QTc Prolongation in Acute Pediatric Migraine.

OBJECTIVES: Migraine headache is common in pediatrics and is frequently assessed in emergency departments. Altered cardiac conduction, including prolongation of the QTc interval on electrocardiogram, has been observed in adults during migraine headache and resolves interictally. Prolonged QTc is associated with life-threatening arrhythmia, and many acute and prophylactic therapies for migraine can further prolong the QTc interval. It is the objective of this prospective cohort study to examine whether the QTc interval prolongs significantly during periods of acute migraine headache in children. METHODS: Patients ages 6 to 17 years presenting to the emergency department with acute migraine headache were recruited prospectively. Exclusion criteria included the use of QTc-prolonging medications and medical illnesses, including cardiovascular abnormalities, infection, or head injury. Paired, one-tailed Student t tests compared QTc intervals with and without headache and evaluated for QTc prolongation of 30 ms or longer during headache. RESULTS: Thirteen patients with migraine (mean age, 11.6 ± 2.6 years) were evaluated. Mean QTc interval during headache was significantly longer than the QTc interval in the absence of headache (437.9 ± 27.7 ms compared with 419.3 ± 29.9 ms; p = 0.04). Three patients (23%) had unequivocal prolongation of the QTc (>460 ms) during the migraine, two of which normalized with headache resolution. The mean increase in QTc during headache did not reach or exceed 30 ms (p = 0.86) CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to illustrate a connection between QTc prolongation and acute migraine headache in children. If confirmed in future studies, children should be monitored for QTc prolongation during the acute treatment of migraine in the emergency department when using medications that can lengthen the QTc interval.

Performance of the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale for children: a multicenter database study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: We evaluate the association between triage levels assigned using the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale and surrogate markers of validity for real-life children triaged in multiple emergency departments (EDs). METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study evaluating the triage assessment and outcomes of all children presenting to 12 pediatric EDs, all of which are members of the Pediatric Emergency Research Canada group, during a 1-year period (2010 to 2011). Anonymous data were retrieved from the ED computerized databases. The primary outcome measure was the proportion of children hospitalized for each triage level. Other outcomes were ICU admission, proportion of patients who left without being seen by a physician, and length of stay in the ED. Evaluation of all children visiting these EDs during 1 year was expected to provide more than 1,000 patients in each triage category. RESULTS: A total of 550,940 children were included. Pooled data demonstrated hospitalization proportions of 61%, 30%, 10%, 2%, and 0.9% for patients in Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale levels 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively. There was a strong association between triage level and admission to the ICU, probability of leaving without being seen by a physician, and length of stay. CONCLUSION: The strong association between triage level and multiple markers of severity in 12 Canadian pediatric EDs suggests validity of the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale for children.

A Smartphone App to Reduce Burnout in the Emergency Department: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Burnout is a significant concern among health care professionals, particularly those working in the emergency department (ED). Given the negative personal and professional consequences that burnout can have on all health care professionals, multidisciplinary solutions are needed to address burnout. Our objective was to evaluate the feasibility and potential impact of resilience training delivered through a smartphone application on burnout among health care professionals working at a tertiary-care pediatric ED. METHODS: We conducted a single-center pilot randomized controlled study enrolling multidisciplinary health care professionals working in our ED. Participants assigned to the intervention group received self-driven access to a smartphone application that provided a structured resilience curriculum for a period of 3 months. The participants completed psychometric assessments both prior to and following the invention period. Changes in psychometric measures of the intervention group were then compared with a waitlist-control group. RESULTS: Following the intervention period, a total of 20 participants were included in the final analysis. The change in participant scores on psychometric measures prior to and following the intervention period was calculated. A statistically significant mean decrease in burnout measure (emotional exhaustion subscale of Maslach-Burnout Inventory mean score -5.88, p < .001) and increase in mindfulness measure (Mindful Attention Awareness Scale mean score 0.51, p < .001) was observed among the intervention group participants. CONCLUSIONS/APPLICATION TO PRACTICE: Our study suggests that a resilience training program delivered using a smartphone application can be an effective intervention in reducing burnout and increasing mindfulness skills. Our study also demonstrated the potential feasibility of a randomized controlled study of burnout within a multidisciplinary group of health care professionals.

The Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale for children: a prospective multicenter evaluation.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aims of the study are to measure both the interrater agreement of nurses using the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale in children and the validity of the scale as measured by the correlation between triage level and proxy markers of severity. METHODS: This was a prospective multicenter study of the reliability and construct validity of the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale in 9 tertiary care pediatric emergency departments (EDs) across Canada during 2009 to 2010. Participants were a sample of children initially triaged as Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale level 2 (emergency) to level 5 (nonurgent). Participants were recruited immediately after their initial triage to undergo a second triage assessment by the research nurse. Both triages were performed blinded to the other. The primary outcome measures were the interrater agreement between the 2 nurses and the association between triage level and hospitalization. Secondary outcome measures were the association between triage level and health resource use and length of stay in the ED. RESULTS: A total of 1,564 patients were approached and 1,464 consented. The overall interrater agreement was good, as demonstrated by a quadratic weighted κ score of 0.74 (95% confidence interval 0.71 to 0.76). Hospitalization proportions were 30%, 8.3%, 2.3%, and 2.2% for patients triaged at levels 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively. There was also a strong association between triage levels and use of health care resources and length of stay. CONCLUSION: The Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale demonstrates a good interrater agreement between nurses across multiple pediatric EDs and is a valid triage tool, as demonstrated by its good association with markers of severity.

How safe are paediatric emergency departments? A national prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Despite the high number of children treated in emergency departments, patient safety risks in this setting are not well quantified. Our objective was to estimate the risk and type of adverse events, as well as their preventability and severity, for children treated in a paediatric emergency department. METHODS: Our prospective, multicentre cohort study enrolled children presenting for care during one of 168 8-hour study shifts across nine paediatric emergency departments. Our primary outcome was an adverse event within 21 days of enrolment which was related to care provided at the enrolment visit. We identified 'flagged outcomes' (such as hospital visits, worsening symptoms) through structured telephone interviews with patients and families over the 21 days following enrolment. We screened admitted patients' health records with a validated trigger tool. For patients with flags or triggers, three reviewers independently determined whether an adverse event occurred. RESULTS: We enrolled 6376 children; 6015 (94%) had follow-up data. Enrolled children had a median age of 4.3 years (IQR 1.6-9.8 years). One hundred and seventy-nine children (3.0%, 95% CI 2.6% to 3.5%) had at least one adverse event. There were 187 adverse events in total; 143 (76.5%, 95% CI 68.9% to 82.7%) were deemed preventable. Management (n=98, 52.4%) and diagnostic issues (n=36, 19.3%) were the most common types of adverse events. Seventy-nine (42.2%) events resulted in a return emergency department visit; 24 (12.8%) resulted in hospital admission; and 3 (1.6%) resulted in transfer to a critical care unit. CONCLUSION: In this large-scale study, 1 in 33 children treated in a paediatric emergency department experienced an adverse event related to the care they received there. The majority of events were preventable; most were related to management and diagnostic issues. Specific patient populations were at higher risk of adverse events. We identify opportunities for improvement in care.

Suspected peritonsillar abscess in children.

OBJECTIVES: (1) To describe the demographic features and clinical course of children diagnosed with suspected peritonsillar abscess (PTA), (2) to determine the incidence of suspected and confirmed PTA in children younger than 18 years, and (3) to examine the factors associated with corticosteroid use and outpatient management of suspected PTA. METHODS: We conducted a population-based, retrospective chart review. The study was conducted within the Calgary Health Region (CHR). Patients met inclusion criteria if they were younger than 18 years, resided in the CHR, and were diagnosed with PTA (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision 475) in the CHR between March 1994 and December 2001. RESULTS: We identified 229 children (cases) who presented with 249 unique episodes of suspected PTA. The incidence of suspected PTA among children in the CHR was 14 cases per 100,000 person-years at risk. The incidence was highest among adolescents (40 cases per 100,000 person-years). The incidence of confirmed PTA was 3 cases per 100,000 person-years at risk. Among those with suspected PTA, surgical intervention, intravenous antibiotics, and corticosteroids were provided to 34%, 87%, and 37%, respectively. One hundred fifty-seven patients (69%) were initially managed as outpatients. Of these, 12 (8%) had subsequent uncomplicated hospital admissions. CONCLUSIONS: Peritonsillar abscess is primarily a problem of adolescence, but the disease does occur in young children. Corticosteroid use was common but without either clear benefit or adverse outcomes. Two thirds of patients were managed as outpatients without any apparent increase in adverse outcomes.

Wrist buckle fractures: a survey of current practice patterns and attitudes toward immobilization.

OBJECTIVES: Buckle fractures are the most common wrist fractures in children, yet there is little literature regarding their management. This study examined the management of these fractures and attitudes toward their immobilization by pediatric emergency department (ED) physicians and pediatric orthopedic surgeons. METHODS: A standardized survey was mailed to all pediatric orthopedic surgeons and pediatric ED physicians at 8 Canadian children's hospitals. RESULTS: Eighty-seven percent of physicians responded, including 33 of 39 pediatric orthopedic surgeons and 84 of 96 pediatric ED physicians. Sixty-four percent of respondents believe that wrist buckle fractures always need to be immobilized; pain control was most frequently cited for this belief. Physicians who did not believe that all buckle fractures need to be immobilized indicated that these fractures are inherently stable and have a low risk of refracture. Forty-eight percent of the orthopedic surgeons prefer below-elbow casts, 30% prefer a combination (splint and cast) and 12% prefer backslabs. Sixty percent of ED physicians "usually or always" use casts and 31% "usually or always" use backslabs. Although there was variation among the orthopedic surgeons regarding the recommended length of immobilization, most (70%) recommended 2 to 4 weeks, although some (12%) treated only until pain free. ED physicians showed greater diversity regarding length of immobilization. CONCLUSIONS: Although many physicians believe that wrist buckle fractures need to be immobilized, a significant number do not. There is substantial variability in the type and length of immobilization used. This variability suggests that the optimal management strategy for wrist buckle fractures is unclear and should be determined in future prospective studies.

Treatment of children with migraine in emergency departments: national practice variation study.

OBJECTIVE: Children with migraine may present to an emergency department (ED) when outpatient management has failed; however, only limited research has examined migraine-abortive medications among children. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of ED presentations for migraine or headache between July 1, 2004, and June 30, 2005, in 10 Canadian pediatric EDs was conducted. A priori, evidence-based treatments were defined as any treatment that was based on high-quality evidence and an absence of opioids as first-line agents. RESULTS: A total of 2515 records were screened, and 1694 (67.4%) met inclusion criteria. The average age of patients was 12.1 years, 14.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 12.1%-17.2%) of patients experienced headache >15 days per month, and 62.6% (95% CI: 55.7%-68.9%) had already used migraine-abortive therapy. Significant variations in practice for all classes of migraine-abortive medications were observed. Dopamine receptor antagonists (prochlorperazine, metoclopramide, or chlorpromazine) (39% [95% CI: 28.4%-50.8%]) and orally administered analgesics (acetaminophen and ibuprofen) (24.5% [95% CI: 23.9%-46.8%]) were prescribed most commonly. Predictors for the use of evidence-based treatment included older age (odds ratio: 1.15 [95% CI: 1.07-1.24]) and a discharge diagnosis of migraine (odds ratio: 1.84 [95% CI: 1.11-3.05]). CONCLUSIONS: Children presenting to EDs for treatment often have frequent attacks and have experienced failure of outpatient, migraine-abortive efforts. Practice variations were impressive for the care of children with migraine in these Canadian EDs.