Air transport of obstetric critical care patients to tertiary centers.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate critical care diagnoses and their frequency in an air transport situation.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective review was done of all obstetric air transports performed by Samaritan AirEvac to tertiary hospitals in Phoenix, Arizona, from January 1, 1990, to August 31, 1991.

RESULTS

In the 20-month study period, 1,541 maternal transports were performed. Critical care diagnoses were found in 360 (23.4%) of the patient. The following categories were used: hypertensive crisis, 188/360 (52%); hemorrhage, 131/360 (36%); trauma, 21/360 (6%); and respiratory compromise, 11/360 (3%).

CONCLUSION

Critical care diagnoses represented about 25% of all obstetric air transports in this study. Our transport team is made up of an obstetric flight nurse and another team member (adult trauma nurse, neonatal flight nurse, flight respiratory therapist of flight paramedic). Skill in both obstetric diagnosis and management and in critical care necessary in these situations.