[Transportation of the critical newborn infant and child]

Advance in the science and technology of neonatal and pediatric critical care have resulted in improved outcome for high risk newborn and children. Effective interhospital transport programmes are necessary for the appropriate use of resources and has become an integral component of regionalized perinatal care. It is now well established that use of an organized neonatal and pediatric transport team results in a fall in mortality and morbidity of infant. The American College of Obstetrician and Gynecologist and, recently, American Academy of Pediatrics published guidelines and recommendations for safe interhospital transfer of neonates, infants and children. Training of personnel, selection of equipment, organization and communication between hospitals are critical elements of a successful transport system. We present an overview of the role, principles and operating procedures of such neonatal-pediatric transport team and the basis of clinical stabilization before and during transfer. We also discuss data of the first 17 month experience of the Neonatal-Pediatric Transport Service of the Department of Pediatrics, University of Padua.