scholarly journals P016: Utilization and outcomes of children presenting to an emergency department by ambulance

CJEM ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (S1) ◽  
pp. S68-S69
Author(s):  
Z. Cantor ◽  
M. Aglipay ◽  
A. Plint
Keyword(s):  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Patient Discharge ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Critically Ill Children ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Self Presentation ◽  
Discharge Disposition ◽  
Ed Visits

Introduction: Children account for a low proportion of paramedic transports. Evidence suggests that many pediatric transports are of low acuity, but there are few studies comparing these patients to those that self-present to the ED. Our primary objective was to determine if illness severity was associated with presentation by ambulance among pediatric patients. Methods: We undertook a single centre, retrospective cohort study at a tertiary care pediatric centre. All patients presenting to the ED in 2015 by any route other than air ambulance were eligible. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the route of presentation – ambulance or self-presentation. The primary outcome was disposition decision; the secondary outcome was CTAS level. To determine whether patient discharge disposition or CTAS was associated with method of arrival, we conducted generalized estimating equations (GEE) to account for correlation within patients with multiple ED visits. Results: Of the 69,092 visits, 69,034 were eligible and analyzed. Of those, 4478 arrived by ambulance, while 64,556 self-presented. Those arriving by ambulance had a median age of 10 years [IQR: 2-5 years] vs. 4 years [IQR: 1.75-10 years] in the self-presenting group, and were 52.6% male (vs. 52.8%). Two percent of the ambulance cohort were admitted to the ICU (vs. 0.2%), and 16.6% were admitted to the ward (vs. 5%). Patients presenting by ambulance had higher CTAS scores – 5.3% CTAS 1 (vs. 0.3%), 16.4% CTAS 2 (vs. 7.0% ), 61.2% CTAS 3 (vs. 45.8%), and 17.1% CTAS 4-5 (vs. 46.9%). The odds of arriving by ambulance were 10.2 x higher for patients admitted to the ICU (OR = 10.2, 95%CI: 7.9 to 13.3) vs. those discharged home. The odds of arriving by ambulance was 64.2 x (OR = 64.2, 95% CI: 48.6 to 84.7) higher for patients CTAS 1 patients vs. CTAS 5 patients. The top 3 complaints among ambulance patients were respiratory (22.7%), orthopedic (14.7%), and general/minor (10.3%). Among self-presenting patients, the top three were general/minor (22.5%), respiratory (18.0%), and gastrointestinal (15.7%). Conclusion: Children presenting to the ED via ambulance are at higher risk for admission to the ward and critical care unit. It is important that EMS staff responsible for transporting children be well trained in managing critically ill children. Given the low proportion of pediatric transports, consideration must be given to how best to train EMS services in managing these children.

scholarly journals P126: Utilization and outcomes of children presenting to an emergency department by ambulance

CJEM ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (S1) ◽  
pp. S110-S110
Author(s):  
Z. Cantor ◽  
M. Aglipay ◽  
A. Plint
Keyword(s):  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Severity Of Illness ◽  
Patient Discharge ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Critically Ill Children ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Self Presentation ◽  
Discharge Disposition ◽  
Ed Visits

Introduction: Children account for a low proportion of paramedic transports. Evidence suggests that many pediatric transports are of low acuity, but there are few studies comparing these patients to those that self-present to the ED. Our primary objective was to determine if illness severity was associated with presentation by ambulance among pediatric patients. Methods: We undertook a single centre, retrospective cohort study at a tertiary care pediatric centre. All patients presenting to the ED in 2015 by any route other than air ambulance were eligible. Patients were divided into two groups based on the route of presentation – ambulance or self-presentation. The primary outcome was disposition decision; the secondary outcome was CTAS level. To determine whether patient discharge disposition or CTAS was associated with the method of arrival, we conducted generalized estimating equations (GEE) to account for correlation within patients with multiple ED visits. Results: Of the 69,092 visits, 69,034 were eligible and analyzed. Of those, 4478 (6.5%) arrived by ambulance, while 64,556 (93.5) self-presented. Those arriving by ambulance had a median age of 10 years [IQR: 2-5 years] vs. 4 years [IQR: 1.75-10 years] in the self-presenting group and were 52.6% male (vs. 52.8%). Two percent of the ambulance cohort were admitted to the ICU (vs. 0.2%), and 16.6% were admitted to the ward (vs. 5%). Patients presenting by ambulance had higher CTAS scores – 5.3% CTAS 1 (vs. 0.3%), 16.4% CTAS 2 (vs. 7.0%), 61.2% CTAS 3 (vs. 45.8%), and 17.1% CTAS 4-5 (vs. 46.9%). The odds of arriving by ambulance were 10.2 x higher for patients admitted to the ICU (OR = 10.2, 95%CI: 7.9 to 13.3) vs. those discharged home. The odds of arriving by ambulance were 64.2 x (OR = 64.2, 95% CI: 48.6 to 84.7) higher for patients CTAS 1 patients vs. CTAS 5 patients. The top 3 complaints among ambulance patients were neurological (22.5%), respiratory (22.7%), and orthopaedic (11.3%). Among self-presenting patients, the top three were general/minor (20.4%), respiratory (16.4%), and gastrointestinal (14.3%). Conclusion: Children presenting to the ED via ambulance are at higher risk for admission to the ward and critical care unit. It is important that paramedics have sufficient training to ensure adequate skills to manage critically ill children. Given the low proportion but higher severity of illness of pediatric transports, further research and consideration must be given to how best to enable paramedics in the management of children.

scholarly journals Pre-Operative Decitabine in Colon Cancer Patients: Analyses on WNT Target Methylation and Expression

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 2357
Author(s):  
Janneke F. Linnekamp ◽  
Raju Kandimalla ◽  
Evelyn Fessler ◽  
Joan H. de Jong ◽  
Hans M. Rodermond ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colon Cancer ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Operative Treatment ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Dna Hypermethylation ◽  
Line1 Methylation ◽  
Stage Ii Colon Cancer

DNA hypermethylation is common in colon cancer. Previously, we have shown that methylation of WNT target genes predicts poor prognosis in stage II colon cancer. The primary objective of this study was to assess whether pre-operative treatment with decitabine can decrease methylation and increase the expression of WNT target genes APCDD1, AXIN2 and DKK1 in colon cancer patients. A clinical study was conducted, investigating these potential effects of decitabine in colon cancer patients (DECO). Patients were treated two times with 25 mg/m2 decitabine before surgery. Methylation and expression of LINE1 and WNT target genes (primary outcome) and expression of endogenous retroviral genes (secondary outcome) were analysed in pre- and post-treatment tumour samples using pyrosequencing and rt-PCR. Ten patients were treated with decitabine and eighteen patients were used as controls. Decitabine treatment only marginally decreased LINE1 methylation. More importantly, no differences in methylation or expression of WNT target or endogenous retroviral genes were observed. Due to the lack of an effect on primary and secondary outcomes, the study was prematurely closed. In conclusion, pre-operative treatment with decitabine is safe, but with the current dosing, the primary objective, increased WNT target gene expression, cannot be achieved.

90 Lung ultrasound in pediatric asthma patients: A pilot study characterizing findings at baseline stat

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. e65-e66
Author(s):  
Noah Marzook ◽  
Alexander Dubrovsky
Keyword(s):  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Lung Ultrasound ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Challenge Test ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
The Past ◽  
Asthma Patients ◽  
B Lines

Abstract Primary Subject area Emergency Medicine - Paediatric Background Unlike the lung ultrasound (LU) findings of pneumonia, bronchiolitis, pleural effusions and pneumothorax, which have all been well described, the sonographic pattern of asthma remains unclear. Previous pediatric studies have shown that pediatric patients with acute asthma exacerbations had positive LU findings. It is also unclear whether these findings were the result of acute infections associated with the exacerbation or if the findings would be present at baseline, outside an exacerbation in an asthmatic patient. Objectives The primary objective of this study is to characterize lung ultrasound (LU) findings in stable asthma pediatric patients presenting in a tertiary care asthma or respiratory clinic. Design/Methods Eligible patients >6 years of age, underwent a LU by the study sonographer between December 19, 2017 to June 25, 2019, during their regular follow up visit at the pulmonology clinic or scheduled pulmonary function test. Patients were defined as asthmatic if they had a positive methacholine challenge test (MCT) or spirometry at the day of the visit or in the past. Patients were excluded if they had an upper respiratory tract infection in the past 4 weeks, or had any other known pulmonary diseases. Baseline demographic and asthma severity (ISAAC score, ACQ-7) questionnaires were filled out by the patients, following which they underwent a LU by a novice sonographer using a 6-zone protocol. A blinded expert sonographer interpreted the images offline. A positive LU was defined as presence of more than 3 B-lines, consolidation (<1cm or >1cm), absent lung slide, and/or presence of pleural fluid. Results Fifty-two patients were enrolled in the study and 19.2% (CI 8.31-30.15) of the asthma patients had positive LU findings. The positive LU findings were diverse including B-lines (80%), small consolidation (80%), pleural line anomalies (10%). Positive LU findings were not correlated to any demographic value. Conclusion In our study, 19.2% of asthma patients at baseline have a positive LU. Lung consolidations larger than 1 cm were rarely seen. There were no significant differences between demographic data in asthmatic patients with positive compared to those with negative LUS. This positive LU scan rate is in keeping with a prior study on LU in pediatrics.

scholarly journals A Conscious Sedation Protocol for Videolaryngostroboscopy in Pediatric Patients

2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha Anne ◽  
Lawrence M. Borland ◽  
Laura Haibeck ◽  
Joseph E. Dohar
Keyword(s):  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Conscious Sedation ◽  
Treatment Plan ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Diagnostic Information ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Sedation Protocol

Objective. To determine best sedation protocol for videolaryngostroboscopy in children unable to tolerate non-sedated evaluation.Materials and Methods.Consecutive case series of 10 children with voice disturbances, unable to tolerate nonsedated videolaryngostroboscopy at an academic tertiary care children’s hospital. Flexible fiberoptic videolaryngostroboscopy was performed and interpreted by pediatric otolaryngologist and speech and language pathologist. Sedation was administered with newly described protocol that allowed functional portion of evaluation.Main Outcome Measures: ability to follow commands and tolerate flexible fiberoptic videolaryngostroboscopy.Secondary Outcome Measures: total phonation time, complications, need for subsequent videolaryngostroboscopic attempts, clinical outcomes, and follow-up.Results. 10 children underwent procedure under conscious sedation. 9/10 children were able to perform simple tasks and maintain adequate phonation time to complete stroboscopic exam. 1/10 patients failed to complete exam because of crying during entire exam. Mean exam time was 2 minutes 52 seconds (SD 86 seconds), phonation time is 1 minute 44 seconds (SD 60 seconds), and number of tasks completed was 10.5 (SD 8.6).Conclusions. Conscious sedation for videolaryngostroboscopy can be safely and effectively performed in children unable to comply with nonsedated examination. Such studies provide valuable diagnostic information to make a diagnosis and to devise a treatment plan.

scholarly journals Emergency department use by CTAS Levels IV and V patients

CJEM ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 8 (05) ◽  
pp. 317-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Field ◽  
Andrea Lantz
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Family Physician ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Patient Survey ◽  
Medical Problem ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Specific Service ◽  
Timely Access ◽  
Emergency Department Triage ◽  
Ed Visits

ABSTRACT Introduction: Many emergency department (ED) visits are non-urgent. Postulated reasons for these visits include lack of access to family physicians, convenience and 24/7 access, perceived need for investigations or treatment not available elsewhere, and as a mechanism for expedited referral to other specialists. We conducted a patient survey to determine why non-urgent patients use our tertiary care ED. Our primary objective was to determine how often the lack of a family physician was associated with non-urgent ED use. Methods: The survey was administered to Canadian Emergency Department Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS) Level IV and V patients who attended the ED of the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax, NS, from March 7 to March 13, 2005. Results: Of the 352 eligible patients, 235 completed the survey (response rate, 67%). Fifty-six percent (132/235) had an acute medical problem of less than 48 hours, including 48% (114/235) with a recent injury. Thirty-four percent (82/235) had been referred to the ED, 49% (114/235) believed they required a specific service that was unavailable elsewhere (e.g., radiology, suturing, casting) and 43% (100/235) presented because of self-perceived urgency of their condition. Eighty-four percent (198/235) had a family physician; 23% (55/235) used the ED because of limited access to theirfamily physician and 3% (6/235) used the ED because they did not have a family physician. Conclusions: In this setting, most non-urgent ED visits involved patients who required a specific service offered by the ED, patients who believed their condition was urgent, or patients who were referred from the community to the ED. From a patient perspective, relatively few visits would be considered inappropriate. Lack of a family physician was not associated with non-urgent ED use; however, inability to obtain timely access to the FP was a factor in one-quarter of cases.

scholarly journals Diagnostic performance of the combined nasal and throat swab in patients admitted to hospital with suspected COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kuan Ken Lee ◽  
◽  
Dimitrios Doudesis ◽  
Daniella A. Ross ◽  
Anda Bularga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Performance ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Clinical Laboratory ◽  
Throat Swab ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Index Test ◽  
Repeated Testing ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Serial Testing

Abstract Background Accurate diagnosis in patients with suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is essential to guide treatment and limit spread of the virus. The combined nasal and throat swab is used widely, but its diagnostic performance is uncertain. Methods In a prospective, multi-centre, cohort study conducted in secondary and tertiary care hospitals in Scotland, we evaluated the combined nasal and throat swab with reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in consecutive patients admitted to hospital with suspected COVID-19. Diagnostic performance of the index and serial tests was evaluated for a primary outcome of confirmed or probable COVID-19, and a secondary outcome of confirmed COVID-19 on serial testing. The diagnosis was adjudicated by a panel, who recorded clinical, laboratory and radiological features blinded to the test results. Results We enrolled 1368 consecutive patients (median age 68 [interquartile range, IQR 53–80] years, 47% women) who underwent a total of 3822 tests (median 2 [IQR 1–3] tests per patient). The primary outcome occurred in 36% (496/1368), of whom 65% (323/496) and 35% (173/496) had confirmed and probable COVID-19, respectively. The index test was positive in 255/496 (51%) patients with the primary outcome, giving a sensitivity and specificity of 51.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 48.8 to 54.1%) and 99.5% (95% CI 99.0 to 99.8%). Sensitivity increased in those undergoing 2, 3 or 4 tests to 60.1% (95% CI 56.7 to 63.4%), 68.3% (95% CI 64.0 to 72.3%) and 77.6% (95% CI 72.7 to 81.9%), respectively. The sensitivity of the index test was 78.9% (95% CI 74.4 to 83.2%) for the secondary outcome of confirmed COVID-19 on serial testing. Conclusions In patients admitted to hospital, a single combined nasal and throat swab with RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 has excellent specificity, but limited diagnostic sensitivity for COVID-19. Diagnostic performance is significantly improved by repeated testing.

scholarly journals Piperacillin/Tazobactam and Antibiotic-Associated Acute Kidney Injury in Critically Ill Children

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (11) ◽  
pp. 2243-2251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily L. Joyce ◽  
Sandra L. Kane-Gill ◽  
Priyanka Priyanka ◽  
Dana Y. Fuhrman ◽  
John A. Kellum
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Kidney Injury ◽  
Pediatric Intensive Care ◽  
Critically Ill Children ◽  
Lengths Of Stay ◽  
Medication Exposure ◽  
Secondary Outcomes

BackgroundThere continues to be uncertainty about whether piperacillin/tazobactam (TZP) increases the risk of AKI in critically ill pediatric patients. We sought to compare rates of AKI among critically ill children treated with TZP or cefepime, an alternative frequently used in intensive care units, with and without vancomycin.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study assessing the risk of AKI in pediatric intensive care unit patients after exposure to vancomycin, TZP, and cefepime, alone or in combination, within 48 hours of admission. The primary outcome was development of stage 2 or 3 AKI or an increase in AKI stage from 2 to 3 within the 6 days after the 48-hour exposure window. Secondary outcomes included lengths of stay, need for RRT, and mortality.ResultsOf 5686 patients included, 494 (8.7%) developed stage 2 or 3 AKI. The adjusted odds of developing AKI after medication exposure were 1.56 for TZP (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.23 to 1.99), 1.13 for cefepime (95% CI, 0.79 to 1.64), and 0.86 for vancomycin (95% CI, 0.69 to 1.07). The adjusted odds of developing AKI for vancomycin plus TZP versus vancomycin plus cefepime was 1.38 (95% CI, 0.85 to 2.24).ConclusionsObservational data in critically ill children show that TZP use is associated with increased odds of AKI. A weaker, nonsignificant association between vancomycin plus TZP and AKI compared with vancomycin plus cefepime, creates some uncertainty about the nature of the association between TZP and AKI. However, cefepime is an alternative not associated with AKI.

Impact of an oncology acute care clinic (ACC) in a comprehensive cancer care setting to reduce emergency visits and subsequent hospitalizations: A pilot study.

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (27_suppl) ◽  
pp. 110-110
Author(s):  
Anamika Chaudhuri ◽  
Andrew J. Wagner ◽  
Craig A. Bunnell ◽  
Anne Gross ◽  
Emma Green ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Care ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Urgent Care ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Emergency Visits ◽  
Care Clinic ◽  
Discharge Disposition ◽  
Ed Visits

110 Background: Emergency Department (ED) visits and subsequent hospitalizations are a major source of healthcare resource utilization and costs among cancer patients, compromising quality of care and patient satisfaction. Emerging evidence, including OCM and other alternative payment models suggest many of these visits may be preventable and effectively managed in oncology-specific urgent care clinics. Little is known about such care delivery models in the comprehensive cancer care arena. Methods: As part of larger effort to provide better, efficient, timely care to patients, an acute care clinic (ACC), appropriately staffed to provide ancillary services, was set up in an academic hospital outpatient setting with hours of operations 10:30- 8:00 pm to effectively manage patients with cancer-related symptoms. The objective was to change the site of care for patients who would otherwise be seen in the ED and discharged home as well as to potentially decrease the frequency of hospitalization following ED evaluation by providing oncology subspecialized care. A retrospective analysis of 4 months pre- and post-intervention was performed with emergency visits per 1000 visits per month as the primary outcome and subsequent hospitalizations as a secondary outcome. Results: A total of 1593 patients (821 pre-intervention and 772 post-intervention) were included. Preliminary analysis revealed a 7% observed reduction in ED visits (0.25 vs 0.23 visits per month per 1000 visits; p = 0.85) for oncology patients which otherwise would have seen a 12% increase, following the historical trend. Data also suggest more effective avoidance of acute care settings with discharge disposition for patients from ED pre-intervention versus ACC post-intervention being 32% vs 72% home, 67% vs 13% inpatient, 1% vs 6% ED respectively. Conclusions: The creation of an ACC to manage urgent patient visits in an ambulatory setting decreased ED visits and the likelihood of patient admission. Although initial findings suggest improved preliminary outcomes, further analysis is required to make any causal inference on the true impact of ACC intervention for reduction of ED and hospitalizations.

scholarly journals Diagnostic performance of the combined nasal and throat swab in patients admitted to hospital with suspected COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kuan Ken Lee ◽  
Dimitrios Doudesis ◽  
Daniella A. Ross ◽  
Anda Bularga ◽  
Claire L. MacKintosh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Performance ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Clinical Laboratory ◽  
Throat Swab ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Index Test ◽  
Repeated Testing ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Serial Testing

AbstractBackgroundAccurate diagnosis in patients with suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is essential to guide treatment and limit spread of the virus. The combined nasal and throat swab is used widely, but its diagnostic performance is uncertain.MethodsIn a prospective, multi-centre, cohort study conducted in secondary and tertiary care hospitals in Scotland, we evaluated the combined nasal and throat swab with reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in consecutive patients admitted to hospital with suspected COVID-19. Diagnostic performance of the index and serial tests was evaluated for a primary outcome of confirmed or probable COVID-19, and a secondary outcome of confirmed COVID-19 on serial testing. The diagnosis was adjudicated by a panel, who recorded clinical, laboratory and radiological features blinded to the test results.ResultsWe enrolled 1,369 consecutive patients (68 [53-80] years, 47% women) who underwent a total of 3,822 tests (median 2 [1-3] tests per patient). The primary outcome occurred in 36% (496/1,369), of whom 65% (323/496) and 35% (173/496) had confirmed and probable COVID-19, respectively. The index test was positive in 255/496 (51%) patients with the primary outcome, giving a sensitivity and specificity of 51.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 48.8 to 54.1%) and 99.5% (95% CI 99.0 to 99.8%). Sensitivity increased in those undergoing 2, 3 or 4 tests to 60.1% (95% CI 56.7 to 63.4%), 68.3% (95% CI 64.0 to 72.3%) and 77.6% (95% CI 72.7 to 81.9%), respectively. The sensitivity of the index test was 78.9% (95% CI 74.4 to 83.2%) for the secondary outcome of confirmed COVID-19 on serial testing.ConclusionsIn patients admitted to hospital, a single combined nasal and throat swab with RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 has excellent specificity, but limited diagnostic sensitivity for COVID-19. Diagnostic performance is significantly improved by repeated testing.

Fractures in the Pediatric Emergency Department: Are We Considering Abuse?

2018 ◽  
Vol 57 (10) ◽  
pp. 1161-1167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay R. Lavin ◽  
Cody H. Penrod ◽  
Cristina M. Estrada ◽  
Donald H. Arnold ◽  
Benjamin R. Saville ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Pediatric Emergency ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Predictor Variables ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Pediatric Emergency Department ◽  
Emergency Physicians ◽  
Primary Outcome Variable

Approximately one fourths of infant fractures are due to abuse. Recognition of abuse is important to avoid further morbidity/mortality. There is limited knowledge regarding how frequently pediatric emergency department clinicians consider abuse in infants with fractures. Our primary objective was to estimate the percentage of infants with fractures for whom abuse was considered, and to examine characteristics associated with abuse consideration. We performed a retrospective review of infants <1 year of age presenting to a pediatric emergency department. Our primary outcome variable was consideration of abuse. Our secondary outcome measures were identification of predictor variables associated with consideration of abuse. We identified 509 infants meeting study criteria. Pediatric emergency physicians considered abuse in approximately two thirds of infants with fractures. Consideration was more likely to occur in younger infants, in the presence of no history or unwitnessed injury mechanism, when evaluated by male physicians, and emergency department encounters from 12 am to 6 am.

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