Frequency of medical emergency team activation prior to pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-2017

Identifier

DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2017.03.040; PMCID: PMC5479134

Abstract

Background: Medical Emergency Teams (METs) are designed to respond to signs of clinical decline in order to prevent cardiopulmonary arrest and reduce mortality. The frequency of MET activation prior to pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is unknown.

Methods: Within the Get With The Guidelines-Resuscitation Registry (GWTG-R), we identified children with bradycardia or cardiac arrest requiring CPR on the general inpatient or telemetry floors from 2007 to 2013. We examined the frequency with which CPR outside the ICU was preceded by a MET evaluation. In cases where MET evaluation did not occur, we examined the frequency of severely abnormal vital signs at least 1hour prior to CPR that could have prompted a MET evaluation but did not.

Results: Of 215 children from 23 hospitals requiring CPR, 48 (22.3%) had a preceding MET evaluation. Children with MET evaluation prior to CPR were older (6.8±6.5 vs. 3.1±4.7 years of age, p

Conclusion: The majority of pediatric patients requiring CPR for bradycardia or cardiac arrest do not have a preceding MET evaluation despite a significant number meeting criteria that could have triggered the MET. This suggests opportunities to more efficiently use MET teams in routine care.

Journal Title

Resuscitation

Volume

115

First Page

110

Last Page

115

MeSH Keywords

Bradycardia; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; Child; Clinical Deterioration; Delayed Diagnosis; Female; Heart Arrest; Hospital Rapid Response Team; Hospitals; Humans; Infant; Prospective Studies; Registries; Vital Signs

Keywords

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation; Medical emergency team; Pediatrics

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