Air Evacuation of Thermally Injured Patients

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
From Jan.-Dec. 1978, 148 thermally injured patients were aeromedically transported to a burn unit by helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft. Most patients (129; 87%) were evacuated within 48 h of injury. Treatment by a general surgeon and ICU [intensive care unit] nurse sent to the local hospital consisted of the following: insertion of 87 catheters, immediate pulmonary care in 20 patients, escharotomy in 6 patients, and adjustment of i.v. fluid administration in 42 patients. Of the patients, 36% were considered too unstable clinically to transport until therapy had been rendered. No patients died in flight, and 6% of all patients aeromedically evacuated were considered clinically unstable when they arrived on the burn ward. Overall mortality was not adversely affected by transportation of acutely burned patients over long distances.

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit: