Stefan Sammito1, Jean Turc2, Janina Post3, Madeleine Beaussac4, Björn Hossfeld5, Mathieu Boutonnet6. 1. Department of Research, Science and Testing, German Air Force Centre for Aerospace Medicine, Cologne, Germany; Department of Occupational Medicine, Medical Faculty, Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany. Electronic address: stefansammito@bundeswehr.org. 2. Intensive Care Unit Anaesthesiology Department, Military Teaching Hospital Desgenettes, Lyon, France. 3. Department of Occupational Medicine, Medical Faculty, Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany; Special Air Mission Wing Federal Ministry of Defence, Cologne, Germany. 4. 160th Military Medical Unit, Route du Camp d'Aviation, Istres, France. 5. Department X - Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care, Emergency Medicine and Pain Therapy, Bundeswehr Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany. 6. Intensive Care Unit Anaesthesiology Department, Military Teaching Hospital Percy, Clamart, France; Military Medical Academy, Val-de-Grâce, Paris, France.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: As part of the humanitarian response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the German and French Armed Forces provided air transport for patients from overwhelmed regional hospitals in Italy and France. The objective of this study was to analyze the characteristics of the missions and the medical conditions of COVID-19 patients transported during an air medical evacuation on fixed wing aircraft in March and April 2020. METHOD: This was a retrospective analysis of transport records as well as other documents for 58 COVID-19 patients requiring artificial ventilation. RESULTS: The median age of the transported patients was 61.5 years, and 61% of them had preexisting medical conditions. They had been ventilated for a median of 5 days and experienced the first symptoms 18 days before transport. The patients flown out of France had less days of ventilation before flight, a lower end-tidal carbon dioxide level at the beginning of the flight, and a lower Charlson Comorbidity Index. There were also some differences between the ventilation and the flight level flown by the 2 air forces. CONCLUSION: The intensive care transport of ventilated COVID-19 patients requires highly qualified personnel and appropriate equipment and should be planned appropriately.
OBJECTIVE: As part of the humanitarian response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the German and French Armed Forces provided air transport for patients from overwhelmed regional hospitals in Italy and France. The objective of this study was to analyze the characteristics of the missions and the medical conditions of COVID-19patients transported during an air medical evacuation on fixed wing aircraft in March and April 2020. METHOD: This was a retrospective analysis of transport records as well as other documents for 58 COVID-19patients requiring artificial ventilation. RESULTS: The median age of the transported patients was 61.5 years, and 61% of them had preexisting medical conditions. They had been ventilated for a median of 5 days and experienced the first symptoms 18 days before transport. The patients flown out of France had less days of ventilation before flight, a lower end-tidal carbon dioxide level at the beginning of the flight, and a lower Charlson Comorbidity Index. There were also some differences between the ventilation and the flight level flown by the 2 air forces. CONCLUSION: The intensive care transport of ventilated COVID-19patients requires highly qualified personnel and appropriate equipment and should be planned appropriately.
Authors: Roberto Biselli; Roberto Nisini; Florigio Lista; Alberto Autore; Marco Lastilla; Giuseppe De Lorenzo; Mario Stefano Peragallo; Tommaso Stroffolini; Raffaele D'Amelio Journal: Biomedicines Date: 2022-08-22
Authors: Beata Skowron-Grabowska; Marta Wincewicz-Bosy; Małgorzata Dymyt; Adam Sadowski; Tomasz Dymyt; Katarzyna Wąsowska Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-04-04 Impact factor: 3.390