Epidemiology of brief resolved unexplained events and impact of clinical practice guidelines in general and pediatric emergency departments.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to describe the incidence of brief resolved unexplained events (BRUEs) and compare the impact of a national clinical practice guideline (CPG) on admission and diagnostic testing practices between general and pediatric emergency departments (EDs). METHODS: Using the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample for 2012-2019, we conducted a cross-sectional study of children <1 year of age with an International Classification of Diseases diagnostic code for BRUE. Population incidence rate was estimated using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention birth data. ED incidence rate was estimated for all ED encounters. We used interrupted time series to evaluate the associated impact of the CPG publication on the outcomes of ED disposition (discharge, admission, and transfer) and electrocardiogram (ECG) use. RESULTS: Of 133,972 encounters for BRUE, 80.0% occurred in general EDs. BRUE population incidence was 4.28 per 1000 live births and the annual incidence remained stable (p = 0.19). BRUE ED incidence was 5.06 per 1000 infant ED encounters (p = 0.14). The impact of the BRUE CPG on admission rates was limited to pediatric EDs (level shift -23.3%, p = 0.002). Transfers from general EDs did not change with the CPG (level shift 2.2%, p = 0.17). After the CPG was published, ECGs increased by 13.7% in pediatric EDs (p = 0.005) but did not change in general EDs (level shift -0.2%, p = 0.82). CONCLUSIONS: BRUEs remain a common pediatric problem at a population level and in EDs. Although a disproportionate number of infants present to general EDs, there is differential uptake of the CPG recommendations between pediatric and general EDs. These findings may support quality improvement opportunities aimed at improving care for these infants and decreasing unnecessary hospital admissions or transfers.

Explanatory Diagnoses Following Hospitalization for a Brief Resolved Unexplained Event.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Most young infants presenting to the emergency department (ED) with a brief resolved unexplained event (BRUE) are hospitalized. We sought to determine the rate of explanatory diagnosis after hospitalization for a BRUE. METHODS: This was a multicenter retrospective cohort study of infants hospitalized with a BRUE after an ED visit between October 1, 2015, and September 30, 2018. We included infants without an explanatory diagnosis at admission. We determined the proportion of patients with an explanatory diagnosis at the time of hospital discharge and whether diagnostic testing, consultation, or observed events occurring during hospitalization were associated with identification of an explanatory diagnosis. RESULTS: Among 980 infants hospitalized after an ED visit for a BRUE without an explanatory diagnosis at admission, 363 (37.0%) had an explanatory diagnosis identified during hospitalization. In 805 (82.1%) infants, diagnostic testing, specialty consultations, and observed events did not contribute to an explanatory diagnosis, and, in 175 (17.9%) infants, they contributed to the explanatory diagnosis (7.0%, 10.0%, and 7.0%, respectively). A total of 15 infants had a serious diagnosis (4.1% of explanatory diagnoses; 1.5% of all infants hospitalized with a BRUE), the most common being seizure and infantile spasms, occurring in 4 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Most infants hospitalized with a BRUE did not receive an explanation during the hospitalization, and a majority of diagnoses were benign or self-limited conditions. More research is needed to identify which infants with a BRUE are most likely to benefit from hospitalization for determining the etiology of the event.

Pacientes con diagnóstico de "BRUE" atendidos en hospital pediátrico chileno. Aplicando nueva terminología / Patients with diagnosis of "Sids" treated in chilean pediatric hospital. Applying new terminology

La posible relación entre apneas durante la infancia temprana y Síndrome de Muerte Súbita del Lactante (SMSL) nunca ha sido demostrada, existiendo evidencias de que ambas condiciones podrían no estar relacionadas. La Academia Americana de Pediatría (AAP) define ALTE (Acute Life Threatening Event), como un evento brusco e inesperado que incluye manifestaciones de apnea junto con cambios de coloración cutánea y de tono muscular, donde el observador cree que el niño ha muerto. La AAP ha propuesto recientemente la sustitución del término ALTE por Brief Resolved Unexplained Events (BRUE). El nuevo concepto permite categorizar eventos breves, resueltos e inexplicados, para optimizar mejor el recurso en salud, a través de objetivar el evento y entregando estrategias de manejo categorizando el riesgo. Objetivo: Describir las características clínicas y letalidad de los pacientes menores de 12 meses que consultan por BRUE en un hospital de referencia. Materiales y métodos: Estudio transversal descriptivo con revisión de ficha de 46 pacientes de la Unidad de Lactantes y Nutrición del Hospital Dr. Luis Calvo Mackenna, con diagnóstico de BRUE, entre enero a diciembre de 2017. Resultados: Del total de pacientes con BRUE, 45% fueron hombres y 55% mujeres. La edad promedio fue de 1,37 + 0,51 meses. En 70% se demostró una etiología, de estas 31% con enfermedad por reflujo gastroesofágico (ERGE), siendo ésta la causa más frecuente seguida de un 19% con infecciones respiratorias agudas (IRA) y 9% causas neurológicas. En el 30% fueron causas idiopáticas. Conclusión: En nuestro estudio las causas más frecuentes de BRUE fueron ERGE e infecciones respiratorias. Durante el período de estudio ningún paciente estudiado falleció, por lo que no encontramos relación entre apneas del lactante y síndrome de muerte súbita.

The possible relationship between apneas during early childhood and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) has never been demonstrated, and there is evidence that the two conditions may not be related. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) defines ALTE (Acute Life Threatening Event), as an abrupt and unexpected event that includes manifestations of apnea along with changes in skin color and muscle tone, where the observer believes that the child has died. The AAP has recently proposed replacing the term ALTE with Brief Resolved Unexplained Events (BRUE). The new concept makes it possible to categorize brief, resolved and unexplained events, to better optimize the health resource, through objectifying the event and delivering management strategies by categorizing the risk. Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics and lethality of patients younger than 12 months who consult for BRUE in a referral hospital. Materials and methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study with revision of the file of 46 patients from the Infant and Nutrition Unit of the Dr. Luis Calvo Mackenna Hospital, with a diagnosis of BRUE, between January and December 2017. Results: Of the total number of patients with BRUE, 45% were men and 55% women. The average age was 1.37 + 0.51 months. An etiology was demonstrated in 70%, of these 31% with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), this being the most frequent cause, followed by 19% with acute respiratory infections (ARI) and 9% with neurological causes. In 30% they were idiopathic causes. Conclusion: In our study, the most frequent causes of BRUE were GERD and respiratory infections. During the study period, no patient studied died, so we found no relationship between apnea in the infant and sudden death syndrome.

Implementation of a paediatric early warning system as a complex health technology intervention.

The national implementation groups of early warning systems in the UK and Ireland have identified a need to understand implementation, adoption and maintenance of these complex interventions. The literature on how to implement, scale, spread and sustain these systems is sparse. We describe a successful adoption and maintenance over 10 years of a paediatric early warning system as a sociotechnical intervention using the Nonadoption, Abandonment, Challenges to the Scale-Up, Spread, and Sustainability Framework for Health and Care Technologies. The requirement for iterative processes within environment, culture, policy, human action and the wider system context may explain the possible reasons for improved outcomes in small-scale implementation and meta-analyses that are not reported in multicentre randomised control trials of early warning systems.

[Application of a new terminology "BRUE: Brief, resolved and unexplained events". Definitions and recommendations]. / Aplicación de una nueva terminología "BRUE: Eventos breves, resueltos e inexplicados". Definiciones y recomendaciones.

Three decades ago, the term Apparent Life-Threatening Events (ALTE) was proposed and was gra dually incorporated into the clinical approach of these patients, allowing to determine risks, attribute causes, and perform specific treatments. However, this led to studies and hospitalizations considered unnecessary in many cases, increasing health costs. For this reason, the concept of Brief Resolved Unexplained Events (BRUE) was created, in order to reduce the subjectivity of the event and focus a management strategy according to the risk determination. This article analyzes the differences bet ween ALTE and BRUE according to international and Chilean consensus, deepening the approach and incorporating relevant considerations for the daily clinical practice with infants who present a BRUE.

Aplicación de una nueva terminología "BRUE: Eventos breves, resueltos e inexplicados": definiciones y recomendaciones / Application of a new terminology "BRUE: Brief, resolved and unexplained events": definitions and recommendations

Resumen: Hace tres décadas se propuso el término Apparent Life-Threatening Events (ALTE), siendo incorpo rado paulatinamente en el enfrentamiento clínico de estos pacientes; permitiendo determinar riesgos, atribuir causas y realizar tratamientos específicos. Sin embargo, llevó a realizar estudios y hospitalizaciones en muchas instancias considerados innecesarios, generando un aumento de los costos sanitarios. Por estos motivos nace el concepto de Brief Resolved Unexplained Events (BRUE), que pretende disminuir la subjetividad del evento y focalizar una estrategia de manejo según determina ción del riesgo. En el siguiente artículo se analizan diferencias entre ALTE y BRUE según consensos internacionales y chilenos, profundizando en el enfrentamiento e incorporando consideraciones de relevancia para la práctica clínica cotidiana de lactantes que presentan un BRUE.

Abstract: Three decades ago, the term Apparent Life-Threatening Events (ALTE) was proposed and was gra dually incorporated into the clinical approach of these patients, allowing to determine risks, attribute causes, and perform specific treatments. However, this led to studies and hospitalizations considered unnecessary in many cases, increasing health costs. For this reason, the concept of Brief Resolved Unexplained Events (BRUE) was created, in order to reduce the subjectivity of the event and focus a management strategy according to the risk determination. This article analyzes the differences bet ween ALTE and BRUE according to international and Chilean consensus, deepening the approach and incorporating relevant considerations for the daily clinical practice with infants who present a BRUE.

Brief Resolved Unexplained Events: Analysis of an Apparent Life Threatening Event Database.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the proportion of patients previously diagnosed with apparent life-threatening events (ALTE) who would meet criteria for brief resolved unexplained events (BRUE) and to identify rates of adverse outcomes in subgroups: ALTE not meeting criteria for BRUE, lower-risk BRUE, and higher-risk ALTE. METHODS: We performed a secondary analysis of a single-center prospective registry of patients diagnosed with ALTE in a tertiary care emergency department from March 1, 1997 to October 31, 2007. We identified the proportion of patients meeting criteria for BRUE, and the proportion of patients with BRUE meeting lower-risk criteria. We assessed outcomes of patients in subgroups. RESULTS: Seven hundred and sixty-two patients were included. Adverse outcomes included recurrent ALTE (n = 49), aspiration (n = 9), trauma (n = 8), and death (n = 4). Three hundred and twenty-six of 762 (42.8%) met criteria for BRUE. Seventy of 326 (21.5%) met criteria for lower-risk BRUE. Adverse outcomes occurred in 40 of 436 (9.2%) with ALTE not meeting criteria for BRUE, 2 of 70 (2.9%) with lower-risk BRUE, and 23 of 256 (9.0%) with higher-risk BRUE. Of 4 patients who died, 1 had an ALTE not meeting criteria for BRUE and 3 had non-lower-risk BRUE. The BRUE risk criteria identified all BRUE patients that died or had substantial morbidity as higher-risk. CONCLUSIONS: Less than half of patients with ALTE meet criteria for BRUE. Of those who do, one-fifth is lower-risk. In this series, the risk-stratification in the BRUE criteria identified those patients at highest risk of adverse outcomes. Further research is required to risk-stratify patients with BRUE.

Effect of a standardized approach on infants hospitalized for apparent life threatening events / Efecto de un enfoque estandarizado para el manejo de lactantes hospitalizados por eventos aparentemente letales.

Introduction: An apparent life-threatening event (ALTE) is a frequent cause of hospitalization in infants. However, there is little evidence about the existence of a standardized approach to discover the main etiology, although a correct causal diagnosis can affect clinical evolution, hospital stay, and health resources. Objective: To determine the effects of a standardized diagnostic approach in infants admitted with ALTE. Materials and methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study with the data collected from clinical records of infants hospitalized for ALTE in the pediatric unit between 2002 and 2009. Two cohorts of patients were analyzed according to the procedures defined for these cases: Cohort 1 with clinical guidelines and cohort 2 with clinical guidelines, study protocol, and outpatient follow-up. Etiological causes, hospitalization periods and readmission rates were compared between both cohorts. Results: Of the 255 infants hospitalized for ALTE, 57.6% corresponded to cohort 1 and 42.3% to cohort 2. No differences were observed in age and gender between groups. The highest percentage of attributed causes (63.9 vs 87.0%; p<0.0001) and a shorter period of hospitalization (8.0 vs 5.0 days; p=0, 0001) were observed in cohort 2. No differences in hospital readmission were observed (10.5 vs 8.3 days; p=0.7435). Conclusions: The protocol-based approach for infants with EAL was associated with a higher percentage of recognition of attributed causes and a shorter hospitalization period. Therefore, our results allow recommending this type of standardization for the management of these patients.

Introducción. Los eventos aparentemente letales (Apparent Life-Threatening Event, ALTE) son causa frecuente de hospitalización en lactantes. Hay poca información sobre el enfoque estandarizado para establecer su etiología, a pesar de que un diagnóstico causal correcto puede afectar la evolución clínica, la duración de la hospitalización y los recursos sanitarios.Objetivo. Comparar los efectos del enfoque diagnóstico estandarizado en lactantes hospitalizados por este tipo de eventos.Materiales y métodos. Se hizo un estudio retrospectivo de cohorte con base en los datos recolectados de las historias clínicas de lactantes hospitalizados por esta causa en el servicio de pediatría entre el 2002 y el 2009. Se analizaron dos cohortes de pacientes agrupados según su manejo: la cohorte 1, con guías clínicas, y la cohorte 2, con guías clínicas, protocolo de estudio y seguimiento ambulatorio. Se compararon los grupos en cuanto a la etiología, el tiempo de hospitalización y la tasa de nuevas hospitalizaciones.Resultados. De los 255 lactantes hospitalizados por eventos aparentemente letales, el 57,6 % integró la cohorte 1 y, el 42,3 %, la cohorte 2. No se observaron diferencias en cuanto a la edad y el sexo. En la cohorte 2 se observó un mayor porcentaje de causas atribuidas (63,9 Vs. 87,0; p<0,0001), y un menor tiempo de hospitalización (8,0 Vs. 5,0 días; p=0,0001). No hubo diferencias en cuanto a nuevas hospitalizaciones (10,5 Vs. 8,3 días; p=0,7435).Conclusiones. El enfoque del manejo de lactantes afectados por eventos aparente letales basado en protocolos, se asoció con un mayor porcentaje de reconocimiento de las causas atribuidas y con un menor período de hospitalización. A partir de estos resultados es posible sugerir la implementación de este tipo de estandarización para el manejo de dichos pacientes.

[The role of complementary examinations and home monitoring in patient at risk from apparent life threatening event, apneas and sudden infant death syndrome]. / Papel de las exploraciones complementarias y de la monitorización domiciliaria en los pacientes de riesgo de episodio aparentemente letal, apneas y síndrome de muerte súbita del lactante.

INTRODUCTION: Home apnea monitors detect abnormalities in cardiac and respiratory frequency, but their use in the diagnosis of respiratory -related sleep disturbances in children has not been demonstrated, as was originally thought. OBJECTIVE: To describe the type of patients being monitored, for how long and their outcome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted on patients with controlled home cardiorespiratory monitoring from October 2008 to September 2012 in the Outpatient department of a Maternity tertiary hospital. RESULTS: During the study period 88 patients were included, 58% of them were male, with a median age of 15.5 days, and followed up for a period of 4.7 months. The reason for monitoring was in a 20.5% due to a history of sudden death without finding underlying pathology in 20.5%, 25% due to apnea of prematurity, 20.5% due to apparent life-threatening event, and 14.8% due to choking. Other causes accounted for 19.3% (apnea/hypopnea, desaturation and periodic breathing). Of these last three groups, pathological events were observed in 50% of them: reflux disease (9), apnea of prematurity (2), neurological causes (3), and apnea of unknown cause (10). CONCLUSIONS: Suspected infant apnea is a cause for consultation that creates a great deal of concern to the family and the pediatrician. Home monitoring is useful in detecting changes in cardiac and respiratory frequency, but is necessary to limit its indications and ensure proper monitoring of these patients, avoiding the abuse of other tests or treatments.

Pediatric emergencies admitted in the resuscitation room of a Swiss university hospital.

OBJECTIVES: Pediatric resuscitation is an intense, stressful, and challenging process. The aim of this study was to review the life-threatening pediatric (LTP) emergencies admitted in a Swiss university hospital with regards to patients' demographics, reason for admission, diagnosis, treatment, significant events, critical incidents, and outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective observational cohort study of prospectively collected data was conducted, including all LTP emergencies admitted over a period of 2 years in the resuscitation room (RR). Variables, including indication for transfer, mode of prehospital transportation, diagnosis, and time spent in RR, were recorded. RESULTS: Of the 60,939 pediatric emergencies treated in our university hospital over 2 years, a total of 277 LTP emergencies (0.46%) were admitted in the RR. They included 160 boys and 117 girls, aged 6 days to 15.95 years (mean, 6.69 years; median, 5.06). A medical problem was identified in 55.9% (n = 155) of the children. Of the 122 children treated for a surgical problem, 35 (28.3%) went directly from the RR to the operating room. Hemodynamic instability was noted in 19.5% of all LTP emergencies, of which 1.1% benefited from O negative transfusion. Admission to the intensive care unit was necessary for 61.6% of the children transferred from another hospital. The average time spent in the RR was 46 minutes. The overall mortality rate was 7.2%. CONCLUSIONS: The LTP emergencies accounted for a small proportion of all pediatric emergencies. They were more medical than surgical cases and resuscitation measures because of hemodynamic instability were the most frequent treatment.

Esophageal multichannel intraluminal impedance and pH testing in the study of apparent life threatening episode incidents in infants.

INTRODUCTION: The conventional 24-hour pH monitoring is the gold standard for the diagnosis of gastro-esophageal reflux (GER), a possible cause of Apparent Life Threatening Episodes (ALTE). However, multichannel intraluminal impedance (MII) may provide advantages. OBJECTIVES: Comparison of the results of MII and pH monitoring in patients undergoing MII-pH monitoring in the 3-year study period because of having suffered from ALTE. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective study of MII-pH monitoring performed in our unit to infants < 12 months of ageadmitted for ALTE for a 3-year period. RESULTS: Thirty nine patients studied. 2,692 pH monitoring episodes, with median of 24 (IQ: 15-44) episodes/patient, 1.30 (IQ: 0.80-2.60) reflux/hour, 1 (IQ: 0-4) reflux episode > 5 min per patient and clearance of 1.20 (IQ: 0.70-2.20) min/reflux. With pH monitoring analysis, 14 children (35.9 %) could have been diagnosed as GER (8 mild, 4 moderate and 2 severe) based on the classical criteria. MII identified a total of 8,895 events; only 3,219 among them were refluxes, with a median of 75 (IQ: 54-111) per patient, 1.30 (IQ: 1.3-2.6) episodes/hour). With MII-pH monitoring combination there were 21.60 (SD 15.21) acid reflux episodes, 67.33 weekly acid (SD 32.09) and 3.34 (SD 7.23) non-acid, being finally diagnosed 33 patients as GER. CONCLUSIONS: The association of pH monitoring and MII provides additional information that improves GER diagnostic performance without posing any additional risk to the infant patient. The non-acid/weekly acid refluxes, not detected by pH monitoring, account for a high percentage of episodes, this may have diagnostic and therapeutic significance, especially in infants. Further studies are needed to assess the normality of MMI in pediatric patients.

Consenso sobre el manejo de eventos de aparente amenaza a la vida del lactante (ALTE): comisión de sueño, sociedad chilena de neumología pediátrica 2013 / Consensus on evaluation and management of apparent life-threatening events in infancy (ALTE)

Un Evento de Aparente Amenaza de la Vida o ALTE (del inglés: Apparent Life Threatening Event) corresponde a un episodio agudo que ante los ojos del observador pone en riesgo la vida de un lactante menor de 1 año. Debe presentar la combinación de 2 o más de los criterios siguientes: apnea / cambio de color / alteración del tono / atoro e implicar la necesidad de algún tipo de maniobras para reanimar. En el presente consenso sobre el manejo de un ALTE se revisaron la evidencia internacional y nacional respecto al enfoque diagnóstico, estudio etiológico, criterios y duración de hospitalización y las indicaciones de monitorización domiciliaria.

Apparent life threatening events are defined as an acute episode in which the observer fears an infant < 1 year may die. ALTE is characterized by some combination of apnea, color or muscle tone change, chocking and has to be followed by cardiorespiratory reanimation. The present consensus paper reviews international and national evidence concerning diagnosis, etiologies, hospitalization criteria and indications for home monitoring.

Caracterización actualizada del síndrome de ALTE / Upadated characterization of ALTE syndrome

El ALTE no es una enfermedad específica en sí misma, sino una forma de presentación clínica de diversas enfermedades, su incidencia se estima en 6 por 1 000 en aquellos lactantes nacidos a término, y asciende a un 86 por 1 000 en los nacidos pretérmino. Su etiología es multifactorial, el diagnóstico es difícil y precisa de experiencia, y la conducta depende de las causas que lo originen. Esta afección poco reconocida en la práctica médica actual, genera una enorme ansiedad en la familia, y constituye un desafío en cuanto al diagnóstico, manejo y consejos por parte del pediatra

Apparent life-threatening event (ALTE) is not a specific disease, rather a form of clinical presentation of several diseases. Its incidence rate is estimated to be 6 per 1000 in the term infants and 86 per 1000 in preterm infants. The etiology of the event is multifactoral, the diagnosis is difficult and requires experience, and the behavior to be adopted depends on the causes that bring it about. This poorly recognized illness in the present medical practice gives rise to a lot of anxiety for the family and represents a true challenge in terms of diagnosis, management and counseling by the pediatrician