Abstract
Background The present publication is an extraction of the "LUNA-study" (air medical service at night), which evaluates data on air medical programs at night. Methods. All patients with selected diagnoses who underwent nightly physician escorted hospital transport to one of the two large Regensburg hospitals were included in this prospective 3 year study. The cases were assessed by an expert ...
Abstract
Background The present publication is an extraction of the "LUNA-study" (air medical service at night), which evaluates data on air medical programs at night. Methods. All patients with selected diagnoses who underwent nightly physician escorted hospital transport to one of the two large Regensburg hospitals were included in this prospective 3 year study. The cases were assessed by an expert panel. Results. A total of 160 primary missions were analyzed, 59 missions (37%) conducted by air medical service. Most frequent were multiple trauma patients (36%), who were predominantly airlifted (64%) to hospital. Non trauma patients were predominantly (75%) transported by ground. Air medical transport was mostly carried out in a transfer range >60 km, ground-based to 98% in a range <60 km. Overall mission time was 63 min (ground-based) vs. 99 min (air medical service), whereas alerting the helicopter required 22 min. The mode of transportation was in accordance with expert panel assessment (ground-based 100%, airborne 92%). Conclusions. Indications for primary rescue helicopter missions at night were predominantly trauma emergencies, which had to be transported over greater distances. Rapid alerting of air medical service by on scene professionals is of utmost importance to avoid any delay of hospital treatment.
Altmetric