Factors Associated with Pathway-Concordant Neuroimaging for Pediatric Ischemic Stroke.

OBJECTIVE: To determine factors associated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and noninvasive diagnostic angiography among children presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute ischemic stroke. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a cross-sectional study using data from >50 US children's hospitals. We included children 29 days through 17 years old hospitalized from the ED with an International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification, diagnosis code for acute ischemic stroke between October 1, 2015, and November 30, 2022. We excluded children with a principal diagnosis code of trauma/external injury, without neuroimaging on day of presentation, and into-ED transfers. Our outcomes were defined as acquisition of MRI (vs computed tomography only) and angiography (vs no angiography) on day of presentation. We performed generalized linear mixed modeling with hospital as a random effect to determine the association of demographics, known comorbidities, and treatment factors with each outcome. RESULTS: We included 1601 children. In multivariable analysis, younger age, mechanical ventilation, and Black race were associated with lower odds of MRI acquisition, whereas history of moyamoya disease and sickle cell disease were associated with greater odds. Younger age, mechanical ventilation, Hispanic ethnicity, Black race, other races, history of metabolic disease, and history of seizures were associated with lower odds of angiography. CONCLUSIONS: Younger and non-White children experienced lower odds of MRI and angiography, which may be driven by health system limitations or provider implicit biases or both. Our results expose risk factors for underdiagnosis of ischemic stroke and provide opportunities to tailor institutional pathways reflective of underlying pathophysiology.

Procedural sedation and analgesia in Swiss Pediatric Emergency Departments: a national subgroup analysis of a European cross-sectional survey.

This study aims to provide a national overview of procedural sedation and analgesia practices within Pediatric Emergency Departments in Switzerland, focusing on the availability of pharmacologic agents, the presence of safety protocols, the utilization of non-pharmacological interventions, and to identify specific local limitations. We conducted a detailed subgroup analysis of Swiss data from a European cross-sectional survey on emergency department pediatric Procedural Sedation and Analgesia (PSA) practice, isolating data from Swiss sites. The survey, conducted between November 2019 and March 2020, covered various aspects of procedural sedation and analgesia practices. The survey included nine Swiss sites, treating a total of 252,786 patients in 2019. Topical analgesia, inhaled equimolar nitrous oxide-oxygen mixture, and ketamine were largely available. All sites had nurse-directed triage protocols in place; however, opioid administration was included in the protocols in only 66% of sites. Only 33% of hospitals reported common use of intravenous sedation. Barriers to procedural sedation and analgesia implementation included staffing shortages (89% of sites) and lack of dedicated spaces (78%).Conclusions: Despite a broad array of pharmacological and options available in Swiss Pediatric Emergency Departments, challenges remain in standardizing practices across the country. Limited space and staffing and enhancing training on non-pharmacological interventions were identified as potential areas for improving pain and anxiety management in pediatric emergency care. This study underscores the need for national guidelines to harmonize emergency department PSA practices across Switzerland, ensuring all children have access to effective and evidence-based procedural comfort. What is Known: • Recent research, conducted in European emergency departments, suggests that in pediatric Procedural Sedation and Analgesia (PSA) resources are limited, and practice is heterogeneous What is New: • Swiss pediatric hospitals offer a wide range of pharmacological options for pain and anxiety management. However, significant barriers to PSA were identified. These include external control of intravenous sedation and insufficient integration of non-pharmacological interventions, such as child life specialists and procedural hypnosis. National guidelines are needed to harmonize PSA practices.

Suctioning in the management of bronchiolitis: A prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Bronchiolitis accounts for a considerable number of Emergency Department (ED) visits by infants each year and is the leading cause of respiratory infection in children 2 years of age and younger. Suctioning remains one of the main supportive treatments, but suctioning practices of nasal aspiration and deep suctioning vary among practitioners in bronchiolitis management. Our objective was to explore associations between suction type and respiratory distress, oxygen saturation, and markers of respiratory compromise such as airway escalation, disposition, ED length of stay (LOS), and outpatient outcomes. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study on infants (aged 2-23 months) in a pediatric ED with bronchiolitis from September 2022 to April 2023. Infants with tracheostomies, muscular weakness, and non-invasive positive pressure ventilation were excluded. Infants were grouped into nasal aspiration, deep suctioning, or combination groups. Mean differences in respiratory scores (primary outcome) and oxygen saturation were measured at three timepoints: pre-suction, 30 and 60 min post-suction. Escalation to airway adjuncts, disposition, and ED LOS were also recorded. Discharged families were contacted for phone call interviews. RESULTS: Of 121 enrolled infants (nasal aspiration n = 31, deep suctioning n = 68, combination n = 22), 48% (n = 58) were discharged, and 90% (n = 52) completed the study call. There was no interaction between suction type and timepoint (p = 0.63) and no effect between suction type and respiratory score (p = 0.38). However, timepoint did have an effect on respiratory score between 0 and 30 min post-suction (p = 0.01) and between 0 and 60 min post-suction (p < 0.001). Admitted infants received more deep suctioning or a combination of suctioning compared to those discharged (p = 0.005). Suction type had no effect on oxygen saturation, airway adjunct escalation, length of stay, or outpatient outcomes (p > 0.11). CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference in respiratory scores or outpatient outcomes between suction types. Deep suctioning may not be needed in all infants with bronchiolitis.

Serious bacterial infection risk in recently immunized febrile infants in the emergency department.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Fever following immunizations is a common presenting chiefcomplaint among infants. The 2021 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) febrile infant clinical practice guidelines exclude recently immunized (RI) infants. This is a challenge for clinicians in the management of the febrile RI young infant. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of SBI in RI febrile young infants between 6 and 12 weeks of age. METHODS: This was a retrospective chart review of infants 6-12 weeks who presented with a fever ≥38 °C to two U.S. military academic Emergency Departments over a four-year period. Infants were considered recently immunized (RI) if they had received immunizations in the preceding 72 h prior to evaluation and not recently immunized (NRI) if they had not received immunizations during this time period. The primary outcome was prevalence of serious bacterial infection (SBI) further delineated into invasive-bacterial infection (IBI) and non-invasive bacterial infection (non-IBI) based on culture and/or radiograph reports. RESULTS: Of the 508 febrile infants identified, 114 had received recent immunizations in the preceding 72 h. The overall prevalence of SBI was 11.4% (95% CI = 8.9-14.6) in our study population. The prevalence of SBI in NRI infants was 13.7% (95% CI = 10.6-17.6) compared to 3.5% (95% CI = 1.1-9.3) in RI infants. The relative risk of SBI in the setting of recent immunizations was 0.3 (95% CI = 0.1-0.7). There were no cases of invasive-bacterial infections (IBI) in the RI group with all but one of the SBI being urinary tract infections (UTI). The single non-UTI was a case of pneumonia in an infant who presented with respiratory symptoms within 24 h of immunizations. CONCLUSION: The risk of IBI (meningitis or bacteremia) in RI infants aged 6 to 12 weeks is low. Non-IBI within the first 24 h following immunization was significantly lower than in febrile NRI infants. UTIs remain a risk in the RI population and investigation with urinalysis and urine culture should be encouraged. Shared decision making with families guide a less invasive approach to the care of these children. Future research utilizing a large prospective multi-center data registry would aid in further defining the risk of both IBI and non-IBI among RI infants.

Emergency department evaluation of transplanted children with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Children usually have an asymptomatic or mild course of SARS-CoV-2 infection, studies in immunocompromised patients have shown a different evolution. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical, laboratory, and radiologic manifestations of pediatric solid organ transplant (SOT) and hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients testing positive for SARS-CoV-2. METHODS: A multicenter retrospective, observational descriptive study was conducted in 3 tertiary hospitals in Madrid (Spain) between March 2020 and December 2022. Consecutive patients aged 0-18 attending the corresponding pediatric emergency departments with a positive result in the real-time polymerase chain reaction test or antigenic test to detect SARS-CoV-2 in the nasopharyngeal sample were included. RESULTS: A total of 31 children were included in the study. Sixteen (51.6%) were patients with HSCT and 15 (48.3) were patients with SOT. The median time from transplantation to COVID-19 was 1.2 years (IQR:0.5-5.1). The SOT cohort included liver (n = 4, 12.9%), kidney (n = 4, 12.9%), heart (n = 3, 9.7%), multivisceral (n = 3, 9.7%), and lung (n = 1, 3.2%). Of the 31 patients, only one was asymptomatic. The most common symptom on presentation was fever (76.7%). Abnormalities were seen on chest X-ray in 8 (66.6%) of the 12 patients. There was no significant difference in clinical manifestations, lymphopenia and radiological findings regardless of the type of transplantation or immunosuppression status. Thirteen patients (41.9%) were hospitalized. There were no patient deaths. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, we found that the clinical course and outcome of SOT and HSCT pediatric patients with COVID-19 were generally favorable.

Point-of-Care-Ultrasound Quality Assurance Data from Fellow-Performed Exams in a Pediatric Emergency Department: A Descriptive Study.

OBJECTIVES: Point-of-care-ultrasound (POCUS) is increasingly used by pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) fellows, but scant data exists on the accuracy of exam interpretations. Our goal was to determine whether agreement on exam interpretation between quality assurance (QA) faculty (reference standard) and PEM fellows varied by fellowship year or exam type. METHODS: Retrospective review of fellow-performed POCUS exams between January 2019 and June 2022. Negative binomial (NB) random effects regression was used to account for longitudinal measurement of individual fellow performance across 3 years. Fixed effects were exam type and fellowship year. To assess between- and within-user variability across time, a random intercept and slope were included for each fellow. RESULTS: Exactly 3032 exams, performed by 24 fellows, were included. Raw proportion agreement by fellowship year was high for all exam types (≥88%). From the NB model, there was no statistically significant effect of fellowship year on the mean count of agreement. The relative risk (RR) of agreement for exam types was greatest for cardiac vs other types. The standard deviations for the random intercept and random slope were 0.09 and 0.04, respectively, with a correlation of -0.94. CONCLUSIONS: PEM fellows generally interpret exams correctly, with little variation through fellowship, although those who began with more basic skills showed more progress over time. Fellowship year did not influence the likelihood of correct interpretation but there was variation across exam type, with the best agreement for cardiac exams. The extent to which disagreements between fellows and QA faculty represent clinically significant errors requires further study.

Prevalence of invasive bacterial infection in febrile infants ≤90 days with a COVID-19 positive test: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Febrile infants with an infection by influenza or enterovirus are at low risk of invasive bacterial infection (IBI). OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of IBI among febrile infants ≤90 days old with a positive COVID-19 test. METHODS: MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register databases, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov and grey literature were searched for articles published from February 2020 to May 2023. INCLUSION CRITERIA: researches reporting on infants ≤90 days of age with fever and a positive test for SARS-CoV-2 (antigen test/PCR). Case reports with <3 patients, articles written in a language other than English, French or Spanish, editorials and other narrative studies were excluded. Preferred Reposting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis guidelines were followed, and the National Institutes of Health Quality Assessment Tool was used to assess study quality. The main outcome was the prevalence of IBI (a pathogen bacterium identified in blood and/or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)). Forest plots of prevalence estimates were constructed for each study. Heterogeneity was assessed and data were pooled by meta-analysis using a random effects model. A fixed continuity correction of 0.01 was added when a study had zero events. RESULTS: From the 1023 studies and 3 databases provided by the literature search, 33 were included in the meta-analysis, reporting 3943 febrile infants with a COVID-19 positive test and blood or CSF culture obtained. The pooled prevalence of IBI was 0.14% (95% CI, 0.02% to 0.27%). By age, the prevalence of IBI was 0.56% (95% CI, 0.0% to 1.27%) in those 0-21 days old, 0.53% (95% CI, 0.0% to 1.22%) in those 22-28 days old and 0.11% (95% CI, 0.0% to 0.24%) in those 29-60 days old. CONCLUSION: COVID-19-positive febrile infants ≤90 days old are at low risk of IBI, especially infants >28 days old, suggesting this subgroup of patients can be managed without blood tests. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42022356507.

Increasing the use of anxiolysis and analgesia for paediatric procedures in a community emergency department network: a quality improvement initiative.

Prior reports describe the care children receive in community EDs (CEDs) compared with paediatric EDs (PEDs) as uneven. The Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) initiative works to close these gaps using quality improvement (QI) methodology. Project champion from a community hospital network identified the use of safe pharmacological and non-pharmacological anxiolysis and analgesia (A&A) as one such gap and partnered with EMSC to address it. Our primary Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Bound (SMART) aim was to increase intranasal midazolam (INM) use for common, anxiety-provoking procedures on children <8 years of age from 2% to 25% in a year.EMSC facilitated a QI team with representation from the CED and regional children's hospitals. Following the model for improvement, we initiated a process analysis of this CED A&A practice. Review of all paediatric procedural data identified common anxiety-provoking simple procedures as laceration repairs, abscess drainage and foreign body removal. Our SMART aims were benchmarked to two regional PEDs and tracked through statistical process control. A balancing metric was ED length of stay (ED LOS) for patients <8 years of age requiring a laceration repair. Additionally, we surveyed CED frontline staff and report perceptions of changes in A&A knowledge, attitudes and practice patterns. These data prioritised and informed our key driver diagram which guided the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles, including guideline development, staff training and cognitive aids.Anxiety-provoking simple procedures occurred on average 10 times per month in children <8 years of age. Through PDSA cycles, the monthly average INM use increased from 2% to 42%. ED LOS was unchanged, and the perceptions of provider's A&A knowledge, attitudes and practice patterns improved.A CED-initiated QI project increased paediatric A&A use in a CED network. An A&A toolkit outlines our approach and may simplify spread from academic children's hospitals to the community.

Scoring systems for prediction of malaria and dengue fever in non-endemic areas among travellers arriving from tropical and subtropical areas.

BACKGROUND: Fever is a common symptom among travellers returning from tropical/subtropical areas to Europe, and promptly distinguishing severe illnesses from self-limiting febrile syndromes is important but can be challenging due to non-specific clinical presentation. METHODS: A cross-sectional study enrolled adults and children who sought care during 2015-2020 at Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden with fever within 2 months after returning from travel to a tropical/subtropical area. Data on symptoms and laboratory parameters were prospectively and retrospectively collected. Two separate scoring systems for malaria and dengue were developed based on backward elimination regressions. RESULTS: In total, 2113 adults (18-94 years) and 202 children (1-17 years) were included, with 112 (4.8%) confirmed malaria by blood thick smear and 90 (3.9%) PCR/serology dengue-positive cases. Malaria was more likely in a patient who had visited sub-Saharan Africa and presented with combination of thrombocytopenia, anaemia and fever ≥39.5°C. Leucopenia, muscle pain and rash after travelling to Asia or South/Latin America indicated high probability of dengue. Two scoring systems with points between 0 and 7 for prediction of malaria or dengue were created based on the above predictors. Scores ≥3 indicated >80% sensitivity and specificity for malaria and >90% specificity for dengue in children and adults (area under the curve (AUC) for dengue: 0.92 in adults (95% CI 0.90 to 0.95) and 0.95 in children (95% CI 0.88 to 1.0); AUC for malaria: 0.93 in adults (95% CI 0.91 to 0.96) and 0.88 in children (95% CI 0.78 to 0.99)). Internal validation of optimism and overfitting was managed with bootstrap. CONCLUSION: The presented scoring systems provide novel tools for structured assessment of patients with tropical fever in a non-endemic area and highlight clinical signs associated with a potential severe aetiology to direct the need for microbial investigation.

Paediatric laceration repair in the emergency department: post-discharge pain and maladaptive behavioural changes.

BACKGROUND: Paediatric laceration repair procedures are common in the ED; however, post-discharge recovery remains understudied. Perioperative research demonstrates that children exhibit maladaptive behavioural changes following stressful and painful medical procedures. This study examined post-discharge recovery following paediatric laceration repair in the ED. METHODS: This prospective observational study included a convenience sample of 173 children 2-12 years old undergoing laceration repair in a paediatric ED in Orange, California, USA between April 2022 and August 2023. Demographics, laceration and treatment data (eg, anxiolytic medication), and caregiver-reported child pre-procedural and procedural pain (Numerical Rating Scale (NRS)) were collected. On days 1, 3, 7 and 14 post-discharge, caregivers reported children's pain and new-onset maladaptive behavioural changes (eg, separation anxiety) via the Post Hospitalization Behavior Questionnaire for Ambulatory Surgery. Univariate and logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify variables associated with the incidence of post-discharge maladaptive behavioural change. RESULTS: Post-discharge maladaptive behavioural changes were reported in 43.9% (n=69) of children. At 1 week post-discharge, approximately 20% (n=27) of children exhibited maladaptive behavioural changes and 10% (n=13) displayed behavioural changes 2 weeks post-discharge. Mild levels of pain (NRS ≥2) were reported in 46.7% (n=70) of children on post-discharge day 1, 10.3% (n=14) on day 7 and 3.1% (n=4) on day 14. An extremity laceration (p=0.029), pre-procedural midazolam (p=0.020), longer length of stay (p=0.043) and post-discharge pain on day 1 (p<0.001) were associated with incidence of maladaptive behavioural changes. Higher pain on post-discharge day 1 was the only variable independently associated with an increased likelihood of maladaptive behavioural change (OR=1.32 (95% CI 1.08 to 1.61), p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Over 40% of children exhibited maladaptive behavioural changes after ED discharge. Although the incidence declined over time, 10% of children continued to exhibit behavioural changes 2 weeks post-discharge. Pain on the day following discharge emerged as a key predictor, highlighting the potential critical role of proactive post-procedural pain management in mitigating adverse behavioural changes.

Black and white: how good are clinicians at diagnosing elbow injuries from paediatric elbow radiographs alone?

OBJECTIVES: Paediatric trauma elbow radiographs are difficult to interpret and there is a potential for harm if misdiagnosed. The primary goal of this study was to assess the ability of healthcare professionals internationally to interpret paediatric trauma elbow radiographs from the radiograph alone by formulating the correct diagnosis. METHODS: This prospective international study was conducted online via the Free Open Access Medical Education platform, Don't Forget the Bubbles (DFTB, ISSN 2754-5407). Participants were recruited via the DFTB social media accounts between 17 August and 14 September 2021. Submissions that were incomplete or from participants who do not interpret paediatric elbow radiographs in their clinical practice were excluded. Participants completed an online survey of demographic data followed by interpreting 10 trauma-indicated elbow radiographs, by selecting multiple-choice options. The primary outcome was correct diagnosis. RESULTS: Participant responses from 18 countries were analysed, with most responses from the UK, Australia and Ireland. Participants had backgrounds in emergency medicine (EM), paediatric emergency medicine (PEM), general practice (GP) and paediatrics, with over 70% having 6+ years of postgraduate experience. 3180 radiographs were interpreted by 318 healthcare professionals. Only nine (2.8%) participants correctly diagnosed all 10. The mean number of radiographs correctly interpreted was 5.44 (SD 2.3). The mean number for those with 6+ years of experience was 6.02 (SD 2.2). On reviewing the normal radiograph, 158 (49.7%) overcalled injuries. Participants with EM or PEM background were equally likely to have more correct answers than those from paediatric or GP backgrounds. CONCLUSION: Globally, healthcare professional's success in correctly diagnosing paediatric elbow injuries from radiographs was suboptimal in this non-clinical exercise, despite capturing quite an experienced cohort of clinicians. This study has provided us with detailed baseline data to accurately assess the impact of interventions aimed at improving clinicians' interpretation of paediatric elbow radiographs in future studies.

Predictive values of indirect ultrasound signs for low risk of acute appendicitis in paediatric patients without visualisation of the appendix on ultrasound.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The ability to rule appendicitis in or out using ultrasound is limited by studies where the appendix is not visualised. We determined whether the absence of indirect ultrasound signs can rule out appendicitis in children undergoing a radiology-performed ultrasound in which the appendix is not visualised METHODS: This was a single-centre retrospective observational study of patients aged 3-13 with a clinical suspicion of acute appendicitis evaluated in a Paediatric Emergency Department in Spain from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2019. For those patients who had formal ultrasound, direct and indirect findings of ultrasound were abstracted from the ultrasound report. The surgical pathology report was established as the gold standard in patients who underwent an appendectomy. In those who did not, appendicitis was considered not to be present if there was no evidence in their charts that they had undergone an appendectomy or conservative therapy for appendicitis during the episode. The main outcome variable was the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. For patients undergoing ultrasound, the independent association of each indirect ultrasound sign with the diagnosis of appendicitis in patients without a visualised appendix was analysed using logistic regression. RESULTS: We included 1756 encounters from 1609 different episodes. Median age at the first visit of each episode was 10.1 years (IQR, 7.7-11.9) and 921 (57.2%) patients were men. There were 730 (41.6%) encounters with an Alvarado score ≤3, 695 (39.6%) with a score 4-6 and 331 (18.9%) with a score ≥7. Appendicitis was diagnosed in 293 (17.8%) episodes. Ultrasonography was performed in 1115 (61.6%) encounters, with a visualised appendix in 592 (53.1%).The ultrasound findings independently associated with appendicitis in patients without a visualised appendix were the presence of free intra-abdominal fluid in a small quantity (OR:5.0 (95% CI 1.7 to 14.6)) or in an abundant quantity (OR:30.9 (95% CI 3.8 to 252.7)) and inflammation of the peri-appendiceal fat (OR:7.2 (95% CI 1.4 to 38.0)). The absence of free fluid and inflammation of the peri-appendiceal fat ruled out acute appendicitis in patients with an Alvarado score <7 with a sensitivity of 84.6% (95% CI 57.8 to 95.7) and a negative predictive value of 99.4% (95% CI 97.8 to 99.8). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with an Alvarado score <7 and without a visualised appendix on ultrasound but who lack free fluid and inflammation of the peri-appendiceal fat are at very low risk of acute appendicitis.

[Particulars of sinogenic orbital complications in children]. / Besonderheiten der sinugenen orbitalen Komplikationen bei Kindern.

BACKGROUND: Sinogenic orbital complications in children are relatively rare but critical conditions that require accurate diagnosis and timely appropriate treatment to prevent severe sequelae. OBJECTIVE: This article concentrates on clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic specifics of sinogenic orbital complications in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The work is based on a literature review (PubMed, Google Scholar) and own experience as well as data from the authors' own pediatric population. RESULTS: In children, sinogenic orbital complications are usually secondary due to acute bacterial sinusitis. Correct distinction between pre- and postseptal cellulitis is of utmost importance for correct diagnostic and therapeutic management in order to prevent long-term sequelae. Preseptal cellulitis can be treated conservatively. If there are signs of postseptal involvement, prompt cross sectional imaging will be required. Depending on the severity of the postseptal involvement, surgical treatment may be necessary. CONCLUSION: Recent literature debates three main issues: 1) developing models for different combinations of symptoms that reliably distinguish between pre- and postseptal cellulitis; 2) selection of appropriate cross-sectional imaging (MRI vs. CT); and 3) indications for surgery. All three issues will be discussed in detail in this article.

Tracking Staff Mood and Concerns in a Pediatric Emergency Department During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: Few studies have monitored health care worker mood and job satisfaction changes longitudinally throughout an epidemic. The objective of this study was to track staff mood, job satisfaction, questions, and suggestions in a pediatric emergency department over 1 year during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. We hypothesized that staff would experience heightened negative emotions earlier in the pandemic due to uncertainty around hospital protocols and the coronavirus disease 2019 disease process. METHODS: A voluntary, cross sectional descriptive study using an anonymous electronic survey assessed job satisfaction and mood over 4 domains (sad-happy, angry-peaceful, exhausted-energized, fearful-confident) in pediatric emergency department staff members. Responses were reported with Likert scales and free-text fields. RESULTS: Of 272 survey responses, most were from nurses and clinical technicians (N = 173, 63.6%), followed by physicians and physician assistants (N = 55, 20.2%) and nonmedical staff (N = 44, 16.2%). Department-wide values for the fearful-confident and angry-peaceful domains increased over time (P = .001 and P = .01, respectively), indicating an overall more confident and peaceful mood in department staff. Job satisfaction did not change over time or by staff role. Nurses and clinical technicians reported the most exhaustion (P = .002), and physicians and physician assistants reported the most fear (P = .03). We received a total of 71 comments, which we grouped into 4 themes: protocols and procedures, personnel, infection risk, and miscellaneous. Comments submitted early in the pandemic centered around intradepartmental protocols and procedures, with a peak in staffing comments 5 months into the pandemic. DISCUSSION: An electronic survey monitoring mood, job satisfaction, and concerns in a pediatric emergency department identified mood changes in staff over the course of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Prevalence and severity of pediatric emergencies in a German helicopter emergency service: implications for training and service configuration.

This study primarily aims to determine the frequency of life-threatening conditions among pediatric patients served by the DRF, a German helicopter emergency service (HEMS) provider. It also seeks to explore the necessity of invasive procedures in this population, discussing the implications for HEMS crew training and service configuration based on current literature. We analyzed the mission registry from 31 DRF helicopter bases in Germany, focusing on 7954 children aged 10 or younger over a 5-year period (2014-2018). Out of 7954 identified children (6.2% of all primary missions), 2081 (26.2%) had critical conditions. Endotracheal intubation was needed in 6.5% of cases, while alternative airway management methods were rare (n = 14). Half of the children required intravenous access, and 3.6% needed intraosseous access. Thoracostomy thoracentesis and sonography were only performed in isolated cases.  Conclusions: Critically ill or injured children are infrequent in German HEMS operations. Our findings suggest that the likelihood of HEMS teams encountering such cases is remarkably low. Besides endotracheal intubation, life-saving invasive procedures are seldom necessary. Consequently, we conclude that on-the-job training and mission experience alone are insufficient for acquiring and maintaining the competencies needed to care for critically ill or injured children. What is Known: • Pediatric emergencies are relatively rare in the prehospital setting, but their incidence is higher in helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) compared to ground-based emergency services. What is New: • On average, HEMS doctors in Germany encounter a critically ill or injured child approximately every 1.5 years in their practice, establish an IV or IO access in infants or toddlers every 2 years, and intubate an infant every 46 years. • This low frequency highlights the insufficiency of on-the-job training alone to develop and maintain pediatric skills among HEMS crews. Specific interdisciplinary training for HEMS crews is needed to ensure effective care for critically unwell pediatric patients.

Hospitalization and evaluation of brief resolved unexplained events (BRUEs) from a statewide sample.

OBJECTIVE: The 2016 clinical practice guideline (CPG) replacing apparent life-threatening event (ALTE) with brief resolved unexplained event (BRUE) was associated with a reduction in hospitalizations and clinical testing among children with this condition in pediatric hospitals. However, as only a minority of acute-care encounters occur in dedicated pediatric centers, the overall effect of this CPG on children with ALTE/BRUE remains unknown. The purpose of this study is to examine changes in the diagnosis and management of BRUE in a statewide sample of non-pediatric hospitals following publication of the CPG. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of encounters of infants (<1 year) presenting to 178 non-pediatric Illinois Emergency Departments (EDs) between 2013 and 2019 with an International Classification of Disease (ICD) 9th and 10th revision billing code of ALTE or BRUE (799.82, ICD-9; R68.13, ICD-10). Our primary outcomes were counts of ALTE/BRUE and the percent of patients with ALTE/BRUE admitted and/or transferred to another facility. Our secondary outcome was clinical testing. We used interrupted time-series analysis for our primary outcome and chi-square testing for secondary outcomes. Results were stratified into academic and community EDs. RESULTS: This study included 4639 ED encounters for infants with BRUE that presented to academic EDs (2229; 48.0%) or community EDs (2410; 52.0%). At academic EDs, ALTE/BRUE diagnoses were increasing by 2.3 per quarter prior to the CPG publication and decreased by 0.5 per quarter after the CPG publication, representing a change in slope of -2.8 per quarter (p < 0.01). The percent of ALTE/BRUE patients admitted/transferred was decreasing by 0.1% per quarter in the pre-intervention period and decreased by 0.3% per quarter in the post-intervention period, representing a change in slope of 0.7% (p = 0.03). At community EDs, ALTE/BRUE diagnoses were increasing by 2.9 per quarter prior to the CPG publication and increased by 1.4 per quarter after the CPG publication, a non-significant change in slope. The percent of ALTE/BRUE patients admitted/transferred was decreasing by 1.6% in the pre-intervention period and decreased by 0.9% in the post-intervention period, a non-significant change in slope. At academic EDs, there was no significant change in clinical testing. At community EDs, a lower proportion of patients in the post-intervention period had chest radiographs, blood cultures, metabolic panels, blood counts, and urine testing, while a higher proportion had pertussis testing and respiratory pathogen testing. CONCLUSIONS: Counts of BRUE diagnoses and the overall proportion of children admitted or transferred showed a consistent decrease at academic EDs but had a nonsignificant change in trend at community EDs following the CPG publication in 2016. There was no significant change in clinical testing at academic EDs while community EDs had a significant decrease in some testing and an increase in other types of testing. Our findings suggest the need for greater implementation efforts in non-pediatric settings, specifically community EDs, where pediatric patients with BRUE present infrequently in order to optimize care for these children.

Insulin edema: An untypical etiology of anasarca in a 19-year old female presenting to a pediatric emergency department.

Pulmonary edema and anasarca are both common findings in patients presenting to emergency departments (ED). The differential diagnosis for these conditions is very wide and requires an initially broad approach that considers multiple organ systems. Insulin edema has been previously described in multiple case reports as a likely cause of acutely developing edema in mostly type I diabetics either initiating or increasing the intensity of their insulin regimens. This case report describes a 19-year-old female with history of type I diabetes mellitus recently admitted to the hospital for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) presenting to a pediatric emergency department (ED) with dyspnea and weight gain. The patient had been reportedly poorly compliant on her insulin therapy before her last admission for DKA and had strictly begun to adhere to her insulin therapy in the interim. Her clinical presentation was notable for hypoxia requiring supplemental oxygen, bilateral lower extremity pitting edema, weight gain of 30 kg since discharge 9 days ago, a chest Xray displaying bilateral pulmonary edema and a work-up otherwise unrevealing for cardiac, renal, or liver etiologies. She was then admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) on supplemental oxygen where through further evaluation she was determined to have insulin edema. This case details an unlikely etiology of anasarca and pulmonary edema, however diagnosing this condition highlights the broad diagnostic process that must be considered for any patient without known significant cardiac, renal, or liver history presenting with respiratory distress and anasarca especially on initial presentation to an emergency department.

The aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric mental health: A pediatric emergency department's perspective.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric mental health visits in the United States has become a public health crisis. Pediatric emergency departments (PED) encounter these patients during mental health emergencies. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the social environment of pediatric patients which potentially lead to new and worsening mental health issues. This study examined the proportion of mental health visits to PED around the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study assessed the proportion of mental health visits at a urban, PED between September 2019 to February 2022. Inclusion criteria were subjects aged 6 to 18 years with a holding order assigned, and one of identified mental health International Classification of Disease, Tenth Division (ICD-10) codes: F01-F99, T14.19, R45, R46.89. Proportion of mental health visits were compared in 6-month periods with the first 6-months representing the pre-COVID-19 period. Secondary analysis compared demographic information and ICD-10 codes. RESULTS: A total of 1036 charts were studied: 126 charts from 2019 to 2020, 512 from 2020 to 2021, and 398 from 2021 to 2022. The proportion of mental health visits from September 2019 to February 2020 was 1.4%, and for the following 6-month periods, the proportion of mental health visits was 1.2%, 7.5%, 4.9%, and 5.7%. There was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) demonstrating a higher proportion of mental health visits after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Secondary analysis demonstrated statistically significant difference in both median age (p < 0.001) and median length of hospitalization (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated a significant increase in pediatric mental health visits following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. We believe further investigation into the needs and management during acute surges will improve the care we provide to this vulnerable population.

Advanced Neuromonitoring Modalities on the Horizon: Detection and Management of Acute Brain Injury in Children.

Timely detection and monitoring of acute brain injury in children is essential to mitigate causes of injury and prevent secondary insults. Increasing survival in critically ill children has emphasized the importance of neuroprotective management strategies for long-term quality of life. In emergent and critical care settings, traditional neuroimaging modalities, such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), remain frontline diagnostic techniques to detect acute brain injury. Although detection of structural and anatomical abnormalities remains crucial, advanced MRI sequences assessing functional alterations in cerebral physiology provide unique diagnostic utility. Head ultrasound has emerged as a portable neuroimaging modality for point-of-care diagnosis via assessments of anatomical and perfusion abnormalities. Application of electroencephalography and near-infrared spectroscopy provides the opportunity for real-time detection and goal-directed management of neurological abnormalities at the bedside. In this review, we describe recent technological advancements in these neurodiagnostic modalities and elaborate on their current and potential utility in the detection and management of acute brain injury.

Infected Thornwaldt Cyst: Case Report of an Unusual Cause of Pediatric Neck Pain.

BACKGROUND: The differential diagnosis for pediatric neck pain is broad and includes benign and life-threatening entities. The neck is a complex structure with many compartments. Rare disease processes exist that can mimic more serious conditions, such as meningitis. CASE REPORT: We present a case of a teenager with several days of severe pain underneath her left jaw, limiting the motion of her neck. After laboratory and imaging evaluation, the patient was found to have an infected Thornwaldt cyst and was subsequently admitted for IV antibiotic treatment. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Including infected congenital cysts on the differential for pediatric neck pain can help ensure appropriate use of invasive procedures, such as lumbar puncture. Missed cases of infected congenital cysts could lead to patients returning to the emergency department with persistent or worsened symptoms.