Pediatric SIRS Vital Signs: Poor Predictor of Need for Critical Care

Systemic inflammatory response syndrome vital signs identified only 23% of children requiring ventilation or vasoactive agents.

In a retrospective study of children <18 years of age presenting to a pediatric emergency department for nontraumatic complaints, investigators evaluated the diagnostic utility of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) vital signs for predicting the need for critical care (i.e., infusion of a vasoactive medication or mechanical ventilation). SIRS vital signs were defined as abnormal temperature (<36°C or >38.5°C) plus tachycardia or tachypnea (>2 mean standard deviations, adjusted for age).

Of 40,356 children included over 12 months, 6596 (16%) had a temperature >38.5°C, and of these, 93% had SIRS vital signs. Overall 1.5% of children were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), 0.2% received mechanical ventilation, and 0.1% recei…

Reviewing Author

Katherine Bakes, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier)

Grant/Research SupportDepartment of Justice

Editorial BoardsEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier); Rosen’s Emergency Medicine (Elsevier)

Katherine Bakes, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier)

Grant/Research SupportDepartment of Justice

Editorial BoardsEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier); Rosen’s Emergency Medicine (Elsevier)

Pediatric SIRS Vital Signs: Poor Predictor of Need for Critical Care

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Reviewing Author