Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 19, 2025
A Modified Sonographic Algorithm for Image Acquisition in Life-Threatening Emergencies in the Critically Ill Newborn
Published on: April 7, 2023
Characteristics and interventions in critical patients in spanish paediatric emergency departments: a prospective
Yolanda Ballestero Díez1, María Teresa Leonardo Cabello2, Sara Anderez Catalán1
1Servicio de Urgencias de Pediatría, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Biobizkaia, Hospital Universitario Cruces. Universidad del País Vasco, UPV/EHU. Bilbao, España.
Insights
Critically ill children are rare in Spanish pediatric emergency departments (PEDs), but often require urgent interventions like airway stabilization. This highlights the need for skilled pre-hospital and in-hospital emergency care professionals.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Critical Care Pediatrics
- Clinical Registry Studies
Background:
- Critically ill children represent a small fraction of admissions to pediatric emergency departments (PEDs).
- Understanding their characteristics and interventions is crucial for optimizing emergency care.
- Previous data on critically ill pediatric patients in Spanish PEDs is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize critically ill pediatric patients admitted to Spanish PEDs.
- To document the clinical interventions performed on these patients.
- To assess the incidence and outcomes of critical illness in pediatric emergency settings.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, multicenter registry study involving 19 Spanish PEDs.
- Inclusion of critically ill patients (<18 years) over a 2-year period (February 2020 - January 2022).
- Definition of critical illness included PICU admission or need for airway/circulatory stabilization.
Main Results:
- 255 critically ill patients (0.2% of 116,138 episodes) were identified.
- Median age was 15 months, with 91% having medical conditions.
- Airway stabilization (56.9%) and circulatory procedures (7.5%) were common; 3.9% mortality rate.
Conclusions:
- Critically ill patients are infrequent but resource-intensive in Spanish PEDs.
- A high proportion required significant medical interventions.
- Adequate training for pre-hospital and in-hospital emergency teams is essential.
Objective:
To describe the clinical characteristics and interventions performed on critically ill patients admitted to pediatric emergency departments (PED) in Spain.
Methods:
Study based on a prospective multicenter registry of 19 PED included in the critical patient working group of the Spanish Society of Pediatric Emergencies. We included critical patients under 18 years of age admitted to those PEDs on the 4th, 14th, and 24th of each month between February 2020 and January 2022 (2 years). Critical patient was defined as one who met at least one of the following criteria: admission to a pediatric intensive care unit, stabilization procedures of the airway or circulatory system in the PED.
Results:
During the study period, 116,138 episodes were registered in the PEDs, and 255 (0.2%) were critically ill patients (median age 15 months; medical conditions 232, 91.0%). Of these, 145 (56.9%) required airway stabilization and 19 (7.5%) circulatory procedures. Eighty-four (32.9%) received prehospital care, 9 requiring airway stabilization and 6 circulatory procedures (5 cardiac massage). In the PEDs, 233 patients (91.4%) required interventions, of which 15 (5.9%) were airway stabilization, 1 (0.4%) circulatory and 8 (3.1%) both. Ten patients died (3.9%).
Conclusions:
Critically ill patients are infrequent in Spanish PEDs. The high rate of procedures performed emphasizes the importance of adequate training of healthcare pre-hospital and in-hospital professionals.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Pulmonary Embolism II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care
01:21Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation I: Adult
01:28Acute Coronary Syndrome IV: Interprofessional Care
01:25Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation IV: Pharmacological Management
01:30Acute Kidney Injury IV: Diagnostic Studies and Prevention
01:20Acute Kidney Injury V: Interprofessional Care