A 55-year-old mechanically ventilated male requiring aeromedical evacuation.
To present a case that illustrates the problems unique to transporting a mechanically ventilated patient by air. A 55-year-old mechanically ventilated male with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a condition with respiratory effects often similar to those of traumatic brain injury, required air transport from Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC, to a hospital in Nevada. A medical team, including one physician, one nurse, and one respiratory therapist, accompanied the patient. This team was not trained in air travel and its unique risks. To complete the mission they had to rapidly familiarize themselves with the specific risks of air travel and the precautions that should be taken. This case is presented to illustrate these risks and what can be done during flight to minimize them.
Argyros
Gregory
G
Department of Medicine, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC 20307-5001, USA. dimitri.cassimatis@na.amedd.army.mil
Cassimatis
Dimitri C
DC
Argyros
Gregory
G
D017732:Air Ambulances; D019090:Case Management; D003422:Critical Care; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D012307:Risk Factors