Helicopter Transport in Regionalized Burn Care: One Program's Perspective.

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Trauma Surgery
• Burn Care

Background:

• Helicopter EMS (HEMS) use for burn patients involves complex transport decisions.
• Evaluating HEMS appropriateness for burn patients is crucial for efficient resource allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess burn patients transported via HEMS against established criteria for HEMS benefit.
• Identify the proportion of burn patients meeting specific HEMS indications.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of burn transport charts over 9.5 years.
• Evaluation based on criteria: advanced airway, ventilator support, facial/inhalation injury, circumferential, electrical/chemical, or major burns.

Main Results:

• 171 burn patients identified; 18.1% were pediatric.
• Facial burns (65.5%) and suspected inhalation injuries (40.4%) were most common indications.
• 12.3% did not meet any HEMS criteria; 57.3% had non-major burns.

Conclusions:

• A significant portion of burn patients transported by HEMS may not meet established criteria.
• Further research is needed to define optimal HEMS utilization for burn patients and associated transport risks.