Aeromedical evacuation of wounded and sick surgical patients

Aeromedical evacuation of casualties, wounded, and sick patients in local and global military conflicts has a significant impact on the outcome and return time of such personnel. This role of aviation is difficult to overestimate. However, the risks associated with air transportation must also be considered. The main problem is that the requirements for such transportation haven't been clearly defined yet, as well as there aren't any general recommendations outlining the indications, contraindications, possible timing, and conditions for such evacuation. The only exception is the recommendations published in 2003 [1], which concern the air travel of patients with various acute and subacute conditions on civilian aircraft. Such recommendations are applicable not only to personnel transportation but also to the evacuation of people from natural disaster zones, terrorist threats, and other emergency situations. Based on this, it should be noted that the development of standards for medical support for aeromedical evacuation of patients with the most common types of surgical pathology is urgent and requires resolution in the near future.

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