[Deployment and efficacy of ground versus helicopter emergency service for severely injured patients. Analysis of a nationwide Swiss trauma center]

Unfallchirurg. 2015 Mar;118(3):233-9. doi: 10.1007/s00113-014-2567-6.
[Article in German]

Abstract

The influence of the transport mode, i.e. Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) versus ground-based Emergency Medical Service (EMS) on the mortality of multiple trauma patients is still controversially discussed in the literature. In this study a total of 333 multiple trauma patients treated over a 1-year period in a level I trauma center in Switzerland were analyzed. Using the newly established revised injury severity classification (RISC) score there was a tendency towards a better outcome for patients transported by HEMS (standardized mortality ratio 1.06 for HEMS versus 1.29 for EMS). Overall a short preclinical time and the presence of an emergency physician (EP) were associated with a better outcome.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Air Ambulances / statistics & numerical data*
  • Automobiles / statistics & numerical data*
  • Emergency Medical Services / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Injury Severity Score*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Trauma / diagnosis
  • Multiple Trauma / mortality*
  • Multiple Trauma / therapy*
  • National Health Programs / statistics & numerical data
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Survival Rate
  • Switzerland
  • Trauma Centers / statistics & numerical data*