Table 1

Patient’s characteristics the day before the flight

CharacteristicsAll patients (n=22)
Age, median (IQR)69 (63–73)
Male gender, n (%)20 (91)
BMI, kg/m2, median (IQR)29 (26–33)
Comorbidities
Charlson score, median (IQR)4 (2–4)
Diabetes, n (%)5 (23)
Hypertension, n (%)13 (59)
Obesity (BMI >30), n (%)10 (45)
SOFA score, median (IQR)3 (3–6)
SOFA Respiratory score, median (IQR)3 (3–3)
SOFA Cardiovascular score, median (IQR)0 (0–0)
Days since symptoms beginning, median (IQR)17 (13–19)
Days since ICU admission, median (IQR)8 (6–16)
Days since mechanical invasive ventilation, median (IQR)6 (4–11)
Treatments before flight
Tidal volume, mL/kg, median (IQR)6.2 (6.0–6.4)
PEEP, mm Hg, median (IQR)10 (8–12)
FiO2, %, median (IQR)50 (45–50)
Neuromuscular blockade, n (%)13 (60)
Corticosteroid treatment, n (%)23 (100)
Pneumonia, n (%)9 (41)
Prone positioning, n (%)17 (74)
Number of prone position sessions, median (IQR)1 (1–3)
  • BMI, body mass index; FiO2, O2 inspired fraction; ICU, intensive care unit; PEEP, positive end-expiratory pressure; SOFA, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score.