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Differences in intubation outcomes for pediatric patients between pediatric and general Emergency Departments
Author(s) -
To Yi Hui,
Ong YongKwang Gene,
Chong ShuLing,
Ang Peck Har,
Zakaria Nur Diana,
Lee Khai Pin,
Pek Jen Heng
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
pediatric anesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.704
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1460-9592
pISSN - 1155-5645
DOI - 10.1111/pan.14185
Subject(s) - medicine , intubation , interquartile range , laryngoscopy , emergency department , tracheal intubation , odds ratio , confidence interval , airway , airway management , retrospective cohort study , anesthesia , adverse effect , emergency medicine , surgery , psychiatry
Background Intubation is a life‐saving intervention at the Emergency Department (ED). However, general and pediatric EDs may vary in their preparedness to manage children with airway emergencies. Aims We aimed to compare rates of first‐pass intubation and adverse tracheal intubation‐associated events between general and pediatric EDs. Methods A retrospective review of medical records was conducted at a pediatric ED and three general EDs from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2018. Information about the intubation process involving pediatric patients (less than 16 years old), as well as eventual outcomes of first‐pass intubation and adverse tracheal intubation‐associated events were collected and analyzed. Results There were 180 pediatric intubations, of which 115 (63.9%) were performed in pediatric ED. The median age was 2 years old (interquartile range 0–6). Intubation was most commonly performed for patients with cardiac arrest (88, 48.9%). Direct laryngoscopy was used in 178 (98.9%) cases and uncuffed tube was used in 135 (75.0%) cases. Apneic oxygenation was performed in 26 (14.4%) cases—all in pediatric ED. Intubation was predominantly performed by senior clinicians (162, 90.0%). Overall, intubation was performed successfully in 175 (97.2%) cases, with a first‐pass intubation rate of 82.2% which was similar between pediatric (96, 83.5%) and general EDs (52, 80%) (Odds ratio [OR] 1.26, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.58 to 2.76, p = .558). There were 68 adverse tracheal intubation‐associated events with right mainstem intubation being the most common (23, 12.8%). Pediatric EDs (44, 38.3%) had a higher rate of adverse tracheal intubation‐associated events than general EDs (15, 23.1%) (OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.04 to 4.11; p = .037). Conclusions Differences exist in intubation outcomes between pediatric and general EDs. Quality improvement efforts should focus on standardizing intubation practices across both pediatric and general EDs.