Aeromedical Transport of Critically Ill Patients: A Literature Review

The aeromedical transport of critically ill patients has become an integral part of practicing medicine on a global scale. The development of reliable portable medical equipment allows physicians, emergency medical technicians, and nurses to transport wounded and diseased patients under constant critical care attention. Air transportation involves utilizing a fixed-wing (airplane) or rotor-wing (helicopter) aircraft to accomplish different types of transports ranging from scene responses to international transfers. The proper preparation and management of patients undergoing aeromedical transport require a basic understanding of the physiological changes and unique challenges encountered within the aircraft environment at 8,000 ft above sea level. The purpose of this paper is to review the literature and provide guidelines for approaching the aeromedical transportation of critically ill patients.