Evaluation of gasometric parameters in trauma patients during mobile prehospital care.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate gasometric differences of severe trauma patients requiring intubation in prehospital care. METHODS Patients requiring airway management were submitted to collection of arterial blood samples at the beginning of pre-hospital care and at arrival at the Emergency Room. We analyzed: Glasgow Coma Scale, respiratory rate, arterial pH, arterial partial pressure of CO2 (PaCO2), arterial partial pressure of O2 (PaO2), base excess (BE), hemoglobin O2 saturation (SpO2) and the relation of PaO2 and inspired O2 (PaO2/FiO2). RESULTS There was statistical significance of the mean differences between the data collected at the site of the accident and at the entrance of the ER as for respiratory rate (p = 0.0181), Glasgow Coma Scale (p = 0.0084), PaO2 (p <0.0001) and SpO2 (p = 0.0018). CONCLUSION tracheal intubation changes the parameters PaO2 and SpO2. There was no difference in metabolic parameters (pH, bicarbonate and base excess). In the analysis of blood gas parameters between survivors and non-survivors there was statistical difference between PaO2, hemoglobin oxygen saturation and base excess.