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[Activity of pediatric emergency departments in 1991]
Insights
This study surveyed 3,611 children in a pediatric emergency ward, finding traumatology and respiratory infections as primary reasons for visits. Recent French legislation aims to enhance pediatric emergency care quality.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Public Health Surveillance
Context:
- Prospective survey conducted over 124 days, encompassing one month from each season.
- Involved 3,611 children at the Lenval's hospital pediatric emergency ward in Nice.
- Demographic analysis revealed a majority of boys (60.8%) and children over 7 years old (56.8%).
Purpose:
- To analyze the profile and management of children presenting to a pediatric emergency department.
- To assess the types of medical and surgical etiologies encountered.
- To evaluate the utilization of diagnostic investigations and treatments.
Summary:
- Traumatology was the leading surgical cause, accounting for a significant portion of cases and 23% of emergencies.
- Upper respiratory infections, bronchopulmonary infections, and gastroenteritis constituted 70% of medical reasons for consultation.
- Radiological examinations were common (53.6%), with wound sutures (13%) and plaster immobilizations (9.2%) also frequently performed.
Impact:
- Hospitalization rate was 22%, with 1.8% of cases classified as emergencies.
- Surgical interventions under general anesthesia occurred in 4.4% of cases within 12 hours of admission.
- New French legislation mandates continuous activity and medical presence in public emergency departments, potentially improving pediatric care quality.
Abstract:
The authors report the results of a prospective survey concerning the children examined in the pediatric emergency ward of the Lenval's hospital in Nice. The study was conducted over a period of 124 days, one month of each season, and included 3,611 children. There was a majority of boys (60.8%) and children older than 7 years (56.8%). The representation of foreign children was 11.2%. Most of the consultations were decided by the parents (86%); 6.2% were sent by a general practitioner and 1.1% by a pediatrician; 6.5% were conveyed through a professional public health service transport. Traumatology was the main surgical etiology and supplied the large majority of benign cases and 23% of the emergencies. Upper respiratory and bronchopulmonary tract infections and gastroenteritis represented 70% of medical etiologies. A complementary investigation, essentially a radiological examination, was carried out in 53.6% of cases. A wound suture was performed in 13% and a plaster immobilization in 9.2% of cases. The hospitalisation's rate was 22%. Emergencies represented 1.8% of cases. A surgical intervention with general anesthesia was performed in 4.4% of cases within 12 hours following the admission. A recent law (ministerial circular: 14.05, 1991) defines the organisation and working principles of the public emergency departments in France as requiring an uninterrupted activity, a continuous medical presence and an area for very short hospitalization. This should improve the quality of the pediatric emergency wards, providing that the financial means will be available.