Patients With Anaphylaxis Transported by a Physician-Staffed Helicopter Using the Keyword Method

Abstract

Objective

This study retrospectively investigated the outcomes of patients with anaphylaxis transported by a staffed doctor helicopter (DH) using the keyword method, based on data from the Japan DH Registry System (JDRS).

Methods

Patients with anaphylaxis were selected from the JDRS database. Data collected included duration from first call to patient contact, patient demographics, vital signs, timing of DH dispatch request, medical interventions, duration of admission, and outcomes at 1 month. Subjects were divided into keyword (pre-contact) and control (post-contact) groups for comparison.

Results

Of 688 patients, all were evacuated from the scene, with no interhospital transports. There were no significant differences between the keyword (n = 430) and control (n = 258) groups with regard to age, sex, cardiac arrest on contact, vital signs, rate of medical intervention, and mortality rate. Duration of first call to contact and admission were significantly shorter in the keyword group. The keyword group also had a significantly higher ratio of good outcomes.

Conclusion

To our knowledge, this study is the first to describe the keyword method as a prognostic factor in patients with anaphylaxis transported by DH. Adoption of the keyword method by firefighting central command rooms for the DH dispatch in anaphylaxis cases should be considered.