Critical care air transport: Experiences of a decade

Abstract

Advances in critical care medicine in recent times has led to favourable outcomes of critical patients, although at a high cost. Military operations along with natural or manmade disasters are two scenarios where critical patients are left in austere environment. Providing advanced ICU facilities in the austere environment may not prove to be economical or sustainable, hence the need arose for mobile ICU or the CCAT for immediate air transport of critical patients to advanced ICU centres. Firstly, by doing this the critical patient is not denied the best available post resuscitation care and secondly the burden on medical resources at the periphery is reduced and they can concentrate on managing the less critical patients. Aeromedical transport has its own challenges and constraints. This requires proper planning and prior training of the CCAT. Although optimal strategy are not formulated, endeavour is to integrate initial resuscitation of critical causalities at the peripheral medical set up with optimal post resuscitation care at advanced ICUs. Critical care air transport has evolved considerably over the past one decade since its inception in the IAF. The current paper can be useful in getting an overview of this new field. Meanwhile, the reader also gets to know the basic aspects to keep in mind, the technical details and important considerations before carrying out such missions.

Factors affecting development of air ambulance base: A systematic review and thematic analysis

“…[ 64 ] Road accidents are the leading cause of death for children and adolescents aged 5–29 years as well as the eighth leading cause of death for all age groups. [ 65 ] An air ambulance, as a provider of prehospital services, can transport critically ill patients and injured persons to hospitals[ 66 ] while also helping manage major accidents by transferring equipment, personnel, and patients. [ 67 ] When accidents with mass casualties occur in areas far from quick access to the hospital and medical facilities in the area are limited,[ 68 ] air ambulances can be used to provide quick access to specialized and subspecialized services.…”

Life flight, vuelo de vida. Transporte aéreo de pacientesen aeronaves presurizadas, fisiología de vuelo,fisiopatología, casuística y sugerencias

“…La estadística presentada no difiere mucho de la del resto de países y particularmente la de Estados Unidos (8). Hay un predominio claro por los pacientes Politraumatizados, o con traumas simples.…”

Air transport of patients with critical cardiac conditions requiring intensive care

“…Commercial airline flights are contraindicated for 3 weeks after an uncomplicated MI, 6 weeks after a complicated MI, 2 weeks after a coronary artery bypass surgery, and 2 weeks after a cerebrovascular accident according to the Aerospace Medical Association guidelines (14). However, with the presence of fixed-wing air ambulances equipped with intensive care facilities, cardiac patients are able to be transferred earlier than these recommendations (15).…”