Ventilatory choices for intubated patients during helicopter stretcher winching

Abstract

During helicopter winching, automatic ventilation is superior in providing controlled, consistent and reliable ventilation for intubated patients. The stretcher attendant is also able to provide more attention to the winching manoeuvres with subsequent safety gains. The risk of automatic ventilator failure is low.

Ventilation of intubated patients during HEMS hoisting operations

“…Contemporaneously to the authors' review we have published an original research paper “Ventilatory choices for intubated patients during helicopter stretcher winching” [ 2 ]. Concentrating on the method of ventilation, we compared the use of a self-inflating bag versus a mechanical ventilator during the helicopter hoisting (or winching) of a manikin, measuring airway pressures.…”