European Air Ambulance resumes neonatal transport services

Following the devastating fire at its headquarters in March 2024, which resulted in the loss of all the equipment for neonatal air ambulance flights, European Air Ambulance (EAA) is pleased to announce the resumption of its neonatal air ambulance services. With the arrival of two brand-new incubators, along with other essential neonatal equipment, EAA has relaunched its neonatal air ambulance flights with its aircraft fleet, consisting of two Bombardier Challenger 605 and three Learjet 45XR.

The Medical Department of EAA, under the leadership of Didier Dandrifosse and with the dedicated support of the Neonatal Medical Supervisor Dr Jean Bottu and Deputy Chief Flight Nurse Jan Saubain, has worked tirelessly over the past few months to select, acquire, and prepare the new neonatal equipment for service.

Specialist challenges

Transporting and repatriating newborns, especially premature infants, presents unique challenges as these vulnerable patients require uninterrupted care. They need meticulous temperature regulation, continuous cardiorespiratory and haemodynamic monitoring, and timely intervention. Moreover, their wellbeing depends on maintaining stability despite environmental factors such as noise, air pressure, temperature and vibrations during transport to and from the airport, during the loading and unloading of the aircraft and, most importantly, during the flight itself.

Transporting and repatriating newborns, especially premature infants, presents unique challenges as these vulnerable patients require uninterrupted care

The base of the new neonatal unit includes a versatile, certified transport platform designed to carry the incubator and its neonatal equipment. The platform is fully compatible with all major aeromedical equipment manufacturers, including AAT, Aerolite, and Spectrum Aeromed. Additionally, it guarantees seamless integration with emergency medical equipment providers such as Stollenwerk, Ferno, or Stryker, to ensure that the incubators are well secured not only during all phases of the flight, but also during ground transportation between the airports and hospitals.

The equipment

The incubator itself, an ‘International Biomedical Voyager NxtGen Transport Incubator’, is equipped with a doubleinsulated infant chamber including a heated mattress which provides 36 degrees of thermoregulation, an integrated suction unit, phototherapy and double temperature control. Ventilation is provided by a Hamilton-T1 with different neonatal ventilation modes (nCPAP, Highflow O2 and standard invasive ventilation modes) combined with active and automated humidification by a Hamilton H900 humidifier. Cardiac monitoring is ensured by a Philips X3, adapted for neonatal surveillance. A Braun Perfusor compactplus can be used for precise drug administration and enteral nutrition. The power supply is ensured by an AAS intelligent power box, supporting 230V, 110V, 28V, and 14V outputs

The missions

EAA’s neonatal missions are always accompanied by highly trained neonatologist and a specialised intensive care flight nurse trained in European paediatric advanced life support (EPALS). Together they ensure the safe handling of the incubator and the highest level of care for the transported patients.

By introducing the two new advanced transport incubators, European Air Ambulance is able to further improve neonatal care and ensure the safe and efficient transport of newborns to specialised medical facilities around the globe. Equipped with cutting-edge technology, EAA places the utmost importance on the protection and comfort of vulnerable patients during transport. The highly skilled team of expert doctors and nurses, combined with state-of-the-art equipment, strengthens EAA’s position as a global leader in neonatal air ambulance services.

With its unwavering commitment to excellence, European Air Ambulance continues to set the standard for compassionate and reliable medical transport for newborns in critical need of specialised care.