Aviat Space Envir Md
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Aviat Space Envir Md · Jul 1988
Comparative StudyTemperature and metabolic responses to inhalation and bath rewarming protocols.
Rewarming of mildly hypothermic subjects was compared using three different techniques that have been suggested for use in field situations. Eight subjects were cooled for up to 1 h, on four occasions, in a filled whole-body water calorimeter controlled at 22 degrees C. Following cooling, rewarming was initiated by one of four procedures: inhalation of warmed and humidified air at 40 degrees C or 45 degrees C, immersion in 40 degrees C water, or spontaneously by shivering. ⋯ Although there were no differences in the rewarming rates calculated for each of the three core temperature sites during inhalation and spontaneous rewarming, both auditory canal and esophageal sites rose significantly quicker than rectal during the rapid rewarming in 40 degrees C water. Inhalation rewarming led to a depressed metabolic rate, compared to spontaneous rewarming, which was not compensated by heat provided through the respiratory tract. It was concluded that for mildly hypothermic subjects, rapid rewarming in 40 degree C water was the most efficient procedure and that esophageal temperature--the closest approximation of aortic blood or cardiac temperature--is the most sensitive to change during rewarming by any procedure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Aviat Space Envir Md · Jun 1988
Historical ArticleThe development of the nation's oldest operating civilian hospital-sponsored aeromedical helicopter service.
The Vietnam War heightened civilian awareness as to the use of helicopters for medical evacuations. This led to the initiation of federally funded projects aimed at determining whether helicopters were practical for civilian aeromedical transports. In 1972, a Department of Transportation (DOT) summary concluded that helicopters for civilian medical transports were largely economically prohibitive and provided limited medical benefits in limited locales. ⋯ Anthony Hospital initiated a hospital-based emergency medical helicopter service (HEMS). This paper provides a historical review of the individuals and events responsible for the early success of the nation's longest operating civilian hospital-sponsored helicopter service. The author concludes that the early success of this program was due in part to the selection of an affordable, high altitude, helicopter; rapid response times to the scene of injury; the development of excellent EMS communications systems; the use of specialty trained flight crewmembers; and integration of HEMS into the existing EMS system.
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Aviat Space Envir Md · Jun 1988
Long distance transport of cardiac patients in extremis: the mobile intensive care (MOBI) concept.
Critically ill cardiac patients may require transport to distant centers. Their clinical demands often exceed the capabilities of land or air ambulance services. To provide this service, a new, safe, and cost-effective concept for transport of the critically ill was developed. ⋯ Five patients were transported by ground ambulance. All patients survived the transport: no complications were attributed to the transport process. The system is cost effective since slight modification is required in regular ambulance or chartered aircraft to provide the highest level of care.
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Aviat Space Envir Md · Apr 1988
The effect of two lighting conditions on performance of the Farnsworth Lantern color vision test.
This paper compares the performance of color defective patients on the Farnsworth Lantern test in both unlit and lit room conditions. We examined 18 dichromats and 33 anomalous trichromats, as diagnosed by the Mark I Nagel Anomaloscope. No statistically significant differences were found between their performance in the two conditions.
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Ejection on or near the ground appears potentially injurious, especially since the survival rate decreases as altitude of ejection decreases. Ejection data from 1973 through 1985 were reviewed to analyze whether ground-level take-off and landing ejections posed an increased risk of injury or death. This review included only ejections clearly requiring a decision between ground egress and ejection. ⋯ Ejection during take-off and landing phases is as safe as ejection above 500 ft. safer than other ejections below 500 ft, and does not result in excess injury rates. Ejection systems are sometimes damaged by impact or fire. In the emergencies considered, ejection offered greatly increased chances for survival over ground egress.