Acuity Prediction Using Emergency Medical Services Prenotifications in a Pediatric Emergency Department.

OBJECTIVES: Emergency medical services (EMS) prenotifications are critical, although they oftentimes inaccurately convey the arriving patient's true acuity, resulting in inappropriate preparation in the emergency department. The objectives of this study were (1) to determine interrater reliability of acuity prediction based on prenotifications among physicians and (2) to compare predicted versus actual patient acuity based on prenotifications. METHODS: A panel of physicians reviewed recordings of EMS prenotifications and then predicted the patient's acuity using the Emergency Severity Index (ESI). The scores were analyzed for interrater reliability using the weighted κ statistic. In the prospective phase of the study, physicians predicted an ESI before patient arrival based solely on the EMS prenotification and then calculated an actual ESI upon arrival. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and comparisons between the predicted and actual ESI were performed using Wilcoxon signed rank for matched pairs. RESULTS: Panelists reviewed a total of 23 recordings, and the interrater reliability was 0.23 overall (SE, 0.026; P < 0.001), indicating only fair agreement. One hundred patients were enrolled in the prospective analysis. There was a statistically significant difference between the predicted and actual ESI made by physicians (P = 0.0001). For 46 patients, the predicted and actual scores matched, but 13 patients were "undertriaged," and 41 patients were "overtriaged" based on predicted acuity. CONCLUSIONS: Interpretation of acuity using EMS prenotifications among physicians was only fairly reliable, and physicians had difficulty predicting actual acuity based on prenotifications. Improper preparation based on these prenotifications can potentially impact patient care and resource allocation.

Not Just Painless Bleeding: Meckel's Diverticulum as a Cause of Small Bowel Obstruction in Children-Two Cases and a Review of the Literature.

Physicians are educated with the classical teaching that symptomatic patients with Meckel's diverticulum (MD) most often present with painless rectal bleeding. However, a review of the literature reveals that young patients with MD will most commonly present with signs of intestinal obstruction, an etiology not frequency considered in patients presenting to the emergency department with obstruction. We present two cases of intestinal obstruction diagnosed in our emergency department, with Meckel's diverticulum being the etiology.

Elastic bands on the wrist: a not so "silly" complication.

The recent popularity of elastic bands on the wrist may put children at risk for acute compartment syndrome. Acute compartment syndrome is a limb-threatening condition characterized by elevated interstitial pressure in a confined fascial compartment. If left untreated, it may result in tissue necrosis, irreversible nerve and muscle injury, and permanent functional impairment. We report a case of a 2½-year-old girl with history of a rubber band around her wrist, who presented to the emergency department with a swollen, blue hand suggestive of an impending compartment syndrome. Although this patient ultimately was not diagnosed with acute compartment syndrome, we discuss the importance of prevention, early diagnosis, and prompt treatment of compartment syndrome to prevent permanent disability.