Neonatal Transport Team Research Articles

The Case for Neonatal Specialist Transport Teams

The Case for Neonatal Specialist Transport Teams

Neonatal transport: parental needs and potential for improvement – a single-center cross-sectional study

Objective Neonates with medical problems need transfer from the place of birth to a neonatal (intensive care) unit after birth by a specialized neonatal transport team. Neonatal transport is accompanied by a high emotional burden for the families due to spatial separation, uncertainty and care for the neonate. This survey of parents’ needs was a quality control project of the neonatal transport team of the University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Switzerland. The aim was to identify areas for improvement of family-centred care and to derive concrete suggestions for adjustments in the transport process. Methods This single-center prospective cross-sectional study included parents of neonates transported between January 2021 and February 2022. Based on a literature review, an anonymous questionnaire was developed (mini-Delphi method) and conducted using an online survey tool. The survey results were analyzed descriptively. Results The response rate was 77% (168/217). The majority of parents agreed with the current procedures for neonatal transports and experienced the transport team as professional. There were no (emotional) support measures applied by the transport team which were not approved by the parents. Some parents suggested the following additions: the possibility of parental accompaniment during transport, contact by telephone on arrival at the destination hospital, and an improvement in the transmission of medical information, both prenatally and in the context of transport. Conclusion There is potential for improvement in meeting parental needs during neonatal transport. Some parental suggestions can be implemented easily and cost-effectively. The importance of professional communication and situationally adapted information for parents was confirmed.

Predicting the need for pre-transport adjustments in neonatal intensive care depending on the level of initial medical organization

Introduction. The need for intensive care adjustments to be made by the transport team at the originating medical organization remains an important element of pre-transport preparation, being an indirect indicator that the level of care does not match the needs of the patient. The aim of the study is to identify factors associated with the need for therapy adjustments depending on the level of initial medical organization. Materials and methods. The one-stage, cross-sectional study included the data of visits of the neonatal transport team of the resuscitation and consultative centre of the Regional Children’s Clinical Hospital (Ekaterinburg) in the period 01. 07. 2014–31. 12. 2018 (n = 2029). The sample was divided into groups: the first group – patients from level 1 organizations (22.8 %, n = 462), the second group – patients from level 2 organizations without paediatric intensive care units (34.9 %, n = 709), the third group – patients from level 2 organizations with paediatric intensive care units (32.5 %, n = 659), the fourth group – patients from level 3 institutions (9.8 %, n = 199). Results. The need for therapy adjustment at baseline was dependent on the level of the institution, with a maximum in level 1 organizations and a minimum in level 3 organizations. The odds ratio of need for therapy correction for level 1 organizations compared to level 2 organizations with paediatric intensive care units was 1.4, 95 % CI [1.2–1.7], p = 0.002, and compared to level 3 organizations was 1.6, 95 % CI [1.2–2.3], p = 0.003. Multivariate analysis identified the following factors associated with the need to adjust therapy at the original facility: for level 1 facilities, respiratory support, dopamine administration; for level 2 facilities without paediatric intensive care units, respiratory support, dopamine and epinephrine infusion, sedation; for level 2 facilities with paediatric intensive care units, respiratory support, dopamine infusion; for level 2 facilities with paediatric intensive care units, respiratory support, dopamine infusion; for level 2 facilities with paediatric intensive care units, respiratory support, dopamine infusion; for level 2 facilities with paediatric intensive care units, respiratory support, dopamine infusion; for level 2 facilities with paediatric intensive care units, respiratory support, dopamine infusion; and for level 3 facilities with paediatric intensive care units, respiratory support, dopamine infusion. Discussion. The need for respiratory support and administration of catecholamines are indicators of the severity of the patient’s condition. Patients in low-acuity healthcare organizations require an increased level of care, regardless of the birth weight and gestational age of the newborn. Conclusion. Logistic regression analysis revealed factors associated with the need for therapy correction in patients in the initial medical organizations depending on their level. The following factors played a statistically significant role: respiratory support, sedation, intravenous infusion of catecholamines, patient weight.

Possibility of using non-invasive modes of respiratory support at the stages of interhospital transportation of newborns

Introduction. Respiratory support remains the most common procedure performed by neonatal transport team specialists. Non-invasive ventilation is a very common method of respiratory support for newborns, reducing the incidence of chronic lung disease. However, the safety and efficacy of this type of support during transportation remain controversial. The aim of the work is to determine the current state of the problem of non-invasive respiratory support in newborns in the initial medical organization, at the stage of pre-transport preparation and during transportation. Materials and methods. Literature sources were searched and selected in PubMed and eLibrary. The following queries were used for the search: nasal continuous positive airway pressure, non invasive ventilation, neonate, newborn, patient transportation, transport, transfer. Types of studies considered: retrospective observational studies, prospective studies (randomized, quasi-randomized, non-randomized), systematic reviews, meta-analyses, clinical protocols. Depth of search − 20 years. The total number of publications included in the review was 61, including 29 studies directly related to the use of noninvasive ventilation in interhospital neonatal transport. Results and discussion. Non-invasive respiratory support is one of the priority and actively used methods of therapy of respiratory disorders of various genesis in neonatology. Nasal CPAP is used both independently and in conjunction with various methods of surfactant administration, reducing the risk of a combined outcome “death or chronic lung disease”. It is recommended both as a method of starting respiratory support and as an intermediate option to increase the probability of successful extubation. There is limited experience with non-invasive respiratory support during interhospital transport of neonates. The available studies suggest that when patients are selected rationally and reasonable criteria are applied to administer nCPAP en route, this method of respiratory support is safe, effective, maintains the benefits of spontaneous breathing, and reduces the duration of intensive care. The small number and poor design quality of studies in this direction do not allow at this stage to form evidence-based recommendations. Conclusion. Medical evacuation of newborns from 1−2 level institutions to level 3 organization with nCPAP is safe and has a number of potential benefits. Existing recommendations are empirical, and there are exceptionally few studies evaluating the validity of such recommendations.

Bronchiolitis trends in out-of-hospital urgent care services in the Community of Madrid: Observational study, 2016–2023

IntroductionBronchiolitis poses a considerable challenge during its seasonal peak, overwhelming the material and human resources available to care for affected patients. As a result, interhospital transfers increase exponentially. We did not find any studies analysing the characteristics of patients with bronchiolitis managed in out-of-hospital urgent care (OHUC) services and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the epidemiology of bronchiolitis. ObjectiveTo establish the characteristics of paediatric and neonatal patients with acute bronchiolitis (AB) managed in OHUC services in the Community of Madrid and to analyse the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the epidemiology of bronchiolitis. MethodsRetrospective cross-sectional observational and descriptive study carried out in OHUC settings in the Community of Madrid between 2016 and 2023. We included patients with a diagnosis of acute bronchiolitis based on the ICD-10 codes documented in the electronic records of urgent care visits and interhospital transports. We collected data on sociodemographic, clinical and treatment (ventilation and medication) variables. ResultsThe sample included 630 patients with AB: 343 managed in non-neonatal OHUC (non-neo) services and 287 by the mobile neonatal intensive care unit transport team (NTT). The median age was 3.7 months (IQR, 2.8–4.7) in patients in the non-neo OHUC group and 19 days (IQR, 14.2−23.7) in the NTT group. There was a statistically significant increase in age in the 2020/2021 season in the non-neo OHUC group. The severity score was significantly higher in the NTT group. There was an unusual peak in bronchiolitis cases in June 2021, coinciding with the end of the 4th wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The incidence of bronchiolitis was highest after the 6th wave of the pandemic (13.5 cases per 10 000 children aged < 2 years). ConclusionsThe median age of paediatric patients with AB managed in OHUC services increased following the end of the lockdown imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which was probably associated with the lack of exposure to the viruses that cause it. This also may explain why the incidence of bronchiolitis was highest in the season following the 6th wave of the pandemic. The severity score was higher in neonatal patients. Epidemiological surveillance, the introduction of protocols and the implementation of an ongoing training programme for non-specialized health care staff involved in the transport of these patients could improve their management.

Evolución de la bronquiolitis en los servicios de urgencias extrahospitalarias de la Comunidad de Madrid: estudio observacional 2016-2023

IntroductionBronchiolitis poses a considerable challenge during its seasonal peak, overwhelming the material and human resources available to care for affected patients. As a result, interhospital transfers increase exponentially. We did not find any studies analysing the characteristics of patients with bronchiolitis managed in out-of-hospital urgent care (OHUC) services and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the epidemiology of bronchiolitis. ObjectiveTo establish the characteristics of paediatric and neonatal patients with acute bronchiolitis (AB) managed in OHUC services in the Community of Madrid and to analyse the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the epidemiology of bronchiolitis. MethodsRetrospective cross-sectional observational and descriptive study carried out in OHUC settings in the Community of Madrid between 2016 and 2023. We included patients with a diagnosis of acute bronchiolitis based on the ICD-10 codes documented in the electronic records of urgent care visits and interhospital transports. We collected data on sociodemographic, clinical and treatment (ventilation and medication) variables. ResultsThe sample included 630 patients with AB: 343 managed in non-neonatal OHUC (non-neo) services and 287 by the mobile neonatal intensive care unit transport team (NTT). The median age was 3.7months (IQR: 2.8-4.7) in patients in the non-neo OHUC group and 19days (IQR: 14.2-23.7) in the NTT group. There was a statistically significant increase in age in the 2020/2021 season in the non-neo OHUC group. The severity score was significantly higher in the NTT group. There was an unusual peak in bronchiolitis cases in June 2021, coinciding with the end of the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The incidence of bronchiolitis was highest after the sixth wave of the pandemic (13.5 cases per 10,000 children aged <2years). ConclusionsThe median age of paediatric patients with AB managed in OHUC services increased following the end of the lockdown imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which was probably associated with the lack of exposure to the viruses that cause it. This also may explain why the incidence of bronchiolitis was highest in the season following the sixth wave of the pandemic. The severity score was higher in neonatal patients. Epidemiological surveillance, the introduction of protocols and the implementation of an ongoing training programme for non-specialized health care staff involved in the transport of these patients could improve their management.

Compliance with the Golden Hour bundle in deliveries attended by a specialized neonatal transport team compared with staff at non-tertiary centres.

Preterm infants born at <32 weeks gestational age (GA) have increased morbidity if they are born outside tertiary centres (outborn). Stabilization and resuscitation after birth consistent with the neonatal Golden Hour practices (NGHP) are required to optimize outcomes. To evaluate physiological outcomes of hypothermia and hypoglycaemia, and compliance with NGHP by neonatal transport team (NTT) compared with referral hospital team (RHT) during the stabilization of infants born at <32 weeks GA. A retrospective case-control study of infants born at <32 weeks GA during 2016-2019 at non-tertiary perinatal centres where the NTT attended the delivery (cases) were matched to infants where the RHT team attended the delivery (controls). During the 4-year period, NTT team received 437 requests to attend deliveries at <32 weeks GA and attended 76 (17%) prior to delivery. These cases were matched 1:1 with controls composed of deliveries attended by the RHT. The rate of hypothermia was 15% versus 29% in the NTT and RHT groups, respectively (P = 0.01). The rate of hypoglycaemia (<2.2 mmol/L) was 5% versus 12% in the NTT and RHT groups, respectively (P = 0.64). For compliance with the NGHP, use of fluid boluses was 8% versus 33%, use of thermoregulation practices, that is, plastic bag, was 76% versus 21%, and establishment of intravenous access was 20 min versus 47 min, in the NTT and RHT groups, respectively. High-risk preterm deliveries attended by the NTT compared with the RHT had increased compliance and earlier implementation of the NGHP elements, associated with improved physiological stability and lower hypothermia rates. Outreach education for RHT should ensure that these key elements are included during the training in the stabilization of high-risk preterm deliveries.

Structured Referral Call Handling Process Improves Neonatal Transport Dispatch Times.

In 2019 the Southern Alberta Neonatal Transport Service adopted a transport call handling process change to expedite transport team mobilization. This study compares the impact of this change on neonatal transport decision to dispatch and mobilization times. This retrospective cohort study was conducted using a historical cohort of neonates referred for transportation between January 2017 and December 2021. The "dispatch time" (DT) was the time from the start of consultation to the time a decision to dispatch the transport team was made, whereas "mobilization time" (MT) referred to the time from start of consultation to the time the team departed the home base. In 2019, a DT target of <3 minutes was implemented to meet a target MT of <15 and <30 minutes for emergent and urgent high-risk transport referral calls, respectively. In 2021 use of the "Situation" component of the SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) communication tool was introduced with the transport team asking five questions to determine need for mobilization. Data between 2017 and 2018 represented the preintervention period, 2019, the "washout" period for implementation, and 2020 to 2021, the postintervention period. Data were analyzed to determine trends in DT and MT. The DT was reduced from a median of 5 to 3 minutes following intervention (p < 0.001). DT target goal of 3 minutes was achieved in 67.08% of calls compared with 26.24% in the preintervention period, (p < 0.001). The team achieved MT target goals in 42.71% of urgent and emergent transfers compared with 18.05% prior to intervention (p < 0.001). Introduction of a time-sensitive referral call handling process improved dispatch and mobilization time of the neonatal transport team. · Time-sensitive triaging of neonatal transport referrals improves dispatch and mobilization time.. · A structured referral call handling process improves the efficiency of neonatal transport decision-making.. · Dedicated neonatal transport vehicles are likely to improve neonatal transport mobilization time..

Evacuating Premature and Critically Ill Neonates When Hospitals are Endangered by Disasters: A Case Study of the PANDA Team Evacuation of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit During Severe Wildfires in Oregon, USA

Introduction:In September 2020, severe wildfires in Oregon (USA) came dangerously close to Hospital A. The entire county was under evacuation orders. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Hospital A needed to evacuate patients to other areas for safety, however the characteristics of premature and critically ill neonates required a specialized transport team. This presentation outlines a case study of how the Pediatric and Neonatal Transport team (PANDA), based at Oregon Health and Science University (Portland, Oregon, USA), responded to evacuate neonatal and infant patients to other metro area NICUs during the wildfires.Method:Case study.Results:During a six-hour period, both PANDA transport teams on shift were activated to complete back-to-back transports of neonates and infants by ground ambulance to fire safe locations. Each patient was transported by a PANDA Registered Nurse and PANDA Respiratory Therapist, with an Emergency Medical Technician who drove the ambulance and Medical Control available by phone. The PANDA team normally operates in non-disaster settings. This was the first time PANDA was activated to evacuate patients from a hospital during a disaster. This presentation will discuss lessons learned and implications for future practice.Conclusion:Wildfire frequency and severity is predicted to increase due to climate change. Evacuation of premature and critically ill neonates requires a specialized transport team due to patient size, weight, and other considerations. Specialized transport teams should develop disaster evacuation workflows and resources, and regularly practice for these events. There is also a need for trauma-informed care in the post-evacuation setting to transport staff and parents of patients who were unable to travel with their child during transport. A full team pre-transport risk assessment is crucial in these circumstances.

A Multicenter Survey of Pediatric-Neonatal Transport Teams in the United States to Assess the Impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic on Staffing

ObjectiveThe coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has resulted in unprecedented burnout in frontline health care providers. However, the impact of the pandemic on interfacility pediatric and neonatal transport team members has not been studied. The current study uses a survey design to document the impact of the pandemic on pediatric and neonatal transport team members with a focus on staffing and resilience promotion strategies. MethodsData for this study came from a short cross-sectional survey distributed to members of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Transport Medicine. ResultsSixty-six teams responded (around 45%). Forty-one respondents (62%) reported vacancies on their transport teams, with 35 (53.8%) reporting more vacancies during the pandemic. Forty percent of highly trained registered nurses and respiratory therapists from specialty teams left their positions for those with better compensation during the pandemic. Forty-two percent of respondents were not trained to recognize burnout, stress, or compassion fatigue. ConclusionOur study shows that half of the respondents had more vacancies during the pandemic than in previous years and reported difficulty in filling those positions. We were unable to link the vacancies to the pandemic and burnout because hospitalizations and transports in the pediatric facilities decreased during the pandemic; however, we do report that coronavirus disease 2019 exposure before the vaccine was a source of stress for team members. There are opportunities to improve the identification of burnout and to foster resilience and boost retention of this highly skilled niche workforce.

French national survey on simulation-based neonatology education of pediatric residents

The French Society of Neonatology (SFN) conducted a national questionnaire survey on the simulation-based education neonatal curriculum for pediatric residents. The response rate was 93% for the pediatric curriculum coordinators and 97% for the neonatal intensive care unit medical directors and neonatal transport teams. The average hourly volume during the curriculum was 21 ± 17 h. Overall, 89% of regional pediatric curricula offered at least one simulation session. Each simulation program involved newborn resuscitation in the delivery room but often lacked a formalized program. Additionally, half of the neonatology departments provided simulation-based education. Simulation education is now common for training pediatric residents in neonatology in France but it is heterogeneous in the French territory.

Predictive value of the clinical scale for assessment of premature newborns during pre-transport preparation of newborns

Purpose. This study is aimed at determining the predictive value of the clinical assessment scale for premature newborns during pre-transport preparation in relation to the outcomes of treatment of newborns.Materials and methods. The cohort study included data from 604 visits of the neonatal transport team to the newborn children hospitalized in the medical centers of the Sverdlovsk region from August 1, 2017, to December 31, 2018. Median birth weight [IQR] 2515 [1600; 3275] grams, median gestational age [IQR] 36 [32; 38] weeks. Primary medical documentation was used for scale assessment. Descriptive statistics tools: median and interquartile range, fraction, 95% CI for the proportion, error of the proportion, calculation of the area under the ROC curve, calculation of sensitivity, specificity, cut-off level, positive (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV). The correlation analysis of quantitative data with an abnormal distribution is performed by Spearman’s test.Results. The scale demonstrated a high predictive value for lethal outcome (AUC = 0.803 (0.734–0.872)), 7-day mortality (AUC = 0.821 (0.743–0.899)), late neonatal sepsis (AUC = 0.763 (0.697–0.830)), severe intraventricular hemorrhage (AUC = 0.784 (0.729–0.838)), and occlusive hydrocephalus (AUC = 0.802 (0.725–0.878)) in the total sample of newborns (fullterm and premature). The negative predictive value significantly prevails over the positive predictive value. Weak correlations were found between the score and the duration of intensive care (r = 0.305, p &lt; 0.0001), duration of ventilation (r = 0.221, p &gt;&lt; 0.0001), duration of nCPAP (r = 0.214, p = 0.001), and hospitalization (r = 0.214, p &gt;&lt; 0.0001), both in the general sample and among the survivors. Conclusion. The scale has a high predictive value in relation to the outcomes of the hospital stage in newborns, but a weak correlation with quantitative outcomes. Key words: Newborns, interhospital transportation of newborns, neonatal transfer, severity assessment, tactical decision.&gt;˂ 0.0001), duration of ventilation (r = 0.221, p ˂ 0.0001), duration of nCPAP (r = 0.214, p = 0.001), and hospitalization (r = 0.214, p ˂ 0.0001), both in the general sample and among the survivors.Conclusion. The scale has a high predictive value in relation to the outcomes of the hospital stage in newborns, but a weak correlation with quantitative outcomes.

Neonatal Transport Ventilation: Simulation to Improve Knowledge and Skills.

IntroductionNeonatal transport is a frequent activity in most tertiary and regional perinatal centers. Neonatal transport teams serve as mobile intensive care units and are equipped with specialized incubators that have built-in ventilators that can provide several levels of support. In our institution, we aim to educate all neonatal transport providers, including neonatal-perinatal fellows, neonatal intensive care unit–dedicated advanced practice providers, and neonatal intensive care unit–dedicated registered respiratory therapists, on transport ventilation management and troubleshooting, utilizing simulation to optimize patient care during transport.MethodsWe developed scenarios based on the equipment used at our institution: an AirBorne Voyager transport incubator with a built-in Crossvent 2i+ infant ventilator, AirBorne TXP-2D high-frequency ventilator, and AeroNOx inhaled nitric oxide system (International Biomedical). Equipment and troubleshooting knowledge were assessed via knowledge tests prior to and at intervals after simulation scenario completion. We performed paired t tests to analyze change in test scores at each time point postsimulation compared to presimulation. Facilitated debriefing and a survey elicited feedback on learner confidence and comfort.ResultsTen learners participated in the simulations and completed the knowledge assessments. At all postsimulation time points, mean knowledge scores showed statistically significant improvements compared to presimulation scores. Feedback from learners on confidence in their skills and comfort with the equipment was positive.DiscussionNeonatal transport team ventilator knowledge and troubleshooting skills have improved after instituting this semiannual simulation training.

Improving Mobilization Times of a Specialized Neonatal and Pediatric Critical Care Transport Team

ObjectivesThe Ground and Air Medical Quality Transport database identifies the average mobilization time (AMT) of the transport team as a metric for benchmarking. Our specific aim was to decrease our AMT to < 25 minutes for our expanded role, ground, nonsimultaneous transports by the end of quarter 4 of 2018. MethodsStandardization of data collection with awareness building, ambulance vendor involvement, and team-focused interventions were the different phases of project implementation. Documentation of reasons for delay was performed pre- and postimplementation. ResultsOur AMT decreased from a baseline of 30.3 minutes to 24.5 minutes after project implementation. Communication delays (19.0%), reason for delay not documented (16.5%), no team available (14.0%), rotor wing vendor delays (12.4%), and ambulance vendor delays (7.4%) were the common reasons for delay on our preimplementation Pareto analysis. Communication and pharmacy delays were the most common reasons during all 3 phases of our project. ConclusionsImplementation of the project allowed us to achieve our goal of improving our AMT. Understanding the reasons for delay is a crucial consideration, and success depends on careful change management. Further iterations will need to focus on improving communication and the pharmacy medication dispatch process.

Neonatal emergency transport teams and general emergency departments: Who will intubate the neonate?

Confidence treating critically ill infants presenting to general ED may be limited by inexperience, with procedures deferred until specialised transport teams arrive. This retrospective cohort study analysed critical procedures performed by referring ED physicians, compared with a neonatal emergency transport service, on infants transferred over a 12-month period. All 150 eligible infants were included, with median (interquartile range) age 28 (16-43) days. Forty critical procedures were performed in this cohort. Of 26 intubations, 17 (65%) were performed by local ED physicians. Referring ED physicians perform the majority of critical procedures where infants require inter-hospital transfer by neonatal emergency transport service.

Challenges in the application of non-servocontrolled therapeutic hypothermia during neonatal transport in Catalonia

IntroductionTherapeutic hypothermia (TH) improves survival and neurological prognosis in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathic (HIE) babies, being better the sooner TH is implemented. HIE babies are born more frequently in a non-cooling centre and need to be referred. MethodsProspective-observational study (April 18 2018 – November 19 2019). Newborns (≥34 weeks of gestational age (GA) and >1800 g) with moderate/severe HIE on non-servocontrolled therapeutic hypothermia by the two neonatal transport teams in Catalonia. Results51 newborns. The median stabilisation and transport time were 68 min (p25–75, 45–85 min) and 30 min (p25–75, 15–45 min), respectively. The mean age at arrival at the receiving unit was 4 h and 18 min (SD 96.6). The incubator was set off in 43 (84%), iced-packs 11 (21.5%) and both (11, 21.5%). Target temperature was reached in 19 (37.3%) babies. There were no differences in the overcooling in relation to the measures applied. The transport duration was not related with temperature stabilisation or target temperature reachiness. ConclusionsRectal temperature monitorisation is compulsory for the stabilisation and the application of non-servocontrolled hypothermia during transport. There is still time for improving in the administration of this treatment during transport. Servo-controlled hypothermia would be a better alternative to improve the management of HIE babies.

Effective Passive Cooling During Neonatal Transport.

We retrospectively evaluated the rectal temperature of 297 hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) outborn newborns who were passive-cooling transported by Neonatal Emergency Transport Service (Genoa and Rome, Italy) at their arrival in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. By a total of 1461 transports, 297 were for suspected HIE. Transferring suspected HIE newborn does not mean with certainty directing him/her to cooling treatment, but rather to monitoring and deepening in the hypothesis of starting hypothermia. This is the main reason why we have chosen 35°C (±0.5°C) as the temperature target to be maintained during transport. Our study demonstrated that 263/297 patients (88.55%) passively cooled during transport were within the target limit of 35°C (±0.5°C), whereas 15 newborns were at rectal temperature >35.5°C (5.05%) and 19 were <34.5°C (6.39%); no patients were <33°C. In our opinion, these are satisfactory results. Overcooling, failed temperature target, and unstable temperature values are the main problems claimed to occur during passive cooling in transport. We would like to conclude underlining that a well-experienced neonatal transport team can use passive cooling expecting appropriate performances.

Pediatric Transport Safety Collaborative: Adverse Events With Parental Presence During Pediatric Critical Care Transport.

In Canada, critically ill pediatric patients require transfer to a tertiary care center for definitive medical and surgical management. Some studies suggest that family accompaniment could compromise care; currently, limited research has examined patient safety and outcomes during pediatric critical care transport with family presence, and no Canada-specific data currently exists. The primary objective of this study was to compare the rate of adverse events during the transport of pediatric patients by a specialized pediatric critical care transport team with parental accompaniment to those without parental accompaniment. Secondary objectives included whether geographic or patient-specific factors affected rates of parental accompaniment and if parental presence during transport was related to patient outcomes. Retrospective cohort study in a pediatric critical care unit convenience sample at an academic children's hospital. Inclusion criteria constituted all patients younger than 18 years who were admitted to the pediatric critical care unit after interfacility transport by the London Health Sciences Center Neonatal Pediatric Transport Team between April 1, 2018, and April 30, 2020, inclusive. Adverse event rates, patient characteristics, and clinical outcomes were compared. There were 357 transports eligible for analysis. Of these, there were 180 transports with, and 177 without, parental accompaniment. The primary outcome was adverse event occurrence using the composite definition of adverse events, previously defined by a Canadian consensus process, which included patient-, transport provider-, laboratory-, and system/vehicle-related safety factors. The occurrence of adverse events was not significantly different between transports with and without parental accompaniment, 49.4% and 54.8%, respectively (odds ratio, 0.80; P = 0.311). This is the first study to compare the effect on adverse event rate and clinically relevant outcomes between transports with and without parental presence during interfacility pediatric critical care transport. Our study found no significant difference in the adverse event rate between transports with and without parental presence.

Neonatal transport. A red snapshot

The nocturnal heavy bomber-like cockpit lights reminding us of Atlantic wing pathfinders. Within the incubator the swathed newborn gently brushed by the suffused red helicopter roof light.

Retos en la aplicación de la hipotermia terapéutica no servo-controlada durante el transporte neonatal en Cataluña

IntroductionTherapeutic hypothermia (TH) improves survival and neurological prognosis in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathic (HIE) babies, being better the sooner TH is implemented. HIE babies are born more frequently in a non-cooling centre and need to be referred. MethodsProspective-observational study (April 18–November 19). Newborns (≥34 weeks of gestational age (GA) and >1800g) with moderate/severe HIE on non-servocontrolled therapeutic hypothermia by the two neonatal transport teams in Catalonia. Results51 newborns. The median stabilisation and transport time were 68min (p25–75, 45–85min) and 30min (p25–75, 15–45min), respectively. The mean age at arrival at the receiving unit was 4h and 18min (SD 96.6). The incubator was set off in 43 (84%), iced-packs 11 (21.5%) and both (11, 21.5%). Target temperature was reached in 19 (37.3%) babies. There was no differences in the overcooling in relation to the measures applied. The transport duration was not related with temperature stabilisation or target temperature reachiness. ConclusionsRectal temperature monitorisation is compulsory for the stabilisation and the application of non-servocontrolled hypothermia during transport. There is still time for improving in the administration of this treatment during transport. Servo-controlled hypothermia would be a better alternative to improve the management of HIE babies.