Air Transport of Brain Injured Patients

Some good news for fans of air medical transport (we've been under fire lately), from an article on WNEP, based on research published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine:

A study finds patients with traumatic brain injuries who are transported by medical helicopters have higher chances of survival and better recoveries than ground-transported patients, according to a study published as an early online release by Annals of Emergency Medicine this week (The Impact of Aeromedical Response to Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury).

Helicopters are used in many systems to respond to major trauma victims because of their ability to transport patients rapidly and without delays that may hinder ground transportation. They also often have crews with advanced training and greater experience managing critically injured patients.

“Until now, there has been very little evidence to support whether frequently used air transport provides any more benefit to injured patients than ground transport,” said lead author Daniel P. Davis, MD, University of California San Diego Department of Emergency Medicine, and Mercy Air Medical Services in San Diego.