Prone transportation to an ECMO center.

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Respiratory Medicine
• Transport Medicine

Background:

• Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) has high ICU admission rates and mortality.
• Prone positioning improves outcomes in moderate to severe ARDS.
• Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is standard for refractory hypoxemia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the safe transportation of an ARDS patient in prone position to an ECMO center.
• To assess the feasibility of prone positioning during inter-facility transport for critically ill ARDS patients.

Main Methods:

• A case report detailing the transport of an ARDS patient.
• Minimal ad hoc adjustments to standard ambulance transport protocols were utilized.
• Patient was maintained in prone position throughout the transfer.

Main Results:

• The patient was safely transported in prone position.
• No significant adverse events occurred during transport.
• The prone positioning was maintained with minor modifications to standard procedures.

Conclusions:

• Safe inter-facility transport of ARDS patients in prone position to ECMO centers is possible.
• Prone positioning during transport may offer improved oxygenation for critically ill patients.
• Further research is warranted to establish protocols for safe prone patient transport.