High incidence of adverse events during intra-hospital transport of critically ill patients and new related risk factors: a prospective, multicenter study in China

Table 4 Adverse events during intra-hospital transports (N = 441 intra-hospital transports evaluated)

Adverse event	Transports^a (n)	Transports (%)
Total AEs	352	79.8
Equipment- or staff-related AEs	35	7.9
Loss of monitor power	11	2.5
Vascular tubing obstructed	4	0.9
Disconnected or depleted of oxygen supply	9	2.0
Loss of ventilator power	3	0.7
Unexpected delay ≥15 minutes	8	1.8
Other	4	0.9
Patient-related AEs (P-AEs)	349	79.4
Vital sign–related P-AEs^b	252	57.1
RR abnormality or more severe	99	22.5
HR abnormality or more severe	69	15.7
SBP abnormality or more severe	78	17.7
SpO₂ abnormality or more severe	102	23.1
Arterial blood gas analysis–related P-AEs^b	207	46.9
pH abnormality or more severe	53	12.0
PaO₂ abnormality or more severe	70	15.9
PaCO₂ abnormality or more severe	63	14.3
HCO₃ ⁻ abnormality or more severe	36	8.2
Lactate level abnormality or more severe	42	9.5
Glucose level abnormality or more severe	39	8.8
New-onset arrhythmia	3	0.7
Anxiety	66	15.0
Agitation	49	11.1
Pain or discomfort	27	6.1
Resistance to ventilation when intubated	54	12.2
Accidental extubation	1	0.2
Nausea or vomiting	2	0.5
Airway obstruction	1	0.2
Other	2	0.5

AE adverse event, RR respiratory rate, HR heart rate, SBP systolic blood pressure, SpO ₂ pulse oximetry, PaO ₂ partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood, PaCO ₂ partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood, HCO ₃ ⁻ bicarbonate level
^aNumber of transports with at least one AE
^bDefined as an AE associated with detection of abnormal or more severe monitored parameters during the intra-hospital transport (IHT) period and post-IHT period

ISSN: 1364-8535