Out-of-hospital Times Using Helicopters Versus Ground Services for Emergency Patients

Abstract

Objective: Minimizing out-of-hospital time reduces morbidity and mortality in patients with severe trauma, acute coronary syndrome, or acute stroke. Our objective was to compare out-of-hospital times by helicopter versus ground services when the estimated time of arrival on the scene was over 20 minutes.

Methods: We proposed a retrospective observational monocentric study following 2 cohorts. The helicopter group and the ground group included patients with severe trauma, acute coronary syndrome, or acute stroke transported by helicopter or ground services.

Results: Two hundred thirty-nine patients were included; 118 were in the ground group, and 121 were in the helicopter group. Distances for the helicopter group were higher (62.1 ± 22.5 km vs. 27.6 ± 10.4 km, P < .001). When distances were over 35 km, the helicopter group was faster. We identified distance, need for surgery, and intensive care hospitalization as 3 predicting factors for choosing helicopters over ground modes of transport.

Conclusion: In cases of severe trauma, acute coronary syndrome, or acute stroke, emergency medical helicopter transport can be chosen over ground transport when patients are in a severe state and when the distance is further than 35 km from the hospital.