A national survey of the air medical transport of high-risk obstetric patients.
BACKGROUND
Air medical transport of high-risk obstetric (HROB) patients can be accomplished and advantageous for neonate survival and maternal morbidity. A survey of U.S. helicopter air medical programs was conducted to determine the frequency and current practices of HROB transport.


METHODS
Each program was contacted by telephone, and air medical personnel were asked to answer 12 questions based on personal experience and statistics compiled by their programs.


RESULTS
Of the 203 programs surveyed, 133 (66%) provided responses. The mean number of HROB transports was 45.6 per year (4.6% of the mean 995 total transports). Although 83% of the responding programs used the standard flight crew during the HROB transport, only 52% required crew members to maintain neonatal resuscitation certification. Only 56% of the aircraft allow pelvic access in the normal patient configuration. While only 22% of programs have specific HROB launch (dispatch) protocols, 50% reported having obstetricians involved in dispatching flights, and 84% carry tocolytic agents in their drug kit. The greatest concerns included in-flight delivery (60%), inadequate fetal monitoring (6%), and inexperience (5%).


CONCLUSIONS
While HROBs account for 5% of air medical flights, many programs appear to be poorly prepared for these patients.
Department of Emergency Medicine, Carolinas Medical Center, P.O. Box 32861, Charlotte, N.C. 28232-2861, USA. aejones1454@pol.net
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Jones
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Summers
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Deschamp
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Galli
D017732:Air Ambulances / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians; D016529:Emergency Nursing; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D011247:Pregnancy; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014187:Transportation of Patients / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology