Despite an increasing use of civilian aeromedical transport for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) since the 1970s, a consensus in the literature on its indications has not been reached.1 Some authors have questioned the overuse of aeromedical transport in prehospital care, citing costs, safety issues, and the lack of a clear survival benefit.2"6 Others have suggested that helicopter transport can decrease mortality by as much as 21% to 52% on the basis of TRISS-predicted probabilities of survival.7"11 Although not always in agreement, expert panel reviews have also suggested that air transport provided a medical benefit over ground transport in 11% to 26% of cases.12"14 If a true survival benefit exists, one analysis concludes that helicopter use is cost effective for treating trauma patients.
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