Air medical journal
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Air medical journal · Mar 2012
Case ReportsBag valve mask failure during HEMS intubated stretcher winch.
An intubated prehospital trauma patient was undergoing bag valve mask (BVM) ventilation during a stretcher winch in an AW 139 helicopter. On approach to approximately 50 feet under the rotor disc, the bag valve mask failed, with no adverse outcome. ⋯ The stiffer, less compliant BVM did not fail. This has led to a change in the type of BVM used for helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) in our service.
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We sought to study the operational and medical aspects of helicopter rescue missions involving the use of a winch. ⋯ Our study provides a better knowledge of injury profile, medical aspects, and outcomes of patients rescued necessitating a winching procedure.