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Jodie A Mills

Jodie A Mills

CareFlight Northern Territory Operations, Australia

Title: Aeromedical retrieval of acute psychiatric patients

Biography

Biography: Jodie A Mills

Abstract

The aim of this study is to review the characteristics of acute psychiatric patients requiring aeromedical retrieval across the Top End of the Northern Territory (NT), to assess the sedation requirements and incidence of in-flight complications, and to review the optimal flight crew composition required for safe retrieval. Retrospective data was collected for all psychiatric patients retrieved by CareFlight Aeromedical Retrieval Service for the Top End of the Northern Territory of Australia over a 12-month period between 1st February 2012 and 31st January 2013. 262 patients were retrieved using fixed-wing transport, 90% were indigenous with a male: female ratio of 1.45:1. Mean age was 31yrs. 5% of patients were under the age of 18. 81% of retrievals occurred during the day averaging approximately 4 hours 40 minutes. A flight doctor was tasked with a flight nurse to retrieve 79% of patients. 89% of patients received sedation in the healthcare centre prior to flight, while 39% of total patients required further in-flight sedation. Eight patients required intubation before transport. 4% of patient’s developed hypotension with the use of Propofol. This review highlights the characteristics of psychiatric patients retrieved by an aeromedical retrieval service in the NT of Australia. The majority of patients retrieved had a background psychiatric history and also a history of violence. Given the nature of the retrieval and the risk to crew and aircraft, a flight doctor was tasked on a high number of cases. The complication rate was negligible