Demographics and clinical profile of patients transported by a South African helicopter emergency medical service

[摘要] Background: Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) are a specialized flyingemergency service providing in-flight specialized care. There is a paucity of data on the useof HEMS in South Africa.Objective: To describe demographics and clinical characteristics of patients transported withHEMS and the indications for HEMS dispatches. Medical crew configuration, clinicalprocedures undertaken by the HEMS crew, time frames from HEMS dispatch to delivery ofpatient to the receiving hospital and flight patterns were analyzed.Methods: A retrospective medical chart review of flights conducted over the calendar year2013 by a private HEMS based in Gauteng province, South Africa.Results: A total of 199 flights were reviewed. The most common reason for transport wastrauma (70%). Primary transfers constituted 62% of all flights undertaken and 93% were dueto trauma. For inter-hospital transfers, the most common reason for transport was cardiacemergencies (40%). Transfer to specialist care was the most common indication for transport.Advanced life support paramedics performed 99% of HEMS transfers. The most commonprocedures done by HEMS crews were sedation and pain control followed by intravenousaccess.Conclusions: There is a high incidence of primary transfers in this study, mainly due totrauma. Further research should focus on optimal flight activation criteria for HEMS usewithin a resource constrained setting to optimize the potential benefits. HEMS crew needcontinuous professional training to maintain knowledge and skills. Incorporation of fingerthoracostomy in required skills for advanced life support paramedics should be considered.

[发布机构] University of the Witwatersrand