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Emergency medicine updates: Pediatric brief resolved unexplained event.
Brit Long1, Anna M DePompolo2, Michael Gottlieb3
1Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine
|January 10, 2026
Summary
Brief Resolved Unexplained Events (BRUEs) in infants are often benign but can lead to unnecessary evaluations. Understanding current evidence helps emergency clinicians risk-stratify low-risk cases, improving care and reducing healthcare costs.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Clinical Pediatrics
- Evidence-Based Medicine
Background:
- Brief Resolved Unexplained Events (BRUEs) affect many infants, often with benign causes.
- Low-risk BRUE cases frequently undergo unnecessary evaluations and admissions.
- Awareness of current BRUE evidence is critical for emergency department (ED) clinicians.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate key evidence-based updates on pediatric BRUE.
- To provide guidance for emergency clinicians managing BRUE.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of current evidence on BRUE.
- Analysis of diagnostic criteria and risk-stratification approaches.
- Focus on emergency department encounters.
Main Results:
- BRUE definition: sudden, brief (<1 min) resolved episode in infants <1 year with changes in breathing, tone, consciousness, or color.
- BRUEs cause significant caregiver and clinician distress.
- Risk-stratification and shared decision-making are essential.
Conclusions:
- Identifying low-risk BRUE events minimizes unnecessary testing.
- Appropriate evaluation for non-low-risk cases is crucial.
- Understanding current BRUE literature improves emergency care for pediatric patients.
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