Emergency department assessment and management of children with gastroenteritis.
Emergency department
Emergency nursing
Emergency service
Gastroenteritis
Hospital
Paediatric
Journal
Australasian emergency care
ISSN: 2588-994X
Titre abrégé: Australas Emerg Care
Pays: Australia
ID NLM: 101727782
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
20 Sep 2023
20 Sep 2023
Historique:
received:
18
06
2023
revised:
31
08
2023
accepted:
03
09
2023
medline:
23
9
2023
pubmed:
23
9
2023
entrez:
22
9
2023
Statut:
aheadofprint
Résumé
Acute gastroenteritis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children. The aim of this study was to explore assessment and management of children aged between 6 and 48 months presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute gastroenteritis. This retrospective cohort study included 340 children aged 6-48 months. Data were collected by medical record audit for children presenting between 1 January and 31 December 2019. General assessments were appropriate, specific dehydration assessment, blood pressure measurement and fluid balance chart documentation could be improved. Management of children with severe or no/mild dehydration was largely compliant with current recommendations: there was variability in management of children with moderate dehydration. There were no significant differences between Australian Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children in terms of dehydration severity and pathology abnormalities, however there were differences in management strategies. ED management of children with gastroenteritis was largely consistent with, or superior to, evidence-based recommendations. There was variability in the management of children with moderate dehydration and Australian Aboriginal children but it is unclear whether this is suboptimal or patient specific care. This study has highlighted areas for further research in this unique context.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Acute gastroenteritis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children. The aim of this study was to explore assessment and management of children aged between 6 and 48 months presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute gastroenteritis.
METHODS
METHODS
This retrospective cohort study included 340 children aged 6-48 months. Data were collected by medical record audit for children presenting between 1 January and 31 December 2019.
RESULTS
RESULTS
General assessments were appropriate, specific dehydration assessment, blood pressure measurement and fluid balance chart documentation could be improved. Management of children with severe or no/mild dehydration was largely compliant with current recommendations: there was variability in management of children with moderate dehydration. There were no significant differences between Australian Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children in terms of dehydration severity and pathology abnormalities, however there were differences in management strategies.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
ED management of children with gastroenteritis was largely consistent with, or superior to, evidence-based recommendations. There was variability in the management of children with moderate dehydration and Australian Aboriginal children but it is unclear whether this is suboptimal or patient specific care. This study has highlighted areas for further research in this unique context.
Identifiants
pubmed: 37739912
pii: S2588-994X(23)00069-6
doi: 10.1016/j.auec.2023.09.001
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Declaration of Competing Interest There were no competing or conflicts of interests for this study. Professor Considine had no role in the peer review or editorial decision-making of this paper whatsover, and was blinded to it as a senior editor of the journal within its electronic manuscript management system.