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Association between Mode of Transportation and Survival in Adult Trauma Patients with Penetrating Injuries: Matched Cohort Study between Police and Ground Ambulance Transport

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2022

Samer A. Abou Arbid Open the ORCID record for Samer A. Abou Arbid [Opens in a new window] ,
Rana H. Bachir Open the ORCID record for Rana H. Bachir [Opens in a new window]  and
Mazen J. El Sayed Open the ORCID record for Mazen J. El Sayed [Opens in a new window]
Samer A. Abou Arbid
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
Rana H. Bachir
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
Mazen J. El Sayed*
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon Emergency Medical Services and Prehospital Care Program, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
*
Correspondence: Mazen J. El Sayed, MD, MPH, FACEP, FAEMS Associate Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine Director of Emergency Medical Services & Prehospital Care Department of Emergency Medicine American University of Beirut Medical Center P.O. Box - 11-0236 Riad El Solh St. Beirut, Lebanon1107 2020 E-mail: melsayed@aub.edu.lb
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Abstract

Introduction:

Police transport (PT) of penetrating trauma patients has the potential to improve survival rates. There are no well-established guidelines for PT of penetrating trauma patients.

Study Objective:

This study examines the association between survival rate to hospital discharge of adult penetrating trauma patients and mode of transport (PT versus ground ambulance [GA]).

Methods:

A retrospective, matched cohort study was conducted using the United States (US) National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB). All adult penetrating injury patients transported by police to trauma centers were identified and matched (one-to-four) to patients transported by GA for analysis. Descriptive analysis was carried out. The patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics were tabulated and stratified by the transport mode.

Results:

Out of the 733 patients with penetrating injuries, ground Emergency Medical Services (EMS) transported 513 patients and police transported 220 patients. Most patients were 16-64 years of age with a male (95.6%) and Black/African American race (79.0%) predominance. Firearm-related injuries (68.8%) were the most common mechanism of injury with the majority of injuries involving the body extremities (62.9%). Open wounds were the most common nature of injury (75.7%). The overall survival rate to hospital discharge was similar for patients transported by GA and by police (94.5% versus 92.7%; P = .343).

Conclusion:

In this study, patients with penetrating trauma transported by police had similar outcomes to those transported by GA. As such, PT in penetrating trauma appears to be effective. Detailed protocols should be developed to further improve resource utilization and outcomes.

Keywords

Emergency Medical Servicesground ambulancepenetrating traumapolice transportsurvival
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 37 , Issue 2 , April 2022 , pp. 171 - 178
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine

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