Helicopter emergency medical system in a region lacking trauma coordination (experience from Tehran).
BACKGROUND
The helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) has been working in Iran since 2000. The present study is the first prospective research to determine the epidemiological characteristics of injured patients transported by helicopter in Tehran.


METHODS
All injured patients brought to three hospitals from the injury scene by HEMS were reviewed in a 4-month period.


RESULTS
The mean transport time was 54 minutes. The most common mechanism of trauma was road traffic accidents (96.2%). The mean injury severity score was 8.6 (SD 8.6) and 9.6% of patients were sent to the intensive care unit; 10.2% of patients died.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that overtriage in HEMS (transportation of patients without severe injuries) and the long transportation time is mainly a result of not having a trauma system. The study has shown HEMS to be an effective and feasible option in countries with heavy traffic and no trauma system.
Salimi
J
J
Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Sina Hospital, Hassan Abad Square, Tehran, Iran. mjsalimi@sina.tums.ac.ir
Khaji
A
A
Khashayar
P
P
Bande
M Khoda
MK
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017732:Air Ambulances / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult