Changes in anaesthetic use for trauma patients in German HEMS - a retrospective study over a ten-year period

Airway management and use of intravenous anaesthetics to facilitate tracheal intubation after major trauma remains controversial. Numerous agents are available and used for pre-hospital rapid-sequence induction (RSI). The aim was to investigate usage and potential changes in administration of intravenous anaesthetics for pre-hospital RSI in trauma patients over a ten-year period.

Based on a large helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) database in Germany between 2006 and 2015, a total of 9720 HEMS missions after major trauma leading to RSI on scene were analysed. Administration practice of sedatives and opioids were investigated, while neuromuscular blocking agents were not documented in the database.

With respect to administration of sedatives, independent from trauma mechanism and specific injury patterns the use of Etomidate decreased dramatically (52 to 6%) in favour of a more frequent use of Propofol (3 to 32%) and Ketamine (9 to 24%; all p < 0.001) from 2006 to 2015. The use of Benzodiazepines increased slightly, while the utilization rate of Barbiturates remained constant. In patients with Shock Index > 1 at initial contact, the administration rate of Etomidate dropped significantly as well. This decline was mainly substituted by Ketamine and particularly Propofol. In patients with GCS ≤ 8 upon initial contact, a similar distribution compared to the general trauma population could be observed. With respect to opioids, mainly Fentanyl has been administered for RSI in trauma patients (2006: 69,6% to 2015: 60.2%; p < 0.001), while the use of sufentanyl showed a significant increase (0.2 to 8.8%; p < 0.001).

This large study analysed prehospital administration of anaesthetics in trauma patients, showing a substantial change from 2006 to 2015 despite the lack of any high-level evidence. Etomidate has shifted from the main sedative substance to virtual absence, indicating that the recommendation of an established national guideline was transferred into clinical practice, although based on weak evidence as well. The pre-hospital use of Propofol showed a particular increase. Fentanyl has been the main opioid drug for RSI in trauma, however Sufentanyl has become increasingly popular. The mechanisms and advantages of the different substances still have to be elucidated, especially in head injury and bleeding trauma.