Donate to Science & Enterprise

S&E on Mastodon

S&E on LinkedIn

S&E on Flipboard

Please share Science & Enterprise

Helicopter Transport Improves Survival of Severely Injured

Medevac helicopter (FEMA.gov)

(FEMA.gov)

The first national study of helicopters to transport injured patients from accidents shows patients delivered to trauma centers by helicopter are more likely to survive than those brought by ground ambulance. The results were published recently in the Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical Care (paid subscription required).

The research, led by Mark Gestring at University of Rochester (New York) Medical Center, shows that patients selected for helicopter transport to trauma centers are more severely injured, and come from greater distances. The findings indicate that helicopter-transport patients are younger, more likely to be male and more likely to be victims of motor vehicle crashes or falls, compared to ground-transport patients.

Patients brought by helicopter also require more hospital resources. Almost half of the helicopter-transport patients are admitted to the intensive care unit, while one in five helicoptered patients need help breathing for an average of one week and almost that same percentage need an operation. Despite these factors, helicopter-transport patients are more likely than ground-transport patients to survive and be sent home following treatment.

The role of helicopter transport has come under more scrutiny, as its effectiveness and costs — often funded by tax dollars — have been questioned. Gestring says previous studies on the use of helicopters to transport injured patients report mixed results, but are limited by small patient populations from single institutions or specific regions.

Gestring serves as a volunteer board member for Mercy Flight Central Inc., an air medical services company in nearby Canandaigua, New York.

*     *     *

3 comments to Helicopter Transport Improves Survival of Severely Injured