Dr Charlotte Harper1, Dr Natasha Ghandi1, Dr Brent McSharry1
1PICU & Paediatric Retrieval Service, Starship Children’s Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused substantial disruption internationally to hospital & transport services. The purpose of this study was to quantify the impact on the National Paediatric Intensive Care Retrieval service in New Zealand in order to guide staffing and resources during the ongoing pandemic.
Methods: This was a retrospective review of data comparing paediatric intensive care retrievals prior to the pandemic (June 2018 to January 2020 = pre-pandemic) and during the Covid-19 pandemic (February 2020 to December 2021 = pandemic). A total of 766 patient retrieval episodes were analysed using an online database. Data analysed included diagnostic categories, distance travelled, age of patient, duration of retrieval, monthly number of retrievals and transport modality.
Results: The total number of retrievals in the pandemic was 361 (15.7 per month) compared to 405 (20.2 per month) pre-pandemic. Prior to the pandemic 39% of retrievals were by fixed wing; 30.6 % rotary and 29.8% road transfers. During the pandemic 45.9 % were fixed wing; 26.3% rotary and 26.8% road transfers. Comparing diagnostic categories: prior to the pandemic 8.6% of retrievals were cardiac; 15.5% neurological, 5.6% were trauma, 43.2% were respiratory. During the pandemic 13.2% of retrievals were cardiac; 14.4% neurological, 10.5% trauma, 29.0% respiratory. Pre-pandemic compared to during the pandemic: average age of patient was 2.66 years versus 3.22 years and mean distance travelled was 39.2km versus 45.98km.
Conclusions:
Overall the number of paediatric retrievals have reduced during the Covid-19 pandemic as a result of international, national and regional lockdowns. Patterns of paediatric illness have changed during the Covid-19 pandemic and awareness of this can help guide staffing and resources for paediatric retrieval during the ongoing pandemic.
Biography:
Charlotte Harper is a Paediatric Emergency Specialist trained in the UK currently working in the Children’s Emergency Department at Starship Children’s Hospital. She has worked in the Starship PICU and retrieval service in 2021.
Natasha Ghandi is a senior registrar in the PICU at Starship Children’s Hospital