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Improving accessibility to lung transplantation for children through air transport
Don Hayes1, Thomas J Preston2, Mark Galantowicz3
1Section of Pulmonary Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH; Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH; Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
Insights
Air transport services enable critically ill children to access advanced lung transplantation care. This vital service, utilizing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), overcomes geographical barriers for pediatric lung transplant candidates.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric critical care medicine
- Cardiopulmonary transplantation surgery
- Aeromedical transport services
Background:
- Limited pediatric lung transplant centers in the US create geographical barriers for critically ill children.
- Access to advanced life support and transplantation is crucial for pediatric end-stage lung disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the role of air transport services in a pediatric lung transplant program.
- To assess the feasibility of using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) during air transport for pediatric lung transplant candidates.
Main Methods:
- Development and implementation of air transport services (rotor-wing and fixed-wing aircraft).
- Integration of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for critically ill children requiring transport.
- Utilizing air transport to bridge children to lung transplantation.
Main Results:
- Successful development and integration of air transport services into a pediatric lung transplant program.
- Air transport facilitated the transfer of children requiring ECMO and lung transplantation across the United States.
- Established air transport as a vital component for extending transplant access.
Conclusions:
- Air transport services are essential for pediatric lung transplant programs.
- These services significantly improve access to advanced care for children nationwide.
- Air transport, combined with ECMO, enhances the reach of pediatric lung transplantation.
Introduction:
There are a limited number of pediatric lung transplant programs in the United States; therefore, geographical barriers limit critically ill children who may be good candidates for lung transplantation.
Materials And Methods:
With advancements in technology, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is becoming an option to bridge children requiring advanced life support to lung transplantation and offers the opportunity to transport critically ill children to pediatric lung transplant centers.
Results:
Air transport services with rotor-wing and fixed-wing aircraft were successfully developed and quickly became as a vital component of our pediatric lung transplant program offering ECMO for both transport and as a bridge to lung transplantation to children throughout the United States.
Conclusion:
Air transport services can be an important component of pediatric lung transplant programs to offer this advanced treatment to children.
