The impact of a physician-staffed helicopter on outcome in patients admitted to a stroke unit: a prospective observational study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Transportation by helicopter may reduce time to hospital admission and improve outcome. We aimed to investigate the effect of transport mode on mortality, disability, and labour market affiliation in patients admitted to the stroke unit.

Methods

Prospective, observational study with 5.5 years of follow-up. We included patients admitted to the stroke unit the first three years after implementation of a helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) from a geographical area covered by both the HEMS and the ground emergency medical services (GEMS). HEMS patients were compared with GEMS patients. Primary outcome was long-term mortality after admission to the stroke unit.

Results

Of the 1679 patients admitted to the stroke unit, 1068 were eligible for inclusion. M

SUBMITTER: Funder KS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5322627 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature