[Intrahospital transport of critically ill children].

Prospective evaluation of intrahospital transportation of 33 critically ill children to and from the pediatric intensive care unit was conducted over the course of a month. Factors contributing to risk of transport were assessed. There were 33 children (25 boys and 8 girls), 3 days to 15 years of age. Reasons for admission included: disease and trauma in 19, and status post operation in 11. The pretransport PRISM score was 4.84. 22 children (66.6%) were being mechanically ventilated and 10 (30.3%) were being treated with amines. Transport time ranged from 8-150 minutes. 15 of the transports (45.4%) were urgent and a special intensive care team escorted 22 (66.6%). Equipment mishaps and physiological deterioration occurred in 12 (36.3%) and 11 (30.3%) of the cases, respectively. The use of amines, mechanical ventilation, longer transport time and high PRISM score were all associated with physiological deterioration on transport.