Review of Transport Physiology

This chapter is an examination of the physiologic changes to be considered when transporting a critically ill patient at elevated altitude. This chapter will review the physiology that occurs with mechanical ventilation with respect to each of the scientific gas laws. The critically ill patient in a hospital bed remains relatively stationary as opposed to the patient in transport, who will be exposed to changes in motion, altitude, and environmental conditions. Strategies and management of the critically ill mechanically ventilated patient will differ between ground, rotor-wing, and fixed-wing vehicles.