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Observational Study
. 2020 May 12;28(1):35.
doi: 10.1186/s13049-020-00730-z.

Association of helicopter transportation and improved mortality for patients with major trauma in the northern French Alps trauma system: an observational study based on the TRENAU registry

Francois-Xavier Ageron  1   2 , Guillaume Debaty  3 , Dominique Savary  4 , Frederic Champly  5 , Francois Albasini  6 , Pascal Usseglio  7 , Cécile Vallot  8   4 , Samuel Galvagno  9 , Pierre Bouzat  8   10 ; TRENAU Group
Collaborators, Affiliations
Observational Study

Association of helicopter transportation and improved mortality for patients with major trauma in the northern French Alps trauma system: an observational study based on the TRENAU registry

Francois-Xavier Ageron et al. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. .

Abstract

Background: Prompt prehospital triage and transportation are essential in an organised trauma system. The benefits of helicopter transportation on mortality in a physician-staffed pre-hospital trauma system remains unknown. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of helicopter transportation on mortality and prehospital triage.

Methods: Data collection was based on trauma registry for all consecutive major trauma patients transported by helicopter or ground ambulance in the Northern French Alps Trauma system between 2009 and 2017. The primary endpoint was in-hospital death. We performed multivariate logistic regression to compare death between helicopter and ground ambulance.

Results: Overall, 9458 major trauma patients were included. 37% (n = 3524) were transported by helicopter, and 56% (n = 5253) by ground ambulance. Prehospital time from the first call to the arrival at hospital was longer in the helicopter group compared to the ground ambulance group, respectively median time 95 [72-124] minutes and 85 [63-113] minutes (P < 0.001). Median transport time was similar between groups, 20 min [13-30] for helicopter and 21 min [14-32] for ground ambulance. Using multivariate logistic regression, helicopter was associated with reduced mortality compared to ground ambulance (adjusted OR 0.70; 95% CI, 0.53-0.92; P = 0.01) and with reduced undertriage (OR 0.69 95% CI, 0.60-0.80; P < 0.001).

Conclusion: Helicopter was associated with reduced in-hospital death and undertriage by one third. It did not decrease prehospital and transport times in a system with the same crew using both helicopter or ground ambulance. The mortality and undertriage benefits observed suggest that the helicopter is the proper mode for long-distant transport to a regional trauma centre.

Keywords: Emergency medical services; Helicopter; Mortality; Trauma; Triage.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow chart of inclusion in the study
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Primary and secondary outcomes
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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