Common Procedures in Emergency Medical Service Activities: A Nationwide Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Abstract Background Emergency medical services (EMS) are services offered to patients with life-threatening conditions such as cardiac arrest, respiratory failure, and major trauma. EMS have led to an increase in the number of procedures being performed in the field. Methods In this cross-sectional analytical study, we included all patients in the National Institute of Emergency Medicine (NIEM) dataset seen between 2017 and 2021. We explored the procedures of the EMS response case, the patient’s symptoms rate, and the patient outcome rate by the number and percentage of procedures. Results A total of 1,788,669 EMS responses were eligible for analysis of EMS procedures. The most frequent symptoms of the procedure were “unconsciousness or stupor” (21.63%), “dyspnea” (15.06%), and “seizure” (9.14%). Head injury was the most frequent injury type (49.69%). The most common EMS responses included intravenous fluid (IVF) (40%), such as 0.9% NSS (38.94%); airway and breathing (16%), such as O2 canular or mask bag (49%); immobilization (16%), such as collar with long spinal board (46%); stop bleeding (14%), such as pressure dressing (28.23%); medication administration (8%), such as 50% glucose (42.45%), adrenaline (27.9%), and diazepam (12.1%); and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) (5%), such as chest compression (38.94%) and automated external defibrillator (AED) or defibrillators (5.98%). As a result, patient outcomes of EMS procedures response found advantages 54% of symptoms improved and 21% of admission over 30 days. Conclusions The most common EMS procedures among emergency patients in Thailand are IVF, airway, breathing, immobilization, and stop bleeding. These data highlight good improving patient symptoms, in all prehospital and in-hospital phases. In the future, training for EMS providers regarding the need for EMS intervention should be increased.