20 October 2015 : Original article
The Role of Medical Air Rescue Services in Medical Transport of Organ Recipients in Poland: Organizational Solutions Supporting Transplantation Medicine
Robert GałązkowskiACDEG, Agata PawlakBC, Daniel RabczenkoCE, Grzegorz MichalakDF, Michał M. FarkowskiDF, Roman DanielewiczDF, Maciej SterlińskiCDEFDOI: 10.12659/AOT.895321
Ann Transplant 2015; 20:627-633
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to analyze the use of fixed-wing air ambulance (FWAA) services in Poland during the period 2012–2013, with particular emphasis on air transport of organ recipients to transplantation centers.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of data derived from standard FWAA medical documentation.
RESULTS: In the years 2012–2013 there were 500 emergency (52.7%) and 447 elective (47.3%) missions. Children who were 1–10 years old comprised the single largest group in both emergency (EM) and elective (EL) missions, accounting for 17% of all flights. EM transports carried mainly patients aged 49–59 (18.5%), and 35.1% of all EM transports concerned patients with end-stage renal disease qualified as organ recipients who were transported to transplantation centers. With a total of 2278 kidney transplantations performed in Poland within the period analyzed, up to 7.8% recipients were transported by air medical services. For EL flights, the most numerous group were patients aged 1–10 (25.4%) and this group comprised mainly patients with congenital disorders (17.9%) and cardiovascular diseases (15.8%). The average flight duration was similar for both EM and EL groups (41.7±10.5 min vs. 40.4±8.7 min, respectively) (p=NS), as was the average distance covered (321.8±99.4 km vs. 310.5±87.4 km, respectively) (p=NS). In the case of patients with end-stage renal disease, the average distance and flight time were significantly longer than those for all other groups in total: 382.5±96.4 km vs. 302.6±87.3 km (p<0.001) and 74.9±10.2 min vs. 39.7±8.8 min (p<0.001), respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: The most frequent clinical indication for FWAA transport was end-stage renal disease and most of those flights were carried out as EM. The FWAA service plays a vital role in the organization of pre-transplantation transport to referral centers in Poland. This analysis supports the data for evaluation and potential changes in the Polish distribution and allocation rules for kidney transplantation.
Keywords: Aircraft, Kidney, Transplantation
In Press
Original article
Diagnostic Utility of FAR1 Methylation Levels in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Undergoing Liver Transpl...Ann Transplant In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AOT.951568
Original article
Inferior Long-Term Outcome of Fatty Liver Allografts After Orthotopic Liver TransplantationAnn Transplant In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AOT.950589
Database Analysis
Identification and Validation of Liver Transplantation-Induced Acute Lung Injury Biomarkers Using a Bioinfo...Ann Transplant In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AOT.950289
Original article
Survival and Recurrence in Liver Transplant Patients With Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma and Hepatocellula...Ann Transplant In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AOT.950997
Most Viewed Current Articles
24 Aug 2021 : Review article 18,372
Normothermic Machine Perfusion (NMP) of the Liver – Current Status and Future PerspectivesDOI :10.12659/AOT.931664
Ann Transplant 2021; 26:e931664
05 Apr 2022 : Original article 14,731
Impact of Statins on Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence After Living-Donor Liver TransplantationDOI :10.12659/AOT.935604
Ann Transplant 2022; 27:e935604
22 Nov 2022 : Original article 14,244
Long-Term Effects of Everolimus-Facilitated Tacrolimus Reduction in Living-Donor Liver Transplant Recipient...DOI :10.12659/AOT.937988
Ann Transplant 2022; 27:e937988
29 Dec 2021 : Original article 13,752
Efficacy and Safety of Tacrolimus-Based Maintenance Regimens in De Novo Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Sys...DOI :10.12659/AOT.933588
Ann Transplant 2021; 26:e933588