Advanced prehospital care for pediatric emergencies

During an 18-month study period, the mobile intensive care unit (MICU) in Jerusalem responded to 307 pediatric emergencies, representing 5% of the total MICU case load. The most common medical problems were seizures, diagnosed in 100 cases (32%), and conditions related to trauma, diagnosed in 77 cases (23%). Forty-one cases (13%) were cardiac arrests. Nineteen patients were pronounced dead with a resuscitation attempt; resuscitation was attempted in 22 patients. Four patients were stabilized for admission to the hospital, but there were no long-term survivors. Eighteen cardiac arrest patients (82%) were found in asystole, and most had previous serious medical problems. Based on our experience children are less likely to require or benefit from advanced levels of prehospital care compared to the adult population. When resources for advanced care are limited, priority should be given to adult emergencies.