Aeromedical evacuation of the trauma patient

Abstract

Aeromedical evacuation of the trauma patient in the UK is uncommon but controversial. This article compares services in the UK with other, more developed services, particularly those in France and Germany. The important subject of despatch and control and the controversy over different crew configurations are considered. The available, often contradictory evidence for altered patient outcome is reviewed. As with many advances in the quality of medical care it appears that isolating the effect of aeromedical evacuation on the crude indicator of mortality is difficult. World-wide, aeromedical systems are here to stay, and it is up to individual governments and agencies to decide on the level of financial support and priority that they will receive.