Background: In some German emergency medical service districts, analgesia is performed by paramedics without support of emergency physicians on scene. With regard to safety and effectiveness, paramedics should not be overshadowed by emergency physicians.
Objectives: Is prehospital analgesia performed by paramedics under medical supervision or emergency physicians comparable regarding processes and effectiveness in the case of isolated limb injury?
Material and methods: As a retrospective analysis of patients with isolated limb injury, analgesia performed by paramedics and by emergency physicians was analyzed. In addition to pain reduction, prescribed monitoring, and further airway maneuvers, vital parameters (Glasgow coma scale, systolic blood pressure, heartrate and respiratory rate, oxygen saturation) were recorded at the beginning and end of prehospital treatment.
Results: Pain was reduced from NRS 8 ± 1 to NRS 2 ± 1 in the paramedic group, and from NRS 8 ± 2 to NRS 2 ± 2 in the physician group, so the mean pain reduction was 6 ± 2 in the paramedic-group and 5 ± 2 in the physician group (p < 0.001). Adequate analgesia was found in 96.9% in the physician group and 91.7% in the paramedic group (p = 0.113). ECG monitoring and oxygen administration according to SOP was significantly more frequent in the paramedic group than in the physician group (p < 0.001). Respiratory frequency was significantly more frequent in the physician group than in the paramedic group (p < 0.001).
Conclusions: The study shows, with a given indication, that German paramedics can independently perform safe and successful analgesia under medical supervision.
Keywords: Analgesia; Emergency medical services; Pain management; Patient safety; Treatment outcome.