Optimizing remote and rural prehospital resources using air transport of thrombectomy candidates

In Finland, the yearly number of mechanical thrombectomies for acute stroke is increasing and more patients are transported over 100 km to the comprehensive stroke centre (CSC) for definitive care. This leaves the rural townships without immediate emergency medical services (EMS) for hours. In this study we compare the EMS’ estimated return times to own station after the handover of a thrombectomy candidate between two transport methods: (1) using ground transportation with an ambulance to the CSC or (2) using a hydrid strategy starting the transportation with an ambulance and continuing by air with a helicopter emergency medical services unit (HEMS). We reviewed retrospectively all thrombectomy candidates’ transportations from the hospital district of South Ostrobothnia to definitive care at the nearest CSC, Tampere University Hospital from June 2020 to October 2022. The dispatch protocol stated that a thrombectomy candidate’s transport begins immediately with an ambulance and if the local HEMS unit is available the patient is handed over to them at a rendezvous. If not, the patient is transported to the CSC by ground. Transport times and locations of the patient handovers were reviewed from the CSC’s EMS database and the driving time back to ambulance station was estimated using Google maps. The HEMS unit’s pilot’s log was reviewed to assess their mission engagement time. The median distance from the CSC to the ambulances’ stations was 188 km (IQR 149–204 km) and from the rendezvous with the HEMS unit 70 km (IQR 51–91 km, p < 0.001). The estimated median driving time back to station after the patient handover at the CSC was 145 min (IQR 117–153 min) compared to the patient handover to the HEMS unit 53 min (IQR 38–68 min, p < 0.001). The HEMS unit was occupied in thrombectomy candidate’s transport mission for a median of 136 min (IQR 127–148 min). A hybrid strategy to transport thrombectomy candidates with an ambulance and a helicopter reallocates the EMS resources markedly faster back to their own district.