Cognitive Errors in Pediatric Emergency Medicine.

ABSTRACT: Fundamental to the practice of pediatric emergency medicine is making timely and accurate diagnoses. However, studies have shown errors in this process are common. A number of factors in the emergency department environment as well as identifiable errant patterns of thinking can contribute to such challenges. Cognitive psychologists have described 2 types of thinking: system 1 (fast) relies primarily on intuition and pattern recognition, whereas system 2 (slow) is more deliberative and analytical. Reviewing how these 2 styles of thinking are applied in clinical practice provides a framework for understanding specific cognitive errors. This article uses illustrative examples to introduce many of these common errors, providing context for how and why they occur. In addition, a practical approach to reducing the risk of such errors is offered.

Eliminating Lumbar Puncture for Low-Risk Febrile Infants: A Quality Improvement Initiative.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial meningitis in low-risk febrile young infants (FYIs) aged >28 days has become increasingly rare. Routine performance of lumbar puncture (LP) in these infants is associated with adverse consequences and may be unnecessary. We modified our clinical practice guideline (CPG) to reduce the number of FYIs 29 to 56 days old who receive LP. METHODS: This quality improvement project sought to modify a preexisting CPG to diagnose and manage FYIs 0 to 56 days old that eliminated routine performance of LP in children 29 to 56 days old who were considered low-risk for serious bacterial infection. The change was implemented by making adjustments to the online CPG. A statistical process control chart was used to assess the affect of the initiative on our primary outcome of LP rate in this population of FYIs. RESULTS: Postimplementation of the CPG initiative, 71% of FYIs 29 to 56 days old did not receive LP, compared with 42% preimplementation. This practice change was also associated with fewer hospitalizations, lower median emergency department (ED) length of stay, and fewer 72-hour ED revisits. Over 3 years of sustained practice, 1/713 (0.1%; 95% confidence interval, 0%-0.8%) low-risk FYI returned within 72 hours and was subsequently treated for probable bacterial meningitis, although cerebrospinal fluid culture was negative for bacterial growth. CONCLUSIONS: A change in CPG reduced the number of LPs performed in febrile infants 29 to 56 days old. This change resulted in fewer LPs, hospitalizations, ED revisits, and a lower ED length of stay for FYIs 29 to 56 days old.

Improving efficiency of pediatric emergency asthma treatment by using metered dose inhaler.

Objective: Evidence suggests using metered dose inhaler (MDI) to treat acute asthma in the Emergency Department reduces length of stay, though methods of implementation are lacking. We modified a treatment pathway to recommend use of MDI for mild-moderate asthma in a pediatric ED. Methods: A baseline review assessed discharged patients >2 years with an asthma diagnosis and non-emergent Emergency Severity Index triage assessment (3/4). Our multi-disciplinary team developed an intervention to increase MDI use instead of continuous albuterol (CA) using the following: (1) Redesign the asthma pathway and order set recommending MDI for ESI 3/4 patients. (2) Adding a conditional order for Respiratory Therapists to reassess and repeat MDI until patient reached mild assessment. The primary outcome was the percentage discharged within 3 hours, with a goal of a 10% increase compared to pre-intervention. Balancing measures included admission and revisit rates. Results: 7635 patients met eligibility before pathway change; 12,673 were seen in the subsequent 18 months. For target patients, the percentage discharged in <3 hours increased from 39% to 49%; reduction in median length of stay was 33 minutes. We identified special cause variation for reduction in CA use from 43% to 25%; Revisit rate and length of stay for higher-acuity patients did not change; overall asthma admissions decreased by 8%. Changes were sustained for 18 months. Conclusion: A change to an ED asthma pathway recommending MDI for mild-moderate asthma led to a rapid and sustained decrease in continuous albuterol use, length of stay, and admission rate.

Supraventricular Tachycardia Associated With Severe Anemia.

We present the unusual case of a 7-year-old girl with severe iron-deficiency anemia who concurrently was determined to be in a supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) rhythm. To our knowledge, the association of anemia with SVT has not been reported previously. We review the presentation of SVT, management strategies for treating both severe anemia and SVT, risks and benefits of using the classic treatments for SVT in a severely anemic patient and discuss iron-deficiency anemia-related cardiac disease.

A Teenager With Sickle Cell Disease and Scalp Swelling.

An intracranial bleed with a midline shift is a potentially life-threatening clinical condition. We present the unusual case of a 13-year-old boy with sickle cell disease who had numerous emergency department visits for a scalp hematoma and was subsequently determined to have subdural and epidural hematomas with midline shift, associated with a skull bone infarction. We review the pathophysiology of this unusual condition and emphasize the importance of including it in the differential diagnosis of any child with sickle cell anemia presenting with a nontraumatic scalp hematoma.

Identification of Optic Nerve Swelling Using Point-of-Care Ocular Ultrasound in Children.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility and accuracy of point-of-care (POC) ocular ultrasound (US) when performed by a pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) physician to detect optic nerve abnormalities concerning for swelling, as compared with the fundus examination performed by an ophthalmologist. METHODS: This was a single-center, prospective cohort pilot study of children aged 12 months to 18 years who required optic disc evaluation by an ophthalmologist. Eligible subjects were enrolled from the emergency department, inpatient wards, and neuro-ophthalmology outpatient clinic of an urban, tertiary care children's hospital. Point-of-care ocular US, specifically assessing optic nerve sheath diameter and optic disc elevation, was performed. Findings on US were compared with findings identified by an ophthalmologist on dilated fundus examination. RESULTS: Seventy-six subjects were enrolled; 20 (26%) of 76 had findings concerning for optic nerve swelling diagnosed by an ophthalmologist on fundus examination. Using a sonographic definition for optic nerve swelling of optic nerve sheath diameter greater than 4.5 mm or the presence of optic disc elevation, the sensitivity and specificity were 90% and 55%, respectively. The success rate of POC ocular US was 100%, and the mean time to completion was 8 minutes. For emergency department subjects in whom direct fundus examination was attempted, the PEM physician could visualize the optic disc and assess for swelling in only 40% (14/35) of examinations. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study suggest that POC ocular US performed by PEM physicians was feasible and determined to be sensitive but nonspecific in the detection of optic nerve swelling. Additional larger studies may determine generalizability to other nonophthalmologist physicians performing POC ocular US.

Identification of optic disc elevation and the crescent sign using point-of-care ocular ultrasound in children.

Point-of-care ocular ultrasound has been used to detect papilledema. In previous studies, investigators have evaluated only optic nerve sheath diameter as a screen for increased intracranial pressure. In this series of 4 children, we demonstrate 2 additional optic nerve abnormalities using point-of-care ocular ultrasound: optic disc elevation and the crescent sign. Assessing the optic nerve for each of these 3 findings may assist the examiner in detecting papilledema.

Hospital-based pandemic influenza preparedness and response: strategies to increase surge capacity.

UNLABELLED: In the spring of 2009, the first patients infected with 2009 H1N1 virus were arriving for care in hospitals in the United States. Anticipating a second wave of infection, our hospital leaders initiated multidisciplinary planning activities to prepare to increase capacity by expansion of emergency department (ED) and inpatient functional space and redeployment of medical personnel. EXPERIENCE: During the fall pandemic surge, this urban, tertiary-care children's hospital experienced a 48% increase in ED visits and a 12% increase in daily peak inpatient census. However, several strategies were effective in mitigating the pandemic's impact including using a portion of the hospital's lobby for ED waiting, using a subspecialty clinic and a 24-hour short stay unit to care for ED patients, and using physicians not board certified in pediatric emergency medicine and inpatient-unit medical nurses to care for ED patients. The average time patients waited to be seen by an ED physician and the proportion of children leaving the ED without being seen by a physician was less than for the period when seasonal influenza peaked in the winter of 2008-2009. Furthermore, the ED did not go on divert status, no elective medical or surgical admissions required cancellation, and there were no increases in serious patient safety events. SUMMARY: Our health center successfully met the challenges posed by the 2009 H1N1 outbreak. The intent in sharing the details of our planning and experience is to allow others to determine which elements of this planning might be adapted for managing a surge of patients in their setting.

Scalp Nodules and Facial Droop in an Infant.

A previously healthy, term, 5-week-old girl initially presented to her primary care physician with a solitary, enlarging scalp nodule. The infant was otherwise well without additional signs or symptoms of illness. Over the next several weeks, the nodule continued to grow, and additional lesions appeared on her scalp. An ultrasound of the primary nodule revealed a hypoechoic structure favored to represent a serosanguinous fluid collection. After evaluation by general surgery and dermatology, she underwent a scalp biopsy of the largest lesion. While biopsy specimen results were pending, her parents noted that she was developing increased irritability, difficulty closing her right eye, and facial weakness. She was referred to the emergency department where a right-sided facial droop involving the brow and forehead was noted. The skin biopsy specimen results, along with subsequent laboratory studies and imaging, led to the final diagnosis.

Demonstrated use of metered-dose inhalers and peak flow meters by children and adolescents with acute asthma exacerbations.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the ability of children and adolescents with acute asthma exacerbations to adhere to national guidelines for proper metered-dose inhaler (MDI) and peak flow meter (PFM) technique and to define characteristics associated with improper use. DESIGN: A prospective study in which the patients were instructed to use a placebo MDI or a PFM in the emergency department exactly as at home. Technique was graded on the basis of performance of specific steps recommended by national guidelines. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Children and adolescents (aged 2-18 years) with acute asthma exacerbations in the emergency department of an urban children's hospital with acute asthma. RESULTS: Thirty-three (45.2%) of 73 patients using an MDI (MDI group) demonstrated multiple steps improperly compared with 60 (44.4%) of 135 using an MDI with a holding chamber (MDI-HC group; P =.92). In the MDI group, young ages of the patients (P<.008) and the parents (P<.003) were associated with improper use. In the MDI-HC group, factors independently and significantly associated with improper use were no hospitalizations within the past year, parent assistance of the patient with MDI-HC use, and nondaily use of the MDI-HC. Also, 165 (82.9%) of 199 children who, per national guidelines, should be using a PFM at home, did not. Eighty-two (73.9%) of 111 patients demonstrated perfect performance of all PFM steps. CONCLUSIONS: Among children with acute asthma, we found high rates of improper MDI use and PFM underuse. A greater emphasis must be placed on teaching methods to optimize drug delivery and to instruct patients about the importance of self-monitoring of disease severity.

A randomized trial of nebulized epinephrine vs albuterol in the emergency department treatment of bronchiolitis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if nebulized epinephrine is more efficacious than nebulized albuterol in the emergency department (ED) treatment of moderately ill infants with bronchiolitis. METHODS: Sixty-six patients between 0 and 12 months of age with new-onset wheezing, an antecedent upper respiratory tract infection, and a clinical score (Respiratory Distress Assessment Instrument) of 8 to 15 were randomized in a double-blind fashion to receive either 0.9 mg/kg of nebulized 2.25% racemic epinephrine (n = 34) or 0.15 mg/kg of nebulized 0.5% albuterol sulfate (n = 32) at 0, 30, and 60 minutes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome measures were clinical score and respiratory rate. Secondary outcome measures were room air oxygen saturation, elapsed time to meeting clinical criteria for ED discharge, hospitalization rate, and proportion of patients relapsed within 72 hours of ED discharge (relapse rate). RESULTS: Both treatment groups experienced a similar pattern of change in mean clinical score, respiratory rate, and room air saturation over time. There were no significant differences between the groups by these same measures at any time. The median time at which infants were well enough for ED discharge was 90 minutes in the epinephrine-treated group vs 120 minutes in the albuterol-treated group (P =.01). Sixteen infants (47.1%) in the epinephrine-treated group were hospitalized compared with 12 infants (37.5%) in the albuterol-treated group (relative risk, 1.25; 95% confidence interval, 0.71-2.22). Relapse rate was 18.8% (3/16) in the epinephrine-treated group and 42.1% (8/19) in the albuterol-treated group (relative risk, 0.45; 95% confidence interval, 0.14-1.41). Adverse effects occurred infrequently. CONCLUSIONS: Although the patients treated with epinephrine were judged well enough for ED discharge significantly earlier than the patients treated with albuterol, epinephrine was not found to be more efficacious than albuterol in treating moderately ill infants with bronchiolitis.

Cardiac tamponade complicating postpericardiotomy syndrome.

We present 2 children who developed postpericardiotomy syndrome (PPS) and the rare complication of cardiac tamponade after cardiac surgery, each requiring life-saving pericardiocentesis in the emergency department (ED). Each child presented with vomiting as a chief complaint, an initial sign that has not been reported previously. As the frequency of orthotopic heart transplants and other cardiac surgeries among children increases, it is likely that ED physicians will encounter PPS and cardiac tamponade with greater frequency, and it is imperative that it be recognized promptly and treated appropriately. We review PPS, cardiac tamponade, and the proper performance of a pericardiocentesis.

Children referred to an emergency department by an after-hours call center: complaint-specific analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Approximately 20% of phone calls to after-hours call centers result in referrals to the emergency department (ED), but data regarding ED management and disposition are lacking. We sought to determine the acuity of illness of referred children as reflected by triage classifications and need for therapeutic interventions, diagnostic testing, and hospitalization, and to stratify the analysis of ED management and dispositions by chief complaints. DESIGN AND METHODS: Patients referred to the ED by the after-hours call centers, without physician consultation, were identified. The 4 most common groups of chief complaints resulting in ED referral were determined, and the records of these children were analyzed. RESULTS: The 525 patients with chief complaints related to the following organ systems were studied: lower respiratory tract, 263 (50%); gastrointestinal, 104 (20%); head, ears, eyes, nose, and throat, 84 (16%); and upper respiratory tract, 74 (14%). The proportion of children referred for lower respiratory tract complaints who received the after-hours call centers call dispositions (99%) or ED triage classifications (38%) of highest priorities, or who required therapeutic interventions (73%), diagnostic testing (40%), or hospitalization (22%) was significantly higher than for all other categories. Thirteen percent with gastrointestinal complaints, referred primarily for dehydration, required intravenous fluids, and 2% of head, ears, eyes, nose, and throat patients required hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Children referred to the ED for illnesses related to the lower respiratory tract, principally wheezing, had illnesses of high acuity. On the other hand, current criteria for ED referral for children in the gastrointestinal, head, ears, eyes, nose, and throat, and upper respiratory tract categories result in the referral of many children with nonurgent problems. These data support a reassessment of current referral practices for children with these complaints.

Outcomes of children referred to an emergency department by an after-hours call center.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: After-hours call centers are increasingly prevalent, yet there is little patient outcomes data. We sought to determine compliance with referral to an emergency department (ED) and describe outcomes and clinical characteristics of referred patients including triage classifications, therapeutic interventions, diagnostic testing, diagnoses, and hospitalization rates. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: A retrospective cohort design. We studied hospital-based primary care patients who were referred to the ED of a tertiary care children's hospital by the call center, without physician consultation. RESULTS: Of the 8265 telephone calls to the call center, 1473 (18%) children were referred to the ED, and 931 (63%) were compliant. Compliant patients were significantly younger (P = 0.01) and were more likely to have been referred to the ED immediately (P = 0.01) compared with noncompliant patients. Among compliant patients, 48% were classified as nonurgent at ED triage; of these, half did not have a therapeutic intervention or diagnostic test or require hospitalization. Overall, therapeutic interventions were administered to 44%, diagnostic tests were performed for 45%, and 13% were hospitalized. Compared to children referred immediately to the ED, the proportion instructed to go to the ED within 4 hours of the telephone call received significantly lower ED triage classifications (93% vs. 77%, P < 0.00001) and hospitalizations (15% vs. 6%, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we report the outcomes and clinical characteristics of children referred to the ED by an after-hours call center. Data such as these may be used by call centers in the assessment of management advice and referral practices.

Pediatric integrated delivery system's experience with pandemic influenza A (H1N1).

OBJECTIVE: To describe 1 pediatric integrated delivery system's experience with the influenza A (H1N1) pandemic in 2009 to illustrate the benefits of coordination, scale, scope, and flexibility in handling large volumes of patients in many locations. METHODS: Through multidisciplinary planning across a large, multisite pediatric delivery system, an effective 3-tier plan was developed to handle anticipated increased volumes associated with the fall 2009 influenza pandemic in the Philadelphia region. RESULTS: Patient demand for services increased to record-setting levels, particularly for emergency department visits and phone calls. The 3-tier plan of response allowed for graded and appropriate response to volumes that more than doubled in many locations. Measured by wait times and leftwithout- being-seen rates, the system appeared to match capacity to demand effectively. Lessons learned in terms of successes and challenges are useful for future planning. CONCLUSIONS: The experience of 1 pediatric delivery system in handling increased volume due to pandemic influenza may hold lessons for other organizations and for policy makers seeking to improve the preparedness, quality, and value of healthcare. These experiences do not imply the need for vertical integration with ownership, but do support tight coordination, communication, integration, and alignment in any management structure.

Nebulized budesonide added to standard pediatric emergency department treatment of acute asthma: a randomized, double-blind trial.

OBJECTIVES: The goal was to determine if adding inhaled budesonide to standard asthma therapy improves outcomes of pediatric patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute asthma. METHODS: The authors conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in a tertiary care, urban pediatric ED. Patients 2 to 18 years of age with moderate to severe acute asthma were randomized to receive either a single 2-mg dose of budesonide inhalation suspension (BUD) or normal sterile saline (NSS) placebo, added to albuterol, ipratropium bromide (IB), and systemic corticosteroids (SCS). The primary outcome was the difference in median asthma scores between treatment groups at 2 hours. Secondary outcomes included differences in vital signs and hospitalization rates. RESULTS: A total of 180 patients were enrolled. Treatment groups had similar baseline demographics, asthma scores, and vital signs. A total of 169 patients (88 BUD, 81 NSS) were assessed for the primary outcome. No significant difference was found between groups in the change in median asthma score at 2 hours (BUD -3, NSS -3, p = 0.64). Vital signs at 2 hours were also similar between groups. Fifty-six children (62%) were admitted to the hospital in the BUD group and 55 (62%) in the NSS group (difference 0%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -14% to 14%). Neither multivariate adjustment nor planned subgroup analysis by inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) use prior to the ED significantly altered the results. CONCLUSIONS: For children 2 to 18 years of age treated in the ED for acute asthma, a single 2-mg dose of budesonide added to standard therapy did not improve asthma severity scores or other short-term ED-based outcomes.

Emergency physicians' prescribing of asthma controller medications.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the frequency with which emergency department (ED) physicians prescribe long-term controller medications (LTCMs) for children with asthma, to assess ED physicians' awareness of and level of agreement with national guidelines for LTCM use, and to identify criteria ED physicians use to prescribe LTCMs and barriers to the use of LTCMs. METHODS: A survey of all physician members of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Emergency Medicine who provide care for children in an ED was performed. RESULTS: Surveys were returned by 391 (50%) of 782 physicians. The majority (80%) indicated that fewer than one half of children with persistent asthma were using LTCMs on ED arrival. Although 99% believe that children with persistent asthma should be treated with LTCMs, <20% provide LTCMs for the majority of such children at ED discharge. For 49%, the main reason for not prescribing these medications was the belief that this was the role of the primary care provider or asthma specialist. Practice setting, prior training, and annual patient volume were not associated significantly with prescribing LTCM. Patient's age and likelihood of compliance and physician's belief in efficacy and concerns about adverse effects were not important criteria in the decision to begin LTCM. CONCLUSIONS: ED physicians often encounter children with persistent asthma who are not receiving LTCMs, they believe in the efficacy and safety of LTCMs, and they think that children with persistent disease should be treated with LTCMs, but they prescribe LTCMs infrequently.