Abstract
Introduction
To illustrate the advantages and limitations of transporting ventilated intensive
care unit patients over intercontinental distances on commercial airlines, this case
series reports 8 ventilated patients repatriated by an air medical transport company.
Patients
Eight ventilated patients, 3 suffering from internal and 5 from neurologic diseases.
Distances ranged from 1700 to 10280 nautical miles with transport times from 04:10
hours to 21:55 hours. For 3 patients, a dedicated patient transport compartment (PTC)
in the aircraft cabin was used. All patients were ventilator-dependent for a minimum
of 11 days before transport (48 days median, 113 days maximum).
Results
One patient went into cardiac arrest during the flight and died. None of the other
patients experienced any emergency or invasive procedures, other than peripheral venous
access necessary during the flight. In all patients, ventilation was adjusted with
respect to the blood gas analysis at least once during the transport. No technical
failures or drop-outs occurred during the flights. None of the flights had to be diverted
for technical or medical reasons.
Conclusion
Long distance international transport of ventilated intensive care unit patients is
an extremely cost intensive and logistically challenging task. In a certain subgroup
of relatively stable ventilated patients, transport on commercial airlines offers
advantages in terms of cost effectiveness and reduced transport time and acceleration/deceleration
trauma as a result of multiple fuel stops.
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References
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Article info
Identification
Copyright
© 2004 Air Medical Journal Associates. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
