title: Intrafacility transportation of patients with acute brain injury.
abstract: Patients with acute brain injury (ABI) frequently require diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in the areas located outside of the intensive care unit. Transports can be risky for critically ill patients with ABI. Secondary brain injury can occur during the transport from causes such as ischemia, hypotension, hypoxia, hypercapnia, and cerebral edema. Preparation and implementation of preventive procedures including pretransport assessment, monitoring during transport, and posttransport examination and documentation for transports of patients with ABI deem to be necessary. The purpose of this article is to review the typical risks associated with the transports of the patients with ABI out of the intensive care unit and to propose the strategies that can be used to minimize the risks of secondary brain injury.
authors.affiliation: Questions or comments about this article may be directed to Hsinfen Tu, RN MSN MSN-Ed, at hsinfentu@yahoo.com. She is a Staff Nurse at the Neurotrauma Intensive Care Unit, Hartford Hospital, and Clinical Instructor at Capital Community College, Hartford, CT.
authors.forename: Hsinfen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tu
mesh_terms: D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy*; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000451:nursing*; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000458:organization & administration; D065816:Neuroscience Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D010360:Patient Transfer / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012308:Risk Management / Q000458:organization & administration*