Improving transport time for babies with antenatally diagnosed transposition of the great arteries reduces the need for ECMO.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of reducing retrieval team response time on the outcomes of babies born outside a cardiac centre (outborn) with antenatally diagnosed transposition of the great arteries. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study of all outborn babies with antenatally diagnosed TGA anticipated to require transfer for urgent balloon atrial septostomy over a 6-year period (15 babies pre intervention and 27 post intervention). The intervention involved a collaborative multicomponent practice change aiming to reduce retrieval team response time. RESULT: The mean (SD) time from birth to cardiac ICU arrival was 159 (12) min pre intervention and 103 (6) min post intervention (mean dif..