TABLE 1.

Literature Review: Pediatric Palliative Critical Care Transports from Intensive Care Unit to Home for Terminal Extubation

Authors, Year of Publication	Study Design	Study Population	Transport Logistics	Mechanical Ventilation During Transport	Hemodynamic Support During Transport	Transfer Destination	Outcome	Comments
Hawdon et al, 1994 (6)	Case series	3 neonates, NICU, Great Britain	Air transports; staff nurse +/− physician	Yes (2 of 3)	No	Home	2 of 3 died after terminal extubation	Stability as transfer prerequisite
Laddie et al, 2014 (7)	Retrospective cohort	15 children, PICU (11), NICU (4), Great Britain (2003–2012)	Ground transports; 2 ICU staff members (physician + nurse, or 2 nurses)	Yes	Yes (some)	Home (5) Hospice (8) Other (2)	All died after terminal extubation within 5 days	Practice guidelines: 5 phases of extubation outside the ICU setting
Longden and Mayer, 2007 (8)	Case series	4 children, PICU, Great Britain (12 months)	Ground transports; 2 ICU staff members (physician + nurse)	Yes	Yes (2 of 4)	Home (2) Hospice (1) Adult hospital (1)	All died soon after terminal extubation	PICU booklet with relevant information for parents
Needle, 2010 (9)	Case report	1 infant, PICU, US	250 mile medical transport; RT and physician	Yes	No	Home	Died after terminal extubation	Home extubation by PICU staff
Nelson et al, 2015 (10)	Case series	10 children, PICU, US (2005–2013)	Ground transports	Yes (5 of 10)	Unknown	Home (9) Hospice (1)	6 (60%) died soon after transfer, 4 (40%) survived for 4–40 days	All parents recommended palliative transports during open-ended interviews
Zwerdling et al, 2006 (11)	Case report	1 infant, PICU, US	Pediatric critical care ground transport	Yes	No	Home	Died after terminal extubation	24 hour waiting time before home discharge

Abbreviations: ICU, intensive care unit; NICU, neonatal intensive care unit; PICU, pediatric intensive care unit; RT, respiratory therapist