ECMO’s application extends beyond hospital settings into the realm of air ambulance services, where it plays a crucial role in both international and domestic medical transfers. Whether transferring a critically ill patient across continents or between cities, ICATT being the best air ambulance company in Asia, our ECMO-equipped air ambulances ensure that continuous, high-level care is maintained throughout the journey. This capability is especially vital for patients who require immediate, uninterrupted support during transit, making ECMO an indispensable tool in modern emergency medical services.

The Role of ECMO in Air Ambulance Services

Air ambulance services play a vital role in the successful application of ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) for patients with severe heart and lung conditions during critical medical transfers. In scenarios where conventional treatments fail to sustain a patient’s life, ECMO becomes essential. It takes over the function of the heart and lungs, ensuring that oxygen-rich blood continues to circulate through the body. This is particularly crucial during air transfers, where the patient’s stability can be challenged by the stress of flight and changes in altitude.

Importance in Air Medical Transfers

Air medical transfers are often the only option for quickly relocating critically ill patients to desired specialized medical facilities. However, the journey itself can pose significant risks, especially for patients with severe respiratory or cardiac failure. In such cases, ECMO is vital. It provides the necessary support to stabilize the patient, allowing for safe transport over long distances.

Scenarios where ECMO proves indispensable include:

• Acute Respiratory Failure: When a patient’s lungs are unable to provide sufficient oxygen or remove carbon dioxide, ECMO ensures continuous oxygenation, preventing further damage to vital organs.
• Cardiac Arrest: In cases where the heart is unable to pump blood effectively, ECMO maintains circulation, buying time for further medical intervention during transit.
• Severe Heart and Lung Disease: For patients awaiting transplant or specialized treatment, ECMO sustains them until they can reach the appropriate medical facility.

Specialized air ambulance services by ICATT, are equipped to provide ECMO support during flights. These services have the expertise and technology to handle the complexities of ECMO during air transfers both internationally and within India, ensuring that patients receive uninterrupted care from the moment they are picked up until they reach their destination. The ability to offer ECMO in the air expands the possibilities for patient survival, making it an essential component of modern air ambulance services.

Challenges of ECMO During Medical Air Transport

Providing ECMO support during medical patient airlift presents several unique challenges that require specialized expertise and advanced technology to overcome. Airborne ECMO support is a complex operation where every aspect of the transfer must be meticulously managed to ensure patient safety and stability. 

Complexities in Airborne ECMO Support

One of the primary challenges of airborne ECMO support is managing the physiological effects of altitude. As an aircraft ascends, changes in cabin pressure and oxygen levels can affect the patient’s condition, making it crucial to have continuous monitoring and adjustments. ICATT takes care of these altitude-related complications, ensuring that the ECMO system and patient remain stable throughout the flight.

Another challenge is maintaining the stability of the ECMO equipment during air travel. Turbulence, vibrations, and the confined space within an aircraft can all impact the performance of the ECMO machinery. ICATT has the expertise to secure and monitor the equipment, ensuring that it functions optimally despite the unpredictable conditions of air travel.

Patient stability is also a significant concern. The stress of air travel, combined with the critical nature of the patient’s condition, requires constant vigilance and quick response to any changes. ICATT takes care of maintaining patient stability by having a dedicated medical team on board, trained to handle emergencies and adjust the ECMO support as needed during the journey.

Technical and Medical Expertise Required

The successful management of ECMO patients during air transfers demands a highly skilled medical team and state-of-the-art equipment. The medical team must be proficient in both the operation of the ECMO system and in responding to the unique challenges posed by air travel. ICATT Air Ambulance Service has the expertise to provide this level of care, with teams that are specially trained in airborne ECMO support.

State-of-the-art equipment is also essential to ensure the reliability and safety of ECMO during flight. ICATT takes care to use the latest ECMO technology, designed to be both robust and adaptable to the demands of air travel. This combination of advanced equipment and skilled medical professionals ensures that patients receive the highest level of care during their transfer.

The challenges of providing ECMO during patient airlift are significant, but with the right expertise and technology, they can be effectively managed. ICATT takes care of every aspect, from handling altitude-related complications to ensuring equipment and patient stability, making them a trusted provider for ECMO air ambulance services.

Global Reach and Accessibility

ECMO air ambulance services are crucial in providing lifesaving care to patients who require immediate and continuous support during transit, regardless of their location. These services are not confined to specific regions but are available globally, offering both international and domestic transfers to ensure that patients receive the care they need, no matter where they are.

ICATT has established itself as a leader in ECMO air ambulance services, with a remarkable history of over 100 successful ECMO transfers. This global reach is a testament to their commitment to providing critical care in even the most challenging circumstances. Whether transporting a patient across continents or within a country, ICATT’s ECMO air ambulance services are designed to ensure that every transfer is handled with the utmost precision and care.

Importance of Seamless Coordination

The success of an ECMO air transfer relies heavily on the seamless coordination between ground and air medical teams. The transition from the hospital to the air ambulance, and from the air ambulance to the receiving facility, must be smooth and meticulously planned to avoid any interruptions in care. ICATT Air Ambulance takes care of this critical aspect through their established protocols, which ensure that all teams involved are fully synchronized and prepared for every step of the transfer.

ICATT’s expertise in coordinating these complex transfers is a key factor in their high success rate. By working closely with both ground and air teams, they ensure that the patient remains stable and receives continuous ECMO support throughout the journey. This level of coordination is essential for minimizing risks and ensuring that the transfer is as safe and efficient as possible.

The global availability of ECMO air ambulance services, combined with seamless coordination between medical teams, is vital for the successful transfer of critically ill patients. ICATT’s extensive experience and proven track record in ECMO air transfers make them a trusted provider, capable of handling even the most complex international and domestic transfers with expertise and care.

Book ICATT Air Ambulance Service

ICATT Air Ambulance Service stands at the forefront of advanced ECMO air transport services, offering unparalleled expertise in managing the most critical patient transfers. With a global reach that spans both international and domestic routes, ICATT has successfully completed over 100 ECMO air transfers, demonstrating their commitment to saving lives under the most challenging circumstances. Their use of cutting-edge ECMO technology, coupled with a highly skilled medical team, ensures that every patient receives the highest standard of care during transit.

If you or your loved one requires an ECMO air transfer, consider ICATT’s expert services. For inquiries or to arrange a transfer, please contact ICATT today at +91 970 111 1156. Your journey to advanced medical care begins with a team that truly understands the complexities of ECMO air ambulance services.

There are many benefits of using the state-of-the-art German Isolation Pod. First, it is secure that medical personnel accompanying the patient might not need to wear PPE kits during the transportation. Second, they can still have full access to the infected patient. 

This device can transport patients who are breathing normally or mechanically ventilated, even in enclosed jet cabins, small helicopters, and ground ambulance vehicles. Moreover, this German ISO POD is unique, as it remains airtight even when cabin pressure suddenly drops. However, we face many challenges to ensure the safe and smooth transfer of critically ill patients.

Challenges in COVI19 Patient Transport with Air Ambulance

Aviation medical environments are usually challenging. The current Coronavirus pandemic has brought many changes in ground and air rescue. Helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) and fixed-wing emergency medical services (AEMS) have faced many challenges during the transfer of Coronavirus patients.

There were several guidelines regarding safety during emergency procedures in hospitals, but there is limited guidance for emergency use in prehospital settings for air ambulances. In addition, no guidelines have been published so far for the safe transfer of COVID-19 patients.

Aeromedical crew members face a higher risk of disease transmission than healthcare providers in hospitals. This is because of inadequate information, resources, and limited space in hospital prehospital settings. Airway management procedures and ventilation are the other main tasks. 

While a patient with a highly contagious infection is transported by air, different approaches prevent transmission. To address these issues, we have reviewed current concepts in aeromedical transport in India. Considering these issues, we evaluated existing aeromedical transport concepts in India, and we present the latest guidelines of ICATT for COVID-19 and aeromedical transport.

Guidelines for HEMS missions during the COVID-19 pandemic

Every Air Ambulance Provider needs to establish a precise standard operating procedure (SOP) to ensure that the PPE kit is appropriately used and handled during HEMS missions. Each mission must adhere strictly to these standards, especially in this COVID pandemic, where many patients have been infected (including those with unknown COVID-19 status). It is highly recommended that all crew members receive simulation training on these special measures, which improves their adherence to the SOPs.

The following guidelines provide an example of a Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) used by ICATT for controlling infection during primary and secondary HEMS missions.

Measures to be taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic during HEMS missions

1. 1. For operators – it is recommended to maintain at least two meters distance from infected patients. Wearing PPE is might not mandatory if this is possible. HEMS crews must follow these guidelines during their operations on the ground, as well as while flying. Join the medical team in an emergency only in exceptional cases. In that case, you should also wear personal protective equipment, just as the medical crew does.
   2. For Doctors & paramedics – Wear surgical gloves, a filtering class 2 facemask, and goggles to protect your eyes while transporting patients every time. Make sure you carry a hand sanitiser.
   3. If possible, stay at least 2 m away from the patient while interacting with him initially and at the time of COVID19 screening.
   4. Depending on the clinical condition, wear a surgical mask over the patient’s face, a comfortable non-rebreather oxygen mask that supplies enough oxygen, and covers the exhalation valves with a surgical mask.

5. Try avoiding aerosol-generating methods such as: 

• Non-invasive ventilation (NIV)
• High-flow oxygen therapy
• Tracheal suction 
• Nebulisation of medications

6. If aerosol-generating methods like mechanical ventilation, airway management, oral suction, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, etc., are necessary, ensure wearing a PPE kit (protective gown)
7. Ventilator handover (emergency unit of ICATT):

• Avoid disconnecting respiratory circuits unnecessarily.
• Set FiO2 to 1.0 (oxygen Percentage in the air mixture that is given to the patient)
• Check for sedation or analgesia (if necessary, use bolus administration)
• Create a general self-inflating bag that has an airway filter and a versatile tube extension, as well as a storage bag with an attached oxygen supply
• Put the ventilator in standby mode and switch off the device. Ensure that the tube is clamped between the patient and the filter and then connect the airway filter to the ventilation tubes
• Unclamp the tube and then switch the ventilator system on.
• Make sure the tube is properly positioned by comparing the CO2 curve on the monitor and ventilation settings. Specifically, check ventilation pressure.

For any emergency transfers or want to discuss the transfer process, call ICATT air ambulance +91-9701111156 and talk to our experts. We are the first to airlift a Corona positive patient in India. Since then, we have done many COVID19 positive patient transfers.

Our team is ready to respond quickly and efficiently if your baby needs immediate long-distance transport. The aircraft we use for transporting neonates is equipped with the necessary equipment, such as an incubator and ICU devices. In addition, our team of highly trained flying medical personnel includes a neonatologist and a respiratory therapist.

Suppose you decide to use ICATT Air Ambulance services for any neonatal or pediatric medical transport. In that case, you can be assured that you have chosen an experienced, highly-trained, and multidisciplinary team of professionals dedicated to neonatal care. In the case of critically ill or injured babies and children, we provide exceptional care and compassion.

The ICATT Air Ambulance squad provides advanced neonatal care and support for our tiniest patients during the air transfer.

Intensive care transport for critically ill neonates

We perform intensive care transfers of critically ill and injured babies anywhere with the help of our Pediatric Air Ambulance team. We ensure that your child receives the best care possible because we use the latest cutting-edge technology and highly skilled critical care transport specialists. 

We perform both international and domestic transfers and are available round the clock. Our goal is to determine the fastest and best way to transfer your child. 

Children’s health is not the only thing we consider. We also consider the distance to be travelled and the conditions at both locations of origin and destination. In the end, we prepare a transfer plan based on the information we have collected and the doctors providing treatment.

Our staff is well trained and equipped to handle newborn emergency transport, neonatal intensive care, and the transport of several sick children in precarious conditions. In addition, we ensure constant and close supervision and provide all necessary equipment for any type of emergency.

The standard equipment we use includes:

• Ventilator capable of providing support even to the smallest premature babies with as low as 2 ml tidal volume (breathing).
• Blood gas analyzer that helps to measure the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood
• A sonography and echocardiography device, which allows us to recognize complications as early as possible and gives us a visual display of heart function at all times
• An echocardiogram and sonography device can detect complications at an early stage and continuously provide a visual display of heart function.
• Monitor for tracking the condition of the patient constantly, equipped with ECG, cardioverter, pacer, oxygen sensor, and other special sensors like NIBP and IBP that are specifically tailored for children

• Perfusor compact S – a transportable infusion syringe pump for intravenous therapies
• Laryngoscopes specially adapted for children, such as Storz C-MAC video laryngoscope. 
• Vein finding and intraosseous vascular access systems, such as AccuVein and EZ-IO, are specially used for children.
• A neonatal incubator or Baby Pod is mainly used to transfer a premature baby or a newborn baby.

Transporting critically ill newborn babies and young children requires advanced medical equipment and unique medical skills, both to diagnose the condition and provide suitable treatment.

Our medical team, which will take off your child, consists of at least one highly skilled and experienced pediatric intensive care doctor and one experienced critical care nurse. The experts have the most advanced training and are highly experienced in doing critical care air transfers. Most of them are consultant doctors in various hospitals.

If there are any special needs such as ECMO transfers, COVID transfers, etc., we have experienced medical professionals to care for our respective fields. All you need to do is call +91-9701111156 in an emergency.

Around 70% of the Indian population do not have access to the quality health care they require. Moreover, when people are critically ill, it becomes challenging to reach out to hospitals with all facilities located in cities that are miles away from them. As a result, air ambulance services are highly needed in India.

In addition to saving time, the medical team on the air ambulance ensures that the patient’s health does not worsen during the transfer. ICATT has a highly trained and certified flying medical team that can handle extremely critical cases.  

ICATT air ambulance is equipped with advanced medical equipment to ensure that the transfer is carried out smoothly and efficiently. ICATT arranges the transfer promptly after receiving a call from a customer. ICATT is responsible for coordinating and executing the transfer of patients from bed to bed.

We have done hundreds of patient transfers in India and to other countries as well. For our exceptional services, especially during COVID times, Dr Shalini Nalwad, M.B.B.S., MRCA, FCAI., (UK) Co-founder and Director of ICATT Air Ambulance Service, received TOP WINNER IN HEALTH TECH award at the “Woman Power Summit and Awards 2021”. 

This article provides an Overview Guide to Patient Transport Services at ICATT. 

Transport Services of ICATT Air Ambulance

Patients require special medical care that is provided by the onboard medical staff. To make sure all vitals are managed and controlled, ICATT Air ambulance is equipped with all necessary medical devices, which include ventilators, monitors, laryngoscope, endotracheal tube, vascular access device, and oxygen cylinders. We also have cardiac equipment for heart patients, including an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) and cardiac stimulation devices. 

Flying Team of ICATT Air Ambulance 

A trained paramedic and an emergency doctor are always aboard the ICATT Air ambulance. We board the best doctors based on the severity of the patient’s condition. Our specialist flying team includes:

• Anesthetists
• ICU specialist doctors
• Anaesthetic cardiologists
• Neonatal specialists for newborn baby transfers
• Critical care and ECMO specialists. 

In addition to dealing with emergencies, our medical crew is trained to handle all necessary administrative tasks associated with medical air transport. In this sense, ICATT strives to recruit talented individuals and train them in the art of dealing with patients.

ICATT is a professional air ambulance service provider. In addition to our specially trained flight crew, we also have mobile intensive care units installed on our aeroplanes and helicopters, allowing us to provide the comprehensive, on-demand medical care needed to treat patients wherever we are. 

How Can ICATT Air Ambulances Help?

Air ambulances can be used for a variety of medical scenarios such as patient transfer & organ transfer because of their advantages like speed, safety, and meticulous care.

• • In emergencies, an air ambulance is the fastest means of transporting a critically ill patient from one facility to another. A patient can be transported 200 miles or even more in an air ambulance.

• When someone in a remote location with an injury or severe illness needs to be transported right away to the nearest intensive care unit or trauma centre, but ground ambulance might be unable to reach them or take them to hospital in time, air ambulance plays a dominant role here. 

• ICATT also transfers non-emergency patients who are unable to travel by conventional ambulance travel.
• ICATT air ambulance has proven to be a great asset in disaster management.

If you have questions, you can reach out to ICATT 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

Does the ICATT air ambulance provide the same level of safety as ground ambulances?

Air ambulances are safe and quick. Our air ambulances are FAA-certified, which means they have gone through a thorough inspection to ensure safety. In addition, we have our own fleets equipped with the latest medical devices.

Ensure that ICATT doesn’t have a history of previous safety incidents or abuse claims on our website, if necessary, before opting for our service. You can request information about licences from ICATT as it is a reliable company, we are happy to show it to you.

ICATT has become India’s most reliable emergency service as we are one of the most efficient and affordable air ambulance services in India, operating 24/7, 365 days. 

Contact us at +91-9701111156 for detailed information about booking an air ambulance. Our team is always available to answer all your queries. Don’t hesitate to call us in an emergency because an air ambulance is a time-saving asset.

Like the cardiopulmonary devices commonly used in open-heart surgery, the ECMO pumps and delivers oxygen to the patient’s blood. Conversely, patients sometimes stay on ECMO for days to allow their bodies to recover from life-threatening conditions, including COVID-19.

According to ICATT, using life support machines like ECMO to replicate the heart and lung function has significantly improved the survival rate of outpatient heart attacks. The treatment program, which includes a life support machine called extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), was much more effective than standard treatment for this often fatal condition.

Let us know more about the Survival rate of patient transport with ICATT’s ECMO services.

What is ECMO?

ECMO stands for Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation. It is also referred to as ECLS or extracorporeal Life Support. ECMO is a special machine that does the work of the heart and lungs. ECMO allows the heart or lungs to rest and heal. ECMO does not treat these organs but functions on behalf of these vital organs.

ECMO is very similar to an open heart surgical machine. However, patients are put on open-heart surgical machines for hours, while on ECMO, they are there for days to weeks.

When is the ventilator not enough?

Most patients treated with ECMO were already ventilated. However, ECMO is used if the ventilator itself does not meet the patient’s needs.

Usually, the lungs take in oxygen and emit CO2. But if the ventilator can no longer provide this support or the pressure itself can cause damage, ECMO can help.

Prolonged pressure of ventilator support on the lungs can lead to lung injury; in extreme circumstances. Pneumothorax is a potentially lethal complication associated with mechanical ventilation. Most of the patients with pneumothorax from mechanical ventilation have underlying lung diseases; pneumothorax is rare in intubated patients with normal lungs. Tension pneumothorax is more common in ventilated patients with prompt recognition and treatment of pneumothorax being important to minimize morbidity and mortality. Underlying lung diseases are associated with ventilator-related pneumothorax with pneumothoraces occurring most commonly during the early phase of mechanical ventilation

When ECMO exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide, less pressure is required in the ventilator. This allows the patient’s body to heal, while the medical team can use drugs and other treatments to speed up the healing.

What is the purpose of ECMO?

By taking over the work of the “diseased” heart or the lungs – ECMO gives these organs time to rest and heal. ECMO does not deal with organs. It just gives them a break. ECMO is only used after all other medical measures have been tried. When the heart or lungs recover, the patient is taken off ECMO. This can take days to weeks in adult patients.

How does ECMO work?

Cannulas are placed in the arteries or veins of the patient’s neck and groin. They can be placed surgically or percutaneously. This means they will be placed as an IV. The ECMO doctor will determine which method is required. This cannula allows blood to be drawn from the patient and travel through the ECMO chain, where oxygen is added and carbon dioxide is removed. It is then warmed and returned to the patient via the second cannula. At this point, all adult ECMO patients will need 2 ECMO cannulas.

ECMO type

The ECMO circuit can be adjusted in three ways:

• Venous Arterial ECMO (VA-ECMO): Allows gas exchange and hemodynamic support while pumping blood from a vein to the side of the artery. This system supports the heart and lungs like the systems used in cardiac surgery operating rooms.
• Venous-venous (VV-ECMO): Facilitates gas exchange. The blood is drained from the side of the vein and then pumped back in. This system supports only the lungs.
• Arterial-Venous ECMO (AV-ECMO): Facilitates gas exchange by using the patient’s blood pressure to pump blood from the artery to the side of the vein.

The circuit arrangements for VA or VV are almost identical. The movement of blood is facilitated by an external pump. The pump pushes the blood through the membrane allowing for gas exchange (oxygen and CO2 removal) before the blood is returned to the patient’s circulation by heating.

Due to its configuration, the VA-ECMO passes through the patient’s heart and lungs and part or all of the blood flow is diverted through the ECMO chain. In contrast, VV-ECMO returns blood before it enters the pulmonary circulation.

When incorporeal circulation (AV-ECMO) is used, blood flows from the femoral artery through the membrane and passively returns to the femoral vein. The whole process depends on the volume of the patient’s heart.

The ECMO doctor decides during cannulation which method is best.

Clinical indications for ECMO support

ECMO is used in patients with refractory cardiogenic shock who have potentially severe reversible heart disease. However, it can also be used as a bridge to a ventricular assist device (VAD) or a heart transplant. VA-ECMO can also be used as a rescue technique during a heart attack. Current data support their use after unsuccessful 10 minutes of Life Support Extension (ALS).

The survival rate of patients transported using ICATT’s ECMO service

Survival for patients with ICATT’s ECMO varies between 30% and 50%, depending on the cause of the cardiac dysfunction. ECMO can be considered in patients with systolic blood pressure below 85 mm Hg. If the cardiac index is below 1.2-litre min/m2 despite sufficient preload, more than two inotropes are used, intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP) and signs of low systemic levels of cardiac output.

This is one of the most expensive therapies in the intensive care unit. The following multidisciplinary team members are involved:

• ECMO is the attending physician.
• Critical care physician.
• Pulmonary specialist.
• Cardiac specialist.
• Nurse practitioner.
• Critical care bedside nurses.
• Respiratory therapist.
• Pharmacist.
• Physical and occupational therapists.
• Psychology, psychiatry and spiritual care providers.
• Child life specialist for pediatric patients.

Conclusion:

As outlined in detail above, ECMO is for those patients who have acute heart and lung problems. Upon successful transport of patients to the nearest multispeciality hospital, treatment can be continued by the doctors. Transport of patients with ECMO support is safe and should be carried out under the able guidance of an ICATT trained team. For more information, contact ICATT Air ambulance at +91-9701111156.

In response to the Coronavirus pandemic, ICATT Air Ambulance Worldwide provides safe medical air transportation services for patients with COVID-19. If you or a loved one has tested positive for COVID-19 and requires a medical flight back home or to a health facility, we can provide the ICATT Air ambulance service you need while adhering to the strictest sanitation and safety guidelines.

ICATT Air Ambulance carefully maintained, and fully equipped aircraft are disinfected with machines after each flight and have the latest technology for infection control. These include the German isolation pod, which is also used by the U.S. military, and the U.S. Department of Health to create a hygienic environment for treating highly contagious patients.

Let us see more about Air Transfer of Covid Patients in ICATT Air Ambulance. 

ICATT COVID-19 Medical Air ambulance 

With the emergence of COVID-19, many medical services have been restricted. However, we are easily equipped for both Coronavirus patients and recovering patients. Our coronavirus air ambulance service is available to all patients. Please call us at 9701111156. 

Anyone who requires special transportation, such as Coronavirus patients should be transported by private ambulance. We minimize contact with non-essential employees and the outside world. The crew will support and care for patients every step of the way.

ICATT COVID-19 Medical Air ambulance How It works?

This begins at the pick-up location, regardless of whether it is a hospital, patient residence, or any other place. We will send a ground ambulance and crew to pick up the patient; the team will take you to the plane through a private entrance to the airport reserved for private flights. The medical flight crew airlifts the patient into the air ambulance and flies with him to the final destination. Another team of ground ambulances will be waiting on arrival. Finally, the patient arrived safely and healthily at its final destination.

Depending on the situation, the medical team may decide to place the patient in a retention capsule such as the EpiShuttle, EpiGuard, or the German isolation pod.

This patient isolation device provides safe and comfortable medical transportation for patients and crew. Isolating a patient with an infectious disease recycles the airflow and contains a coronavirus-like infection ensures safety for flight crew and patients. Access to patient care is permitted through patient connections and medical connections. This isolation pod is also comfortable for the patient – with adjustable position and attachment for the flow of diet, water and other items.

Whatever the case, we’re here to help. You can always contact ICATT to discuss your concerns and questions about medical transportation.

Precautions are taken during COVID-19 patient transfer.

Specific policies and procedures to protect COVID-19 crew vary slightly from operator to operator, particularly at the location, access to PPE, and the facility’s direction. The most significant factor determining these differences comes from the organization of each service. At ICATT, when aviation services provide aircraft, pilots and mechanics, the service determines procedures for its staff. At the same time, medical facilities supervise medical staff procedures onboard about implementing public health protection procedures.

Due to the extensive collaboration between medical doctors, patients and helicopter operators, several proven prevention methods are taken by ICATT Air ambulance. The most common are the PPE requirements for the medical crew and pilots. Medical units and aircrews pilots wear full protective gowns, N95 masks, face shields, boots and gloves.

Other standard safety precautions taken with COVID-19 include plastic wrapping everything on the plane, making it easier to clean and disinfect whether it is wiped down or resealed. In some cases, ICATT air ambulances identify non-essential equipment that may have been left behind by the aircraft, reducing the volume of potentially exposed equipment and requiring disinfection.

Pilots who frequently assisted medical crews who remain in a cabin on planes and are distant from crew and patients at all times.  Aircraft are also thoroughly disinfected after each transport before they can be put back into service. The medical crew disinfects the german isolation pod and aircraft while the pilot disinfects the cockpit.

What are we doing?

• Follow guidelines and recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including travel health news.
• Our patients are examined by our leading doctors for the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and other airborne diseases before flights, in beds and during patient transport. Provide the best treatment as per the patient health, if required ECMO is used. 
• Our medical team is equipped with personal protective equipment in case protective measures are required for themselves, patients, or colleagues.
• We share information with sending and receiving facilities to ensure that strong communication lines are open and transportation is completed safely.

Our mission, vision and core values ​​are primarily focused on patient care. As healthcare professionals, we should stand tall for everyone to serve more than ever by following acceptable practices and recommendations from local and federal governments. If you have any questions about whether the patient should be transferred, please contact us. Our team is ready to discuss your problem.

Why choose ICATT?

As healthcare providers, we all need to take special precautions regarding COVID-19. Health workers are still able to care for and care for those in need. Our mission at ICATT Air ambulance remains the same – 24/7 availability to meet your patients’ medical needs.

• We continue to work as usual. Our 24-hour call centre remains open. If you have a patient requiring a medical flight, please contact us.
• We have introduced guidelines for COVID 19 patient transfers. We maintain current information and follow all state and local guidelines and individual hospital protocols.
• Given the smooth prevention of COVID-19, we remain flexible in departures and arrivals to move patients.

ICATT is here for all of you.

Conclusion:

With this technology, we can safely transport COVID-19 patients within hours. Contact ICATT Air Ambulance in India or Worldwide today to request an air ambulance for people who are positive for COVID-19. Our flight coordinators are there for you 24 hours a day, 7 hours a week, and answer all your questions. Contact us at .9701111156

Air transport for medical evacuation on the battlefield dates back to World War I, but expanded significantly during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Later the aircraft was used for civilian rescue services. Helicopters can carry special care on-site and transport patients to specialized hospitals, especially in serious injuries. Fixed-wing aircraft are used for long-distance transportation.

Over the past decade, the number of seriously ill and injured patients requiring emergency medical transportation has continued to increase. With an increasing number of accredited companies, licensed medical personnel, and highly skilled flight coordinators, air medical transportation services are becoming possible. Today, ICATT air medical transport has expanded critical care coverage and other specialized patient care units beyond individual hospitals around. It transfers most aero-medical from Raipur, Ranchi, Siliguri, Agartala, Bhubaneshwar.

Let us see this article to know more about ICATT aero-medical transfer.

ICATT does most Aero-medical transfers from Raipur, Ranchi, Siliguri, Agartala, Bhubaneshwar.

This is a quick transfer service where any serious, accidental, sick or chronic patients are being transferred under the supervision of its specialized doctors’ escorts, paramedics’ and nurses’ from bed to bed service. ICATT Kyathi Air Ambulance in Raipur, Ranchi, Siliguri, Agartala, Bhubaneswar provides the hi-tech and advanced stretchers respiration medical evacuation system and all the basic and advanced life support equipment to the needy ones.

Why Choose an ICATT aero-medical transportation service

Although many companies are marketed as ambulance providers, they do not always provide medical evacuation services and air transportation. This particular service is only offered by accredited and licensed companies such as ICATT. We did most Aero-medical transfers from Raipur, Ranchi, Siliguri, Agartala, Bhubaneshwar.

At ICATT, we pride ourselves on our full accreditation with CAMTS (Commission for Accreditation of Medical Transportation Systems), Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Once we meet safety requirements, we strictly adhere to this institute’s safety standards to ensure maximum safety and care for our patients. We are also voted the most trusted fixed-wing medical air transport service by the best hospitals.

Our aero-medical transport team consists of a certified flight crew, licensed medical professionals, a 24-hour mission response centre with trained professionals, and fully equipped medical jets used explicitly for aero-medical evacuation missions.

Our services include:

• Domestic and international aviation medical transportation services to more than 100 countries around the world
• Unmatched and comprehensive medical evacuation and repatriation services
• Certified flight crew and a broadly trained licensed medical crew consisting of critical aviation medics, doctors and nurses
• Medically configured fixed-wing aircraft with necessary equipment including stretchers, oxygen, monitors, ventilators, neonatal equipment and necessary medication
• Many essential medical supplies are available on every jet for long-distance medical transportation
• A 24-hour mission response centre working with highly qualified specialists who have access to medical specialists and consultant doctors
• Assistance with medical approval, hospitalization, ground transportation, commercial medical escort and flight control
• Dedicated bed-to-bed services, patient transportation for newborns, and certified commercial medical companions ensure continued patient care

Our staff fully coordinates all ICATT aero-medical services to focus solely on the patient’s emotional and physical well-being. We take care of every transfer detail and offer you a complete offer, so there are no hidden costs. 

What you get for the fee is an airline with an impeccable safety record, a flight coordinator dedicated to handling your transportation, medical staff with at least five years of ICU / CCU experience. And we assure you that you are getting the best treatment in long-distance travel. Far. A situation that is difficult to handle in a professional, loving and efficient manner.

To learn more about ICATT Kyathi aero-medical transportation services for patients from anywhere in the world, call 9701111156. We are proud to have received the prestigious accreditation awarded to mobile operators with an outstanding medical protocol and aviation safety archive.

Benefits of ICATT aero-medical transportation

• Critical Care: Applicants for medical air transport are critically ill medical or trauma patients who require tertiary or specialized services that are not available in their area and are often at risk of decompensation. Therefore, ICATT aero-medical crews provide intensive care – care that goes beyond the scope of the paramedics. We provide ECG interpretation, pacing, defibrillation, intubation, cricothyrotomy. Needle thoracostomy may include filtrations, ventilator management, pericardiocentesis, vein catheterization, and many more. Basic Life support (BLS), Extended Life Support (ALS), or Critical Care (CC) are also available.
• Reduction in Transport Time: The total time the patient arrives cannot be shorter (due to travel to the airport or helipad, or the collection of the crew, equipment, or blood products from the facility) the time patients spend in transit is reduced due to increased air transport speeds. This is especially important in seriously ill patients and is increasingly useful as the patient has to travel long distances. Also, aero-medical EMS allows for more advanced patient care.
• Stage calls: The helicopter has the advantage of being able to receive stage calls. This is important for trauma patients, people in remote locations isolated from land access, and some city centres where traffic limits rapid ambulance transport. Therefore, medical crews may need to wear special equipment (including cold weather equipment) and be prepared to perform procedures outdoors and in harsh environments.

Conclusion:

ICATT Kathi has extensive experience in providing flight evacuation and transportation services to several industries around the world. We pride ourselves on having an aviation crew and aircraft fleet equipped 24/7 to handle nearly any critical scenario. Our patients and their safety mean a lot to us. As the most respected aero-medical transportation service, we treat every mission with the utmost care, compassion and efficiency. Based on our experience in the aero-medical transportation sector, we have completed more missions in more than 100 countries worldwide. Do you need an aero-medical evacuation or aero-medical transport service?

Get a quote today from ICATT Kyathi Air ambulance. Call +91-9701111156.

ICATT Kyathi Air medical transportation in India is a leading and specialized provider of air ambulance service with ECMO Aeromedical Transportation. Patients are transported from city to city by ambulance service by ECMO Aeromedical Transportation. You can also order this service anytime, anywhere at an affordable price. 95% Of All ECMO Transfers In India Are Done By 1 Team, i.e., ICATT Kyathi Air Ambulance. Our air ambulance service is available in many cities in India such as Delhi, Calcutta, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Vellore, Patna, Guwahati, Hyderabad and others. Air ambulance flights are available in all of these cities around the clock and are even ready for the transfer of critical patients at any time with ECMO Aeromedical Transportation.

This article provided by  ICATT Kyathi Air medical transportation in India gives information about the ECMO team in an air ambulance. Before that, let us see!

What is ECMO?

The machine that replaces the function of the heart and lungs is ECMO. People who need support from the ECMO machine are treated in the intensive care unit. Usually, people use ECMO for a few hours to days, but it can take several weeks depending on how their condition develops. 

What does ECMO mean?

• Extracorporeal: Outside the body
• Membrane: A type of artificial lung
• Oxygen supply: The process of getting oxygen in the blood

Why use ECMO? 

ECMO is used to help people whose lungs cannot supply the required oxygen to the body, even when they are given supplemental oxygen. The lungs cannot exhale carbon dioxide even with the aid of a mechanical ventilator. It is also used when the heart can’t pump enough blood to the body, ECMO can also be used to help people with incurable heart or lung disease while they are waiting for an organ transplant (such as a new heart and new lungs). 

ECMO can be used in all age groups, from infants to adults who are in critical condition of the heart, lungs, or are recovering from a heart transplant. Some of the heart conditions that ECMO can use include:

• Life-threatening reaction to infection
• Congenital heart defects
• Low body temperature
• Myocarditis
• Post-transplant complications
• Acute myocardial infarction
• Heart muscle disease
• Heart attack
• Some of the lung conditions that ECMO can use include:
• Congenital diaphragmatic hernia or defect in the diaphragm
• Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
• Blockage of the pulmonary artery in the lungs
• Acute respiratory failure
• Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (MAS)
• Very high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries (PPHN)

How does the ECMO engine work? 

The ECMO machine is connected to the patient via a cannula which is a plastic tube. Tubes are placed in large veins and arteries of legs, neck, or chest. Cannulation is a process by which a doctor places these tubes in a patient. 

The ECMO machine performs the lung function by pumping blood from the patient’s body to an artificial lung (oxygenator) which then adds oxygen and removes carbon dioxide. Similar to heart the ECMO machine then sends blood back to the patient through a pump with the same power. 

Someone controls the ECMO machine called a perfusionist, or advanced respiratory therapist called an ECMO specialist. The perfusion specialist or ECMO specialist adjusts the machine settings to give the patient the required amount of cardiac and pulmonary support. 

How are patients monitored on the ECMO machine? 

Anyone connected to the ECMO machine in the air ambulance ICU is also connected to the monitor to measure heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen level. ECMO patients require blood tests often to measure levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide. This test is called a blood gas. 

Also, Patients on ECMO are given drugs to thin the blood, so it doesn’t clot so that the blood does not get clot and is runny enough. All of these results are used to determine how well the ECMO machine is helping the patient and make changes if necessary.

ICATT Kyathi ECMO transfers in India, Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation transport (ECMO) Team

The Critical Care Transport Team at ICATT KYathi Air ambulance in India is one of the ECMO Aeromedical Transportation: 95% of all ECMO transfers in India are done by one team that is ICATT. We offer ECMO transportation for children and adults with heart failure. 

The modes of transport used for patients with ECMO include helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, or ambulances and are largely time-dependent.

From the time the ECMO transport team arrives at the patient bed until the patient is taken to a helicopter or ambulance, the ECMO is provided. Patients transported on ECMO can be candidates for heart transplantation or long-term cardiac support with ventricular assist devices or heart pumps.

The ICATT ECMO transport team consists of five highly qualified experts:

• Doctors from the pediatric intensive care unit
• Flight nurse
• Respiratory therapist
• Perfusionist
• ECMO technician

In Detail about the doctor’s job in ECMO transport with ICATT: 

• ECMO Doctor: A doctor who will be available in the ICU of ICATT Kyathi air ambulance when the decision has been made to admit a patient to an ECMO. These doctors have special education and training in ECMO machine management and how machines affect your loved ones. The primary role of this doctor is to direct the care of a loved one’s ECMO care from start to finish. The ECMO doctor can be one of several subspecialists depending on the facility. Examples are pulmonologists or cardiologists.
• Interventional Cardiologist: A doctor who performs ECMO placement either in a catheterization lab or at a bedside. Placing ECMO into adult patients is often more of a procedure than an operation.
• Cardiothoracic surgeon (CT): A doctor who performs heart and lung surgery. This doctor can place the needles needed for ECMO, especially if the patient’s main problem is heart disease. This can be done in the operating room or at the bedside.
• Vascular surgeon: A doctor who operates on veins and arteries. This doctor removes the needles needed for ECMO but also ensures that the patient’s legs and arms receive an adequate blood supply and are not damaged by a large ECMO needle.
• Perfusionist: A person who has specific training and certification for operating cardiopulmonary devices.
• ECMO primary coordinator: A Registered nurse (RN), respiratory therapist (RT), or perfusionist who specializes in the operation and operation of ECMO machines. The coordinator will prepare the ECMO devices and pipes when patients are placed at ECMO for the first time. If there is a problem with the ECMO circuit, one of these people is always available to work with an ECMO specialist to solve the problem.
• Respiratory Therapist: A registered respiratory therapist who has specific skills to care for many sick patients. One of these respiratory therapists will be present to provide breathing procedures and operate breathing apparatus for patients. Ventilator (breathing apparatus) and lung care specialist
• ICU Nurse: A trained nurse who has specific skills in caring for many sick patients. One of these nurses will be at the bedside monitoring the patient, providing medication, and providing any other care he may need to your loved ones. 

ICATT Kyathi Air Ambulance offers ECMO services for critically ill newborns, infants, children and adolescents. 

Conclusion:

With ICATT Kyathi Air Ambulance, your loved one is in safe hands. 

Use of ECMO Air Care helps expedite transportation and critical care that saves patients’ lives and increases the speed and quality of care. With ICATT Kyathi air ambulance state-of-the-art helicopters operated by Metro Aviation, our team can respond to patients faster and more efficiently. The ICATT Kyathi air ambulance program provides a fast response and protects patients from leaving the area to get the immediate cardiopulmonary care they need.

Call us at +91-9701111156. Equipped with modern medical equipment, our emergency air wing promises to save as many lives as possible. Our 24 * 7 support teams will help you very patiently and offer the best for you.

“A 58-year-old male COVID-19 patient was flown in a twin-engine aeroplane from Kolkata to Chennai on Germany’s isolation ISO POD (Sunday) September 6 2020. 

This was the first time a patient with COVID-19 was being transferred from one city to another in India by using ICATT air ambulance. The company’s dedicated medical team, consisting of cardiac anaesthetists and paramedics, arrived in Kolkata on Saturday evening to do the necessary preparatory work. On Sunday, the patient was taken to Kolkata Airport along a “green corridor” for 30 minutes.

The patient received ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) during the transfer process with German made isolation pod. 

Let us know more about the ICATT ECMO Team for COVID-19 Patients. But before that most of us have doubts about whether coronavirus patients can transfer by plane and are they isolated?

Let’s see!

Can coronavirus patients transfer by plane, and they are isolated?

Yes. Depending on the destination, it is possible to confirm or suspect with coronavirus  patients in an ambulance with special equipment. There are special devices such as the German ISO POD that are designed to safely transport patients with infectious diseases. These pod-like devices allow infected patients to travel safely. Due to the size of the equipment, only one person can be transported at a time and only in larger ambulances. 

ICATT air ambulance continues to provide bed-to-bed medical repatriation services. As always, our priority is to ensure patient safety during each of our trips.

COVID19 Positive Patient On ECMO In German ISO POD ICATT

In response to the Coronavirus pandemic, ICATT Air Ambulance Worldwide provides safe medical air transportation services for patients with COVID-19. If you or a loved one tested positive for COVID-19 and requires a medical flight to return home or to a health facility, we provide services by following the strictest sanitation and safety guidelines.

ICATT Air Ambulances are carefully maintained, and fully equipped aircraft. They are disinfected after each flight and have the latest technology for infection control. Thus includes an isolation pod, which creates a hygienic environment for treating highly contagious patients. Also, our team of dedicated full-time medical heroes consists of doctors, respiratory therapists, paramedics and nurses who have at least five years of clinical experience and are trained to support coronavirus patients.

To avoid infection, coronavirus patients are transported with complete isolation. Ambulance aircraft are equipped with modern separators for this purpose. Since the device has negative pressure, the virus cannot escape. The ventilation system supplies the patient with oxygen and prevents the virus from spreading into the air.

What is ECMO?

ECMO replaces the function of the heart and lungs when the lungs can’t supply enough oxygen or remove enough carbon dioxide from the body, and when the heart can’t pump enough blood to the body. ECMO is used in infants with congenital heart disease who have acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS-caused by severe COVID-19) and who had heart surgery.

The ECMO machine is connected to the body via a plastic tube (a process called cannulation). There are two types of ECMO; 

ECMO VV (vein): A cannula is attached to a vein in the throat and blood is pumped from the body to an artificial lung which adds oxygen, removes carbon dioxide and pumps it back into the vein. 

VA (venoarterial) ECMO: Cannulas are placed in the arteries and veins and oxygen-deficient blood is extracted. A machine carries out the oxygen-carbon exchange, and the blood is pushed back into the arteries under pressure. Therefore, VV-ECMO bypasses the function of the heart and lungs.

ECMO is a life-saving machine and is used in life-threatening situations where the body cannot support itself. They do not cure the underlying condition, but rather aim to gain body time and give it a chance to heal.

ECMO extracorporeal membrane oxygenation at the time of COVID-19:

The ECMO engine is a very complex device, and its availability is incredible. Only major hospitals and air ambulances like ICATT have them. 

A small proportion of those who become seriously ill with COVID-19 need assistance with breathing to stay alive. Coronavirus can cause pneumonia inflammation of the lungs that inhibits the ability to carry oxygen in the blood. In such life-threatening situations, maintaining a ventilator is not sufficient to maintain blood oxygen levels. ECMO can play a role here. 

Conclusion:

We will arrange for your ambulance flight as soon as possible. Our transport team will help coronavirus patients and ensure a safe flight home. ICATT handles the entire organizational process, provides you with all necessary ground ambulances and coordinates all pick-up and delivery times. You can always count on our years of experience and our international network.

Contact ICATT Air Ambulance at +91-9701111156  today to request an ambulance for people who are positive for COVID-19. Our flight coordinators are there for you 24 hours a day, 7 hours a week and can answer all your questions.

If your child is seriously ill and if they require ECMO support in a medical/surgical intensive care unit, then the experience is exhausting. The following blog will help many parents to understand ECMO better. If you have any questions or concerns, the ICATT ECMO air ambulance team is available 24/7 to discuss every aspect of childcare. ICATT ECMO team is available 24/7 throughout your child’s ECMO requirements. Please don’t hesitate to ask questions about any aspect of parenting. This article helps you to understand what ECMO is and how it works. 

What is an ECMO?

An ECMO machine is similar to a heart bypass machine used in open-heart surgery. It replaces the function of the heart and lungs. It pumps and oxidizes the patient’s blood outside the body so that the heart and lungs can rest. When connected to an ECMO, blood passes through a tube to an artificial lung in a machine that adds oxygen and removes carbon dioxide. The blood is then warmed to body temperature and pumped back into your body.

There are two types of ECMO:

• VA ECMO is connected to veins and arteries when problems with the heart and lungs arise.
• VV ECMO is connected to one or more veins, usually near the heart, and is used if the problem is only in the lungs.

The ICATT air ambulance uses portable ECMO devices that are light enough for one person and can be transported by air ambulance.

When to use an ECMO:

• For patients recovering from cardiac or pulmonary issues or heart surgery.
• Used as a liaison option for further treatment when the doctor wants to assess the condition of other organs such as the kidneys or brain before heart or lung surgery.
• To support high-risk procedures in the cardiac catheter laboratory.
• As a bridge to a cardiac assist device, as a left ventricular assist device (LVAD).
• As a bridge for patients expecting a lung transplant, ECMO helps tissues become well-oxygenated, making patients better candidates for transplantation.
• The lungs cannot supply enough oxygen to the body, even when they are given supplemental oxygen.
• The lungs cannot excrete carbon dioxide even with the aid of a mechanical ventilator.

How does the ECMO engine work?

The ECMO machine is connected to the patient via a plastic tube (cannula). Tubes are placed in large veins and arteries in the neck, chest, and legs. The process by which a doctor places these tubes in a patient is called cannulation. The ECMO machine pumps blood from the patient’s body to an artificial lung (oxygenator) which adds oxygen and removes carbon dioxide. In this way, it replaces the function of the lungs itself. The ECMO machine then sends blood back to the patient through a pump with the same power as the heart and replaces its function. Someone who operates the ECMO machine is known as a perfusionist. A perfusionist can operate it, or an advanced respiratory therapist called an ECMO specialist available in ICATT air ambulance. The perfusionist or ECMO specialist adjusts the machine settings to provide the patient with the necessary cardiac and pulmonary support.

How are patients monitored on the ECMO machine in an air ambulance?

Every patient connected to the ECMO machine is also connected to a monitor in the air ambulance. This monitor measures heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen level. Very often, ECMO patients require blood tests to measure oxygen and carbon dioxide levels.

Blood gases are also monitored. ECMO patients are also given drugs to thin the blood, so it doesn’t clot. This way, the blood is often tested to make sure it is runny enough. The patient health team members of air ambulance use these results to determine how well the ECMO machine is helping the patient and make changes if necessary.

Conclusion:

The ICATT Air ambulance ECMO team is available 24/7 during your travel to hospital and requires ECMO. Please don’t hesitate to ask questions about any aspect of ECMO. Nurses, experienced doctors and staff are also available in ICATT air Ambulance for more information contact ICATT air ambulance at +91-9701111156.