Silent Storm: When the Flu Turns Fatal

This lecture is based on a case review about a 4 year old patient who was diagnosed with Influenza A but quickly deteriorated once she starting having significant neurological changes. There will be twists and turns shining light on what was actually (or suspected) going on inside her brain and how it quickly turned fatal. A review of the pathophysiology of influenza A-related encephalitis and cerebral edema with transport considerations and challenges in this case will be discussed, as well as key take aways for the critical care transport team caring for the pediatric patient. The importance of quick and pertinent interventions is crucial while transporting the patient to a pediatric hospital as quickly and safely as possible, along with the dramatic changes that were witnessed before our eyes during the transport. And ask: when is the best time to obtain imaging?
We will talk about the moral distress that these critically ill patients can cause for providers, even though they are with the patient for such a short time. We can also discuss how to navigate the distress from difficult transports that result in undesirable outcomes.