Intrahospital transport of critically ill pediatric patients

Abstract

To determine the frequency of adverse events during intrahospital transport; to determine the requirement of therapeutic interventions during transport; to test the hypothesis that adverse events that occur during intrahospital transport are due to the transport process itself; and to determine the factors that predict the occurence of adverse events and the requirement of major therapeutic interventions during transport.

A two-phase study in which data were prospectively collected. In phase I, we examined the occurrence rate of adverse events, the requirement for therapeutic interventions, and the factors that predicted adverse events and the requirement of therapeutic interventions. In phase II, we tested the hypothesis that adverse events during transport were due to the transport process itself.

A 250-bed university children's hospital with a 50-bed intensive care unit (ICU).

Phase I of the study consisted of one hundred and eighty intrahospital transports in 139 patients. These transports included patients who were transferred: a) to the ICU from the operating room, emergency department, or the general ward; b) from the ICU to the operating room; and c) from the ICU for diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. Phase II of the study consisted of 89 transports in 85 patients.

None.

Vital signs and oxygen saturation were measured before and during transport.

Serious physiologic deterioration occurs during intrahospital transport of critically ill children. Severity of illness and the duration of transport are associated with the occurence of adverse events during transport. The team composition and equipment required on transport must be commensurate with the pretransport severity of illness and the anticipated duration of transport.