[Medically staffed ambulances for trauma victims]

During a period of 16 years, prehospital advanced life support was provided for a total of 123 trauma patients. The average age was 32 years. Fifty-five patients were dead on the arrival of the mobile intensive care unit. In 83% of the cases, the Causes of the injuries were traffic accidents. The median injury severity score was 23. Out of the 63 treated patients, 27 suffered from respiratory failure, 23 were in shock and 35 were unconscious. Potential life-saving treatment in the form of intubation and/or massive intravenous infusion was provided for 24 patients, six of whom survived. On the basis of these results it is recommended that advanced prehospital life support should be extended also to include trauma patients.