Introduction of a Physician-Staffed Helicopter Emergency Medical Service in Eastern Shizuoka Prefecture in Japan

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Background Fujifilm (Tokyo, Japan) developed a portable X‐ray system called the CALNEO Xair, which can be carried by a physician. The X‐ray radiation machine weighs 3.5 kg. The dimensions are: height, 144 mm; length, 148 mm; width, 258 mm. Case Presentation When a 33‐year‐old woman driving a car made a right turn at a crossroad, her car hit another car, causing her vehicle to tip onto its side. Staff of the doctor helicopter checked her at the scene, and the findings of chest and pelvic X‐ray were all negative. She received a diagnosis of cervical sprain and pelvic contusion and was transferred to a local hospital by ambulance. Conclusion This is the first report of a case evaluated by a portable X‐ray system at the scene, under transportation by a doctor helicopter. This system could be useful for undertaking prehospital assessment and medical treatment.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Our hospital is a base of the physician-staffed helicopter (called a doctor helicopter [DH] in Japan) of eastern Shizuoka Prefecture. 6 We herein report our experience using a portable X-ray system at the scene under transportation by the DH.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experience using a portable X‐ray system at the scene transported by a physician‐staffed helicopter

Omori

Yanagawa

Muramatsu

et al. 2019

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“…Our facility (Juntendo University Shizuoka Hospital, Izunokuni, Japan) serves as the base hospital and is responsible for eastern Shizuoka (population of approximately 1,100,000). With the inclusion of Izu Peninsula,2 the combined area is approximately 4,090 km2 and the terrain is mountainous; only a few hospitals serve approximately 250,000 people. The journey from the southern tip of the peninsula to the critical care medical center of our hospital takes 1.5 h by ambulance but only 15 min by helicopter 2.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With the inclusion of Izu Peninsula,2 the combined area is approximately 4,090 km2 and the terrain is mountainous; only a few hospitals serve approximately 250,000 people. The journey from the southern tip of the peninsula to the critical care medical center of our hospital takes 1.5 h by ambulance but only 15 min by helicopter 2. We herein introduce the case of a severely injured patient who obtained social rehabilitation after the delivery of medical staff members to a local hospital by DH.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A system of delivering medical staff members by helicopter to manage severely wounded patients in an area where medical resources are limited

Ishikawa

Omori

Ohsaka

et al. 2016

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AimWe review the case of a severely injured patient to evaluate the system of delivering medical staff by helicopter in areas with limited medical resources.MethodsThe patient's chart was reviewed, summarized, and presented.ResultsA 22‐year‐old woman attempted a suicidal fall after using a knife to stab herself. She was transported to a local hospital. A radiological study revealed fractures to the patient's face and the base of her skull, pneumocephalus, traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage, stab wounds to the neck and chest, pneumothorax, unstable pelvic fracture, and right femoral shaft fracture. Her circulation status became unstable. We sent medical staff members to the local hospital by doctor helicopter. The patient underwent tracheal intubation and the insertion of a chest drain, and was evacuated by doctor helicopter. After aggressive intensive treatments in our hospital, the patient finally obtained social rehabilitation.ConclusionIn an area where medical resources are limited, sending trained physicians to a referring hospital to appropriately prepare a severely wounded patient for transportation might be the key for the patient to maximize his or her chance of survival.

Characteristics of patients who fell into open drains: a report from a single emergency center in East Shizuoka

Jitsuiki

Ohsaka

Ishikawa

et al. 2016

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Aim: To clarify the characteristics of injuries caused by falling into an open drain. Methods: A medical chart review was retrospectively carried out of all patients in East Shizuoka, Japan, who were injured due to falling into an open drain, and who were subsequently transported to hospital by ambulance or a physician-staffed helicopter, between January 2013 and December 2014. The patients were divided into two groups, those treated as outpatients and those who were admitted to hospital.Results: During the investigation period, there were 33 patients who had accidentally fallen into an open drain. The ages of the subjects ranged from 10 to 90 years, with an average age of 58.8 years. The average age of the subjects, the ratio of female patients, and the average injury severity score in the admission group were higher than that of the outpatient group. One patient in the admission group who had cardiac arrest due to a cervical cord injury eventually died. Conclusion:Falls into open drains are especially frequent in elderly people and female patients, and older patients tend to more frequently require admission due to severe injury. To prevent injuries of this type, some measures are required to improve the safety of open drains.