[Advanced prehospital care in patients with life-threatening conditions--survival rate, health status and functional level].

Introduction: In Aarhus, Denmark, advanced prehospital care was carried out by anaesthetists working in a rendezvous model with ordinary ambulances. The effect on the patient was evaluated by the physician on scene. The purpose of the study was to evaluate survival rate, health status and functional level in patients after lifesaving prehospital care.

Materials And Methods: Consecutive data were reported to a prehospital database and the National Patient Registry. Data on survival from 1998 to 2000 were retrieved. Functional level was studied in lifesaving cases in the year 2000. We interviewed the general practitioners (GPs) involved according to EuroQol. The EuroQol interview concerned health status and function level.

Results: In 1998-2000, prehospital anaesthetists attended a total of 11,684 patients. Treatment was described as lifesaving in 238 (2%) of the cases, and 63% of the patients (151/238) were alive one year later. In the year 2000, 79 patients were identified as having had lifesaving treatment, and 48 were alive one year later; 67% (32/48) were without functional impairment according to EuroQol. The most frequent diagnoses were self-intoxication and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

Conclusion: Lifesaving prehospital care, as evaluated by the prehospital physician on scene, was performed in 2 percent of all cases attended by a prehospital anaesthetist. Of these patients, the majority were alive after one year and without functional impairment, according to their GP. The diagnoses were varied.