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The transoceanic air evacuation of unstable angina patients.
- Source :
-
Aviation, space, and environmental medicine [Aviat Space Environ Med] 1999 Feb; Vol. 70 (2), pp. 103-6. - Publication Year :
- 1999
-
Abstract
- Background: The United States Air Force (USAF) air evacuation system in the Western Pacific frequently transports unstable angina patients on fixed wing aircraft over long distances to reach definitive cardiologic and cardiothoracic capabilities. This study begins to answer the question: Does the transfer of unstable angina (i.e., crescendo angina or rest angina) patients over long distances adversely affect the overall outcome of such patients?<br />Methods: A case series study was conducted by obtaining a list of urgent and priority unstable angina patients from the Pacific theater from January 1992 through December 1996. Each of these patients' inpatient records were reviewed for cardiac catheterization (cath) result, ejection fraction (EF), previous cardiac history, angioplasty (PTCA) procedures, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, and whether a patient had congestive heart failure (CHF), myocardial infarction (MI), death or other complications on this admission.<br />Results: Of the 59 records reviewed, 61% (36/59) had coronary artery disease (CAD) of at least one vessel greater than 90% occlusion, 31% (18/59) had PTCA, 24% (14/59) had a CABG, 5% (3/59) had CHF, 3% (2/59) had an MI, 24% had some type of a complication, and 1.7% (1) died on this admission.<br />Conclusion: Patients with significant CAD seem to tolerate air transport well with relatively few complications considering the overall morbidity and mortality associated with the diagnosis of unstable angina.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Aged
Angina, Unstable complications
Female
Hospital Mortality
Humans
Length of Stay statistics & numerical data
Male
Middle Aged
Pacific Islands
Program Evaluation
Severity of Illness Index
Treatment Outcome
United States
Aerospace Medicine
Angina, Unstable therapy
Military Medicine
Patient Transfer methods
Transportation of Patients methods
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0095-6562
- Volume :
- 70
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Aviation, space, and environmental medicine
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 10206927