High-flow oxygen therapy capabilities during air medical transports

The US-based air ambulance provider can now transport patients with respiratory conditions such as Covid-19 or pneumonia that require higher flow rates for long distances, despite the limited oxygen capacity onboard their Learjet aircraft.

High-flow oxygen therapy has been primarily used in the hospital setting and has helped reduce the need for invasive ventilation. This method has proven to be an effective, non-invasive solution that allows patients to receive oxygen while reducing strain on the body and supporting healing. The AirCARE1 medical crew took notice of this new trend taking place in the hospitals and read studies that showed it to be extremely beneficial. Embracing the trend, the AirCARE1 medical crew took it upon themselves to find a way to incorporate high-flow oxygen therapy into the company’s air ambulance services.

Providing constant oxygen to the patient

High-flow oxygen therapy, typically delivered via a high-flow nasal canula (HFNC), is a form of respiratory support used primarily in the hospital setting. HFNC is a blended air and oxygen mixture that provides more constant inspiratory oxygen concentrations to the patient with minimal breathing effort. During the recent pandemic, high-flow oxygen therapy gained popularity on Covid patients due to its multiple benefits while remaining non-invasive.

Oxygen is limited in the long-range medical transport environment. AirCARE1’s fleet of Learjet aircraft act as an ICU unit in the air that is equivalent to a hospital room, however, oxygen carrying capacity is limited as only a set amount of it is allowed onboard. Since the HFNC uses a blend of air and O2 to achieve flow rates, it requires less oxygen on board while simultaneously increasing oxygen flow rate up to 60 liters per minute.

Last year, AirCARE1 acquired the ISO VAC patient isolation module to allow its crew to safely transport patients with highly infectious diseases, including Covid-19.