Adverse events during intra-hospital transport of critically ill patients: an observational study

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to describe adverse events occurring during intra-hospital transportation of adult patients from the emergency room to the intensive care unit and to analyze the associated risk factors. Design: This study uses a quantitative analytical observational design. Methods: In total, 151 critically ill patients out of 159 with indicated intra-hospital transportation participated in the study. Patients were transported from the emergency room to the intensive care unit in a class A general hospital in Central Java, Indonesia. The statistical analysis included descriptions of demographic, medication, monitoring, equipment, and clinical characteristics of the cohort, and identified risk factors for adverse events during transportation by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results: The overall incidence of adverse events was 78.8%. Risk factors were: transport team, hemodynamic monitoring, equipment preparation, and patient's condition, and were associated with adverse events (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that equipment preparation was the factor most contributing to adverse events with Exp(B) = 22.6. Conclusion: This study showed that the incidence of adverse events during transportation of critically ill patients was high. We recommend that transports be performed by fully equipped teams of medical professionals. Monitoring of intra-hospital transportation-related events is also recommended to reduce frequency of adverse events.

Repercussions of moving patients on the context of practice: perspectives of the nursing team

“…Several studies corroborate the problem of staff shortages (5,(20)(21) and other resources (5,(22)(23) in the transition of in-hospital care. Patients with more complex care needs are also staying in hospitalization units in other settings in the country (24)(25)(26) .…”

Repercusiones de la movilización de pacientes sobre el contexto de práctica: perspectivas del equipo de enfermería

“…Varios estudios corroboran la problemática de la escasez de personal (5,(20)(21) y de otros recursos (5,(22)(23) en la transición de cuidados intrahospitalarios. También se identifica la permanencia de pacientes con mayor complejidad de cuidados en unidades de internación en otros escenarios del país (24)(25)(26) .…”

Repercussões da movimentação de pacientes sobre o contexto de prática: perspectivas da equipe de enfermagem

“…Diversos estudos corroboram a problemática da escassez de pessoal (5,(20)(21) e dos demais recursos (5,(22)(23) na transição de cuidados intra-hospitalares. Identificase, também, a permanência de pacientes com maior complexidade de cuidados em unidades de internação em outros cenários, no país (24)(25)(26) .…”