Comparison of air and ground transport of cardiac patients

To investigate the outcome of cardiac patients transported by helicopter versus ground ambulance

A hospital-based helicopter program in southeastern Minnesota

Retrospective chart review assessing an 18-month period (January 1998 to June 1999). Charts were reviewed for type of cardiac diagnosis, level of pain, treatments en route, time to intervention, and length of stay (LOS). Two-hundred-sixty-six cardiac patients came by helicopter. Of the 86 turndowns, 50 came by ground ambulance; 28 records were recovered in this group. These patients composed the comparison ground group.

Prehospital time was less for patients transported by air than ground transports (P <.001). The amount of time from the call for transport until arrival at our hospital was less for helicopter transports (P =.002). Air transports had more patients with reduced chest pain on arrival. Difference in CCU LOS was not significant (P =.94). Air patients spent an average of 2 fewer days in the hospital than did ground patients (P =.036).

Helicopter transport benefits the cardiac patient with decreased chest pain as a result of more treatments en route; decreased time from the call until arrival, resulting in decreased time to intervention; and shorter prehospital time and hospital stays.

All of these improved variables relate to salvaged cardiac muscle.