Hassan Al-Thani1, Ayman El-Menyar2, Yugan Pillay3, Monira Mollazehi1, Ahammed Mekkodathil4, Rafael Consunji5. 1. Trauma Surgery Section, Department of Surgery, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar. 2. Clinical Research, Trauma Surgery Section, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Clinical Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, Doha, Qatar. Electronic address: aymanco65@yahoo.com. 3. EMS Services, Hamad General Hospital, Doha, Qatar. 4. Clinical Research, Trauma Surgery Section, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar. 5. Injury Prevention, Trauma Surgery Section, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: We assessed the presentations and outcomes of trauma patients transported by helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) versus ground emergency medical services (GEMS). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of trauma registry data at a level I trauma center was conducted for patients transported by GEMS and HEMS between 2011 and 2013. Data were analyzed and categorized based on the mode of transportation. RESULTS: A total of 4,596 trauma patients were admitted to the hospital with a mean age of 31 ± 15 years. Injured patients were transported to the trauma center by GEMS (93.3%) and HEMS (6.7%). The common mechanisms of injury were motor vehicle crash (37%) and falls (25%). Compared with GEMS, patients transported by HEMS were characterized by having a greater injury severity, more proportion of traumatic brain injury, on-scene intubation, and a 2.5-fold higher mortality. However, the impact of mode of transportation on the hospital mortality among severely injured patients has disappeared after adjusting for potential confounders. CONCLUSION: Patients transported by HEMS may have different characteristic features and outcomes when compared with GEMS. However, further work is needed to identify the subgroups of trauma patients who clearly benefit from the use of HEMS.
OBJECTIVE: We assessed the presentations and outcomes of traumapatients transported by helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) versus ground emergency medical services (GEMS). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of trauma registry data at a level I trauma center was conducted for patients transported by GEMS and HEMS between 2011 and 2013. Data were analyzed and categorized based on the mode of transportation. RESULTS: A total of 4,596 traumapatients were admitted to the hospital with a mean age of 31 ± 15 years. Injured patients were transported to the trauma center by GEMS (93.3%) and HEMS (6.7%). The common mechanisms of injury were motor vehicle crash (37%) and falls (25%). Compared with GEMS, patients transported by HEMS were characterized by having a greater injury severity, more proportion of traumatic brain injury, on-scene intubation, and a 2.5-fold higher mortality. However, the impact of mode of transportation on the hospital mortality among severely injured patients has disappeared after adjusting for potential confounders. CONCLUSION:Patients transported by HEMS may have different characteristic features and outcomes when compared with GEMS. However, further work is needed to identify the subgroups of traumapatients who clearly benefit from the use of HEMS.
Authors: Hassan Al-Thani; Ahammed Mekkodathil; Attila J Hertelendy; Ian Howland; Tim Frazier; Ayman El-Menyar Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-04-12 Impact factor: 3.390