An analysis of patients evacuated by a civilian physician-staffed helicopter from a military base
- VernacularTitle:An analysis of patients evacuated by a civilian physician-staffed helicopter from a military base
- Author:
Youichi YANAGAWA
1
;
Hiroki NAGASAWA
1
;
Ikuto TAKUCHI
1
;
Shunsuke MADOKORO
1
;
Kei JITSUIKI
1
;
Hiromichi OHSAKA
1
;
Kouhei ISHIKAWA
1
;
Kazuhiko OMORI
1
Author Information
- Keywords: doctor helicopter; military base; evacuation
- From:Journal of Rural Medicine 2019;14(2):231-235
- CountryJapan
- Language:English
- Abstract: Objective: We herein report our analysis of patients evacuated by a physician-staffed helicopter (doctor helicopter; DH) from a Japan Self Defense Force (JSDF) base.Methods: From March 2004 to November 2018, a medical chart review was retrospectively performed for all patients who were transported by a DH from the temporary heliport at the JSDF Fuji base. The subjects were divided into two groups: the Before-2013 group (n=6) and the After-2013 group (n=7).Results: The rate of military-patient involvement and the heart rate of the After-2013 group were greater than those of the-Before 2013 group, and the percutaneous oxygen saturation in the After-2013 group was lower than the Before-2013 group. Furthermore, the Glasgow Coma Scale in the After-2013 group was significantly lower than in the Before-2013 group. The survival rate was not significantly different between the two groups.Conclusion: Patients transported by DHs in the After-2013 group tended to be in more severe conditions than those transported in the Before-2013 group. This might be due to the fact that over time, the fire department, or JSDF, began to appreciate the useful role played by the DH in life-saving management.
