Trauma and nontrauma cardiopulmonary arrest: a national survey.
BACKGROUND
This survey attempts to identify the current standard of care for the air medical transport of the patient in cardiopulmonary arrest.


METHODS
An Association of Air Medical Services/National Flight Nurses Association-approved survey by a single mailing with an anonymous response.


METHODS
All rotor-craft programs with current memberships in AAMS.


RESULTS
Fifty-three of the 178 questionnaires mailed were returned. Program demographics, crew composition and transport volumes were typical of other reported national experiences. The majority of programs (84%) had standing operational protocols for trauma and non-trauma cardiopulmonary arrests. The indications for not initiating or discontinuing CPR, the transport of the patient in cardiopulmonary arrest, triage and financial considerations varied widely between air medical programs.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides some insight on the current air medical management of the patient in cardiopulmonary arrest. National practice guidelines should be developed and tested prospectively in future studies.
Grant Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.
H
H
Herron
R
R
Johnson
S
S
Childress
R E
RE
Falcone
D017732:Air Ambulances / Q000592:standards*; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014187:Transportation of Patients / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications*