"In flight catering": feeding critical care patients during aeromedical evacuation

Area of Science:

• Critical care medicine
• Aeromedical transport
• Respiratory physiology

Background:

• Early enteral nutrition (EEN) is crucial for critically ill patients, improving outcomes.
• However, during Critical Care Air Support Transport (CCAST), EEN may increase the risk of micro-aspiration.
• Micro-aspiration can lead to pneumonia, a serious complication in vulnerable patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the risk of micro-aspiration during CCAST.
• To provide evidence-based data for developing safe feeding policies during aeromedical evacuation.
• To inform the Defense Medical Agency (DMA) policy on feeding critically ill casualties during flight.

Main Methods:

• A study has been approved by the Surgeon General's Research Strategy Group.
• The study will focus on quantifying micro-aspiration risks specifically during CCAST operations.
• Methodology will involve assessing physiological parameters and potential aspiration events during transport.

Main Results:

• Results are pending as the study has just been approved.
• The study aims to establish a clear understanding of the incidence and severity of micro-aspiration.
• Data will be collected to correlate transport conditions with aspiration risk.

Conclusions:

• The study's findings will be critical for optimizing patient care during aeromedical evacuation.
• Evidence generated will guide the safe implementation of enteral nutrition during CCAST.
• This research seeks to balance the benefits of EEN with the risks associated with aeromedical transport.