Descriptive Analysis of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Air Medical Evacuations by Critical Care Air Transport Teams.
Air Med J
; 41(1): 47-51, 2022.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1565514
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
Preserving air medical evacuation capabilities for critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) required innovation for en route care logistics, training, and equipment. The aim of this study was to describe characteristics and in-flight interventions for patients with suspected COVID-19 requiring air medical evacuation by US Air Force critical care air transport teams (CCATTs).METHODS:
We performed a retrospective chart review of patients with suspected COVID-19 requiring air medical evacuation by CCATT from April 2020 to February 2021. We included patients with an available CCATT medical record and transport with COVID-19 infection isolation precautions. CCATT medical records were the data source, and we performed descriptive analyses of patient characteristics and in-flight interventions.RESULTS:
We reviewed 460 records and identified 16 patients for inclusion. The Transport Isolation System (50%) and Negatively Pressurized Conex (31%) were commonly used portable biocontainment units. The median patient age was 48.5 years, and 94% were male. All patients required oxygen supplementation, with 8 (50%) receiving mechanical ventilation. In-flight interventions among intubated patients (n = 8) included vasopressors (50%), paralytics (25%), and patient-ventilator asynchrony management (63%).CONCLUSION:
Patients with COVID-19 requiring CCATT transport were older than prior military en route care cohorts, and in-flight interventions for patient-ventilator asynchrony were commonly required during mechanical ventilation.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Air Ambulances
/
COVID-19
/
Military Personnel
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
English
Journal:
Air Med J
Journal subject:
Aerospace Medicine
/
Emergency Medicine
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
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