Prevalence and severity of pediatric cases in Stockholm's physician-staffed prehospital units: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Ambulance missions involving pediatric patients are common in emergency medical services (EMS) globally, with variations in prevalence based on geographic location. This retrospective cohort study analyzes the prehospital physician staffed units (p-EMS) in Stockholm, assignment dispatches and the prehospital characteristics and interventions involved, from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022.
Methods: Utilizing data from LogEze, a quality assurance system, we reviewed all Rapid Response Vehicle (RRV) operations in the Stockholm Region, which totaled 4,682 pediatric assignments. The analysis included dispatch types and interventions assessing the frequency and nature of pediatric prehospital missions.
Results: Pediatric cases constituted 20.0 % of RRV dispatches, with the majority involving respiratory distress, seizures, and blunt trauma. Despite high dispatch rates, advanced medical interventions were seldom required, indicating most pediatric cases were not severe. Stand-downs occurred in 30.1 % of cases, reflecting the cautious approach in pediatric dispatches. Furthermore, the study observed a significant reliance on p-EMS for complex pediatric cases, underscoring the value of specialized training and resources in managing such emergencies.
Conclusion: The study highlights the crucial role of p-EMS in enhancing pediatric emergency care in Stockholm. Despite frequent pediatric dispatches, the low incidence of severe cases underscores the need for precise triage and resource allocation. This analysis supports the need for continuous training and resource optimization in p-EMS to ensure high-quality care for pediatric patients across varied emergency scenarios.
Competing Interests: Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate The study was performed in accordance with the ethical standards as laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments and has ethical approval from the Swedish Ethical Review Authority (number 2021-05498-01). The name of the ethical committee that has approved this study is: the Swedish Ethical Review Authority.The need for consent to participate was waived by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority (number 2021-05498-01). Consent for publication Not applicable. Competing interests HJ is a founder and co-owner of Fitymi AB, provider of the quality assurance system LogEze. DB, ES, RA, RRW declare that they have no conflicting or competing interests.
(© 2024. The Author(s).)