Halo 194 (Jan 2019)
The emergency medical team's role in initial treatment and transport of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture
Abstract
An abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture (AAAR) is an acute, potentially fatal clinical condition which needs to be treated surgically as soon as possible. The process of making the diagnosis and providing treatment for patients with this clinical condition exceeds by far the resources and capabilities of the Emergency Medical Service. However, if the possibility of this diagnosis is taken into account during first contact, initial treatment and transport of these patients to the hospital, it is possible to significantly shorten the time before the patient is taken to the operating room and the bleeding put under control. This is crucial for the survival of these patients. Therefore, the Emergency Medical Service does not have a passive role in treating patients with this condition, but rather is a crucial link that enables an adequate initial treatment and quick transport to a hospital capable of providing surgical treatment and is key to their survival. A standardized and generally accepted system of initial care and transport that is universally applicable in all healthcare systems for patients with AAAR does not exist, but teamwork and addressing possible problems in providing adequate care on all levels does provide a larger number of patients with a chance to survive the condition that is almost synonimous to death.
