Adverse events during rotary-wing transport of mechanically ventilated patients: a retrospective cohort study

Table 5 Bivariate analysis of transport variables and presence of adverse events^a

Variable	Adverse event (n = 40)	No adverse event (n = 140)	P value
Patient characteristics
Age, years	57 ± 16	55 ± 16	0.44
Female gender	43	43	0.97
Glasgow Coma Scale score	5 (3–8)	5 (3–9)	0.57
Outside hospital length of stay, days	1 (1–2)	1 (1–3)	0.52
Pre-flight presence of vasopressors, number (percentage)	18 (45)	30 (21)	<0.01
Pre-flight fraction of inspired oxygen, percentage	0.77 ± 27	0.72 ± 30	0.39
PEEP prior to flight	5 ± 5	6 ± 4	0.25
Patient in emergency room when transferred	39	37	0.84
Use of manual ventilation during flight, number (percentage)	5 (12.5)	17 (12)	1.0
Hospital characteristics
Bed size
<200	9 (26%)	38 (30%)	0.6
200–400	13 (37%)	53 (42%)
>400	13 (37%)	36 (28%)
Academic institution	15 (43%)	58 (46%)	0.77
Transfer characteristics
Landing zone on site at transferring hospital	19 (49)	61 (46)	0.75
Nighttime transfer	15 (38%)	58 (41%)	0.66
Winter transfer	6 (15%)	33 (24%)	0.25
Distance, km	57 (35–95)	47 (31–82)	0.02
Flight time, minutes	15 (10–24)	12 (8–20)	0.32

Values are presented as number (percentage), mean ± standard deviation, or median (interquartile range), as appropriate. ^aFor 180 patients with complete physiologic data during flight. PEEP, positive end-expiratory pressure.

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