Analysis and evaluation of the helicopter emergency medical service in Aragon

Velilla Moliner J, Giménez Valverde A, Requena López A, Suberviola González F, Lara González A, Marquina Lacueva MI, López Lacambra MA, Martínez Feria M, Laviña Lardies B, Fernández Manjón Y

Introduction: The use of the helicopter for the health care urgent attention

in Aragon dates from the year 2000. Since then 1055 patients

have been attended by the medical team of 112-SOS Aragon.

Methods: A simple, descriptive, retrospective study was made of the

last 999 patients attended by the emergency helicopter from May 10,

2000 to September 12, 2005.

Results: Of the 999 patients, 81.1% were attended at the site of the

event (primary service) and 18.9% were an interhospital transfer (secondary

service). The most frequent pathologies related to trauma accident

were traffic (40.9%) and work accidents (12.7%) with cardiovascular

events in 12% of the patients. The first two represented almost

70% of the patients a Hended. Of patients under 45 years of age. 26%

presented cardiovascular events (p < 0.001). Other pathologies atteded included: sports accidents (7.6%), domestic accidents (2.3%), neonatal emergencies (2.4%) respiratory events (2%), autolysis, violence or fires, although with a lower prevalence. Conclusions: The helicopter 112 SOS Aragon represents an important resource within the system healthcare emergencies in the Autonomous Community of Aragon. The study has allowed determine the profile of the serious patient who received urgent health care by this service. The critical patient (severe trauma, neonates and cardiac) most benefit from helicopter transport particularly when they are in distant rural areas a long distance from a reference hospital.

Fernández Manjón Y, Giménez Valverde A, Lara González A, Laviña Lardies B, López Lacambra MA, Marquina Lacueva MI, Martínez Feria M, Requena López A, Suberviola González F, Velilla Moliner J