It is currently the Angel transport team’s policy to electively intubate any baby who will be receiving a continuous infusion of prostaglandin E1 (prostin) during transport. This policy is a precaution given the increased risk of apnea with the initiation of prostin and the increased difficulty/risks of emergent intubation while en route.

If a baby with congenital heart disease has been receiving prostin at an outside institution without complications and is transported by the referring institution’s transport team (i.e. Med Center Air arranged by another Level III NICU), the referring institution may decide to transport without elective intubation.

Outside hospitals should obtain 1-2 vials of Prostins for emergent use.  Once the VCH transport team arrives, our team may replace the outside institution’s stock with Prostins obtained by the VCH pharmacy.  It is essential that the VCH transport team provide pharmacy a name, MR upon their return to VCH in order to charge the patient for the Prostins used to replace the outside facility’s stock.