External Ventricular Devices in Air Medical Retrievals

Objective: Describe the clinical characteristics of patients with an external ventricular drain (EVD) air medically retrieved. Methods: A retrospective chart audit of adults with an EVD air medically retrieved between January 2018 and June 2022 was conducted using the Retrieval Services Queensland database. Patients with a diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage were identified, and then a manual review was conducted to identify EVD cases. Results: A total of 60 patients met the review criteria. However, 34 patients did not have an EVD in situ, 1 was not transported, and 2 charts were non-retrievable, leaving 21 patients in this review. Of the patients, 76% were mechanically ventilated and 10% had no EVD drainage (suspected to be blocked). Blood pressure fluctuations occurred in 67% of the cases (79% during flight). Separate analgesia/anesthetic infusions were administered in 75% of the patients, with 83% requiring rate increases and 100% requiring boluses for increases in blood pressure. Hypertension in 3 patients occurred post-EVD being turned off and resolved when EVD was turned back on, and bolus sedation/analgesia was provided. Conclusion: The air medical transport of patients with an EVD is a low-frequency transfer. Therefore, the use of clinical practice guidelines will enable best practice assessment and management.

Air Medical Journal

Air Medical Journal

45

1532-6497

N/A

1

5