Faculty Collaboration Database

Helicopter interfacility transport of pediatric trauma patients: Are we overusing a costly resource? J Trauma Acute Care Surg 2016 Feb;80(2):313-7

Date

10/23/2015

Pubmed ID

26491808

DOI

10.1097/TA.0000000000000904

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84957433698 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   18 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) provide an important service to decrease interfacility transport times compared with ground ambulances. Although transport via HEMS is typically faster, the decreased transportation time comes at the expense of increased risks to the patient and flight crew and higher costs. Therefore, it is important to balance the immediate patient needs with the risk and expense of HEMS transport. Our objective was to determine how frequently pediatric patients who are interfacility transported to a Level 1 pediatric trauma center (PTC) receive a time-sensitive intervention.

METHODS: This was a 4-year (2008-2012) retrospective study of children aged 0 year to 18 years who were interfacility transported to a single Level 1 PTC by HEMS. Patients were identified using the trauma registry at the PTC. A previously published outcome was used to determine if patients received time-sensitive interventions. Driving distance to the PTC was determined using Google Maps. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS: A total of 207 cases were identified (median age, 7 years; interquartile range, 2-12 years; 29% female; median Injury Severity Score [ISS], 11; median Revised Trauma Score [RTS], 8). Forty-three percent (90 patients; 95% confidence interval, 37-50%) of patients received a time-sensitive intervention; these cases had a median age of 6 years (interquartile range, 2-11 years; 32% female; median ISS, 13; median RTS, 8). Of the 117 patients who did not receive time-sensitive interventions, 81% were within 120 driving miles of the PTC and 49% were within 60 miles.

CONCLUSION: This study suggests an overuse of HEMS for interfacility transfer of injured pediatric patients to a PTC. Although these patients likely required the resources of a PTC, they could perhaps have been transported by ground ambulance without detriment. Further research is needed to investigate how interfacility transport modes are selected and if these decisions can be improved without increasing evaluation times at transferring facilities.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Epidemiologic study, level V.

Author List

Meyer MT, Gourlay DM, Weitze KC, Ship MD, Drayna PC, Werner C, Lerner EB

Authors

Patrick C. Drayna MD Associate Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin
David M. Gourlay MD Chief, Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Michael T. Meyer MD Chief, Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Age Factors
Air Ambulances
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Hospitals, Pediatric
Humans
Length of Stay
Male
Patient Transfer
Retrospective Studies
Time-to-Treatment
Trauma Centers
Wounds and Injuries