Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 17, 2026
14:39
Bronchial Thermoplasty: A Novel Therapeutic Approach to Severe Asthma
Published on: November 4, 2010
32.6K
Discharge Criteria for Bronchiolitis: An Unmet Need
Cristina Garcia-Mauriño1, Melissa Moore-Clingenpeel2, Rebecca Wallihan3
1From the Center for Vaccines and Immunity.
The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
|December 1, 2017
Summary
A new discharge protocol for bronchiolitis significantly reduced hospital length of stay (LOS) for children under two years old. This standardized approach did not increase readmission rates, improving patient care.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Hospital Management
Background:
- Bronchiolitis management guidelines exist, but discharge criteria are inconsistent.
- Limited guidance on discharge criteria for bronchiolitis impacts patient care.
- This study assesses a standardized discharge protocol's impact on clinical outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a standardized discharge protocol for hospitalized children with bronchiolitis.
- To determine the protocol's impact on length of stay (LOS) and readmission rates.
- To assess the benefits of uniform discharge criteria and oxygen weaning pathways.
Main Methods:
- A discharge protocol with objective clinical criteria and oxygen weaning was implemented in one ward (infectious diseases) but not others (non-ID).
- Children under two hospitalized with bronchiolitis were identified using ICD-9 codes.
- Length of stay (LOS) and 2-week readmission rates were compared between the ID and non-ID wards, with adjustments for demographic factors, comorbidities, and viral etiology.
Main Results:
- The standardized discharge protocol was associated with a 36% longer length of stay (LOS) in non-ID units compared to ID units.
- This difference in LOS remained significant after excluding children with comorbidities and stratifying by pediatric intensive care unit admission.
- Readmission rates were similar between the ID (2.9%) and non-ID (2.6%) units.
Conclusions:
- A standardized discharge protocol for bronchiolitis effectively reduced length of stay (LOS) without increasing readmission rates.
- Implementing uniform bronchiolitis discharge criteria and oxygen weaning pathways can enhance hospital-based patient care.
- Standardized protocols are crucial for optimizing management of pediatric respiratory infections.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:29Acute Respiratory Failure-V
525
The treatment for acute respiratory failure varies based on factors like the underlying cause, overall health, and severity. A collaborative healthcare team is essential for early detection, often through arterial blood gas analysis. Identifying the cause is the primary goal, with treatment strategies adjusted for ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) mismatch, shunting, or diffusion impairment.
Ensure that patients are monitored continuously for their response to therapy, including changes in...
Ensure that patients are monitored continuously for their response to therapy, including changes in...
525
01:17Pulmonary Cycle: Exhalation
3.9K
In terms of human respiration, the act of expelling air, known as exhalation (or expiration), operates on the principle of pressure gradients. During expiration, the pressure within the lungs exceeds that of the surrounding atmosphere. Under normal conditions, quiet breathing involves passive exhalation and is free of muscular contractions. This is because the exhalation process is driven by the natural elastic recoil of the lungs and chest wall, both of which have an inherent tendency to...
3.9K
01:05Breathing
64.8K
The process of breathing, inhaling and exhaling, involves the coordinated movement of the chest wall, the lungs, and the muscles that move them. Two muscle groups with important roles in breathing are the diaphragm, located directly below the lungs, and the intercostal muscles, which lie between the ribs. When the diaphragm contracts, it moves downward, increasing the volume of the thoracic cavity and creating more room for the lungs to expand. When the intercostal muscles contract, the ribs...
64.8K
01:21Acute Respiratory Failure-II
1.2K
Type I Respiratory Failure, or hypoxemic respiratory failure, occurs when the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) in arterial blood falls below 60 mmHg while breathing room air without a corresponding increase in arterial carbon dioxide levels (PaCO2). This condition highlights a significant impairment in the lungs' capacity to oxygenate the blood.
The underlying physiological abnormalities that contribute to hypoxemic respiratory failure include:
The underlying physiological abnormalities that contribute to hypoxemic respiratory failure include:
1.2K
01:21Acute Respiratory Failure-I
1.1K
Acute respiratory failure is a condition characterized by the inability of the lungs to perform their primary function: gas exchange. This failure leads to insufficient oxygen levels (hypoxemia) in the blood, elevated carbon dioxide levels (hypercapnia), or both, causing critical impairment in organ function.
Definition: It is defined by specific criteria based on blood gas measurements. Hypoxemia happens when the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) falls below 60 mmHg. At the same time,...
Definition: It is defined by specific criteria based on blood gas measurements. Hypoxemia happens when the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) falls below 60 mmHg. At the same time,...
1.1K
01:20Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-I: Introduction
3.9K
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a long-lasting respiratory condition requiring continuous attention and care. It is a progressive lung disease that leads to breathing challenges due to airflow obstruction. It manifests as persistent respiratory symptoms and restricted airflow resulting from abnormalities in the airways and alveoli, usually due to long-term exposure to harmful particles or gases. COPD mainly consists of two primary conditions: emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
3.9K