A REVIEW OF UNITED-STATES-AIR-FORCE AEROMEDICAL EVACUATION OF ACUTE MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION PATIENTS IN EUROPE

United States Air Force regulations currently do not recommend the routine movement of recently stabilized patients diagnosed with acute myocardial infarctions, However, U.S, Department of Defense and embassy physicians throughout Europe continually request aeromedical movement of these patients, Therefore, a year-long prospective case review of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patient movement within the military aeromedical system in Europe was undertaken to evaluate the need for and safety of transporting these patients. This case review, combined with the literature, suggests that recently stabilized AMI patients, with appropriate pre-flight preparation and in-flight care, can tolerate exposure to the stresses of flight and can be safely airlifted.