Inter-ICU Transfer of Patients with Acute Respiratory Failure-A Scoping Review

Abstract

Rationale:Inter-ICU transfer of critically ill Acute Respiratory Failure Patients (ARF) are increasingly common in the current landscape of critical care delivery, especially highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. A major driver for inter-ICU transfer of ARF patients is the increasing evidence base that suggests that mortality and morbidity are reduced by receiving care at high-resource hospitals. However, no uniform guidance exists to help clinicians decide who, why, when, or where ICU patients with ARF should be transferred. Unfortunately, due to the lack of current guidance, each interface has opportunities for both implicit and explicit bias to influence decision-making and care. We conduct this scoping review to ask these questions that have been un answered in a comprehensive review the what, who, why, when and where of ARF patient transfers between intensive care units.

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