[Efficacy, safety and satisfaction of sedation-analgesia in Spanish emergency departments]. / Eficacia, seguridad y satisfacción de los procedimientos de sedoanalgesia en las urgencias españolas.

OBJECTIVES: To offer analgesia and sedation should be a priority in paediatric emergency departments. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness and safety of the sedation-analgesia procedure, as well as the satisfaction of the doctors, patients and parents. METHODS: A multicentre, observational, and prospective analytical study was conducted on the sedation-analgesia procedure performed on children younger than 18 years old in 18 paediatric emergency departments in Spain from February 2015 until January 2016. RESULTS: A total of 658 procedures were recorded. The effectiveness was good in 483 cases (76.1%; 95%CI: 72.7-79.4%), partial in 138 (21.7%; 95%CI: 18.5-24.9%), and poor in 14 (2.2%; 95%CI: 1.1-3.4). The effectiveness was better when the doctor in charge was an emergency paediatrician (OR: 3.14; 95%CI: 1.10-8.95), and when a deeper level of sedation was achieved (OR: 2.37; 95%CI: 1.68-3.35). Fifty two children (8.4%) developed adverse drug reactions, more usually gastrointestinal, neurological or respiratory ones (89.9% were resolved in <2h). One patient was intubated. The older child and a deeper level of sedation were found to be independent risk factors for adverse reactions (OR: 1.18; 95%CI: 1.09-1.28 and OR: 1.86; 95%CI: 1.22-2.83, respectively). Thirteen children (5%) developed late adverse drug reactions, more commonly, dizziness and nauseas. A combination of midazolam/ketamine had been used in all the cases (RR: 24.46; 95%CI: 11.78-50.76). The perceived satisfaction level (0-10) was obtained from 604 doctors (mean: 8.54; SD: 1.95), 526 parents (mean: 8.86; SD: 1.49), and 402 children (mean: 8.78; SD: 1.70). CONCLUSIONS: The sedation-analgesia procedure performed in paediatric emergency departments by trained paediatricians seems to be useful, effective and safe, as well as satisfactory for all participants.

Assessment of proadrenomedullin as diagnostic or prognostic biomarker of acute appendicitis in children with acute abdominal pain.

BACKGROUND: Acute appendicitis (AA) is one of the most frequent surgical pathologies in pediatrics. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the utility of proadrenomedullin (pro-ADM) for the diagnosis of AA. METHODS: Prospective, analytical, observational, and multicenter study conducted in 6 pediatric emergency departments. Children up to 18 years of age with suspected AA were included. Clinical, epidemiological, and analytical data were collected. RESULTS: We studied 285 children with an average age of 9.5 years (95% confidence interval [CI], 9.1-9.9). AA was diagnosed in 103 children (36.1%), with complications in 10 of them (9.7%). The mean concentration of pro-ADM (nmol/L) was higher in children with AA (0.51 nmol/L, SD 0.16) than in children with acute abdominal pain (AAP) of another etiology (0.44 nmol/L, SD 0.14; p < 0.001). This difference was greater in complicated cases compared with uncomplicated AA (0.64 nmol/L, SD 0.17 and 0.50 nmol/L, SD 0.15, respectively; p = 0.005). The areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curves were 0.66 (95% CI, 0.59-0.72) for pro-ADM, 0.70 (95% CI, 0.63-0.76) for C-reactive protein (CRP), 0.84 (95% CI, 0.79-0.89) for neutrophils, and 0.84 (95% CI, 0.79-0.89) for total leukocytes. The most reliable combination to rule out AA was CRP ≤1.25 mg/dL and pro-ADM ≤0.35 nmol/L with a sensitivity of 96% and a negative predictive value of 93%. CONCLUSION: Children with AA presented higher pro-ADM values than children with AAP of other etiologies, especially in cases of complicated AA. The combination of low values of pro-ADM and CRP can help to select children with low risk of AA.

The Knowledge of and Attitudes Toward First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Among Parents.

PURPOSE: To determine the level of knowledge of first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) among the parents of children who attended our Pediatric Emergency Department and to identify the factors that affect this knowledge. DESIGN AND METHODS: Descriptive, transversal study. A questionnaire was distributed anonymously among parents to collect data about their previous CPR training, knowledge and experience. RESULTS: A total 405 valid questionnaires were returned. The mean age of the sample was 38.08 (SD 7.1) years, and 66.9% of participants were female. The mean score of correctly answered questions was 6.76 out of 19 questions. Parents with a university education received a mean score of 7.16 versus 6.24 for those with a primary education (p = 0.022). Parents with previous training received a higher mean score (8.04 vs 6.17, respectively, p < 0.01). Parents with jobs related to healthcare or education received a higher mean score compared to those who did not (8.63, p < 0.01 and 7.16, p = 0.0013, respectively). No significant differences among parents with chronically ill children (p = 0.76) or related to the number of children (ρ = -0.101) were observed. Furthermore, 77.3% of parents expressed an interest in receiving further training. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of first aid among the general population is lacking. Parents with previous training in this field, those with a university-level education, and those who are healthcare providers and educational professionals received significantly higher scores. PRACTIC IMPLICATIONS: Studies based on surveys can be useful in estimating a population's knowledge base, allowing the development of community-based training activities.

Evaluación del manejo del dolor de la patología facial y oral en un Servicio de Urgencias Pediátrico y tras el alta domiciliaria / Assessment of orofacial pain management in a pediatric emergency department and at home after discharge

Introducción. El manejo inadecuado del dolor es frecuente en Urgencias. El objetivo fue analizar el manejo del dolor de niños con patología infecciosa o traumática del área facial/oral en Urgencias y evaluar el cumplimiento y satisfacción sobre la analgesia prescrita al momento del alta. Población y métodos. Estudio transversal, observacional y analítico en niños que acudieron a Urgencias con patología infecciosa/traumática de la región facial/oral durante 2 meses. Se recogieron el manejo del dolor en Urgencias, la analgesia prescrita para el domicilio y, tras el contacto telefónico con los padres, el tratamiento realizado y su adecuación al dolor del niño. Resultados. Fueron incluidos 252 pacientes (edad media de 4,5 años, desvío estándar 3,89). En 8,7%, figuraba la evaluación del dolor en triaje y, en 3,6%, en el informe médico. Se administró analgesia en Urgencias al 41,3%. Al momento del alta, en un 13,9%, no se prescribió analgesia; en 25,4%, se prescribió pautada y, en 60,3%, a demanda. Los pediatras usaron más analgesia pautada que los cirujanos (34,4% vs. 16,5%, p < 0,01). En el domicilio, no administraron analgesia en el 39,3%; en un 36,1%, pautada y, en un 23%, a demanda. Existió escasa correlación entre la pauta al momento del alta y la administrada en el domicilio (kappa: 0,178). Se consideró la analgesia adecuada en el 84%, con más frecuencia en patología traumática que infecciosa (85,7% vs. 14,3%, p < 0,01). Conclusiones. Se observó escasa evaluación y tratamiento del dolor en Urgencias. La prescripción más usada fue a demanda en vez de pautada, al contrario de lo recomendado en las guías. El control analgésico fue mejor en patología traumática que infecciosa.

Introduction. An inadequate pain management is common in the emergency department. Our objective was to analyze pain management among children with an orofacial infection or trauma in the emergency department and to assess compliance and satisfaction with analgesia prescribed at discharge. Population and methods. Cross-sectional, observational and analytical study in children attending the emergency department for an orofacial infection or trauma over 2 months. Pain management in the emergency department, analgesia prescribed at home and, following a call to parents, treatment provided and its adequacy to control pain were registered. Results. In total, 252patients (mean age: 4.5 years, SD: 3.89) were included. Pain assessment was recorded at the triage for 8.7%, and in the medical report, for 3.6%. Analgesia was administered to 41.3% in the emergency room. At discharge, no analgesia was prescribed to 13.9%; scheduled analgesia, to 25.4%; and as needed, to 60.3%. Pediatricians prescribed scheduled analgesia more frequently than surgeons (34.4% versus 16.5%, p < 0.01). At home, no analgesia was administered to 39.3%; scheduled analgesia, to 36.1%; and as needed, to 23%. There is little correlation between prescription at discharge and at home (Kappa: 0.178). Analgesia was considered adequate in 84% of cases, and was more frequent in trauma injuries than in infections (85.7% versus 14.3%, p < 0.01). Conclusions. Pain assessment and management was scarce in the emergency department. The most common prescription was as needed, contrary to what is recommended in the guidelines. Analgesic control worked better for trauma injuries than for infections.

Hemangioma mamario en una lactante con aparente mastitis: Caso clínico / Mammary hemangioma in an infant with apparent mastitis: Case report

La patología mamaria en pediatría es infrecuente. El hallazgo de una masa a nivel mamario en un lactante es una situación poco común. Los posibles diagnósticos a esta edad son absceso mamario, mastitis, ingurgitación mamaria por estimulación hormonal materna y hemangioma. Es importante llegar al diagnóstico adecuado para emplear un tratamiento acorde y evitar la aparición de complicaciones de dichas patologías. Se presenta un caso de una lactante con una masa en la mama derecha detectada desde el nacimiento. Inicialmente, se trató como una mastitis, pero dada la mala evolución, se plantearon diagnósticos diferenciales y se concluyó que se trataba de un hemangioma. Debido a la ulceración de la lesión, junto con el riesgo existente de desarrollar hipoplasia mamaria, se decidió iniciar tratamiento con propanolol, con resolución casi completa de la tumoración.

Mammary pathology is infrequent during childhood. It is rare the probability of finding a breast mass in an infant. The most frequent possible diagnoses at this age are breast abscess, mastitis, breast engorgement due to maternal hormonal stimulation and hemangioma. Reaching the proper diagnosis is essential in order to apply a suitable treatment and avoid the potential disease complications. We present the case of a female infant having a mass in the right breast from birth. Initially the entity was treated as mastitis. Nevertheless, the bad evolution made necessary considering the differential diagnosis. It was concluded to be a hemangioma. Due to the lesion ulceration and the potential risk of developing breast hypoplasia, treatment with propranolol was started. The tumor was almost completely resolved.

Assessment of orofacial pain management in a pediatric emergency department and at home after discharge. / Evaluación del manejo del dolor de la patología facial y oral en un Servicio de Urgencias Pediátrico y tras el alta domiciliaria.

INTRODUCTION: An inadequate pain management is common in the emergency department. Our objective was to analyze pain management among children with an orofacial infection or trauma in the emergency department and to assess compliance and satisfaction with analgesia prescribed at discharge. POPULATION AND METHODS: Cross-sectional, observational and analytical study in children attending the emergency department for an orofacial infection or trauma over 2 months. Pain management in the emergency department, analgesia prescribed at home and, following a call to parents, treatment provided and its adequacy to control pain were registered. RESULTS: In total, 252patients (mean age: 4.5 years, SD: 3.89) were included. Pain assessment was recorded at the triage for 8.7%, and in the medical report, for 3.6%. Analgesia was administered to 41.3% in the emergency room. At discharge, no analgesia was prescribed to 13.9%; scheduled analgesia, to 25.4%; and as needed, to 60.3%. Pediatricians prescribed scheduled analgesia more frequently than surgeons (34.4% versus 16.5%, p < 0.01). At home, no analgesia was administered to 39.3%; scheduled analgesia, to 36.1%; and as needed, to 23%. There is little correlation between prescription at discharge and at home (Kappa: 0.178). Analgesia was considered adequate in 84% of cases, and was more frequent in trauma injuries than in infections (85.7% versus 14.3%, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Pain assessment and management was scarce in the emergency department. The most common prescription was as needed, contrary to what is recommended in the guidelines. Analgesic control worked better for trauma injuries than for infections.

INTRODUCCIÓN: El manejo inadecuado del dolor es frecuente en Urgencias. El objetivo fue analizar el manejo del dolor de niños con patología infecciosa o traumática del área facial/oral en Urgencias y evaluar el cumplimiento y satisfacción sobre la analgesia prescrita al momento del alta. POBLACIÓN Y MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal, observacional y analítico en niños que acudieron a Urgencias con patología infecciosa/traumática de la región facial/oral durante 2 meses. Se recogieron el manejo del dolor en Urgencias, la analgesia prescrita para el domicilio y, tras el contacto telefónico con los padres, el tratamiento realizado y su adecuación al dolor del niño. RESULTADOS: Fueron incluidos 252 pacientes (edad media de 4,5 años, desvío estándar 3,89). En 8,7%, figuraba la evaluación del dolor en triaje y, en 3,6%, en el informe médico. Se administró analgesia en Urgencias al 41,3%. Al momento del alta, en un 13,9%, no se prescribió analgesia; en 25,4%, se prescribió pautada y, en 60,3%, a demanda. Los pediatras usaron más analgesia pautada que los cirujanos (34,4% vs. 16,5%, p < 0,01). En el domicilio, no administraron analgesia en el 39,3%; en un 36,1%, pautada y, en un 23%, a demanda. Existió escasa correlación entre la pauta al momento del alta y la administrada en el domicilio (kappa: 0,178). Se consideró la analgesia adecuada en el 84%, con más frecuencia en patología traumática que infecciosa (85,7% vs. 14,3%, p < 0,01). CONCLUSIONES: Se observó escasa evaluación y tratamiento del dolor en Urgencias. La prescripción más usada fue a demanda en vez de pautada, al contrario de lo recomendado en las guías. El control analgésico fue mejor en patología traumática que infecciosa.

[Mammary hemangioma in an infant with apparent mastitis. Case report]. / Hemangioma mamario en una lactante con aparente mastitis. Caso clínico.

Mammary pathology is infrequent during childhood. It is rare the probability of finding a breast mass in an infant. The most frequent possible diagnoses at this age are breast abscess, mastitis, breast engorgement due to maternal hormonal stimulation and hemangioma. Reaching the proper diagnosis is essential in order to apply a suitable treatment and avoid the potential disease complications. We present the case of a female infant having a mass in the right breast from birth. Initially the entity was treated as mastitis. Nevertheless, the bad evolution made necessary considering the differential diagnosis. It was concluded to be a hemangioma. Due to the lesion ulceration and the potential risk of developing breast hypoplasia, treatment with propranolol was started. The tumor was almost completely resolved.

La patología mamaria en pediatría es infrecuente. El hallazgo de una masa a nivel mamario en un lactante es una situación poco común. Los posibles diagnósticos a esta edad son absceso mamario, mastitis, ingurgitación mamaria por estimulación hormonal materna y hemangioma. Es importante llegar al diagnóstico adecuado para emplear un tratamiento acorde y evitar la aparición de complicaciones de dichas patologías. Se presenta un caso de una lactante con una masa en la mama derecha detectada desde el nacimiento. Inicialmente, se trató como una mastitis, pero dada la mala evolución, se plantearon diagnósticos diferenciales y se concluyó que se trataba de un hemangioma. Debido a la ulceración de la lesión, junto con el riesgo existente de desarrollar hipoplasia mamaria, se decidió iniciar tratamiento con propanolol, con resolución casi completa de la tumoración.

[Preparation of sedation-analgesia procedures in spanish paediatric emergency departments: A descriptive study]. / Preparación de los procedimientos de sedoanalgesia en los servicios de urgencias pediátricos españoles: estudio descriptivo.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to describe the current practice regarding the preparation of the sedation-analgesia (SA) procedures performed in the paediatric emergency centres in Spain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A multicentre, observational and prospective analytical study was carried out on the SA procedures that were performed on children under 18 years-old in 18 paediatric emergency departments between February 2015 and January 2016. RESULTS: A total of 658 SA procedures were registered in 18 hospitals of Spain, most of them to children older than 24 months. The type of the procedure was: simple analgesia in 57 (8.6%), sedation in 44 (6.7%), SA for a not very painful procedure in 275 (41.8%), and SA for a very painful procedure in 282 (42.9%). Informed consent was requested in 98.6% of the cases. The written form was more frequently preferred in the group of patients that received SA for a very painful procedure (76.6%) in comparison to a painful procedure or to simple analgesia (62.9% and 54.4%, respectively, P<.001). The staff that most frequently performed the SA procedures were the paediatricians of the emergency departments (64.3%), followed by Paediatrics Residents (30.7%). The most frequent reasons for the SA were traumatological (35.9%) and surgical (28.4%). Fasting was observed in 81% of the cases. More than two-thirds (67.3%, n=480) children were monitored, the majority (95.8%) of them using pulse oximetry. The pharmacological strategy used was the administration of one drug in 443 (67.3%) of the cases, mostly nitrous oxide, and a combination of drugs in 215 (32.7%), especially midazolam/ketamine (46.9%). CONCLUSION: The majority of the SA procedures analysed in this study have been carried out correctly and prepared in accordance with the current guidelines.

Evaluation and Impact of the "Advanced Pediatric Life Support" Course in the Care of Pediatric Emergencies in Spain.

INTRODUCTION: The Advanced Pediatric Life Support (APLS) course was introduced in the training of professionals who care for pediatric emergencies in Spain in 2005. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the impact of the APLS course in the current clinical practice in Spanish PEDs. METHODS: The directors of APLS courses were asked about information regarding the courses given to date, especially on the results of the satisfaction survey completed by students at the end of the course. Furthermore, in December 2014, a survey was conducted through Google Drive, specifically asking APLS students about the usefulness of the APLS course in their current clinical practice. RESULTS: In the last 10 years since the APLS course was introduced in Spain, there have been 40 courses in 6 different venues. They involved a total of 1520 students, of whom 958 (63.0%) felt that the course was very useful for daily clinical practice. The survey was sent to 1,200 students and answered by 402 (33.5%). The respondent group most represented was pediatricians, 223 (55.5%), of whom 61 (27.3%) were pediatric emergency physicians, followed by pediatric residents, 122 (30.3%). One hundred three (25.6%) respondents had more than 10 years of professional practice and 291 (72.4%) had completed the course in the preceding four years. Three hundred forty-one of the respondents (84.9%: 95% confidence interval [CI], 81.9-87.9) said that they always use the pediatric assessment triangle (PAT) and 131 (32.6%: 95% CI, 28-37.1) reported that their organization has introduced this tool into their protocols. Two hundred twenty-three (55.5%: 95% CI, 50.6-60.3) believed that management of critically ill patients has improved, 328 (81.6%: 95% CI, 77.8-85.3) said that the PAT and the systematic approach, ABCDE, help to establish a diagnosis, and 315 (78.4%: 95% CI, 74.3-82.4) reported that the overall number of treatments has increased but that these treatments are beneficial for patients. Hospital professionals (191; 47.5%) include the PAT in their protocols more frequently than pre-hospital professionals (68.5% vs 55.4%; p <0.01) and consider PAT useful in the management of patients (60.2% vs 51.1%; p <0.05). Neither the time elapsed since the completion of the course, nor category and years of professional experience had any influence on the views expressed about the impact of the APLS course in clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: Most health professionals who have received the APLS course, especially those working in the hospital setting, think that the application of the systematic methods learned, the PAT and ABCDE, has a major impact on clinical practice.

[Knowledge of nurses about medication doses at pediatric urgency departament]. / Conocimiento de las enfermeras de las dosis de medicamentos en urgencias de pediatría.

UNLABELLED: Errors in drug administration are the second cause of errors in hospitalized patients. Children are a high risk group. Besides, pressure in care interventions at emergency department leads to increase incidence errors. AIM: Determining nurses' knowledge about the most common drug doses at pediatric urgency department. METHODS: Descriptive transversal study. We collected data from nurses of 14 pediatric emergency departments of Madrid. With an "ad hoc" questionnaire we collected the following data during five days in January of 2014: demographic, knowledge of responsibility in administration and doses of drugs. Global descriptive analysis was made and it was stratified by hospital and work experience. RESULTS: The answer rate was 114 (34.9%). Only 80 (70.8%) of nurses confirm doses before their administration; 20 (18.6%) think that a wrong prescription that they administer is not their responsibility. There is a high knowledge in the group with more than five years of work experience, except for sedative-analgesic drugs (p<0.05). The average score obtained was 3.8 of 10 (1.99). CONCLUSIONS: Nurses' knowledge about drug doses is low.

[NASO-OROGASTRIC TUBE IN PAEDIATRIC PATIENTS. REVIEW OF METHODS OF CONFIRMATION OF PLACEMENT]. / Sondaje naso/orogástrico en el paciente pediátrico.

Nasogastric tube (NGT) placement is a frequent procedure in the paediatric population. Nasogastric and orogastric tubes are commonly used in hospitalized children, in the paediatric emergency departments and in critical care departments. They have diagnostic, therapeutic, descompression or evacuation of gastric aspirates objectives. Making a blind placement of nasogastric tubes, involve that nasogastric tube could be misplaced in 4.7 % to 69 % of cases. An accurate method for confirmation of nasogastric tube positioning is therefore needed. Chest X-ray remains the only hundred per cent reliable method (gold standard), but it only confirms tube positioning at the exact time of the X-ray. Non-radiologic verification methods provide an accurate alternative and contribute to decrease radiation exposure for pediatric patients. Non-radiologic methods to verify appropiate placement of tubes are many and are supported by different degrees of evidence in the literature: measurement of tube length from point of entry; auscultation; placing the tube in water to assess bubbling; aspiration of stomach or intestinal contents for visual inspection; pH testing; use of CO2 monitoring devices, or combinations of these methods. In this article we thoroughly review the reliability and safety of these non radiologic methods for the verification of nasogastric tube placement.