Friday, 19 September 2025

CED DTHS

 A

Here’s a gist in bullet quotes format from the article Child death in the emergency department: experience from a 10-year retrospective review:


Key Findings

  • “Median age at death was 2 years, with the largest proportion in infants <1 year (36%) and adolescents 13–17 years (31%).”

  • “Leading causes of death were sudden unexpected deaths (26%), infections (24%) and acute medical/surgical conditions (16%).”

  • “Infection-related deaths peaked in winter (50%), while sudden unexpected deaths most often occurred between 04:00–07:59.”

  • “Parental presence during resuscitation was high (83%).”

  • “Prior safeguarding concerns were documented in 28% of cases, rising to 100% for inflicted injury or abuse.”


Patterns & Trends

  • “Overall mortality was highest in winter (29%), with peaks in July and December.”

  • “Most deaths occurred between 08:00 and 11:59 (33%).”

  • “Adolescents’ deaths were predominantly due to infection and suicide/self-harm.”

  • “No deaths were documented between 16:00 and 19:59.”

  • “Ninety percent of children had not attended ED in the preceding week.”


Practice & Policy Implications

  • “Child deaths in the ED differ markedly from national mortality data, which are dominated by congenital and neonatal causes.”

  • “Findings support ED-specific bereavement pathways and resource planning during high-risk times (early mornings, winter).”

  • “Parental presence during resuscitation reinforces the need for sensitive, family-centred bereavement care.”

  • “Staff require training and structured support to cope with the unique emotional challenges of paediatric deaths in the ED.”

  • “Larger, multicentre studies are needed to identify modifiable factors and standardise care.”


Would you like me to also make a 1-slide style executive summary (visual bullets + chart suggestion) that you could use for teaching or presentation?

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