Wartime critical care air transport.
OBJECTIVE
Describe the characteristics/enroute care of casualties transported by USAF Critical Care Air Transport Teams (CCATT) during Operation Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF).


METHODS
Retrospective review of TRAC2ES and CCATT Mission Reports (Oct 2001-May 2006).


RESULTS
3492 patient moves (2439 patients). Moves by route: within Area of Responsibility (AOR) (n = 261); AOR-Landstuhl (LRMC) (n = 1995), Germany-CONUS (n = 1188). For AOR-LRMC: BI (64%), NBI (8%), Disease (25%). Among injured (n = 1491), 69% suffered polytrauma, primarily d/t explosions. Injury area: extremities (63%), head (55%), thorax (46%), abdomen (31%), neck (17%). Injury type: soft tissue (64%), orthopedic (45%), thoracic (35%), skull fracture (27%), brain injury (25%). Disease diagnoses: cardiac (15%) and pulmonary (8%).


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first analysis of OEF/OIF CCATT patients. Phase 1 of this study demonstrates the strengths and limitations of TRAC2ES and CCATT Mission Reports to describe the characteristics/enroute care of this unique population.
Bridges
Elizabeth
E
Clinical Investigations Facility, 60 Medical Group, Travis AFB, CA 94535, USA.
Evers
Karen
K
D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D017732:Air Ambulances; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008887:Military Medicine; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000145:classification*