Comparative Study on the Outcome of Stroke Patients Transferred by Doctor Helicopters and Ground Ambulances in South Korea: A Retrospective Controlled Study
Table 1
Characteristics of patients assisted via HEMS or GEMS.
HEMS
GEMS
value
Patients (male)
26 (7)
102 (65)
—
Age (mean ± SD)
69.70 ± 17.87
67.67 ± 13.48
0.608
Systolic BP
145.15 ± 32.88
148.38 ± 30.42
0.878
Diastolic BP
80.34 ± 24.37
83.76 ± 17.85
0.516
Pulse rate
78.88 ± 18.52
89.94 ± 19.04
0.024
Respiratory rate
18.73 ± 1.70
20.05 ± 3.60
0.020
Body temperature
36.51 ± 0.66
36.48 ± 0.94
0.881
Period of hospitalization (days)
18.96 ± 4.28
22.50 ± 4.14
0.584
ICU stay (days)
5.22 ± 0.99
7.55 ± 1.37
0.247
GW stay (days)
13.74 ± 4.03
14.95 ± 4.10
0.848
Time analysis
Transportation time (hours)
1.12 ± 0.68
1.56 ± 0.75
<0.001
Time from incident to GW admission (hours)
2.94 ± 1.91
4.20 ± 2.40
<0.001
Decision time for admission (min)
4.22 ± 1.93
34.13 ± 9.72
<0.001
HEMS: helicopter emergency medical services; GEMS: ground emergency medical services; ICU: intensive care unit; GW: general ward. Transportation time is the time of travel between the scene and the hospital.
