Aeromedical Retrieval of Critically Ill Pulmonary Embolism Patients: A Protocol for a Retrospective Cohort Study of 10 Years in New South Wales

Background Pulmonary embolism is a common, time critical condition care requiring multidisciplinary care. Interhospital transport is a high-risk period in the patients’ care, but offers an opportunity for expedited risk stratification, resuscitation and transport to definitive care. Patients who require interhospital transfer to specialist centres for pulmonary embolism management have worse outcomes. Despite this, literature surrounding the medical retrieval practice and experience of pulmonary embolism is limited. Methods A retrospective cohort study over a 10-year period from January 2014-September 2024 from the database of a high-volume aeromedical retrieval service in New South Wales, Australia will be performed. The study aims to describe the experience in this service in the care of critically ill pulmonary embolism patients requiring interhospital transport.