Prehospital tracheal intubation in severely injured patients: a Danish observational study

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Abstract
The value of advanced prehospital life support for patients with severe trauma—for example, endotracheal intubation by ambulance staff—is unclear. Only one randomised controlled trial was found among 2034 papers in a Cochrane review, concluding that advanced trauma life support by ambulance crews should be initiated only as part of rigorously conducted trials.1 A critical review also failed to show benefit and reported success rates for endotracheal intubation from 57% to 92%.2 The review questioned whether prehospital staff could master the required skills. These reviews focus on paramedic based systems. The helicopter emergency medical services in London is staffed by doctors; the service studied 486 trauma patients …