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 d one of all obstetric air transports performed by Samaritan AirEvac to tertiary hospitals in Phoenix, Arizona, from January 1, 1990, to Augus t 32, 1991. RESULTS: In the 20-month study period, 1,541 maternal tran sports were performed. Critical cave diagnoses were found in 360 (23.4 %) of. the patients. The following categories were used: hypertensive crisis, 188/360 (52%); hemorrhage, 131/360 (36%); trauma, 22/360 (6%); and respiratory compromise, 11/360 (3%). CONCLUSION: Critical cave di agnoses represented about 25% of all obstetric air transports in this study. Our transport team is made up of an obstetric Fight nurse and a nother team member (adult trauma nurse, neonatal flight nurse, flight respiratory therapist or flight paramedic). Skill in both obstetric di agnosis and management and in critical cave is necessary in these situ ations.