BACKGROUND: Twenty-five years have passed since the introduction of the first civilian hospital-based air medical helicopter service. This study reviews the impact of a single air medical service during a decade of service on the survival of severely injured trauma patients. METHODS: A retrospective database analysis was performed to determine program demographics and obtain outcome data. The outcomes of trauma patients were compared to mortality derived from a national database utilizing physiologic indices of severity. RESULTS: Outcome analysis demonstrated an overall 13% reduction in mortality for air transported patients when compared to controls. Stratification based upon Trauma Score demonstrated a 35% reduction in mortality for victims transported directly from the scene with scene scores between four and 13, and essentially no difference in outcome for patients at Trauma Score extremes. CONCLUSIONS: Rapid utilization of helicopter air medical transport can have a dramatic impact upon patient outcome, especially within a select group of scene transported trauma patients with Trauma Scores ranging from four to 13.
BACKGROUND: Twenty-five years have passed since the introduction of the first civilian hospital-based air medical helicopter service. This study reviews the impact of a single air medical service during a decade of service on the survival of severely injured traumapatients. METHODS: A retrospective database analysis was performed to determine program demographics and obtain outcome data. The outcomes of traumapatients were compared to mortality derived from a national database utilizing physiologic indices of severity. RESULTS: Outcome analysis demonstrated an overall 13% reduction in mortality for air transported patients when compared to controls. Stratification based upon Trauma Score demonstrated a 35% reduction in mortality for victims transported directly from the scene with scene scores between four and 13, and essentially no difference in outcome for patients at Trauma Score extremes. CONCLUSIONS: Rapid utilization of helicopter air medical transport can have a dramatic impact upon patient outcome, especially within a select group of scene transported traumapatients with Trauma Scores ranging from four to 13.
Authors: Eileen M Bulger; Danielle Guffey; Francis X Guyette; Russell D MacDonald; Karen Brasel; Jeffery D Kerby; Joseph P Minei; Craig Warden; Sandro Rizoli; Laurie J Morrison; Graham Nichol Journal: J Trauma Acute Care Surg Date: 2012-03 Impact factor: 3.313
Authors: M Kit Delgado; Kristan L Staudenmayer; N Ewen Wang; David A Spain; Sharada Weir; Douglas K Owens; Jeremy D Goldhaber-Fiebert Journal: Ann Emerg Med Date: 2013-04-09 Impact factor: 5.721
Authors: Oh Hyun Kim; Young Il Roh; Hyung Il Kim; Yong Sung Cha; Kyoung Chul Cha; Hyun Kim; Sung Oh Hwang; Kang Hyun Lee Journal: J Korean Med Sci Date: 2017-07 Impact factor: 2.153
Authors: Ken Johnson; Frederick Pearce; Dwayne Westenskow; L Lazarre Ogden; Steven Farnsworth; Shane Peterson; Julia White; Travis Slade Journal: Crit Care Date: 2002-07-10 Impact factor: 9.097