Table 2.
Characteristics of injured persons with field physiologic abnormality, by quartile of total EMS time*
| Characteristics | Lowest (First) Quartile EMS Time (n=917) |
Second Quartile EMS Time (n=913) |
Third Quartile EMS Time (n=927) |
Highest (Fourth Quartile EMS Time (n=899) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial physiologic measures | ||||
| GCS score ≤12 (%) | 652 (71.1) | 602 (65.9) | 615 (66.3) | 535 (59.5) |
| Median GCS score (IQR) | 9 (3-14) | 10 (4-15) | 10 (3-15) | 11 (4-15) |
| SBP ≤90 mm Hg (%) | 418 (45.6) | 353 (38.7) | 361 (38.9) | 351 (39.0) |
| Median SBP (IQR) | 100 (70.5-134) | 110 (83-136) | 110 (81.5-140) | 110 (80-140) |
| RR <10 or >29 breaths/min (%) | 162 (17.7) | 167 (18.3) | 146 (15.7) | 167 (18.6) |
| Median low RR (IQR) | 18 (16-24) | 20 (16-24) | 20 (16-24) | 20 (16-24) |
| Pulse (beats/min) | ||||
| Median low pulse (IQR) | 94 (75-110) | 94 (80-110) | 92 (77.5-110) | 92 (76-110) |
| Median shock index, pulse/SBP (IQR) | 0.75 (0.55-1.00) | 0.78 (0.62-1.00) | 0.77 (0.60-1.00) | 0.78 (0.57-1.05 |
| Tracheal intubation attempt (%) | 194 (21.1) | 200 (21.9) | 237 (25.6) | 314 (34.9) |
| Rescue airway (%) | 22 (2.4) | 14 (1.5) | 14 (1.5) | 15 (1.7) |
| Median pulse oximetry (IQR) | 98 (94-99) | 97 (94-99) | 98 (95-100) | 98 (94-99) |
| Demographics | ||||
| Median age, y (IQR) | 34 (24-49) | 37 (25-50) | 38 (25-53) | 39 (25-54) |
| Male (%) | 697 (76.0) | 682 (74.7) | 669 (72.2) | 621 (69.1) |
| Type of injury (%) | ||||
| Blunt | 593 (64.7) | 667 (73.1) | 712 (76.8) | 744 (82.8) |
| Penetrating | 298 (32.5) | 228 (25.0) | 175 (18.9) | 106 (11.8) |
| Burn | 9 (1.0) | 10 (1.1) | 13 (1.4) | 12 (1.3) |
| Other | 7 (0.8) | 6 (0.7) | 16 (1.7) | 12 (1.3) |
| Unknown | 9 (1.0) | 2 (0.2) | 11 (1.2) | 23 (2.6) |
| Injury mechanism (%) | ||||
| Motor vehicle occupant | 163 (17.8) | 201 (22.0) | 209 (22.5) | 322 (35.8) |
| Motorcyclist | 38 (4.1) | 41 (4.5) | 29 (3.1) | 42 (4.6) |
| Pedal cyclist | 23 (2.5) | 29 (3.2) | 17 (1.8) | 16 (1.7) |
| Pedestrian | 126 (13.7) | 86 (9.4) | 75 (8.1) | 43 (4.8) |
| Other transport | 3 (0.3) | 6 (0.7) | 10 (1.1) | 20 (2.2) |
| Fall | 160 (17.4) | 212 (23.2) | 267 (28.8) | 231 (25.7) |
| Stuck by/against or crushed | 65 (7.1) | 80 (8.8) | 91 (9.8) | 82 (9.1) |
| Cut/pierce stab | 102 (11.1) | 78 (8.5) | 72 (7.8) | 38 (4.2) |
| Fire/burn | 10 (1.1) | 12 (1.3) | 10 (1.1) | 10 (1.1) |
| Machinery | 5 (0.5) | 2 (0.2) | 4 (0.4) | 5 (0.6) |
| Firearm gunshot | 183 (20.0) | 139 (15.2) | 98 (10.6) | 57 (6.3) |
| Natural/environment | 1 (0.1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 17 (1.9) | 23 (2.5) | 29 (3.1) | 23 (2.6) |
| Unknown | 19 (2.1) | 4 (0.4) | 16 (1.7) | 9 (1.0) |
| Scene information | ||||
| Time of day | ||||
| Morning (%) | 100 (10.9) | 112 (12.3) | 143 (15.4) | 144 (16.0) |
| Day (%) | 194 (21.1) | 219 (24.0) | 229 (24.7) | 244 (27.1) |
| Evening (%) | 302 (32.9) | 286 (31.3) | 269 (29.0) | 267 (29.7) |
| Night (%) | 321 (35.0) | 296 (32.4) | 286 (30.9) | 244 (27.1) |
| Weekend (%) | 324 (35.3) | 315 (34.5) | 336 (36.2) | 313 (34.8) |
| Air medical transport | 2 (0.2) | 7 (0.8) | 20 (2.2) | 133 (14.8) |
| Hospitals receiving patients | 40 | 43 | 47 | 44 |
| Outcomes | ||||
| Mortality (%) | 268 (29.2) | 189 (20.7) | 181 (19.5) | 168 (18.7) |
| Median hospital length of stay (days) | 1 (0-8) | 2 (0-8) | 2 (0-8) | 3 (0-11) |
RR, Respiratory rate.
*
Values were calculated according to available (ie, nonmissing) data. Rescue airways included supraglottic airway (eg, esophageal-tracheal twin-lumen airway device [Combitube; Kendall-Sheridan Catheter Corp, Argyle, NY]) or cricothyrotomy.