Point-of-care lung ultrasound score for predicting escalated care in children with respiratory distress.

PURPOSE: Respiratory distress due to lower respiratory illnesses is a leading cause of death in children. Early recognition of high-risk populations is critical for the allocation of adequate resources. Our goal was to assess whether the lung ultrasound (US) score obtained at admission in children with respiratory distress predicts the need for escalated care. METHODS: This prospective study included 0-18-year-old patients with respiratory distress admitted to three emergency departments in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, between July 2019 and September 2021. The enrolled patients underwent lung US performed by a pediatric emergency physician within two hours of arrival. Lung ultrasound scores ranging from 0 to 36 were computed. The primary outcome was the need for high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), noninvasive ventilation (NIV), or mechanical ventilation within 24 h. RESULTS: A total of 103 patients were included. The diagnoses included wheezing (33%), bronchiolitis (27%), pneumonia (16%), asthma (9%), and miscellaneous (16%). Thirty-five patients (34%) required escalated care and had a higher lung ultrasound score: median 13 (0-34) vs 2 (0-21), p < 0.0001; area under the curve (AUC): 0.81 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.71-0.90). The best cut-off score derived from Youden's index was seven (sensitivity: 71.4%; specificity: 79.4%; odds ratio (OR): 9.6 [95% CI: 3.8-24.7]). A lung US score above 12 was highly specific and had a positive likelihood ratio of 8.74 (95% CI:3.21-23.86). CONCLUSION: An elevated lung US score measured in the first assessment of children with any type of respiratory distress was predictive of severity as defined by the need for escalated care with HFNC, NIV, or mechanical ventilation.

Air Rescue for Pediatric Trauma in a Metropolitan Region of Brazil: Profiles, Outcomes, and Overtriage Rates.

Besides ensuring a quick response and transport of trauma victims, helicopter support also involves risks to patients and professionals and has higher operational costs. Studying prehospital triage criteria and their relationship with patient overtriage and outcomes is important, particularly in newly established services and in developing countries with limited health budgets. This could help improve the use of the helicopter rescue and provide better management of the costs and risks related to it. The objective of this study was to determine the epidemiologic and severity profiles of pediatric victims of trauma attended by helicopter in a Brazilian Metropolitan Area to evaluate the outcomes and overtriage rates related to pediatric air rescue in the region. We conducted an observational and retrospective study using 49 hospital and prehospital records from victims of trauma aged <18 years old (yo) assisted by helicopter and then transferred to a tertiary University Hospital. Of the 49 patients, 39 (79.6%) individuals were male, and the mean age was 11.3 yo. Vehicular collisions accounted for 15 (30.6%) of the traumas, and traumatic brain injuries occurred in 28 (57.1%) cases. A total of 29 (59.1%) individuals had severe trauma (Injury Severity Score; ISS >15), and 34 (69.4%) required admission to the intensive care unit. Overtriage varied from 18.4 to 40.8% depending on the criteria used for its definition, being more frequent in individuals aged between 1 and 5 yo. Death occurred in 10 (20.4%) patients. On prehospital evaluation, we classified 29/32 (90.6%) patients with severe trauma according to the Pediatric Trauma Score (PTS ≤8) and 18/25 (72%) according to the Revised Trauma Score (RTS ≤11). Of these, 7/29 (24.1%) and 6/18 (33.3%), respectively, presented ISS <15 at in-hospital evaluation. None of the patients with PTS >8 and 3/7 (42.8%) of those with RTS >11 presented ISS >15. In conclusion, air rescue of pediatric trauma victims was used mainly for critically ill individuals, resulting in rates of overtriage compatible with that found in the literature. PTS showed the lowest rates of overtriage within excellent rates of undertriage.

Clinical features and outcome of children and adolescents hospitalized with influenza A (H1N1) virus infection compared with flu-like symptoms and negative rapid tests for influenza A (H1N1) admitted in the same period of time.

This report describes the clinical features and outcome of 61 pediatric hospitalized patients with influenza-like infection. Fever, cough and respiratory distress were the most common symptoms of the infection. Fifteen patients presented positive RT-PCR results for influenza A (H1N1). The group with positive results was compared with the negative one. The main significant difference was antibiotic usage and the need of mechanical ventilation in the patients with H1N1-virus infection. Among the 11 patients who required intensive care due to respiratory failure, 3 from the positive group died and none from the negative group.

Factors associated with infant death after apparent life-threatening event (ALTE).

OBJECTIVE: To detect factors associated with greater risk of death in infants after an apparent life-threatening event (ALTE). METHODS: This cross-sectional, retrospective, descriptive and analytic study evaluated infants younger than 12 months who had a sudden event of cyanosis, pallor, hypotonia or apnea and were seen in the emergency department of a tertiary university hospital. Forward stepwise logistic regression (Wald) was used to calculate and adjust odds ratios to evaluate associations. RESULTS: Mean age of the 145 patients included in the study was 105 days (median = 65 days). Eleven (7.6%) died, and their mean age was 189 days (median = 218 days). Mean age of survivors was 98 days (median = 62 days) (p = 0.003). Activity before the event, prematurity and number of events were not associated with death. A significant association was found with pallor. Of the 11 infants, 3 had spontaneous resolution of ALTE, whereas 8 patients [27.6%; p < 0.001; OR = 14.3 (95%CI 3.51-58.3)] did not. The associations with respiratory or cardiovascular disease were also significant. In multivariate analysis, immediate spontaneous resolution [p = 0.015; OR = 6.06 (95%CI 1.02-35.94)] and diagnosis of cardiovascular disease [p = 0.047; OR = 164.27 (95%CI 7.34-3.673.78)] remained statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Infants who experienced an ALTE had a higher risk of subsequent death when their age was greater than 6 months and the event had a long duration, particularly when ALTE was associated with cardiovascular disease.

Fatores associados ao óbito em lactentes após eventos com aparente risco de morte (apparent life-threatening event, ALTE) / Factors associated with infant death after apparent life-threatening event (ALTE)

OBJETIVO: Identificar, na admissão dos lactentes com após eventos com aparente risco de morte (apparent life-threatening event, ALTE), fatores que possam indicar maior risco de evolução para o óbito. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal retrospectivo, descritivo e analítico com lactentes menores de 12 meses, com evento súbito de cianose, palidez, hipotonia e/ou apneia, atendidos na unidade de emergência de hospital universitário de nível terciário. Para avaliação da associação, determinaram-se os valores de odds ratio bruto e ajustado por regressão logística (método stepwise forward Wald). RESULTADOS: Foram avaliados 145 pacientes com idade média de 105 dias (mediana = 65 dias). Onze (7,6 por cento) evoluíram para óbito, com idade média de 189 dias (mediana = 218 dias), enquanto que a idade média dos sobreviventes foi de 98 dias (mediana = 62 dias) (p = 0,003). Atividades que precederam o evento, antecedente de prematuridade e número de episódios não apresentaram associação com o óbito. Apresentou relação significativa o relato de palidez pelos observadores. Entre os 11 lactentes, 3 apresentaram melhora imediata e espontânea; já 8 pacientes [27,6 por cento; p < 0,001; OR = 14,3 (IC95 por cento 3,51-58,3)] não tiveram melhora espontânea. Os diagnósticos de doença do trato respiratório e do sistema cardiocirculatório também foram significantes. Na análise multivariada, mostraram significância estatística: não melhora imediata e espontânea [p = 0,015; OR = 6,06 (IC95 por cento 1,02-35,94)] e diagnóstico de doença do sistema cardiocirculatório [p = 0,047; OR = 164,27 (IC95 por cento 7,34-3.673,78)]. CONCLUSÃO: Os lactentes que apresentaram ALTE tiveram maior risco de óbito quando presentes na faixa etária acima dos 6 meses e quando os eventos tiveram duração prolongada, principalmente quando ocorreram como manifestação de doenças do sistema cardiocirculatório.

OBJECTIVE: To detect factors associated with greater risk of death in infants after an apparent life-threatening event (ALTE). METHODS: This cross-sectional, retrospective, descriptive and analytic study evaluated infants younger than 12 months who had a sudden event of cyanosis, pallor, hypotonia or apnea and were seen in the emergency department of a tertiary university hospital. Forward stepwise logistic regression (Wald) was used to calculate and adjust odds ratios to evaluate associations. RESULTS: Mean age of the 145 patients included in the study was 105 days (median = 65 days). Eleven (7.6 percent) died, and their mean age was 189 days (median = 218 days). Mean age of survivors was 98 days (median = 62 days) (p = 0.003). Activity before the event, prematurity and number of events were not associated with death. A significant association was found with pallor. Of the 11 infants, 3 had spontaneous resolution of ALTE, whereas 8 patients [27.6 percent; p < 0.001; OR = 14.3 (95 percentCI 3.51-58.3)] did not. The associations with respiratory or cardiovascular disease were also significant. In multivariate analysis, immediate spontaneous resolution [p = 0.015; OR = 6.06 (95 percentCI 1.02-35.94)] and diagnosis of cardiovascular disease [p = 0.047; OR = 164.27 (95 percentCI 7.34-3.673.78)] remained statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Infants who experienced an ALTE had a higher risk of subsequent death when their age was greater than 6 months and the event had a long duration, particularly when ALTE was associated with cardiovascular disease.

Children at danger: injury fatalities among children in San Diego County.

External causes of death are important in the pediatric population worldwide. We performed an analysis of all injury-fatalities in children between ages zero and 17 years, between January 2000 and December 2006, in San Diego County, California, United States of America. Information was obtained from the County of San Diego Medical Examiner's database. External causes were selected and grouped by intent and mechanism. Demographics, location of death and relation between the injury mechanism and time of death were described. There were 884 medico-legal examinations, of which 480 deaths were due to external causes. There majority were males (328, 68.3%) and whites (190, 39.6%). The most prevalent mechanism of injury leading to death was road traffic accidents (40.2%), followed by asphyxia (22.7%) and penetrating trauma (17.7%). Unintentional injuries occurred in 65.8% and intentional injuries, including homicide and suicide, occurred in 24.2 and 9.4%, respectively. Death occurred at the scene in 196 cases (40.9%). Most deaths occurred in highways (35.3%) and at home (28%). One hundred forty-six patients (30.4%) died in the first 24 h. Seven percent died 1 week after the initial injury. Among the cases that died at the scene, 48.3% were motor vehicle accidents, 20.9% were victims of firearms, 6.5% died from poisoning, 5% from hanging, and 4% from drowning. External causes remain an important cause of death in children in San Diego County. Specific strategies to decrease road-traffic accidents and homicides must be developed and implemented to reduce the burden of injury-related deaths in children.

Beach and campfire burns: a site of pleasure and tragedy.

Seasonal use of campground bonfires and beach fire pits is a common practice. A sense of fellowship is derived from this experience. Unfortunately, many people are injured by these fires. It was the objective of this study to quantify and better identify those factors that lead to these injuries. A retrospective review of patients injured from a beach or campground, fire pits, or bonfires was conducted using data from a regional burn registry (1999-2007). Patients sustaining burns serious enough to merit admission were included in this study. Demographic information, circumstances surrounding the injury events, size and location of burn, operative procedures, length of stay, and outcomes were analyzed. There were 3083 patients admitted to the burn center of which 241 met criteria for inclusion in this study. Each year, between 12 and 39 patients were injured by this mechanism; 84% were men. Ages fell into two discrete groups; young age (2-9 years) and adults (18-64 years). Alcohol was a contributing factor in 60.6% of adult burns. The areas of burn, by location and rank order include upper extremities (35.3% of patients), thorax/abdomen/buttocks (32.8%), lower extremities (30.7%), and hands (29.5%). The mean TBSA was 6.1% (1-100%). Approximately 80.7% of the patients sustained combination partial- and full-thickness burns whereas, 4.2% were only partial and 5.1% only full-thickness burns; 36.6% of the patients required skin grafting. The mean length of stay was 8.6 days. There were four fatalities including one suicide. Burn injuries from recreational bonfires remain a problem in our community. Beaches were the most common location for these injuries. Universal safeguards to prevent burn injury should be implemented, including designated areas for fires, protective mechanical barriers to keep children and adults from inadvertently walking or falling into the fire pit. Disposal areas for hot coals from fires or charcoal grills must be furnished and usage strictly enforced. Consideration of the elimination of free-standing beach bonfires should be considered.

Acidentes com crianças e sua evolução na região de Campinas, SP / Accidents with children in the region of Campinas, Brazil

Objetivos: Avaliar prospectivamente acidentes em unidades hospitalar, deterninando as causas mais freqüentes, com a finalidade de estabelecer bases para programas de prevenção. Métodos: O estudo abrangeu de março de 1997 a fevereiro de 1998. Todas as crianças até 14 anos vítimas de acidente tiveram seus dados de entrada anotados em ficha padronizada. Resultados: Foram atendidas 3.214 crianças vítimas de acidentes, representando 11,4 por cento do total. Predominou o sexo masculino (62,1 por cento). Os acidentes foram mais freqüêntes entre 9 e 13 anos (33,4 por cento), 2 e 5 anos (27,2 por cento) e 5 a 9 anos (25,5 por cento). Em 74 por cento houve traumatismo, devido principalmente quedas. O TCE foi importante nos menores de 1 ano, e o de membros entre 9 e 13 anos. Picadas e mordeduras ocorreram predominantemente entre os 5 e 13 anos e as intoxicações exógenas e acidentes com corpo estranho 2 e 5 anos. As queimaduras, entre os menores de 5 anos. 89,7 por cento dos atendimentos foram de baixa complexidade, mas 20 pacientes foram encaminhados para a UTI e ocorreram 4 óbitos em sala de emergência. Conclusões: A criança acima de 9 anos, menino, com traumatismo de membros por queda foi o caso de acidente mais freqüente. Programas de prevenção devem ter como alvo faixas etárias específicas. Os acidentes sobrecarregam serviços terciários com atendimentos de baixa complexidade. É necessário habilitar os centros de atenção primária para os casos de baixa complexidade