1450 Paediatric Specialised Transport Teams in the Central Region of Portugal

Abstract

Background: Paediatric Specialised Transport (PST) teams play a key role in the success of interfacility transport (IT) of seriously ill children. In Portugal these teams have been recently implemented. The aim is to characterize PST in the Central Region of Portugal. Methods: Retrospective analysis of PST (≥ 28 days and < 15 years) from 2005 to 2009. Data was collected from the hospital IT database. Results: IT was requested 433 times and 426 children were transported (5 died before team arrival and 2 didn't meet criteria for transport); median age was 11 months and 51% were infants. The main diagnostic groups were: cardiac disease 106 (25%), surgery 65 (15%), respiratory failure 62 (14%) and trauma 47 (11%). Half of IT was requested by health services of our city (Paediatric Hospital 28%; Adult Care Center 18%) and 40% was requested by Referring Hospitals (RH). The main destinations were Paediatric Hospital (290 - 68%), mainly PICU (89%); diagnostic exams centers (89 - 21%) and NICUs (21 - 5%). Most children were stable or improved during transport (96%); instability was observed in 3% and less than 1% worsened their condition. There was no mortality during IT. During transport 78% of children required procedures/ therapies. The main procedures performed by transport practitioners were: vascular cannulation (86%), mechanical ventilation (39%), sedative (16%) and inotropic agents (9%) administration. Conclusions: PST has provided a safe and early care of critical ill children at RH. Their stabilization before reaching a Tertiary Paediatric Facility has been associated with better outcome.