The study hypothesis is that advanced interventions as provided by a physician at an accident scene will decrease the death rate and the rate of severe disability in survivors of severe head injury. Extended interventions by advanced level prehospital providers may include rapid sequence intubation (RSI) airway management, blood transfusions, surgical procedures, etc.

Condition	Treatment or Intervention
Head Injuries, Closed	Procedure: Extended interventions by advanced level prehospital providers

Further Study Details: 

Primary Outcomes: Glasgow Outcome Scale Score at 6 months post injury
Secondary Outcomes: Length of hospital and intensive care unit stays; 30 day survival and survival to discharge from the acute care hospital
Expected Total Enrollment:  510

A randomised, controlled trial examining prehospital management of persons with severe blunt head injury, in the Sydney region. Treatments examined will be the current system consisting principally of paramedic management (standard care) compared with management by a retrieval team lead by a consultant anaesthetist, emergency physician or intensive care specialist. Patients for inclusion in the study will be identified by a paramedic screening all “000” calls to the ambulance service and identifying persons likely to have severe head injury. The principal outcome measure will be their degree of disability measured at 6 months post injury.

Ages Eligible for Study:  16 Years and above,  Genders Eligible for Study:  Both

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Glasgow Coma Scale score of 3 to 8 due to blunt trauma as measured at the accident scene by the first prehospital team to arrive at the site.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Penetrating trauma
• Age less than 16 years
• No more than 5 casualties at the scene

Please refer to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov identifier  NCT00112398

Australia, New South Wales
      CareFlight, PO Box 159, Sydney,  New South Wales,  2145,  Australia; Recruiting

Study ID Numbers:  HIRT1
Record last reviewed:  May 2005
Last Updated:  June 3, 2005
Record first received:  June 2, 2005
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:  NCT00112398
Health Authority: Australia: National Health and Medical Research Council (Awaiting confirmation)
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on 2005-06-07