Table 2.

The 16 case vignettes. Basic structure of each case vignette: patient admitted to ICU after initial presentation in the emergency department with severe sepsis (probably pneumococcal), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II of 18, mean arterial pressure of 70 mmHg after adequate fluid-resuscitation, endotracheally intubated and mechanically ventilated with 50% FIO₂ and after 6 h in the ICU need for interhospital transport [VT, ventricular tachycardia (self terminating); MICU, mobile ICU]

	Patients characteristics					Transport conditions
	Age (years)	paO2 (kPa)	PEEP (cmH2O)	Noradrenaline (μg/kg per minute)	Arrhythmia	Equipment	Escorting personnel	Indication for transport
1	30	16.5	18	0.12	VT < 24 h	MICU trolley	IC nurse	Lack of ICU beds
2	30	16.5	8	0.12	None	Basic ambulance	IC physician and IC nurse	Intervention elsewhere
3	30	16.5	18	0.6	None	Basic ambulance	Paramedic	Lack of ICU beds
4	30	7.5	8	0.6	None	Basic ambulance	IC physician	Lack of ICU beds
5	30	7.5	8	0.12	VT < 24 h	MICU trolley	IC physician and IC nurse	Lack of ICU beds
6	80	7.5	8	0.6	VT < 24 h	Basic ambulance	IC nurse	Intervention elsewhere
7	80	16.5	8	0.12	VT < 24 h	Basic ambulance	Paramedic	Lack of ICU beds
8	60	7.5	8	0.12	none	MICU trolley	Paramedic	Intervention elsewhere
9	30	7.5	18	0.12	none	Basic ambulance	IC nurse	Intervention elsewhere
10	30	7.5	18	0.60	VT < 24 h	MICU trolley	Paramedic	Intervention elsewhere
11	30	16.5	8	0.60	VT < 24 h	MICU trolley	IC physician	Intervention elsewhere
12	60	16.5	18	0.60	VT < 24 h	Basic ambulance	IC physician and IC nurse	Intervention elsewhere
13	80	16.5	18	0.12	none	MICU trolley	IC physician	Intervention elsewhere
14	60	7.5	18	0.12	VT < 24 h	Basic ambulance	IC physician	Lack of ICU beds
15	60	16.5	8	0.60	none	MICU trolley	IC nurse	Lack of ICU beds
16	80	7.5	18	0.60	none	MICU trolley	IC physician and IC nurse	Lack of ICU beds