Reduced Mortality in Severely Injured Patients Using Hospital-based Helicopter Emergency Medical Services in Interhospital Transport.
10.3346/jkms.2017.32.7.1187
- Author:
Oh Hyun KIM
1
;
Young Il ROH
;
Hyung Il KIM
;
Yong Sung CHA
;
Kyoung Chul CHA
;
Hyun KIM
;
Sung Oh HWANG
;
Kang Hyun LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Emergency Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea. ed119@gmail.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Air Ambulances;
Emergency Medical Services;
Trauma Centers;
Mortality;
Wounds and Injuries
- MeSH:
Accidents, Traffic;
Adult;
Air Ambulances;
Aircraft*;
Ambulances;
Emergencies*;
Emergency Medical Services*;
Humans;
Injury Severity Score;
Mortality*;
Transportation;
Trauma Centers;
Wounds and Injuries
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
2017;32(7):1187-1194
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Recent evidence has demonstrated the survival benefits of helicopter transport for trauma patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of hospital-based helicopter emergency medical services (H-HEMS) in comparison with ground ambulance transport in improving mortality outcomes in patients with major trauma. Study participants were divided into 2 groups according to type of transport to the trauma center; that is, either via ground emergency medical services (GEMS) or via H-HEMS. The study was conducted from October 2013 to July 2015. Mortality outcomes in the H-HEMS group were compared with those in the GEMS group by using the Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS) analysis. The number of participants finally included in the study was 312. Among these patients, 63 were adult major trauma patients transported via H-HEMS, and 47.6% were involved in traffic accidents. For interhospital transport, the Z and W statistics revealed significantly higher scores in the H-HEMS group than in the GEMS group (Z statistic, 2.02 vs. 1.16; P = 0.043 vs. 0.246; W statistic, 8.87 vs. 2.85), and 6.02 more patients could be saved per 100 patients when H-HEMS was used for transportation. TRISS analysis revealed that the use of H-HEMS for transporting adult major trauma patients was associated with significantly improved survival compared to the use of GEMS.
