A cost-benefit evaluation of helicopter transfers to the Beaumont neurosurgical unit.
A retrospective analysis of all consecutive helicopter transfers to the Beaumont neurosurgical unit was performed over a two year period from January 1994 to December 1996. There were 55 transfers, 55% of which were for trauma patients. Sixty two per cent were intubated prior to transfer. The mean length of stay at the referring hospital prior to transfer was 12.25 hours (range 3-98 hours). Twenty five per cent underwent a neurosurgical operation within 2 hours of arrival at the unit. Seventy eight per cent of patients either made a full recovery or were left with mild to moderate disability. Whilst helicopters do not seem to result in a marked reduction in total transfer time compared with 'blue light' ambulances, they do result in a shorter time being spent in the unstable transfer environment and this, in turn, might be associated with improved patient outcome.
Dardis
R
R
Department of Neurosurgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin.
Roberts
G
G
Phillips
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017732:Air Ambulances / Q000191:economics*; D002648:Child; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003422:Critical Care / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009493:Neurosurgery; D010360:Patient Transfer / Q000191:economics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome