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East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) has launched a feasibility study to assess whether performing a minimally invasive blood test at scene for patients with a suspected head injury can help determine if they are suffering from bleeding in the brain.
The ‘BRAIN-FIRST’ study is a UK-first and will assess the feasibility and accuracy of Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) crews performing the blood test on adult trauma patients at an incident scene over a 12-month period.
During the study, EAAA clinicians will use a handheld blood analyser, called the iSTAT Alinity manufactured by Abbott Point of Care Inc, which will detect brain biomarkers in the blood and provide diagnostic results in minutes. Biomarkers are tiny biological molecules found in blood, tissues, or other body fluids that indicate a normal or abnormal process, condition, or disease. A biomarker increase in the BRAIN-FIRST study may indicate that the patient is suffering from bleeding in the brain.
If feasibility and accuracy are proven, EAAA hopes to improve pre-hospital care in brain trauma patients, helping crews diagnose injuries faster and transfer trauma patients to the most appropriate hospital for their ongoing treatment and care, such as a neurosurgical or major trauma centre.
“Brain biomarkers have been studied extensively in laboratory and hospital settings, and have demonstrated promise as decision support tools in the detection of traumatic brain injury. If we can demonstrate feasibility and accuracy of biomarkers taken and tested pre-hospital, at the scene of an accident, this may support earlier diagnosis, treatment and care for many critically unwell patients with intracranial haemorrhage – more commonly known as a bleeding in the brain.”
BRAIN-FIRST Chief Investigator, Consultant Emergency Physician and EAAA Honorary Consultant (R&D), Dr James Price.
Dr Price continues, “The BRAIN-FIRST study will assess whether this testing is feasible and accurate super early in the disease process. This, along with a rapid transfer to the most appropriate hospital, could help to improve outcomes for patients and ultimately save more lives.”
Generous funding from Abel Homes, long-term supporters of EAAA, has enabled the purchase of iSTAT TBI Cartridges required for the BRAIN-FIRST study. For more information visit www.eaaa.org.uk/brainfirst
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