Air transportation of high-risk infants utilizing a flying intensive-care nursery

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T R A N S P O R T A T I O N of high-risk, seriously ill infants from local hospitals to a regional center for specialized care creates the problem of maintaining them in as a condition as when they left the referring hospital. The Air Force has sought not only to keep the infant in good condition but actually to improve the condition during transport. Scott Air Force Medical Center, near St. Louis, operates one of the only intensive-care newborn nurseries in the military system. Since this base is also the headquarters for the Military Airlift Command, there are a number of large jet C-9 Nightingale aircraft built specially for air evacuation. These aircraft have intensivecare isolation wards with humidity control and exhaust systems, oxygen systems, medical suction systems, and 110 volt 60 cycle electrical systems which allow for the use of hospital equipment in flight. The intensive-care nursery on the C-9 aircraft utilizes the following: an especially designed Sierracin cradle wanner with removable end pieces placed over a double bassinet with air space between the two to prevent conduction heat loss; small oxygen hoods into which any concentration of oxygem may be introduced; monitors for heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure; volume respirators; and laboratory equipment for blood gas determinations with microelectrodes. Fluids are administered by infusion pumps rather than by drop. The infant is cared for by the flight pediatrician