Air evacuation of thermally injured patients: principles of treatment and results.

During the 12-month period January through December 1978 148 thermally injured patients were aeromedically transported to our burn unit by either helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft. One hundred twenty-nine patients (87%) were evacuated within 48 hours of injury. Treatment by a general surgeon and ICU nurse sent to the local hospital consisted of: insertion of 87 catheters, immediate pulmonary care in 20 patients, escharotomy in six patients, and adjustment of intravenous fluid administration in 42 patients. Thirty-six per cent of patients were considered too unstable clinically to transport until therapy had been rendered. No patients died in flight, and six per cent of all patients aeromedically evacuated were considered clinically unstable when they arrived on the burn ward. Overall mortality was not adversely affected by transportation of acutely burned patients over long distances.