Should the Mobile Intensive Care Unit respond to pediatric emergencies?

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D Applebaum, P E Slater

    Clinical Pediatrics
    |December 1, 1986
    PubMed

    Insights

    Pediatric emergencies, including seizures and trauma, were common for Mobile Intensive Care Units (MICU). However, children rarely benefited from advanced prehospital care, suggesting adult emergencies should be prioritized.

    Area of Science:

    • Emergency Medicine
    • Pediatric Critical Care

    Background:

    • Mobile Intensive Care Units (MICU) manage a wide range of emergencies.
    • Understanding pediatric emergency trends is crucial for resource allocation.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To analyze the characteristics and outcomes of pediatric emergencies treated by MICU.
    • To compare the need for and benefit of advanced prehospital care in pediatric versus adult populations.

    Main Methods:

    • Retrospective review of 625 pediatric emergency cases from October 1982 to October 1985.
    • Analysis of common medical problems, trauma cases, and cardiac arrest incidents.

    Main Results:

    • Pediatric emergencies constituted 5% of the total MICU caseload.
    • Seizures (33%) and trauma (28%) were the most frequent conditions.
    • Cardiac arrest occurred in 11.4% of cases, with no long-term survivors, often presenting in asystole with prior serious medical issues.

    Conclusions:

    • Children were less likely to require or benefit from advanced prehospital care compared to adults.
    • Limited advanced care resources may be better allocated to adult emergencies.

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