@article{ref1,
title="Helicopter versus ground emergency medical services for the transportation of traumatically injured children",
journal="Journal of pediatric surgery",
year="2015",
author="Stewart, Camille L. and Metzger, Ryan R. and Pyle, Laura and Darmofal, Joe and Scaife, Eric and Moulton, Steven L.",
volume="50",
number="2",
pages="347-352",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) are a common mode of transportation for pediatric trauma patients. We hypothesized that HEMS improve outcomes for traumatically injured children compared to ground emergency medical services (GEMS). <br><br>METHODS: We queried trauma registries of two level 1 pediatric trauma centers for children 0-17years, treated from 2003 to 2013, transported by HEMS or GEMS, with known transport starting location and outcome. A geocoding service estimated travel distance and time. Multivariate regression analyses were performed to adjust for injury severity variables and travel distance/time. <br><br>RESULTS: We identified 14,405 traumatically injured children; 3870 (26.9%) transported by HEMS and 10,535 (73.1%) transported by GEMS. Transport type was not significantly associated with survival, ICU length of stay, or discharge disposition. Transport by GEMS was associated with a 68.6%-53.1% decrease in hospital length of stay, depending on adjustment for distance/time. <br><br>RESULTS were similar for children with severe injuries, and with propensity score matched cohorts. Of note, 862/3850 (22.3%) of HEMS transports had an ISS <10 and hospitalization <1day. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: HEMS do not independently improve outcomes for traumatically injured children, and 22.3% of children transported by HEMS are not significantly injured. These factors should be considered when requesting HEMS for transport of traumatically injured children.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0022-3468",
doi="10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2014.09.040",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2014.09.040"
}