Critically ill patients undergoing interhospital transportation: a prospective multicentre cohort study in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine.

Ulrich Strauch, Dennis Bergmans, Gernot Marx, Bas C T van Bussel, Iwan C C van der Horst, Micheline Christina Dionisius Maria Florack, Jochen Jansen, Stephan Ortmanns, Marian Ramakers-van Kuijk, Marc Felzen, Stefan Beckers, Joachim Habers

Journal: BMJ open 2025;15(6):e099235

PMID: 40473294

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE

The principal aim of this study was to investigate differences in the characteristics and physiological parameters of critically ill patients who underwent interhospital transportation.

DESIGN

Prospective observational cohort study.

SETTING

Multicentre study within the Euregio Meuse-Rhine, including Dutch and German hospitals.

PATIENTS

A representative sample of critically ill adult patients who underwent interhospital transport accompanied by a physician was included.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

TRANSPORTATION COHORT DESCRIPTION

Data on patient characteristics, transport logistics, interventions and adverse events were recorded using an online questionnaire. The cohort was divided into Dutch and German subsets and further stratified based on the transportation modality. Descriptive statistics were utilised to present the cohort characteristics.

RESULTS

Dutch patients (89%) were mainly transported by mobile intensive care unit (MICU). For the present investigation, in Germany, the Intensivtransportwagen was included in this MICU category, whereas German patients (48%) were mainly transported by intensive care ambulance (ICA). An intensivist accompanied most transports in the Netherlands, whereas various specialists transported patients in Germany. Interventions were primarily performed in the MICU for Dutch patients and in the ICA for German patients. Adverse events were reported in 5% of the cases.

CONCLUSIONS

These comprehensive data provide insights into the transportation differences of critically ill patients. This serves as a foundation for future investigations concerning the quality and efficacy of interhospital transportation.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

This study was registered in the Dutch National Trial Registration (NTR4937).

Address: Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands [email protected].; Department of Anaesthesiology, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.; Maastricht University Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands.; Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.; Maastricht University Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands.; Simulation Centre, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.; Department of Anaesthesiology, Laurentius Hospital, Roermond, The Netherlands.; Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine, Rhein-Maas Klinikum GmbH, Würselen, Germany.; Program Manager of EMRIC and Project Leader of PANDEMRIC, Meld- en Coördinatiecentrum Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands.; Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany.; Medical Direction Emergency Medical Service, Aachen, Germany.; Anesthesiologie/Emergency Medical Service, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.; Emergency Medical Service District of Aachen, Zollernstrasse 20, 52070 Aachen, Germany.; Department Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany.; Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.; Maastricht University Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands.; Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.; Maastricht University Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands.; Maastricht University Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht, The Netherlands.; Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.; Universiteit Maastricht School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-099235

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MeSH Terms: Humans, Prospective Studies, Critical Illness, Male, Female, Netherlands, Germany, Middle Aged, Aged, Intensive Care Units, Ambulances, Adult, Transportation of Patients, Critical Care, Patient Transfer