Mark Leber

A retrospective look at length of stay for pediatric psychiatric patients in an urban emergency department.

Objective: The objective of the study was to compare the length of stay (LOS) of patients with psychiatric diagnoses in a pediatric emergency department (ED) to that of patients with nonpsychiatric diagnoses. Methods: This is a retrospective review of all patients younger than 19 years with psychiatric conditions, who presented to an urban teaching hospital ED with psychiatric symptoms, from January 2004 to December 2007. A control group of patients with nonpsychiatric diagnoses was selected over a random 4-day period. Emergency department LOS (in minutes) of nonpsychiatric versus psychiatric patients was compared. Length of stay was determined from the time of triage to disposition (discharge or admission). Patients with psychiatric diagnoses were further classified into 1 of 2 categories: major psychiatric diagnoses (bipolar disorder, psychoses, major depression, suicidal attempt or ideation, homicidal ideation, and hallucination) and minor psychiatric diagnoses (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, adjustment disorder, anxiety or panic attack, and behavioral issues). Results: A total of 1468 patients with psychiatric diagnoses visited the ED. Three hundred eighty-two patients had major psychiatric diagnoses, and 1086 patients had minor psychiatric diagnoses. The control group (patients with nonpsychiatric diagnosis) consisted of 345 patients. Mean LOS of nonpsychiatric patients was 160 minutes (95% confidence interval [CI], 142-177 minutes); LOS for minor psychiatric patients was 737 minutes (95% CI, 670-803 minutes) and 1127 minutes for major psychiatric patients (95% CI, 972-1283 minutes). On the other hand, median LOS of nonpsychiatric patients was 129 minutes; minor psychiatric patients, 328 minutes; and major psychiatric patients, 437.5 minutes. Kruskal-Wallis test showed a significant difference between each group with P = 0.0001. Conclusions: The LOS was significantly higher in patients with psychiatric diagnoses. The mean and median for LOS both rose steadily from nonpsychiatric to major psychiatric diagnoses.

Impact of operational staging to improve patient throughput in an inner-city emergency department during the novel H1N1 influenza surge: a descriptive study.

Background A level 1 pediatric emergency department (ED) in a public hospital of South Bronx rapidly encountered a significant surge in ED patient census over several days as the novel H1N1 influenza outbreak occurred. Our aim was to identify ill patients with influenza-like illness and evaluate and treat them as expeditiously as possible without failing in our responsibility to treat all patients. We describe the ED response to the outbreak during 2009 H1N1-related visits. Objective The objective of this study was to describe and compare pediatric ED visits during the fall 2009 H1N1 to that in the previous year. Methods The department reorganized patient flow in the ED to maximize the understanding of where to best apportion our resources and to minimize walkout and return visit rates. We developed staging of the flow of patients. This included, but was not limited to, a rapid screening at pretriage stage, early registration before the formal triage, and expanding the service. We compared walkout rates during fall 2009 and fall 2008. Return visits for asthmatic patients within 7 days were also compared. Results Over a period of 48 days, 8841 patients visited the pediatric ED. The average number of visits during this outbreak was 184 per day (usual visits per day, 80–110). Overall ED visits increased by 93.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 78.2%–109.6%; P < 0.001). Fifty-two patients tested positive for H1N1. The walkout rate was 2.9% (95% CI, 1.9%–4.0%) in 2009 compared with the walkout rate of 1.5% (95% CI, 1.0%–2.0%) in 2008. There were no statistically significant differences between walkouts (P = 0.06) and 7-day asthma revisits (P = 0.07) in 2008 and 2009 despite the almost doubling of the ED visits. Admission rates from 2009 did not significantly differ from 2008 (11.2% [990/8841] vs 10.2% [464/4560], P = 0.07). Conclusions Staging of a surge volume allows ED administrators to maintain a strong control of a multipatient event to ensure an effective response and appropriate use of limited resources. The implementation of the reorganized measures during the fall 2009 H1N1-related surge in patient’s visits resulted in improved patient flow without significant increase in walkout and 7-day asthma revisit rates. Our strategies accommodated the surge of patients in the ED.

A Reexamination of the Accuracy of the Broselow Tape as an Instrument for Weight Estimation.

Background Accurate weight estimation is important for calculating appropriate medication dosages, determining rates of fluid replacement, and selecting correct equipment sizes in critically ill children requiring resuscitation. The actual measurement of the weight of a critically ill or injured child is often not possible. The Broselow Pediatric Emergency Tape (BT) is an important tool for predicting a child’s weight based on his/her height. Although BT has previously been validated, given the increasing prevalence of obesity in today’s society, it behooves clinicians relying on this resuscitation aid to revisit the issue. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the color-coded BT in weight estimation and the influence of obesity on its accuracy. Methods This is a retrospective study conducted in a pediatric clinic of urban hospital. This study reviewed the medical records of children up to 96 months of age, who presented during 2008–2010. We recorded the child’s age (in months), actual (measured) weight (in kilograms), and height (in centimeters). Based on the height, weight estimation was obtained using the color-coded BT. The actual weight was compared with the predicted weight obtained by the height-based BT. Patients presenting with any medical condition that would substantially affect growth of the child were excluded. A univariate logistic regression model was utilized to predict any underestimation based on age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) percentile. Results The medical records of 538 children were reviewed. There was a discrepancy in 226 children (42%). Broselow Pediatric Emergency Tape underestimated weight (measured weight was higher than predicted weight) in 158 children (29.4%) and overestimated (measured weight was lower than predicted weight) in 68 children (12.6%). Of the 158 underestimated children, 138 were off by 1 color zone, 16 by 2 color zones, and 4 by more than 2 color zones. When characterized by BMI, 46 children (13.6%) had normal BMI, 27 (45.8%) were overweight, and 84 (80.8%) were obese, whereas one child (2.8%) was underweight. Conclusions In our population, BT was inaccurate in predicting weight in 42% of children (underestimation in 158 children [29.4%] and overestimation weight in 68 children [12.6%]). However, the majority of discrepancies involved only 1 BT color zone. Emergency physicians should be aware of this discrepancy until more accurate methods become available.

Can a Simple Urinalysis Predict the Causative Agent and the Antibiotic Sensitivities

Objectives The objective of this study was (1) to determine the reliability of urinalysis (UA) for predicting urinary tract infection (UTI) in febrile children, (2) to determine whether UA findings can predict Escherichia coli versus non–E. coli urinary tract infection, and (3) to determine if empiric antibiotics should be selected based on E. coli versus non–E. coli infection predictions. Methods This was a retrospective chart review of children from 2 months to 2 years of age who presented to the emergency department with fever (rectal temperature >100.4°F) and had a positive urine culture. This study was conducted between January 2004 and December 2007. Negative UA was defined as urine white blood cell count less than 5 per high-power field, negative leukocyte esterase, and negative nitrites. Urine cultures were classified into E. coli and non–E. coli groups. These groups were compared for sex, race, and UA findings. Multivariate forward logistic regression, using the Wald test, was performed to calculate the likelihood ratio (LR) of each variable (eg, sex, race, UA parameters) in predicting UTI. In addition, antibiotic sensitivities between both groups were compared. Results Of 749 medical records reviewed, 608 were included; negative UA(−) was present in 183 cases, and positive UA(+) was observed in 425 cases. Furthermore, 424 cases were caused by E. coli, and 184 were due to non–E. coli organisms. Among 425 UA(+) cases, E. coli was identified in 349 (82.1%), whereas non–E. coli organisms were present in 76 (17.9%); in contrast, in 183 UA(−) cases, 108 (59%) were due to non–E. coli organisms versus 75 (41%), which were caused by E. coli. Urinalysis results were shown to be associated with organism group (P < 0.001). Positive leukocytes esterase had an LR of 2.5 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.5–4.2), positive nitrites had an LR of 2.8 (95% CI, 1.4–5.5), and urine white blood cell count had an LR of 1.8 (95% CI, 1.3–2.4) in predicting E. coli versus non–E. coli infections. Antibiotic sensitivity compared between UA groups demonstrated equivalent superiority of cefazolin (94.7% sensitive in UA(+) vs 84.0% in UA(−) group; P < 0.0001), cefuroxime (98.2% vs 91.7%; P < 0.001), and nitrofurantoin (96.1% vs 82.2%; P < 0.0001) in the UA(+) group. In contrast, the UA(−) group showed significant sensitivity to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (82.2% vs 71.3% in UA(+); P = 0.008). Conclusions Urinalysis is not an accurate predictor of UTI. A positive urine culture in the presence of negative UA most likely grew non–E. coli organisms, whereas most UA(+) results were associated with E. coli. This study also highlighted local patterns of antibiotic resistance between E. coli and non–E. coli groups. Negative UA results in the presence of strong suspicion of a UTI suggest a non–E. coli organism, which may be best treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Conversely, UA(+) results suggest E. coli, which calls for treatment with cefazolin or cefuroxime.

Utility of Blood Culture in Uncomplicated Pneumonia in Children

Background It is believed to be the standard of care to obtain a blood culture in a child who is hospitalized for pneumonia. In recent years, many studies have questioned the utility of this practice in the presence of age appropriate immunization. We conducted this study to determine the current prevalence of bacteremia in children with uncomplicated pneumonia and the utility of obtaining blood cultures in these children. Objective To evaluate the risk of bacteremia in hospitalized young children with pneumonia. Methods This was a retrospective review from July 2003 until July 2008. The setting was the pediatric emergency department of an urban teaching hospital. The study population included children under 36 months of age who had been fully immunized and who had been hospitalized with radiographic evidence of uncomplicated pneumonia. Excluded were children who were currently using antibiotics or who had used antibiotics within the previous 48 hours, as well as children with immunodeficiency status such as sickle cell anemia, immunoglobulin deficiency, or children on steroid therapy. The radiologists interpretation of each chest radiograph was reviewed and recorded. The variables studied were age (in months), gender, race, birth history, pneumococcal vaccination status, appearance on arrival, temperature on arrival, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil count, band count, and urine culture. The chi-square test and logistic regression were used to analyze the data. Results A blood culture was obtained in 535 children hospitalized with radiographic pneumonia. Bacteremia was present in 12 children (2.2%). All organisms isolated from the blood cultures were considered contaminants. Conclusion Children hospitalized with uncomplicated pneumonia have a low rate of positive blood cultures. None of the variables studied predicted bacteremia. The absence of true-positive cultures among the organisms isolated suggests little value in obtaining blood cultures in children hospitalized due to uncomplicated pneumonia.

Use of Cough and Cold Medications in Severe Bronchiolitis before and after a Health Advisory Warning against Their Use

We compared the use of cough and cold medications in 2 multicenter studies of young children hospitalized with bronchiolitis before and after the 2008 Food and Drug Administration cough and cold medications advisory. Although cough and cold medication use decreased after the advisory, nearly 20% of children age 12-23.9 months with severe bronchiolitis received cough and cold medications.

Factors Predicting Asthma in Children With Acute Bronchiolitis.

Objective The aim of this study was to determine if there is an association between bronchiolitis and future development of asthma in children younger than 2 years. Methods We reviewed the medical records of 1991 patients younger than 2 years presenting to the emergency department from January 2000 to December 2010 who received a clinical diagnosis of acute bronchiolitis. Their demographic information, the number of bronchiolitis episodes, and family history of asthma were recorded. The primary care clinic records of these children were reviewed for a period of 1 year following their presentation to the emergency department to determine if they had received a diagnosis of asthma. A stepwise logistic regression was performed to determine what factors were associated with future asthma development. Results We reviewed the medical record of 1991 children with the diagnosis of bronchiolitis for subsequent development of asthma. The following variables were identified as predictors of subsequent asthma: male sex (odds ratio [OR], 1.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05–1.55), family history of asthma (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.33–1.95), atopy (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.12–1.83), age older than 5 months (OR, 1.4 95% CI, 1.13–1.66), more than 2 episodes of bronchiolitis (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.79–3.07), and allergies (OR1.6; 95% CI, 1.14–2.14). Conclusions In this limited sample, the predictor variables for asthma were male sex, age older than 5 months, more than 2 episodes of bronchiolitis, a history of atopy, and allergies.

An innovative approach to orotracheal intubations: the Alexandrou Angle of Intubation position.

Visualization of the vocal cords is paramount during orotracheal intubations. We employed a novel patient position in this derivation study. The Alexandrou Angle of Intubation (AAI) position is defined as a 20°-30° incline where the supine patients head is elevated in relation to the body and legs. Our study participants were blinded to the goals of the research as well as our novel technique. Using intubation manikins, our participants ranked their preference for visualizing the vocal cords between the Flat, Trendelenburg, and AAI positions. A majority (58.8%) of our study participants preferred the AAI for visualizing the vocal cords over the other two positions. Future studies will reveal whether AAI will play a significant role in emergent airway management.