Adverse events and associated factors during intra-hospital transport of mechanically ventilated intensive care patients
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Intra-hospital transport (IHT) of critically ill patients remains a high-risk procedure, particularly in intubated and mechanically ventilated intensive care unit (ICU) patients requiring multiple invasive devices. Data from prospective multicentre studies using standardized definitions of adverse events (AEs) remain limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of AEs during IHT and to identify factors associated with their occurrence. METHODS: We conducted a prospective multicentre observational study in nine French ICUs. All consecutive IHTs involving intubated and mechanically ventilated adult patients were included. AEs were defined according to the 2011 SFAR recommendations and recorded across five predefined transport phases, from preparation to patient reinstallation. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with AE occurrence. RESULTS: Among 160 analysed transports, at least one AE occurred in 56.4% of IHTs (95% CI 48.6-64.2). Most events were clinical (47.5%); serious AEs were rare (0.6%). The procedural phase accounted for the highest proportion of events (66.7%). In multivariable analysis, AE occurrence was independently associated with neuromuscular blocking agent use (OR 4.0 [1.2-13.5]), ≥4 invasive devices (OR 2.6 [1.1-6.1]), and ≥3 accompanying staff members (OR 2.7 [1.4-5.5]). Emergency status and transport indication were not significantly associated with AE occurrence. CONCLUSION: IHT of mechanically ventilated ICU patients is associated with a high rate of AEs, driven primarily by patient severity and procedural complexity. These findings support the need for structured transport protocols and larger multicentre studies to evaluate targeted safety strategies.
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BibTeX
@article{cambert2026adverse,
title = {{Adverse events and associated factors during intra-hospital transport of mechanically ventilated intensive care patients}},
author = {Fabien Cambert and Gaëlle Sauvaget and Anne-Sylvie Scholastique and Marion Bregerie and Nathalie Gautier and Jérôme E Dauvergne and Gaëtan Badre and Brice Fermier and Vanessa Panhelleux and Launey Yoann and Nicolas Robillard and Estelle Le Pabic},
journal = {Anaesthesia Critical Care \& Pain Medicine},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.accpm.2026.101933},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05789060v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Adverse events and associated factors during intra-hospital transport of mechanically ventilated intensive care patients
AU - Fabien Cambert
AU - Gaëlle Sauvaget
AU - Anne-Sylvie Scholastique
AU - Marion Bregerie
AU - Nathalie Gautier
AU - Jérôme E Dauvergne
AU - Gaëtan Badre
AU - Brice Fermier
AU - Vanessa Panhelleux
AU - Launey Yoann
AU - Nicolas Robillard
AU - Estelle Le Pabic
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/09
JO - Anaesthesia Critical Care & Pain Medicine
DO - 10.1016/j.accpm.2026.101933
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05789060v1
AB - BACKGROUND: Intra-hospital transport (IHT) of critically ill patients remains a high-risk procedure, particularly in intubated and mechanically ventilated intensive care unit (ICU) patients requiring multiple invasive devices. Data from prospective multicentre studies using standardized definitions of adverse events (AEs) remain limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of AEs during IHT and to identify factors associated with their occurrence. METHODS: We conducted a prospective multicentre observational study in nine French ICUs. All consecutive IHTs involving intubated and mechanically ventilated adult patients were included. AEs were defined according to the 2011 SFAR recommendations and recorded across five predefined transport phases, from preparation to patient reinstallation. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with AE occurrence. RESULTS: Among 160 analysed transports, at least one AE occurred in 56.4% of IHTs (95% CI 48.6-64.2). Most events were clinical (47.5%); serious AEs were rare (0.6%). The procedural phase accounted for the highest proportion of events (66.7%). In multivariable analysis, AE occurrence was independently associated with neuromuscular blocking agent use (OR 4.0 [1.2-13.5]), ≥4 invasive devices (OR 2.6 [1.1-6.1]), and ≥3 accompanying staff members (OR 2.7 [1.4-5.5]). Emergency status and transport indication were not significantly associated with AE occurrence. CONCLUSION: IHT of mechanically ventilated ICU patients is associated with a high rate of AEs, driven primarily by patient severity and procedural complexity. These findings support the need for structured transport protocols and larger multicentre studies to evaluate targeted safety strategies.
SN - 2352-5568
ER -