J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2020 Dec;31(6):586-594.

Analysis of the treatment-time reduction of ST elevation myocardial infarction patients transferred by helicopter-based emergency medical services in Korea

• Kim HI
• Cho HY
• Choi HJ

Abstract

Objective
ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) requires timely reperfusion therapy, and the first medical contact (FMC) to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) time within 120 minutes is recommended. Therefore, early recognition and rapid transportation of STEMI patients to the PCI-capable hospital are important. This study analyzed the time reduction effect of STEMI patients who were transferred by a helicopter.
Methods
This was a retrospective, single-center study. The study period was from 2016 to 2017. An air ambulance was available based on the 24-hour PCI capable hospital. This study selected STEMI patients who were transferred from other hospitals in six regions. The transfer distances, time factors, and treatment outcomes in those transferred by helicopter and those transferred by ambulance were compared.
Results
Among 88 STEMI patients from six regions, 38 (43.2%) and 50 (56.8%) were transferred by helicopter and ambulance, respectively. The average transfer distances were longer in the helicopter-transfer group (92.7 km vs. 82.4 km, P=0.004). The transfer time, call-to-lab time, door-to-balloon time, and FMC-to-PCI time were shorter in the helicopter-transfer group. The proportion of FMC-to-PCI within 120 minutes was higher in the helicopter-transfer group (40.5% vs. 11.4%, P=0.002).
Conclusion
Helicopter-transfer reduced the FMC-to-PCI time, including the transfer time and call-to-lab time. Therefore, a higher proportion of time-targeted treatment was achieved.

Keyword

Air ambulance; Emergency helicopter; Emergency medical services; ST-elevation myocardial infarction