European aeromedical evacuation transports with SARS-COV 2 positive patients [Innereuropäische Aeromedical-Evacuation-Transporte im Rahmen von COVID-19]

Background As part of the humanitarian response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the German Armed Forces provided air transport for patients to Germany from overwhelmed regional hospitals in Italy and France. Thus far, 22 Italian and 2 French citizens have been flown to Germany as part of this effort. The objective of this study is to use a pre-post comparison to analyse changes in vital signs, in particular regarding the ventilation status of the patients, and to draw conclusions for future transports of COVID-19 patients in fixed-wing aircraft.

Mobile ECMO in COVID-19 patient: case report

At July 25, 2020, WHO had recorded more than 16.1 million confirmed COVID-19 cases, 1% of them developed critical illness. These patients can experience rapid progression to profound hypoxemia and severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Some patients, despite receiving lung-protective ventilation and maximal medical therapy, develop refractory hypoxemia, rendering candidates for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support.

Interhospital transportation of a COVID-19 patient undergoing veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation by helicopter

Some coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients develop rapidly progressive acute respiratory distress syndrome and require veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO). A previous study recommended the transfer of ECMO patients to ECMO centers. However, because of the pandemic, a limited number of ECMO centers are available for patient transfer. The safe long-distance interhospital transport of these patients is a concern. To minimize transportation time, helicopter use is a suitable choice.

Flight of the COVID-19 patient: Experience with a Wuhan evacuee: A case report

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020. Case presentation: We report a case of a 51-year-old Chinese woman who was evacuated from Wuhan, China and diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 infection at a Southern California quarantine facility. Her clinical course was notable for high fevers, night sweats, productive cough, transient leukopenia, lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, and transaminitis.

Collective aeromedical transport of COVID-19 critically ill patients in Europe: A retrospective study

Background: In early 2020, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak has posed the risk of critical care resources overload in every affected country. Collective interhospital transport of critically ill COVID-19 patients as a way to mitigate the localised pressure from overloaded intensive care units at a national or international level has not been reported yet. The aim of this study was to provide descriptive data about the first six collective aeromedical evacuation (MEDEVAC) of COVID-19 patients performed within Europe.

Trans-Atlantic aeromedical repatriation of multiple COVID-19 patients: A hybrid military-civilian model

Here, we report the first known transcontinental aeromedical evacuation of a large number (55) of patients with known and suspected positive COVID-19. These patients were evacuated from Havana, Cuba, to the UK through MOD Boscombe Down as part of Operation BROADSHARE, the British military's overseas response to COVID-19. We describe the safe transfer of patients with COVID-19 using a combined military-civilian model.