Lessons learned from the first 50 COVID-19 critical care transfer missions conducted by a civilian UK Helicopter Emergency Medical Service team.
Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med
; 30(1): 6, 2022 Jan 15.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-35033171
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The COVID-19 pandemic has placed exceptional demand on Intensive Care Units, necessitating the critical care transfer of patients on a regional and national scale. Performing these transfers required specialist expertise and involved moving patients over significant distances. Air Ambulance Kent Surrey Sussex created a designated critical care transfer team and was one of the first civilian air ambulances in the United Kingdom to move ventilated COVID-19 patients by air. We describe the practical set up of such a service and the key lessons learned from the first 50 transfers.METHODS:
Retrospective review of air critical care transfer service set up and case review of first 50 transfers.RESULTS:
We describe key elements of the critical care transfer service, including coordination and activation; case interrogation; workforce; training; equipment; aircraft modifications; human factors and clinical governance. A total of 50 missions are described between 18 December 2020 and 1 February 2021. 94% of the transfer missions were conducted by road. The mean age of these patients was 58 years (29-83). 30 (60%) were male and 20 (40%) were female. The mean total mission cycle (time of referral until the time team declared free at receiving hospital) was 264 min (range 149-440 min). The mean time spent at the referring hospital prior to leaving for the receiving unit was 72 min (31-158). The mean transfer transit time between referring and receiving units was 72 min (9-182).CONCLUSION:
Critically ill COVID-19 patients have highly complex medical needs during transport. Critical care transfer of COVID-19-positive patients by civilian HEMS services, including air transfer, can be achieved safely with specific planning, protocols and precautions. Regional planning of COVID-19 critical care transfers is required to optimise the time available of critical care transfer teams.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Air Ambulances
/
Emergency Medical Services
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Guideline
/
Observational_studies
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Aged80
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med
Journal subject:
MEDICINA DE EMERGENCIA
/
TRAUMATOLOGIA
Year:
2022
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country: