Journal of Trauma and Injury

The Korean Society of Traumatology (대한외상학회)
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Association between Helicopter Versus Ground Emergency Medical Services in Inter-Hospital Transport of Trauma Patients

응급의료 전용헬기와 지상 앰뷸런스를 이용한 병원 간 이송에서 외상 환자의 예후 비교

  • Kang, Kyeong Guk (Department of Emergency Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center) ;
  • Cho, Jin Seong (Department of Emergency Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center) ;
  • Kim, Jin Ju (Department of Emergency Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center) ;
  • Lim, Yong Su (Department of Emergency Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center) ;
  • Park, Won Bin (Department of Emergency Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center) ;
  • Yang, Hyuk Jun (Department of Emergency Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center) ;
  • Lee, Geun (Department of Emergency Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center)
  • 강경국 (가천대학교 길병원 응급의학과) ;
  • 조진성 (가천대학교 길병원 응급의학과) ;
  • 김진주 (가천대학교 길병원 응급의학과) ;
  • 임용수 (가천대학교 길병원 응급의학과) ;
  • 박원빈 (가천대학교 길병원 응급의학과) ;
  • 양혁준 (가천대학교 길병원 응급의학과) ;
  • 이근 (가천대학교 길병원 응급의학과)
  • Received : 2015.06.12
  • Accepted : 2015.10.04
  • Published : 2015.09.30
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Abstract

Purpose: To improve outcome of severe trauma patient, the shortening of transport time is needed. Although helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) is still a subject of debate, it must also be considered for trauma system. The aim of this study is to assess whether transport method (HEMS versus ground EMS) is associated with outcome among inter-hospital transport. Methods: All trauma patients transported to regional emergency center by either HEMS or ground EMS from September 2011 to September 2014. We have classified patients according to two groups by transport method. Age younger than 15 years and self-discharged patients were excluded. Results: A total of 427 patients were available for analysis during this period. 60 patients were transported by HEMS and 367 patients were transported by ground EMS. HEMS group had higher mortality than ground EMS group (23.3% vs 3.5%; p<0.001), and included more patients with excess mortality ratio adjusted injury severity score (EMR-ISS) above 25 (91.7% vs 48.8%; p<0.001). In the multivariable regression analysis, HEMS was not associated with improved outcome compared with ground EMS, but only EMR-ISS was associated with a mortality of patients (odds ratio, 1.06; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-1.09). Conclusion: In this study, helicopter emergency medical services transport was not associated with a decreased of mortality among the trauma patients who inter-hospital transported to the regional emergency center.

Keywords

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