ObjectiveTo characterize the transport of severely ill patients with extracorporeal
respiratory or cardiovascular support.MethodsA series of 18 patients in the state of São Paulo, Brazil is
described. All patients were consecutively evaluated by a multidisciplinary
team at the hospital of origin. The patients were rescued, and
extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support was provided on site. The
patients were then transported to referral hospitals for extracorporeal
membrane oxygenation support. Data were retrieved from a prospectively
collected database.ResultsFrom 2011 to 2017, 18 patients aged 29 (25 - 31) years with a SAPS 3 of 84
(68 - 92) and main primary diagnosis of leptospirosis and influenza A (H1N1)
virus were transported to three referral hospitals in São Paulo. A
median distance of 39 (15 - 82) km was traveled on each rescue mission
during a period of 360 (308 - 431) min. A median of one (0 - 2) nurse, three
(2 - 3) physicians, and one (0 - 1) physical therapist was present per
rescue. Seventeen rescues were made by ambulance, and one rescue was made by
helicopter. The observed complications were interruption in the energy
supply to the pump in two cases (11%) and oxygen saturation < 70% in two
cases. Thirteen patients (72%) survived and were discharged from the
hospital. Among the nonsurvivors, there were two cases of brain death, two
cases of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, and one case of irreversible
pulmonary fibrosis.ConclusionsTransportation with extracorporeal support occurred without serious
complications, and the hospital survival rate was high.