[Rescue helicopter service in Bodö--advanced emergency service or alternative transportation?].
BACKGROUND
An increase in fatal accidents in helicopter ambulance missions in Norway has put focus on the guidelines for use.


METHODS
Ambulance records from the physician-staffed SeaKing rescue helicopter in Bodø, Northern Norway, from 1988 to 1998 were analysed retrospectively.


RESULTS
2,498 ambulance missions carried 2,590 patients. Median time to lift-off was 29 minutes, and one-way median flying time was 26 minutes. Four local communities with a total of 12,000 residents (6.3% of the population served by the helicopter) ordered 70% of the missions. 35% of the patients suffered from cardiovascular disease, 12% were in labour, 3.2% were seriously traumatized, while 20% had minor injuries. A total of 107 patients (4%) received advanced pre-hospital emergency treatment. Thirty-eight (1.5%) were intubated and received cardiopulmonary resuscitation, of whom two survived to discharge. Over a period of 11 years, 53 patients were intubated by the anaesthesiologist. Oxygen or intravenous lines as the only treatment effort were given to 72%.


CONCLUSIONS
It takes about an hour to reach remote locations by rescue helicopter. A substantial amount of the transports could have been carried out by ground ambulance without loss of health benefit. We question the need for an on-board anaesthesiologist.
Ulvik
Atle
A
Anestesiavdelingen Nordland Sentralsykehus 8092 Bodø. atle.ulvik@haukeland.no
Rannestad
Bård Stian
BS
Carlsen
Anders Wetting
AW
Nielsen
Erik Waage
EW
D000059:Accidents; D000328:Adult; D017732:Air Ambulances / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000628:therapy; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006300:Health Services Misuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D009664:Norway; D018635:Rescue Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014187:Transportation of Patients / Q000379:methods*; D014600:Utilization Review