Towards safer transport of sick and injured children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
• Emergency Medical Services
• Transport Medicine

Background:

• A dedicated Paediatric Emergency Transport Service (PETS) has been operational for three years.
• The service is based out of the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the initial patient cohort of a newly established PETS.
• To identify common medical challenges encountered during paediatric emergency transport.
• To emphasize the importance of pre-transport stabilization and the educational role of transport teams.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of medical records.
• Review of the first 158 patients transported by the PETS.
• Categorization and analysis of patient conditions and interventions.

Main Results:

• Airway and artificial airway management issues were the most frequent problems encountered.
• The data underscores the critical need for thorough resuscitation and stabilization prior to patient transfer.
• The study highlights the educational impact of the transport team during consultations and retrievals.

Conclusions:

• Effective airway management is paramount in paediatric emergency transport.
• Pre-transport stabilization significantly impacts patient outcomes.
• Paediatric transport services play a vital educational role for referring institutions.