BRUE, the New ALTE

This long-awaited clinical practice guideline on apparent life-threatening events (ALTEs) changes the name of the condition to brief resolved unexplained event (BRUE).

Sponsoring Organization: American Academy of Pediatrics

Target Population: Pediatric clinicians

Background and Objective

A multidisciplinary group reviewed the evidence from 1970 to 2014 to develop the first recommendations for management of infants with a brief resolved unexplained event (BRUE; formerly apparent life-threatening event [ALTE]) who are at lower risk for a subsequent event or serious underlying disorder.

Key Points

Definition of BRUE:
- Event lasting <1 minute in an infant <1 year of age that is associated with at least one of the following: cyanosis or pallor; absent, decreased, or irregular breathing; marked change in muscle tone (hypertonia or hypotonia); altered level of responsiveness
- Patient must otherwise be well-appearing and…

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)