Open AccessHigh Rate of Medical Emergency Team Activation in Children with Tracheostomy
Author(s) -
Brianna McKelvie,
Anna-Theresa Lobos,
Jason Chan,
Franco Momoli,
James Dayre McNally
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of pediatric intensive care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2146-4618
pISSN - 2146-4626
DOI - 10.1055/s-0039-1695733
Subject(s) - medicine , retrospective cohort study , emergency medicine , population , emergency department , cohort , pediatrics , intensive care medicine , surgery , environmental health , psychiatry
Pediatric in-patients with tracheostomy (PIT) are at high risk for clinical deterioration. Medical emergency teams (MET) have been developed to identify high-risk patients. This study compared MET activation rates between PITs and the general ward population. This was a retrospective cohort study conducted at a tertiary pediatric hospital. The primary outcome (MET activation) was obtained from a database. Between 2008 and 2014, the MET activation rate was significantly higher in the PIT group than the general ward population (14 vs. 2.9 per 100 admissions, p < 0.001). PITs are at significantly higher risk for MET activation. Strategies should be developed to reduce their risk on the wards.