A study of the early aeromedical evacuation of Vietnam casualties

Author / Creator

Rossing, Robert G

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Summary

A study was made of 3,987 trauma patients who were evacuated by air from Vietnam during the period 8 July to 8 September 1968. This report presents descriptive statistics concerning the group as a ...

A study was made of 3,987 trauma patients who were evacuated by air from Vietnam during the period 8 July to 8 September 1968. This report presents descriptive statistics concerning the group as a whole and also subgroups classified by service, by type, location, and severity of injury, by date of leaving Vietnam, and by interval from wounding to evacuation.

The mean time of departure from Vietnam was 7 days after injury and of departure from the Far East for the United States was 21 days after injury. Approximately 7% of the patients were considered to be critically ill and almost 50% were moved with some appliance which complicated their care. A total of 20 deaths occurred during the period of observation for an overall death rate of 0.5%.

The picture obtained is of a system which moves large numbers of seriously injured patients efficiently, effectively, and safely and produces virtually no adverse effects on the patients whom it serves.

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