The Polytrauma Patient at 34,000 Feet: The Safety of Fixed-Wing Transport

The safety of fixed-wing trauma transport in critically ill trauma patients; it is not well studied. The aim of the present manuscript is to evaluate the utility and safety of this transport method when used in sick trauma patients. Methods A retrospective cohort analysis of 100 consecutive trauma patients transferred by a single air ambulance company was conducted. Patient information was de-identified. All patients were transported using Lear 35a jets converted for medical use. Teams consisted of a combination of physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists and paramedics. Results A total of 67 patients, where transported via fixed-wing in the study period. The majority of patients had blunt trauma mechanism (n = 66). The majority of flights (86.5%, n = 59) were international. The mean flight time was 3 hours 4 minutes. Mean patient contact time was 6 hours 26 minutes. Average ISS was 22. Twenty-seven percent (n = 18) were intubated, 13% (n = 9) were transfused in flight, 36% (n = 24) had head injuries and 30% (n = 20) had spine injuries. Strikingly, there were no mortalities or progression of neurologic deficits in transport. Conclusion Fixed-wing travel is a safe and underutilized resource in the transport of sick trauma patients. How to cite this article Feinstein A, Ferrada P, Holland V, Sandy GL, Diaz JA, Ghaemmaghami V. The Polytrauma Patient at 34,000 Feet: The Safety of Fixed-Wing Transport. Panam J Trauma Critical Care Emerg Surg 2012;1(1):12-14.