Texas medicine
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Obstetric patients are transported by air quite frequently. We evaluated transport times, obstetric outcomes, air-versus-ground transport costs, and related data on 22 helicopter aeromedical transports of pregnant patients with preterm labor. ⋯ Air transport costs were significantly greater than estimated ground transfer ($4613.64 +/- $581.12 versus $604.02 +/- $306.38; P < .01). Two-way air transfer of preterm labor patients over moderate distances is more costly than contracted ground transfer costs at our institution.