Air vs. Ground and Head Trauma

["Steve and Pam Talbert" <talberthome@insightbb.com>]

I completed my dissertation this semester and it addressed this very issue.
I am busy writing my first publication right now. The study included acute
brain injured patients admitted to two Level 1 Trauma Centers over 3 years
(N=1993). Helicopters reduced mortality (31%) and improved discharge
disposition (32%) but only for patients who presented to the Trauma Center
with a GCS of 3-8. Because helicopter patients may have an artificially
lowered GCS when they arrive at the Trauma Center, I controlled for AIS and
found a 40% reduction in mortality when severe TBI patients are transported
by helicopter. No benefit was noted for any other group.

When I controlled for severity of injury (AIS and GCS), age, and mechanism
of injury, patients who were transported by ground ambulance were 2.4 times
as likely to die as those transported by helicopter.

Lots of other interesting findings and new questions worthy of study. Anyone
who is interested in more details may contact me directly.

Steve Talbert, RN, Ph.D.
University of Kentucky
talberthome@insightbb.com

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