title: Helicopter rescue involving the winching of a physician.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We sought to study the operational and medical aspects of helicopter rescue missions involving the use of a winch.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single helicopter-based medical service of a pre-alpine region of Switzerland.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively studied consecutive primary rescue interventions involving winching of a physician, from October 1, 1998 to October 1, 2002. Demographic, medical and operational aspects as well as outcome at 48 hours were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We included 133 patients. Most (74%) were male, with traumatic injuries (77%). The median scene time of the nine severely injured patients (Injury Severity Scale [ISS] > 15) was significantly longer compared with the other patients (54 vs 37 minutes; P < .05). The main medical procedures performed were orotracheal intubation (n = 5), fracture reductions (n = 5), major analgesia with sedation (n = 4), and intravenous fluid administration of more than 1,500 mL (n = 4). Fourteen (10%) patients suffering from minor injuries were triaged by the physician and not airlifted to the hospital. All 133 patients were alive at 48 hours. Sixty-nine (52%) were still hospitalized. No secondary interhospital transfer was required.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study provides a better knowledge of injury profile, medical aspects, and outcomes of patients rescued necessitating a winching procedure.
authors.affiliation: Anesthesiology Department, University Hospital Center, Lausanne, Switzerland. Jocelyn.Corniche@chuv.ch
authors.forename: Jocelyn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Corniche
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pasquier
authors.forename: Bertrand
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yersin
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kern
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schoettker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017732:Air Ambulances / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013557:Switzerland; D014218:Triage; D000078329:Workforce; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy