Brain Oxygenation During Prehospital Anesthesia: an Observational Study

Brain Oxygenation During Prehospital Anesthesia: an Observational Study (The BOPRA Study)

Brain oxygenation of adult patients undergoing prehospital emergency anesthesia is monitored using noninvasive near-infrared spectroscopy. Patients are afterwards interviewed to define neurological outcome to measure quality of life. The purpose of this study is to reveal the risk factors of prehospital anesthesia related cerebral desaturation events (CDE) and to define the association between CDE and survival, neurological outcome or quality of life.

Inclusion Criteria:

• sedation or anesthesia provided to facilitate endotracheal intubation, performed by Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) team regardless of the reason

Exclusion Criteria:

• Ongoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation at the time of intubation
• Physical barrier for near-infrared spectroscopy measuring (e.g. forehead laceration)
• HEMS unit does not escort patient to the hospital (exception: in case of death on scene after inclusion, patient is included)
• Workload too high to ensure standard level of clinical care during the study
• For interviews: no competence in Finnish, Swedish or English