Safety and Risk in Airway Management During Bariatric Air Medical Retrieval.

Objective: Bariatric anatomy and physiology present added clinical challenges to the provision of safe critical care and patient transport. LifeFlight Retrieval Medicine provides air medical retrieval services in Queensland, Australia, and performs over 6,000 retrieval missions annually using rotary wing, fixed wing, and ground ambulance platforms.

Methods: Bariatric patient retrievals were identified from the LifeFlight Retrieval Medicine electronic patient database.

Safety of pre-hospital peripheral vasopressors: The SPOTLESS study (Safety of PrehOspiTaL pEripheral vaSopreSsors).

Objective: To assess the safety and effectiveness of peripheral vasoactive drugs initiated during pre-hospital care and retrieval missions, in Queensland, Australia.

Methods: Three years of retrospective data was gathered from two sources. Medical notes were reviewed using a search for any patient having 'inotrope' recorded on an electronic medical record.

Rural and Remote Intubations in an Australian Air Medical Retrieval Service: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: Critically unwell patients in rural and remote areas of Queensland, Australia, often require airway management with rapid sequence intubation before retrieval to a tertiary center. Retrieval Services Queensland coordinate retrievals and support rural hospitals, including via telehealth. This study compared the demographics of patients intubated by a retrieval team including a LifeFlight Retrieval Medicine doctor with those intubated by the local hospital team.

Successful endotracheal intubation following a failed first attempt during aeromedical retrieval.

Introduction: First attempt intubation success is used by many prehospital services as a marker of quality and safety. An increasing complication rate is associated with repeated intubation attempts. The aim of this study was to identify changes to intubation technique following a failed intubation attempt.