Air medical journal
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Air medical journal · May 2016
Management of a Mass Casualty Event Caused by Electrocution Using Doctor Helicopters.
This is the first report to show the use of doctor helicopters in a mass casualty event induced by electrocution. ⋯ Early confirmation of the safety of the scene, early establishment of command and control, early request for dispatch of other parties and the doctor Helicopter, appropriate triage, appropriate treatment at the scene, selecting appropriate medical facilities, and dispersion transportation were crucial.
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Air medical journal · Mar 2016
Case ReportsResuscitation of a Pediatric Drowning in Hypothermic Cardiac Arrest.
The prognosis of pediatric patients who require prolonged resuscitation after ice water drowning and hypothermic cardiac arrest remains guarded. We report a case of successful prolonged resuscitation of a pediatric patient in hypothermic cardiac arrest who showed severe metabolic derangements and went on to make a rapid and full neurologic recovery without the use of extracoproreal rewarming or mechanical cardiac support. Many ground and air medical emergency medical service programs have policies against interfacility transfer of patients in hypothermic cardiac arrest, calling into question the need to revise current protocols.
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Air medical journal · Mar 2016
Multicenter StudyPediatric Specialty Transport Teams Are Not Associated With Decreased 48-Hour Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Mortality: A Propensity Analysis of the VPS, LLC Database.
The purpose of this study was to determine if pediatric specialty pediatric team (SPT) interfacility-transported children from community emergency departments to a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) have improved 48-hour mortality. ⋯ No significant difference in adjusted 48-hour PICU mortality for children transported by transport team type was discovered.
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Air medical journal · Jan 2016
Observational StudyDifficult Intubation Factors in Prehospital Rapid Sequence Intubation by an Australian Helicopter Emergency Medical Service.
Prehospital rapid sequence intubation (RSI) of critically ill trauma patients is a high-risk procedure that may be associated with an increased rate of severe complications such as failed intubation, failure of oxygenation, hypoxia, hypotension, or need for surgical airway. The objective of this study was to describe the factors associated with difficult intubation in prehospital RSI as defined by more than a single look at laryngoscopy to achieve tracheal intubation. ⋯ Factors associated with more than 1 look at laryngoscopy before TI included paramedic laryngoscopist and the presence of at least 1 of the following indicators: blood/vomitus in the airway, limited mouth opening, and limited neck movement. Trauma to face/neck, obese body habitus, C-spine precautions, cricoid pressure, midline stabilization, and intubation on the ground did not influence the level of difficulty encountered.
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Air medical journal · Nov 2015
Prehospital Helicopter Air Ambulances Part 2: Utilization Criteria and Training.
The decision to request a helicopter air ambulance (HAA) is critical and complex. Emergency medical service (EMS) professionals must know how to appropriately and safely use HAA resources. We sought to describe important criteria for using HAA and the prevalence of HAA-related training among EMS professionals. Then, we identified characteristics associated with receiving training. ⋯ Although their decision-making criteria appear to include the major factors recommended within current evidence-based guidelines, many nationally certified EMS professionals had not received recent HAA training.