Aeromedical evacuation of a COVID-19 patient from a zonal hospital: A case report

Abstract

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the whole world including many healthcare workers. In this era of ongoing global pandemic, the patient surge for aeromedical evacuation is going to increase. Case Details: A 54-year, male healthcare worker with no known co-morbidities, presented with complains of fever, myalgia, and sore throat at a zonal hospital of Indian Air Force in the northeast part of India. He was diagnosed with COVID-19 related bilateral extensive pneumonia. Despite of standard treatment, his condition deteriorated. An aeromedical evacuation of the patient was carried out to a tertiary healthcare centre at Delhi which involved 4-h of flying time. The Airborne Rescue Pod for Isolated Transportation (ARPIT) isolation pod was used to minimize the risk of contamination. Discussion: This was the first time that a COVID-19 patient was air evacuated in an isolation pod in Indian Armed Forces to the best of our knowledge. Based on our experience, we recommend that air evacuation of such a patient may be resorted to only as a life saving measure. The use of an isolation pod remains an unsettled issue; whereas, it gives absolute containment to spread of infection, it poses unique challenges in terms of handling the patient in case of an in-flight emergency. Certain modifications in the isolation pod have been recommended.