Evaluation of respiratory function during Reeves stretcher use.

Objective: We were aware of a small number of cases in our EMS system where patients in respiratory distress had a worsening of their condition after being removed from the home on a Reeves stretcher (RS). We sought to determine if this prehospital lifting device causes additional respiratory effort used in normal subjects by describing changes in heart rate, pulse oximetry, tidal volume, minute ventilation, and respiratory rate.

Methods: Forty-nine subjects were entered into this study.