Examination of disparities in prehospital encounters for pediatric asthma exacerbations.

Introduction: There are disparities in multiple aspects of pediatric asthma care; however, prehospital care disparities are largely undescribed. This study's objective was to examine racial and geographic disparities in emergency medical services (EMS) medication administration to pediatric patients with asthma.

Methods: This is a substudy of the Early Administration of Steroids in the Ambulance Setting: An Observational Design Trial, which includes data from pediatric asthma patients ages 2-18 years.

Early Administration of Steroids in the Ambulance Setting: An Observational Design Trial (EASI-AS-ODT).

Background: In the emergency department (ED), prompt administration of systemic corticosteroids for pediatric asthma exacerbations decreases hospital admission rates. However, there is sparse evidence for whether earlier administration of systemic corticosteroids by emergency medical services (EMS) clinicians, prior to ED arrival, further improves pediatric asthma outcomes.

Methods: Early Administration of Steroids in the Ambulance Setting: An Observational Design Trial is a multicenter, observational, nonrandomized stepped-wedge design study with seven participating EMS agencies who adopted an oral systemic corticosteroid (OCS) into their protocols for pediatric asthma treatment.

Utilizing Near-Infrared Spectroscopy to Identify Pediatric Trauma Patients Needing Lifesaving Interventions: A Prospective Study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to prospectively investigate the role of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in identifying pediatric trauma patients who required lifesaving interventions (LSIs).

Methods: Prospective cohort study of children age 0 to 18 years who activated the trauma team response between August 15, 2017, and February 12, 2019, at a large, urban pediatric emergency department (ED).The relationship between the lowest somatic NIRS saturation and the need for LSIs (based on published consensus definition) was investigated.

Updates on pediatric sepsis.

Sepsis, defined as an infection with dysregulated host response leading to life-threatening organ dysfunction, continues to carry a high potential for morbidity and mortality in children. The recognition of sepsis in children in the emergency department (ED) can be challenging, related to the high prevalence of common febrile infections, poor specificity of discriminating features, and the capacity of children to compensate until advanced stages of shock. Sepsis outcomes are strongly dependent on the timeliness of recognition and treatment, which has led to the successful implementation of quality improvement programs, increasing the reliability of sepsis treatment in many US institutions.

Utilizing Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) to Identify Pediatric Trauma Patients Needing Lifesaving Interventions (LSIs): A Retrospective Study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in identifying pediatric trauma patients who required lifesaving interventions (LSIs).

Methods: Retrospective chart review of children age 0 to 18 years who activated the trauma team response between January 1, 2015 and August 14, 2017, at a large, urban pediatric emergency department. The lowest somatic NIRS saturation and the need for LSIs (based on published consensus definition) were abstracted from the chart.