Resuscitations Cause Prolonged Physiologic Stress in Pediatric Emergency Physicians

Elevated heart rate and cortisol levels in physicians persist for hours after completion of a code, with unknown long-term effects.

To evaluate the effects of resuscitations on physician stress, researchers conducted a planned secondary analysis of data from 21 pediatric emergency medicine attendings and fellows prospectively enrolled in a larger study on physiologic stress markers.

During multiple 8-hour afternoon and evening shifts in an academic pediatric emergency department (ED), each physician underwent continuous wireless heart rate monitoring. Salivary cortisol levels were measured pre-, mid-, and postshift, as well as after serious resuscitation events.

Of 91 shifts in the analysis, 26 involved at least one serious resuscitation event. In shifts with no such event, cortisol levels decreased over the shift. Cortisol levels were higher after serious resuscitation e…

Reviewing Author

Carolyn K. Holland, MD, MEd, FACEP, FAAP

Disclosures

EquityGeneral Electric

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSociety for Academic Emergency Medicine (Program Committee Chief Resident Forum Subcommittee Chair); American College of Emergency Physicians (Education Committee member)

Carolyn K. Holland, MD, MEd, FACEP, FAAP

Disclosures

EquityGeneral Electric

Resuscitations Cause Prolonged Physiologic Stress in Pediatric Emergency Physicians

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Reviewing Author