Skip to main content
  • Meeting abstract
  • Published:

Does emergency transportation induce a stress-response in probationers

Introduction

Common opinion is that emergency transportation is a stressful event for patients. The question is if simulated emergency transportation might be a useful model to measure the levels of stress-responsive with a high ecological validity.

Methods

After approval by the local ethical committee 32 male probationers (age 18–40) were randomized into two groups ('strain', 'control'). The following values were taken: plasma-hormones (epinephrine E, norepinephrine NE, cortisol C) and CVS-values (BP, MAP, HR). The 'strain'-group was carried downstairs from a third floor flat and taken into an ambulance for an emergency transport. Blood samples were taken in the flat after informing the probationer (A), at the ground-floor (B) and at the end of a 15 min emergency transportation under defined conditions (C). The CVS-values were recorded continuously. The `control'-group had to sit on a chair for 5 min and afterwards to lay on a stretcher for 15 min. The blood samples were done at equivalent times. The results were evaluated by a two-factor variance analysis with repetition of the values for the factor measuring time.

Results

Our study shows that a simulated emergency transportation induces stress. Differences in stress-responses depending on the period of the simulated emergency transport were found. The increase of E, NE, C and HR during the transport of the probationer down the stairs was significant (P < 0.001); no significant alterations could be shown in the `control' group. The emergency transport in the ambulance appears to be clearly less of a strain to the patient. This was shown by a significant decrease of HR, E and NE levels (P < 0.001) compared to the downstairs part.

Conclusion

More attention should be focused on the period of emergency transport from on-scene to the ambulance to influence positively the most stressing event. Further studies concerning sedation before transportation appear to be necessary.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Doerges, V., Dix, S., Ocker, H. et al. Does emergency transportation induce a stress-response in probationers. Crit Care 3 (Suppl 1), P228 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1186/cc601

Download citation

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/cc601

Keywords