Objective-Critically ill patients supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) are transported within the hospital to the radiology suite, cardiac catheterization suite, operating room, and from one ICU to another. No studies to date have systematically evaluated intrahospital transport (IHT) while on ECMO. This study aims to evaluate indications, process, interventions, and effectiveness of patients undergoing IHT.
Design-Retrospective cohort analysis.Setting-Cardiac intensive care unit in a tertiary care children's hospital.Patients-All patients requiring IHT while on ECMO between January 1996 and March 2007 were included and analyzed in detail.
Measurement and MainResults-A total of 57 IHTs for cardiac catheterization (CC) and head CT scans were analyzed. In 14/20 (70%) of CC patients, a management change occurred as a result of the diagnostic CC. In 10/17 (59%) bedside echo was of limited value in defining the critical problem. In the interventional group the majority of transports were for atrial septostomy. In the head CT group significant pathology was identified, which led to management change. No major complications occurred during these IHTs.
NIH Public AccessConclusions-IHT while on ECMO is labor intensive and requiring extensive logistic support, it can be carried out safely in experienced hands and results in important therapeutic and diagnostic yields. To our knowledge this is the first study designed to evaluate safety and efficacy of IHT for patients receiving ECMO support.