Cross-Sectional Investigation of HEMS Activities in Europe: A Feasibility Study

Table 5

Clinical procedures performed by HEMS crews during the study’s day.

Clinical procedure	Frequency; (% of answers); (% of missions^*)
Drug administration	40 (35) (78)
Peripheral IV line	27 (23) (53)
Other: specify^†	17 (15) (33)
Drug-assisted tracheal intubation	13 (11) (25)
Mechanical external chest compressions	5 (4) (10)
Defibrillation	4 (3) (8)
Supraglottic airway devices or tracheal intubation without drugs	2 (2) (4)
Central IV line	2 (2) (4)
Intraosseous access	2 (2) (4)
Chest decompression (percutaneous, tube, or open)	1 (1) (2)
Cardioversion	1 (1) (2)
Local anesthetic block or infiltration	1 (1) (2)
Surgical airway	0 (0) (0)
Pacing	0 (0) (0)
Pericardial percutaneous drainage	0 (0) (0)
Clamshell thoracotomy	0 (0) (0)

IV: intravenous.
^*Answers were not mutually exclusive; that is, more than one reason could be given. Denominators of percentages are only cases for which at least one answer was ticked.
^†Examples include urinary catheterization, limb immobilization, aerosol, and pelvic belt.