Critical care air transport team and patient transfer unit: A decade of experience of a zonal hospital

Abstract

Introduction: The critical care air transport team (CCATT) established in 2007 a vital components of medical evacuations (MEDEVAC) in north-east India. Aim of the Study: The aim of this study was to highlight the importance of obtaining epidemiological data pertaining to the patients transported by CCATT. Method: Cases were analyzed based on the following criteria: age, sex, diagnosis of patient ,spectrum of disease and trauma, ventilation modes, inotropic support, hours of illness/injury before transport, flying time, flight distance, dedicated missions, interventions done aboard the flight and outcomes in the patient within 48 hours. Results: As many as 305 patients were analysed.39.5% patients were surgical patients, 58.5% medical and 1% was pediatric. Among surgical patients 56.8% patients were of poly trauma, 22.8% had traumatic brain injury. 68.8% of the patients transported were non-battle casualties. Dedicated missions constituted 43.4%, while the longest time for CCATT to return to base was 28 hours, shortest been 4 hours.46.8% of the patients required ventilatory support.63.4% of the patients were on inotropic support. 82.6% of the patients survived first 24 hours while 72.6 % of the patient survived 48 hours. Conclusion: Understanding the epidemiology of casualties evacuated by CCATT is an imperative requirement for the developments of effective pre-deployment training to ensure optimal outcomes for critically injured.

Keywords

• Aeromedical evacuation
• critical care air transport team
• modified early warning scoring system
• patient transfer unit
• peripheral hospital