Transport of the Critically Ill Child
摘要
Centralisation of paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) has meant that many critically ill children need to be transported from local hospitals to PICUs. Inter-hospital transport represents a time of significant vulnerability for the critically ill child, with an associated risk of technical and non-technical adverse events, highlighting the importance of a safe and organised approach to these scenarios. The transport process starts with a referral from the local hospital and ends with clinical handover of the child to the PICU team. In this chapter, we will cover the key principles of triage of incoming referrals, patient assessment and stabilisation prior to and during transport, the transport process including a consideration of time-critical transfers, and the importance of ensuring patient and staff safety during transport. Key points are presented in an easily understood format in tables and figures, bullet points, and take-home messages.