[Pediatric emergencies. An epidemiologic study of mobile care units in Innsbruck]

Abstract

Objectives: We studied the epidemiology and outcome of prehospital pediatric emergencies treated by a physician-staffed mobile intensive care unit (MICU).

Methods: A 3-year retrospective analysis for the period 1991-1993.

Results: Children under the age of 15 years comprised 5.1% of the patients treated by the MICU (372/7423), 87.4% of whom were not in a life-threatening condition. The most common emergencies were: trauma (30.4%), febrile seizure (27.7%), and subglottal laryngitis (12.6%). In 44.6% of cases there was no medical indication for the MICU. Intubation at the scene was required by 17 patients (4.6%), and 11 (3.0%) underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation following prehospital cardiac arrest; two children were successfully resuscitated but died in hospital. A total of 217 (61.3%) were admitted to the ward, 9 of these to a critical care unit. The average length of stay was 4.9 days, and 94.5% of patients were discharged in good health.

Conclusion: Prehospital pediatric emergencies are rare and seldom life-threatening. Continuing education in pediatric emergency care is important for emergency physicians.