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  • Title: The effect of air medical transport on survival after trauma in Johannesburg, South Africa.
    Author: Buntman AJ, Yeomans KA.
    Journal: S Afr Med J; 2002 Oct; 92(10):807-11. PubMed ID: 12432806.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVES: To assess the difference in survival of trauma patients transported to a trauma unit via either road or air in Johannesburg, South Africa. DESIGN: Prospective database analysis. SETTING: Multicentre study utilising two trauma units. SUBJECTS: The study evaluated 428 subjects admitted to the two sites. OUTCOME MEASURES: Actual survival rates in each group (road and air) were compared with the predicted survival rates. RESULTS: In the road group, 38.96 people were predicted to die and 51 actually died, therefore 23.61% (or 12.04 people) died 'unnecessarily', i.e. they died after having been predicted to live. In the helicopter group, 38.15 people were predicted to die and 39 actually died, therefore 0.85 (39-38.15) people were not expected to die. The 0.85 people represent 2.18% (0.85/39) of the total number of dead in the helicopter group who died 'unnecessarily'. Therefore one could argue that introduction of helicopter transport reduces the number of dead by 21.43% (23.61-2.18). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with a certain injury severity are more likely to survive if transported by air to a trauma unit.
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