Deployment and efficacy of ground versus helicopter emergency service for severely injured patients. Analysis of a nationwide Swiss trauma center

• Published in: Der Unfallchirurg 2015-03, Vol.118 (3), p.233-239
• Main Authors: Günkel, S, König, M, Albrecht, R, Brüesch, M, Lefering, R, Sprengel, K, Werner, C M L, Simmen, H-P, Wanner, G A
• Format: Article
• Language: ger
• Subjects: Air Ambulances - statistics & numerical data; Automobiles - statistics & numerical data; Emergency Medical Services - statistics & numerical data; Female; Humans; Injury Severity Score; Male; Middle Aged; Multiple Trauma - diagnosis; Multiple Trauma - mortality; Multiple Trauma - therapy; National Health Programs - statistics & numerical data; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Prevalence; Risk Factors; Survival Rate; Switzerland; Trauma Centers - statistics & numerical data
• ISSN: 1433-044X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00113-014-2567-6

The influence of the transport mode, i.e. Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) versus ground-based Emergency Medical Service (EMS) on the mortality of multiple trauma patients is still controversially discussed in the literature. In this study a total of 333 multiple trauma patients treated over a 1-year period in a level I trauma center in Switzerland were analyzed. Using the newly established revised injury severity classification (RISC) score there was a tendency towards a better outcome for patients transported by HEMS (standardized mortality ratio 1.06 for HEMS versus 1.29 for EMS). Overall a short preclinical time and the presence of an emergency physician (EP) were associated with a better outcome.