Guwahati to Delhi Air Ambulance Flight Case Study
Published by Airlogic Flight Operations Desk · 24/7 Medevac Service
Patient: 58-year-old male with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage requiring urgent tertiary neurosurgical intervention.
Sector: Guwahati (Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport / LGBI / GAU) to New Delhi (Indira Gandhi International Airport / DEL).
Aircraft: Dedicated Beechcraft King Air B200 (VT-YUD) Flying ICU.
Medical Escort: Board-certified MD Anesthesiologist / Intensivist & Aeromedical Critical Care Flight Nurse.
Pre-Flight Medical Triage & Ground Dispatch
The mission was initiated following a distress call from the attending neurosurgeon at Gauhati Medical College & Hospital (GMCH). Given the risk of re-bleeding and cerebral herniation, commercial airline stretcher transport was contraindicated. Our clinical director conducted immediate physician-to-physician tele-triage, reviewed CT scans, and confirmed flight eligibility under controlled cabin pressurization.
Our advanced life support (ALS) ground ambulance met the patient at GMCH, initiating continuous invasive blood pressure monitoring and sedation. Direct tarmac ambulance access was coordinated through Guwahati Airport ATC, enabling zero-delay transfer directly onto the King Air B200 cabin stretcher.
In-Flight Critical Care Management
Throughout the 3-hour 20-minute flight, the patient was supported on our onboard Philips ICU transport mechanical ventilator in pressure-regulated volume-controlled mode. Continuous EtCO2 capnography and multi-parameter hemodynamic monitoring were maintained via the Philips IntelliVue monitor suite.
The pressurized cabin of the King Air B200 maintained a low differential cabin altitude (under 4,500 feet while cruising at Flight Level 240), preventing altitude-induced intracranial pressure (ICP) spikes. Continuous arterial infusion of vasopressors was administered using Niscomed dual precision syringe drivers.
Arrival & Bedside Handover in New Delhi
Upon touchdown at Terminal 1 / General Aviation tarmac in New Delhi, the patient was received by our standby Delhi ALS ambulance team with green corridor clearance through Delhi traffic. Bedside-to-bedside handover was formally completed to the Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit at Medanta The Medicity, Gurugram, with complete vitals stability maintained across the entire 1,500 km journey.