ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Search and rescue helicopters from the Royal Norwegian Air Force conduct ambulance and search and rescue missions in the Barents Sea. The team on board includes an anaesthesiologist and a paramedic. Operations in this area are challenging due to long distances, severe weather conditions and winter darkness. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 147 ambulance and 29 search and rescue missions in the Barents Sea during 1994-99 were studied retrospectively with special emphasis on operative conditions and medical results. RESULTS AND INTERPRETATION: 35% of the missions were carried out in darkness. Median time from alarm to first patient contact was 3.3 hours and median duration of the missions was 7.3 hours. 48% of the missions involved ships of foreign nationality. About half of the patients had acute illness, dominated by gastrointestinal and heart diseases. Most of the injuries resulted from on-board accidents; open or closed fractures, amputations, and soft tissue damage. 90% of the patients were hospitalised; 7.5% would probably not have survived without early medical treatment and rapid transportation to hospital.
Subject(s)
Air Ambulances/organization & administration , Patient Care Team , Rescue Work/organization & administration , Transportation of Patients/organization & administration , Air Ambulances/statistics & numerical data , Cold Climate , Gastrointestinal Diseases/diagnosis , Gastrointestinal Diseases/therapy , Heart Diseases/diagnosis , Heart Diseases/therapy , Humans , Night Care , Norway , Oceans and Seas , Rescue Work/statistics & numerical data , Seasons , Ships , Transportation of Patients/statistics & numerical data , Wounds and Injuries/diagnosis , Wounds and Injuries/therapyABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: A case is presented in which a 43-year-old man suffering from a severe asthma attack, had ventilatory arrest during a hoisting procedure. Based on this experience, the influence of three hoisting techniques on lung function was tested. METHODS: The ventilatory capacity of 12 healthy volunteers was tested during three commonly used hoisting techniques: 1) single sling; 2) double sling; or 3) strapped to a stretcher. RESULTS: The vital capacity (VC) and the one-second, forced expiratory volume (FEV1) were reduced significantly during all hoisting techniques compared to the standing position. The reduction was significantly more pronounced on a stretcher than in either sling position. There were no differences in the FEV1 to VC ratio between the positions. CONCLUSION: The small reduction in ventilatory capacity during hoisting procedures is tolerated easily by healthy individuals, but should be taken into account when planning such procedures on patients with severe pulmonary disease.