Prehospital Emergency Care of Obstructive Respiratory Emergencies With the Use of Teleconsultation

Asthma Clinical Trial

Official title:

Prehospital Emergency Care of Obstructive Respiratory Emergencies With the Use of Teleconsultation

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT01644045
• Other study ID #: 005-1003-0034-4
• Secondary ID: PtJ-Az.: z0909im
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: July 12, 2012
• Last updated: September 21, 2015
• Start date: August 2012
• Est. completion date: September 2015

Study information

• Verified date: September 2015
• Source: RWTH Aachen University
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: Germany: Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The aim of the study is to investigate the quality of prehospital emergency care in acute respiratory emergencies, when paramedics are supported telemedically by an EMS physician.

Description:

Six ambulances from five different Emergency Medical Service (EMS) districts are equipped with a portable telemedicine system. In cases of acute obstructive, respiratory emergencies the paramedics can use this system to contact a so called "tele-EMS physician" after consent of the patient was obtained. The tele-EMS physician has an audio-connection to the EMS team and receives vital parameters (e.g., ECG, pulse oximetry, non-invasive blood pressure) in real-time. The transmission of still pictures (taken with a smartphone), 12-lead-ECGs and video streaming from the inside of the ambulance can also be carried out, if indicated. The tele-EMS physician supports the EMS team in obtaining all relevant medical history, diagnosis and can delegate the application of medications. This can be carried out to bridge the time to the arrival of an EMS physician or in less severe cases without an EMS physician on-scene. The quality of prehospital care and the possible influences on the initial inhospital phase should be investigated and compared with regular EMS.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 17
• Est. completion date: September 2015
• Est. primary completion date: July 2013
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: Both
• Age group: N/A and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Obstructive, respiratory emergency

• Verbal consent for teleconsultation obtained or patient is not able to consent due the severity of the emergency

Exclusion Criteria:

• No respiratory emergency

• Refused consent for teleconsultation

Study Design

Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Asthma
• COPD
• Emergencies

Intervention

Device:
• Teleconsultation
Teleconsultation for the EMS in acute respiratory emergencies

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Germany	University Hospital Aachen	Aachen

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
RWTH Aachen University

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Germany, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Oxygen Saturation	Measurement of pulse oximetric oxygen saturation at the timepoint of first contact with a physician (EMS physician OR hospital arrival)	average 1 hour	No
Secondary	Quality of emergency care	Analysis of the quality of prehospital care on the basis of published guidelines for asthma / COPD.	average 1 hour	No
Secondary	Rate of ventilation	Fraction of patients that receive invasive or non-invasive ventilation during the prehospital phase	average 1 hour	No
Secondary	Rate of complications	Rate of complications due to medications: allergic reaction, heart rhythm problems	2 hours	No