Helicopter Ambulance Transport to the Emergency Department: Demographic and Clinical Factors Impacting Outcomes in a Turkish Medical Center

Abstract

Background Helicopter ambulances (HAs) are a significant component of pre-hospital emergency medical services. This study presents a report on the demographic and clinical factors associated with transport to the emergency department (ED) by HA of 161 patients to a single center in Turkey. Material/Methods Demographic data, diagnoses in arriving center’s ED, transferred distance, and outcomes of 161 patients transferred by HAs between March 01, 2019 and May 31, 2021 were retrospectively evaluated. Mortality rates of the cases were compared both with age and according to the distance traveled within the diagnostic groups. Results There were 134 patients (83.2%) with internal diseases, and cardiovascular diseases were the leading cause (68 patients, 41.6%); 27 patients (16.7%) were transferred due to trauma. The mean distance traveled with HAs was 167.1 km (range, 47.0–1316.0) and the median transfer time was 50 min. The most common form of hospitalization after ED arrival was intensive care hospitalization (n=78, 48.4%). Mortality increased as the transfer distance increased in elderly patients, as well as those with a cardiac or trauma-related diagnosis ( P =0.015, P =0.044, P =0.028, respectively). Conclusions Most patients transferred by HA had severe disease. ED physicians dealing with patient transfer by HAs should be prepared for severe cases, both in the HA and in the ED. HAs may be preferred when making the transfer decision for elderly patients, trauma patients, and those with cardiac disease.

A Retrospective Study to Compare the Glasgow Coma Score, Pediatric Trauma Score, and Injury Severity Score and Outcomes in 118 Pediatric Trauma Patients at a Single Emergency Center in Turkey

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A Retrospective Study of 132 Patients Who Attempted Suicide Admitted to a Turkish Medical Center in Ankara, September 2022 to August 2023

“…The possible effects of these factors on traumatic suicide attempts and their completion were investigated in a very high-capacity Turkish medical center. This center has various emergency and surgical intervention possibilities and is also a regional referral center that accepts traumatic cases from other centers via ground and air ambulances [ 10 ]. Factors affecting the choice of mechanism and the patients’ clinical course were examined a high-capacity ED.…”

Comparison of Outcomes from Emergency Admissions to a Major Trauma Center in Turkey of 1646 Elderly Patients with Traumatic Bone Fractures Before, During, and After the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown Period

“…Some differences in trauma courses are predicted in the elderly population due to changes in mechanisms and factors, fewer avoidance actions, and comorbidities [ 7 ]. The hospital where the present study was conducted is a very high-capacity hospital in its region where patients are transferred both via their own transportation and by land and air ambulances [ 8 ].…”