Physiology of patient transfer by land and air

Patient transfer is an important part of many patients’ journeys through the healthcare system. In the UK, the majority of transfers are undertaken by land ambulance but some are by air utilizing helicopters or fixed wing aircraft. The transfer of patients is challenging often involving unstable cri...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Anaesthesia and intensive care medicine 2019-10, Vol.20 (10), p.595-599
Main Authors: Hale, James J., Hall, David P., Dunn, Mark J.G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acceleration
aerospace medicine
air ambulances
ambulances
atmospheric pressure
patient transfer
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Summary:Patient transfer is an important part of many patients’ journeys through the healthcare system. In the UK, the majority of transfers are undertaken by land ambulance but some are by air utilizing helicopters or fixed wing aircraft. The transfer of patients is challenging often involving unstable critically ill patients, trainee staff, time pressure, out of hours work and unfamiliar transfer equipment. Patients are exposed to a number of physical factors including acceleration and deceleration, decreased barometric pressure, noise, vibration, reduced humidity and altered ambient temperatures. These factors have a significant effect on patient physiology and it is important that clinicians understand these effects and integrate them with planning and decision making. Other challenges include staff fatigue, communication difficulties, the effects of transfer on medical equipment and the hazards of caring for patients in confined spaces for prolonged periods of time.
ISSN:1472-0299
1878-7584
DOI:10.1016/j.mpaic.2019.07.015