1. Transfer of The Critically Ill Patient Dr Ferenc Kovari M. D
Transfer of The Critically Ill Patient Dr Ferenc Kovari M.D. Consultant in Anesthesia and Intensive Care 2016

2. Transfer of the critically ill patient
Equipment
Accompanying Personnel
Preparation for Transport
Monitoring During Transport
Management During Transport
Documentation
Supplementary Equipment For Use During Transport
Is The Patient Stable For Transport?

3. Equipment
As much of the equipment as possible should be mounted at or below the level of the patient . In particular, large arrays of vertical drip stands should be avoided. This allows unhindered access to the patient and improves stability of the patient’s bed.
Ideally all equipment within a transport should be standardized to enable the seamless transfer of patients without, for example, interruption of drug therapy or monitoring due to incompatibility of leads and transducers.

4. Equipment
All equipment should be robust, durable and lightweight. Electrical equipment must be designed to function on battery when not plugged into the mains.
Portable monitors should have a clear illuminated display and be capable of displaying ECG, arterial oxygen saturation, non-invasive and invasive blood pressure monitoring, capnography and temperature.
Alarms should be visible as well as audible.

5. Equipment-Trolley
Portable monitor-Fukuda DS 7100 (able to provide ECG, non invasive blood pressure, two invasive pressures, oxygen saturations, respiratory rate, temperature)
Portable ventilator-Oxylog 3000 (capable of supplying positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP), variable oxygen concentrations, inspiratory / expiratory ratio, respiratory rate, and tidal volume). The ventilator will have disconnection and high pressure alarms
End tidal carbon dioxide monitor
Syringe drivers
Infusion pumps

6. Equipment

7. Equipment- Transfer bag:
Essential drugs – Resuscitation drugs, sedatives (Drugs requiring fridge storage e.g. Atracurium and Suxamethonium must be collected from the fridge in A&E or ICU)
Airway and ventilation adjuncts
Suction equipment including Yankauer, catheters and nasogastric tubes
Equipment to gain and secure intravenous access and maintain circulation
High visibility jacket and a list of contact numbers.

8. Equipment- Transfer bag

9. Accompanying Personnel
The critically ill patient should be accompanied by a minimum of two attendants.
One attendant should be a medical practitioner with appropriate training in intensive care medicine, anesthesia, or other acute specialty.
He or she should be competent in resuscitation, airway care, ventilation and other organ support.
The responsible medical practitioner should be accompanied by another suitably experienced nurse, and or technician.

10. Preparation For Transport
Prior to departure, transport attendant must familiarize himself with treatment already undertaken and independently assess the patient’s condition.
In all cases, full clinical details must be obtained, for example, (vent settings, all current meds, latest ABG, CBC, Metabolic panel, CXR) before leaving the unit or OR.
Meticulous resuscitation and stabilization of the patient before transport is the key to avoiding complications during the journey.

11. Preparation For Transport
The airway should be assessed and if necessary secured and protected.
Intubated patients should normally be paralyzed and sedated.
If a PTX is present or likely, chest drains should be inserted prior to departure.
Secure venous access is mandatory and at least two wide bore IV cannulae are required. An arterial line is ideal for BP monitoring.

12. Preparation For Transport
Hypovolemic patients tolerate moving poorly and circulating volume should be near normal prior to transport. This may require loading with crystalloid, colloid or blood. If inotropes or other vasoactive agents are required to optimize hemodynamic status, patients should be stabilized on these before leaving the unit.
Patients who are persistently hypotensive despite resuscitation efforts should not be moved until stable. Continuing sources of blood loss or sepsis should be identified and controlled.

13. Monitoring During Transport
The standard of care and monitoring during transport should be at least as good as it is in the unit.
Minimum standards required for all patients are appropriate staff, ECG, BP monitoring and arterial oxygen saturation.
ICP monitoring may be required in certain patients.
A written record of pt status, monitored values, treatment given and any other clinically relevant information should be completed after transfer.

14. Management During Transport
All equipment must be securely stowed. Under no circumstances should equipment (e.g. infusion pump) be left on top of the patient. Gas cylinders must properly be placed at the foot of the bed or if necessary, under the bed.
Monitoring must be continuous throughout the transport. All monitors and pumps should be visible to accompanying staff.
Adequately resuscitated and stabilized patients should not normally require dramatic changes to treatment during transport.

15. Documentation
Clear records must be maintained of all stages. These should include details of the patients condition prior to and after transport, details of vital signs, clinical events and therapy given during transport.
FILLING OUT the TRANSFER AUDIT form is COMPULSORY and is the sole responsibility of the doctor on transfer. Please leave one photocopy at the receiving unit and bring back the original one and put it in to the transfer audit box situated at the nursing station in the ITU.

16. Is The Patient Stable For Transport
Airway
Airway safe or secured by intubation
Tracheal tube position confirmed on CXR
Ventilation
Paralyzed, sedated and ventilated
Adequate gas exchange confirmed by ABG

17. Is The Patient Stable For Transport
Circulation
HR, BP stable
Tissue and organ perfusion adequate
Any obvious blood loss controlled
Circulating blood volume restored
Hb adequate
Minimum of 2 routes of venous access
Neurology
Seizures controlled, metabolic causes excluded
Raised ICP appropriately managed

18. Departure checklist of case, clothing, insurance?
Do attendants have adequate competencies, experience, knowledge
of case, clothing, insurance?
Appropriate equipment and drugs?
Batteries checked?
Sufficient oxygen?
Trolley available?
Ambulance service aware or ready?
Bed confirmed? Exact location?
Case notes, X ray films, results, blood collected?
Transfer chart prepared?
Portable phone charged?
Contact numbers known?
Money or cards for emergencies?
Estimated time of arrival notified?
Return arrangements checked?
Relatives informed?
Patient stable, fully investigated?
Monitoring attached and working?
Drugs, pumps, lines rationalised and secured?
Adequate sedation?
Still stable after transfer to mobile equipment?
Anything missed?

19. Trauma Patient C-spine protected PTX drained
Long bone/pelvic fractures stabilized
Intra-thoracic and intra-abdominal bleeding controlled

20. References
Policy and Guidelines for the intra and inter hospital transfer of Patients
Guidelines for the transport of the critically ill adult London,
The Intensive Care Society