[Rescue helicopter service in Bodö--advanced emergency service or alternative transportation?]

An increase in fatal accidents in helicopter ambulance missions in Norway has put focus on the guidelines for use.

Ambulance records from the physician-staffed SeaKing rescue helicopter in Bodø, Northern Norway, from 1988 to 1998 were analysed retrospectively.

2,498 ambulance missions carried 2,590 patients. Median time to lift-off was 29 minutes, and one-way median flying time was 26 minutes. Four local communities with a total of 12,000 residents (6.3% of the population served by the helicopter) ordered 70% of the missions. 35% of the patients suffered from cardiovascular disease, 12% were in labour, 3.2% were seriously traumatized, while 20% had minor injuries. A total of 107 patients (4%) received advanced pre-hospital emergency treatment. Thirty-eight (1.5%) were intubated and received cardiopulmonary resuscitation, of whom two survived to discharge. Over a period of 11 years, 53 patients were intubated by the anaesthesiologist. Oxygen or intravenous lines as the only treatment effort were given to 72%.

It takes about an hour to reach remote locations by rescue helicopter. A substantial amount of the transports could have been carried out by ground ambulance without loss of health benefit. We question the need for an on-board anaesthesiologist.