Stabilization and transport of critically ill children

The transportation of critically ill children should be undertaken by specialized Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) transport services. The advantages of using specialist teams are that they have training and experience in paediatric intensive care and transportation, that they use dedicated transportation equipment and that they can operate without leaving the PICU base or referring hospital short staffed. A specialized PICU transport team usually comprises an experienced doctor and nurse. The team should be self sufficient and carry all the necessary equipment and drugs for stabilization and transportation. Transportation can be by road or air; and the problems of each type of transportation are discussed. The article explains how to deal with the child's airway, breathing and circulation during transportation and how to cope with critical incidents in transit.