considering drug delivery through intraosseous access if intravenous access to the vascular bed is not feasible or unsuccessful. Emergency prehospital intraosseous cannulation may theoretically lead to an increased risk of long-term complications such as osteomyelitis, osteonecrosis, or compartment syndrome. Such complications have previously been reported in case reports or small sample case series.

Medical dispatchers' experience with live video during emergency calls: a national questionnaire study.

Background: Telehealth has become increasingly essential in healthcare provision, also in the Prehospital Emergency Medical Services (EMS), where live video is implemented as a supplemental tool to assess and triage medical emergency calls. So far, using video for emergency calls seems beneficial for patient assessment and dispatcher-assisted first aid. However, the EMS dispatchers' experiences with and perceptions of using video during emergency calls are largely unexplored.

Racing against time: Emergency ambulance dispatches and response times, a register-based study in Region Zealand, Denmark, 2013-2022.

Background: The global strain on Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is reflected in the increasing number of emergency ambulance dispatches. Shorter EMS response times have demonstrated some effect on very specific and rare conditions. It is unknown if the increased number of ambulance dispatches compromises response times.

Prehospital management and outcomes of patients calling with chest pain as the main complaint.

Background: Chest pain is a frequent cause of health care contacts. We examined the prehospital management, in-hospital discharge diagnoses, and mortality of patients calling a non-emergency and emergency medical service with chest pain.

Methods: The Copenhagen Emergency Medical Services (EMS) consists of a non-emergency medical helpline (calls to 1813) and emergency medical service (1-1-2 calls).

Ongoing Opioid Treatment and Symptoms of Myocardial Infarction in Calls to the Emergency Medical Services.

Background: Ongoing opioid treatment can potentially modify symptoms of myocardial infarction (MI) and cause a lack of recognition and treatment delay.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine MI symptoms and the time to hospitalization for patients in ongoing opioid treatment compared to patients without ongoing opioid treatment.

Methods: We evaluated calls to the Copenhagen Emergency Medical Services in Denmark from 2014 to 2018.

Patients' use of Danish emergency medical services before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a register-based study.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, disturbing images of ambulances unable to respond to the demands for prehospital assistance appeared from several parts of the world. In Denmark, however, a notion occurred that the demands for emergency medical assistance declined. The purpose of this study was to compare the patients' use of the Danish Emergency Medical Services (EMS) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Survival of the fastest? A descriptive analysis of severely injured trauma patients primarily admitted or secondarily transferred to major trauma centers in a Danish inclusive trauma system.

Background: Trauma systems are crucial for enhancing survival and quality of life for trauma patients. Understanding trauma triage and patient outcomes is essential for optimizing resource allocation and trauma care.

Aims: The aim was to explore prehospital trauma triage in Region Zealand, Denmark.

Prehospital Pulse-Dose Glucocorticoid in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: The PULSE-MI Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: In patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), acute inflammation is related to the extent of myocardial damage and may increase infarct size. Thus, administration of pulse-dose glucocorticoid in the very early phase of infarction may reduce infarct size.

Objective: To determine the cardioprotective effect of prehospital pulse-dose glucocorticoid in patients with STEMI.

"I think we should wait and see": A qualitative study of call-takers' decision-making in consultations with patients suffering unrecognized myocardial infarction.

Objectives: Call-takers face a complex situation when assessing medical problems in emergency medical services calls. Patients with myocardial infarction experiencing atypical symptoms risk misinterpretation. We examined development in call-takers' decision-making process in telephone consultations with patients having imminent myocardial infarction.

Head injuries related to bicycle collisions and helmet use - an observational study.

Objectives: In Denmark, the use of bicycles is widespread, and head injuries are often seen in cyclists involved in collisions. Despite the well-known effects of using a helmet to reduce head injuries, using helmets is not mandatory in Denmark. The primary objective of this study was to provide data regarding injury outcomes and helmet usage.

Treat and release: an observational study of non-conveyed high-acuity dispatches in a Danish emergency medical system.

Non-conveyance refers to the practice of treating a patient on-site without transporting them to a medical facility. It may decrease unnecessary hospital transfers and improve patient satisfaction. Nonetheless, ensuring patient safety remains paramount.

Prediction model for future OHCAs based on geospatial and demographic data: An observational study.

This study used demographic data in a novel prediction model to identify areas with high risk of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in order to target prehospital preparedness. We combined data from the nationwide Danish Cardiac Arrest Registry with geographical- and demographic data on a hectare level. Hectares were classified in a hierarchy according to characteristics and pooled to square kilometers (km2).

Association Between Defibrillation Using LIFEPAK 15 or ZOLL X Series and Survival Outcomes in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Background: Defibrillation is essential for achieving return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) with shockable rhythms. This study aimed to investigate if the type of defibrillator used was associated with ROSC in OHCA.

Methods And Results: This study included adult patients with OHCA from the Danish Cardiac Arrest Registry from 2016 to 2021 with at least 1 defibrillation by the emergency medical services.

Foreign body airway obstruction resulting in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Denmark - Incidence, survival and interventions.

Background: Foreign body airway obstruction (FBAO) stands as an important contributor to accidental fatalities, yet prompt bystander interventions have been shown to improve survival. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence, interventions, and survival outcomes of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) related to FBAO in comparison to patients with non-FBAO OHCA.

Methods: In this population-based cohort study, we included all OHCAs in Denmark from 2016 to 2022.

Characteristics and critical care interventions in drowning patients treated by the Danish Air Ambulance from 2016 to 2021: a nationwide registry-based study with 30-day follow-up.

Background: Improving oxygenation and ventilation in drowning patients early in the field is critical and may be lifesaving. The critical care interventions performed by physicians in drowning management are poorly described. The aim was to describe patient characteristics and critical care interventions with 30-day mortality as the primary outcome in drowning patients treated by the Danish Air Ambulance.

The Danish Nationwide Electrocardiogram (ECG) Cohort.

The electrocardiogram (ECG) is a non-invasive diagnostic tool holding significant clinical importance in the diagnosis and risk stratification of cardiac disease. However, access to large-scale, population-based digital ECG data for research purposes remains limited and challenging. Consequently, we established the Danish Nationwide ECG Cohort to provide data from standard 12-lead digital ECGs in both pre- and in-hospital settings, which can be linked to comprehensive Danish nationwide administrative registers on health and social data with long-term follow-up.

Emergency Medical Services dispatcher recognition of stroke: A systematic review.

Purpose: Stroke treatments are time-sensitive, and thus early and correct recognition of stroke by Emergency Medical Services is essential for outcomes. This is particularly important with the adaption of mobile stroke units. In this systematic review, we therefore aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of Emergency Medical Services dispatcher recognition of stroke.

A retrospective study on machine learning-assisted stroke recognition for medical helpline calls.

Advanced stroke treatment is time-dependent and, therefore, relies on recognition by call-takers at prehospital telehealth services to ensure fast hospitalisation. This study aims to develop and assess the potential of machine learning in improving prehospital stroke recognition during medical helpline calls. We used calls from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2020 in Copenhagen to develop a machine learning-based classification pipeline.