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Ventilation of intubated patients during HEMS hoisting operations

Abstract

In response to the review “Advanced airway management in hoist and longline operations in mountain HEMS - considerations in austere environments: a narrative review.” by Pietsch et al. we refer to recently published original research describing manual versus automatic ventilation of intubated patients during helicopter hoisting operations.

Main text

The recently published “Advanced airway management in hoist and longline operations in mountain HEMS – considerations in austere environments: a narrative review.” [1] by Pietsch et al. is an excellent review of the issues involved in the helicopter hoisting of critically unwell patients, concentrating on alpine environments.

Contemporaneously to the authors' review we have published an original research paper “Ventilatory choices for intubated patients during helicopter stretcher winching” [2]. Concentrating on the method of ventilation, we compared the use of a self-inflating bag versus a mechanical ventilator during the helicopter hoisting (or winching) of a manikin, measuring airway pressures. The use of automatic ventilation was found to be more reliable, consistent and safer. As pointed out in Pietsch’s article, airway monitoring and disconnection is a major concern, but of a low risk if managed appropriately, and the safety benefits to the patient make it potentially the optimal method. In addition, the enhancement of situational awareness for the attendant when freed from the task of ventilation is likely to particularly benefit operational safety.

Our paper appears to be the only publication to date which has directly addressed the safety of ventilation during hoist operations. We believe that we have been able to demonstrate the advantages to both patient and team of utilising mechanical ventilation.

Abbreviations

HEMS:

Helicopter Emergency Medical Services

ICAR MEDCOM:

International Commission for Mountain Emergency Medicine

References

  1. Pietsch U, Knapp J, Kreuzer O, et al. Advanced airway management in hoist and longline operations in mountain HEMS - considerations in austere environments: a narrative review this review is endorsed by the International Commission for Mountain Emergency Medicine (ICAR MEDCOM). Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2018;26:23–30.

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  2. Hollott J. Ventilatory choices for intubated patients during helicopter stretcher winching. Emerg Med Aust. 2017;29:692–6.

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Availability of data and supporting materials section

The datasets used and analysed during the study referred to are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Contributions

JH designed and wrote the study referred to and authored the letter to the editor. The author read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to John Hollott.

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The Hunter New England Human Research Ethics Committee granted approval to undertake the study referred to.

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The author declares that they have no competing interests.

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Hollott, J. Ventilation of intubated patients during HEMS hoisting operations. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med 26, 39 (2018). https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.1186/s13049-018-0508-z

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