Comparison of air and ground transport of cardiac patients.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the outcome of cardiac patients transported by helicopter versus ground ambulance


METHODS
A hospital-based helicopter program in southeastern Minnesota


METHODS
Retrospective chart review assessing an 18-month period (January 1998 to June 1999). Charts were reviewed for type of cardiac diagnosis, level of pain, treatments en route, time to intervention, and length of stay (LOS). Two-hundred-sixty-six cardiac patients came by helicopter. Of the 86 turndowns, 50 came by ground ambulance; 28 records were recovered in this group. These patients composed the comparison ground group.


RESULTS
Prehospital time was less for patients transported by air than ground transports (P <.001). The amount of time from the call for transport until arrival at our hospital was less for helicopter transports (P =.002). Air transports had more patients with reduced chest pain on arrival. Difference in CCU LOS was not significant (P =.94). Air patients spent an average of 2 fewer days in the hospital than did ground patients (P =.036).


CONCLUSIONS
Helicopter transport benefits the cardiac patient with decreased chest pain as a result of more treatments en route; decreased time from the call until arrival, resulting in decreased time to intervention; and shorter prehospital time and hospital stays.


CONCLUSIONS
All of these improved variables relate to salvaged cardiac muscle.
Berns
K S
KS
Saint Mary's Hospital, Mayo Clinic, Mayo Medical Transport Service, Rochester, Minn 55902, USA.
Hankins
D G
DG
Zietlow
S P
SP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017732:Air Ambulances; D000552:Ambulances; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D002637:Chest Pain; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014187:Transportation of Patients / Q000379:methods*