The leading “blended” civil medical evacuation operation (MEDEVAC) in unforeseen health emergency. From military use to civil development
Introduction: Medical evacuation has historically been rooted in military contexts. It involves the systematic transfer of sick or injured individuals from the battlefield to designated medical facilities. Medical evacuation has found application in civilian settings: the Ebola outbreak and the COVI...
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S147789392400111X |
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| author | Nazzareno Fagoni Giuseppe Stirparo Giuseppe Maria Sechi Andrea Comelli Gabriele Perotti Guido Francesco Villa Alberto Zoli Marco Botteri |
| author_facet | Nazzareno Fagoni Giuseppe Stirparo Giuseppe Maria Sechi Andrea Comelli Gabriele Perotti Guido Francesco Villa Alberto Zoli Marco Botteri |
| author_sort | Nazzareno Fagoni |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Medical evacuation has historically been rooted in military contexts. It involves the systematic transfer of sick or injured individuals from the battlefield to designated medical facilities. Medical evacuation has found application in civilian settings: the Ebola outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper examines the medical evacuation that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic in Lombardy, Italy (Operation “MEDEVAC”), where overloaded hospitals required the transfer of patients to other regions and even internationally. Methods: MEDEVAC was implemented by the Regional Emergency and Urgency Agency (AREU). Data from MEDEVAC were analysed using the AREU register, detailing patient characteristics, transfer logistics, and outcomes. Results: From March to April 2020, 121 intensive care patients were transferred via MEDEVAC, primarily by air. 65 % of patients were moved to other Italian regions. The Federal Republic of Germany received 35 % of patients, all transported by air. Outcome and mortality rates among transferred patients were comparable to those within regional intensive care units. One life-threatening event was reported during transport. The return of patient to Lombardy showed a 100 % survival rate. Conclusion: This study emphasises the importance of standardised protocols, improved information exchange systems, and enhanced training for medical personnel involved in medical evacuation. MEDEVAC was found to be feasible and able to cope with demands that were excessive in relation to available resources. This study proposes the development of a shared protocol for air transport of patients and a model for international cooperation among emergency response agencies to optimise future medical evacuation activities in civil context. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-741caed95b5447a28409447307c8fd70 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1873-0442 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| series | Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease |
| spelling | doaj-art-741caed95b5447a28409447307c8fd702025-01-13T04:18:32ZengElsevierTravel Medicine and Infectious Disease1873-04422025-01-0163102794The leading “blended” civil medical evacuation operation (MEDEVAC) in unforeseen health emergency. From military use to civil developmentNazzareno Fagoni0Giuseppe Stirparo1Giuseppe Maria Sechi2Andrea Comelli3Gabriele Perotti4Guido Francesco Villa5Alberto Zoli6Marco Botteri7Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Italy; AAT Brescia, Agenzia Regionale Emergenza Urgenza (AREU), Brescia, Italy; Corresponding author: Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Italy.Agenzia Regionale Emergenza Urgenza Headquarters (AREU HQ), Milan, ItalyAgenzia Regionale Emergenza Urgenza Headquarters (AREU HQ), Milan, ItalyAgenzia Regionale Emergenza Urgenza Headquarters (AREU HQ), Milan, ItalyAgenzia Regionale Emergenza Urgenza Headquarters (AREU HQ), Milan, ItalyAAT Brescia, Agenzia Regionale Emergenza Urgenza (AREU), Brescia, ItalyAgenzia Regionale Emergenza Urgenza Headquarters (AREU HQ), Milan, ItalyAAT Brescia, Agenzia Regionale Emergenza Urgenza (AREU), Brescia, Italy; Agenzia Regionale Emergenza Urgenza Headquarters (AREU HQ), Milan, ItalyIntroduction: Medical evacuation has historically been rooted in military contexts. It involves the systematic transfer of sick or injured individuals from the battlefield to designated medical facilities. Medical evacuation has found application in civilian settings: the Ebola outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper examines the medical evacuation that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic in Lombardy, Italy (Operation “MEDEVAC”), where overloaded hospitals required the transfer of patients to other regions and even internationally. Methods: MEDEVAC was implemented by the Regional Emergency and Urgency Agency (AREU). Data from MEDEVAC were analysed using the AREU register, detailing patient characteristics, transfer logistics, and outcomes. Results: From March to April 2020, 121 intensive care patients were transferred via MEDEVAC, primarily by air. 65 % of patients were moved to other Italian regions. The Federal Republic of Germany received 35 % of patients, all transported by air. Outcome and mortality rates among transferred patients were comparable to those within regional intensive care units. One life-threatening event was reported during transport. The return of patient to Lombardy showed a 100 % survival rate. Conclusion: This study emphasises the importance of standardised protocols, improved information exchange systems, and enhanced training for medical personnel involved in medical evacuation. MEDEVAC was found to be feasible and able to cope with demands that were excessive in relation to available resources. This study proposes the development of a shared protocol for air transport of patients and a model for international cooperation among emergency response agencies to optimise future medical evacuation activities in civil context.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S147789392400111X |
| spellingShingle | Nazzareno Fagoni Giuseppe Stirparo Giuseppe Maria Sechi Andrea Comelli Gabriele Perotti Guido Francesco Villa Alberto Zoli Marco Botteri The leading “blended” civil medical evacuation operation (MEDEVAC) in unforeseen health emergency. From military use to civil development Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease |
| title | The leading “blended” civil medical evacuation operation (MEDEVAC) in unforeseen health emergency. From military use to civil development |
| title_full | The leading “blended” civil medical evacuation operation (MEDEVAC) in unforeseen health emergency. From military use to civil development |
| title_fullStr | The leading “blended” civil medical evacuation operation (MEDEVAC) in unforeseen health emergency. From military use to civil development |
| title_full_unstemmed | The leading “blended” civil medical evacuation operation (MEDEVAC) in unforeseen health emergency. From military use to civil development |
| title_short | The leading “blended” civil medical evacuation operation (MEDEVAC) in unforeseen health emergency. From military use to civil development |
| title_sort | leading blended civil medical evacuation operation medevac in unforeseen health emergency from military use to civil development |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S147789392400111X |
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