Critically Ill Children in a Swiss Pediatric Emergency Department With an Interdisciplinary Approach: A Prospective Cohort Study

Objective: Delivery of prompt and adequate care for critically ill and injured children presenting to the pediatric emergency department (PED) is paramount for optimal outcomes. Knowledge of the local epidemiology, patient profile, and presentation modes are key for organizational planning, staff education strategy, and optimal care in a PED. Our aim was to analyze the profile of critically ill and injured children admitted to a tertiary, non-academic Swiss PED, to investigate potential risk factors associated with admission to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), and the outcomes mortality and PICU admission. Methods: Prospective cohort study of critically ill and injured children presenting to the PED over a two-year period (2018–2019). Inclusion criteria were Australasian triage scale category (ATS) 1, trauma team activation (TTA), medical emergency response (MER) activation, additional critical care consult, and transfer to an outside hospital. Results: Of 42,579 visits during the two-year period, 347 presentations matched the inclusion criteria (0.81%). Leading presentations were central nervous system (CNS) disorders (26.2%), trauma (25.1%), and respiratory emergencies (24.2%). 288 out of 347 cases (83%) arrived during the day or evening with an even distribution over the days of the week. 128 out of 347 (37%) arrived unexpectedly as walk-ins. 233 (67.15%) were ATS category 1. 51% of the cohort was admitted to PICU. Australasian triage scale category 1 was significantly more common in this group (p = 0.0001). Infants with respiratory disease had an increased risk of PICU transfer compared to other age groups (OR 4.18 [95%CI 2.46, 7.09] p = 0.0001), and this age group presented mainly as walk-in (p = 0.0001). Pediatric intensive care unit admissions had a longer hospital stay (4 [2, 8] days vs. 2 [1, 4] days, p = 0.0001) compared to other patients. 0.045% of all PED patients had to be transferred out. Three deaths (0.86%) occurred in the PED, 10 patients died in the PICU (2.9%). Conclusions: High acuity presentations in the PED were rare, more likely to be young with CNS disorders, trauma and respiratory diseases. A significant proportion were unexpected walk-in presentations, mainly during day and evening shifts. Low exposure to high-acuity patients highlights the importance of deliberate learning and simulation for all professionals in the PED.