RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: The northern French Alps emergency network (RENAU) manages emergent care and patient treatment pathways in a three-county area in the French Alps. The aim of the study was to describe the pediatric activity in mobile intensive care units (MICUs). METHOD: This retrospective observational study was conducted from 1 January to 31 December 2012. Data were obtained from patients' medical records in seven representative MICUs of the RENAU. Consecutive patients between 1 month and 18 years of age were enrolled. RESULTS: During the study period, MICUs carried out 11,951 primary transports and 3087 secondary transfers. A total of 1325 patients were enrolled: 1087 primary transports and 238 secondary transfers. In primary interventions, 531 (48.9%) patients were managed for a trauma, 118 (11%) children were discharged and stayed home, 427 (39.9%) underwent an intravenous cannulation and 27 (2.5%) on-scene intubation. A pediatrician was in charge of 64 (26.9%) secondary transfers. Among 1649 (18%) mountain rescues, 296 (18.7%) involved a child. CONCLUSION: Emergency physicians in MICUs are involved with children's prehospital care and need dedicated materiel and special training.
