Australasian College of Paramedicine International Conference (ACPIC24)

ACPIC 2024 delivered a wide range of clinical and research sessions from experts and leaders in paramedicine. Hosted in Sydney (September 2024) the program was designed to inspire, educate and broaden horizons.

Conference theme: Paramedicine's evolution – Embracing the new era

Comparison of point-of-care and laboratory blood lactate levels in critically bleeding major trauma patients

The study aimed to assess the accuracy of point-of-care (POC) lactate measurements compared to laboratory lactate levels in trauma patients with suspected critical bleeding. In an emergency department setting, 70 patients had venous or arterial blood samples collected. The POC lactate measurements were conducted using a StatStrip Xpress® lactate meter. The results showed a mean difference of -0.19 mmol/L between POC and laboratory lactate levels, with most measurements (94.3%) within the limits of agreement. A POC lactate level >3.3 mmol/L was highly specific (>90%) for indicating the need for transfusion, while a level <1.4 mmol/L had high sensitivity (90%) for ruling out transfusion. The study concludes that POC lactate measurement is accurate and feasible for developing prehospital transfusion decision rules.

Biography: A/Prof Ben Meadley

Ben Meadley is a registered paramedic and Director, Paramedicine at Ambulance Victoria. Ben has worked as a clinician, educator, and researcher in paramedicine for more than 26 years, with the majority of his time as an intensive care flight paramedic. His research interests include respiratory and cardiovascular physiology, point of care ultrasound, human performance optimisation, and selection to specialist paramedicine teams. Ben divides his time between clinical leadership, teaching and research roles. He is a Fellow of the Australasian College of Paramedicine and was awarded the Ambulance Service Medal in 2023.

Moderator: Dr Nigel Barr, ACPIC24 Organising Committee Member