Challenges of Air Medical Evacuation from Antarctica

An acute coronary syndrome in Antarctica

“…Exposure to a 1°C decrease in the daily mean temperature increases by 2% the risk of myocardial infarction for 28 days, with a more pronounced risk between 2 and 14 days post-exposure [15]. Hard climatic conditions -freezing cold, strong wind, heavy snowfall -prevail in Antarctica [2], and may have a drastic impact on passengers when hiking ashore or during a zodiac cruise.…”

“…The cruises typically last 10 to 15 days and most passengers are elderly and American [1]. The seas are often rough and the remote Antarctic Peninsula exhibits extreme weather conditions, all factors that prohibit medical evacuation [2]. Very cold and windy weather, which are weather conditions encountered in Antarctica, can contribute to acute coronary syndrome [3].…”

Cruise ship pathologies in remote regions

“…In our study, half the time, the ship was sailing on polar and remote areas. Climatic factors (strong wind and gusts, extreme cold and freezing), accessibility depending on sea ice conditions, runway availability, remoteness and obscurity, are limitations to a successful evacuation which may, therefore, be delayed for several days [2,30,31]. Norway has set up an airborne medical evacuation system from Svalbard (Spitzbergen) to Tromso on the mainland.…”

Acute gastrointestinal haemorrhage on board a cruise ship in the Antarctic Peninsula

“…Strong gusty wind, freezing conditions, iced runway limitations, remoteness from the evacuation area make an aerial evacuation uncertain [11]. For a successful operation, international coordination is compulsory [11,12]. The French cruise ship worked in coordination with the Chilean station Frei, the MMCC of Toulouse, in France, and the international CROSS Gris-Nez in France.…”

“…In Antarctica, airborne evacuations are difficult and sometimes impossible due to extreme weather conditions. Strong gusty wind, freezing conditions, iced runway limitations, remoteness from the evacuation area make an aerial evacuation uncertain [11]. For a successful operation, international coordination is compulsory [11,12].…”