Repeat head computed tomography (RHCT) is common and routine for pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. In mild (Glasgow Coma Scale; GCS 13-15) to moderate (GCS 9-12) TBI, recent studies have shown that RHCT without clinical deterioration does not alter management. However, the effectiveness of routine RHCT for pediatric TBI patients under 2 years has not been investigated. This study aims to investigate whether routine RHCT changes management in mild-to-moderate TBI patients under 2 years. We performed a retrospective review at the emergency department of the National Center for Child Health and Development between January 2015 and December 2019. Mild-to-moderate TBI patients under 2 years with an acute intracranial injury on initial head CT scan and receiving follow-up CT scans were included. Mechanism, severity of TBI, indication for RHCT, and their findings were listed. Study outcome was intervention based on the findings of RHCT. Intervention was defined as intubation, ICP monitor placement, or neurosurgery. We identified 50 patients who met inclusion criteria and most patients (48/50) had mild TBI. The most common mechanism was 'fall' (68%). Almost all RHCT was routine and the overall incidence of radiographic progression on RHCT was 12%. RHCT without clinical deterioration did not lead to intervention, although one patient with moderate TBI required intervention due to radiographic progression with clinical symptoms. Our study showed that routine RHCT without clinical deterioration for mild TBI patients under 2 years may not alter clinical management. We suggest that RHCT be considered when there is clinical deterioration such as decrease in GCS.

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Food-induced anaphylaxis among infants shows an increasing prevalence; however, the prescription of epinephrine auto-injectors (EAIs) for children weighing &#x3c;15 kg is associated with issues of the needle length and the epinephrine dose. Several studies have shown age-related differences in food-induced anaphylaxis, although little is known about the weight-related differences in food-induced anaphylaxis. This study aimed to reveal the incidence, clinical characteristics, and management of food-induced anaphylaxis in children weighing &#x3c;15 kg. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> This chart review included children who visited the pediatric emergency department (ED) of the National Center for Child Health and Development (Tokyo, Japan) from January 2014 to December 2016 and were diagnosed with food-induced anaphylaxis. The severity of anaphylaxis was evaluated using the Sampson Grading Scale. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Of 89,232 ED visits, 444 visits included patients with food-induced anaphylaxis, after excluding cases of food-induced anaphylaxis related to oral desensitization therapy. The incidence was 4.98 per 1,000 visits. More than half of the children (<i>n</i> = 247/444, 55.6%) weighed &#x3c;15 kg. The proportion of grade 3 and higher severity anaphylactic symptoms was 74.5% (184/247) in children weighing &#x3c;15 kg and 79.2% (156/197) in children weighing 15 kg or more. The recurrence rate of food-induced anaphylaxis was 22.3% (55/247) in children weighing &#x3c;15 kg and 48.7% (96/197) in children weighing 15 kg or more. Among the children weighing &#x3c;15 kg, the proportion of those with recurrent food-induced anaphylaxis was 4 times higher in children weighing 10–15 kg than in those weighing &#x3c;10 kg (32.2% [47/146] vs. 7.9% [8/101]). The proportion of patients who were prescribed EAIs before each visit was 25.5% (14/55) in children weighing &#x3c;15 kg with a history of food-induced anaphylaxis. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Food-induced anaphylaxis among children weighing &#x3c;15 kg occurred as frequently and was as severe as that among children weighing 15 kg or more. However, the proportion of patients prescribed EAIs was very low in children weighing &#x3c;15 kg with food-induced anaphylaxis. The potential need for EAIs is suggested among children weighing &#x3c;15 kg, especially among children weighing 10 kg or more but &#x3c;15 kg.

Previously, the SOS-KANTO 2012 studies, conducted in the Kanto area of Japan, reported a summary of outcomes in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). This sub-analysis of the SOS-KANTO study 2017 aimed to evaluate the neurological outcomes of paediatric OHCA patients, by comparing the SOS-KANTO 2012 and 2017 studies. All OHCA patients, aged < 18 years, who were transported to the participating hospitals by EMS personnel were included in both SOS-KANTO studies (2012 and 2017). The number of survival patients with favourable neurological outcomes (paediatric cerebral performance category 1 or 2) at 1 month did not improve between 2012 and 2017. There was no significant difference in achievement of pre-hospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) [odds ratio (OR): 2.00, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.50–7.99, p = 0.50] and favourable outcome at 1 month [OR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.11–3.99, p = 1] between the two studies, matched by age, witnessed arrest, bystander CPR, aetiology of OHCA, and time from call to EMS arrival. Multivariable logistic regression showed no significant difference in the achievement of pre-hospital ROSC and favourable outcomes at 1 month between the two studies.

Aim Tracheal intubation is a vital resuscitation procedure in the pediatric emergency department (ED). Despite its importance, little is known about the current status of emergency airway management in Japan. In this context, we aimed to investigate the airway management characteristics—particularly the location, patient, and provider factors—in the pediatric ED. Methods We conducted a multicenter, prospective study of five pediatric EDs in Japan from October 2018 to June 2020. The study included all children (aged ≤18 years) who underwent intubation at the pre‐ED or ED setting by physicians and those who were transferred from the ED to the operation room (OR) or pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) for intubation. We described the airway management characteristics according to the location, patient, and provider factors. Results Of 231 children, 9 (4%) were transferred to the OR or PICU for airway management. Among the remaining 222 children, 45 were intubated at the pre‐ED setting and 177 were intubated in the ED. The overall first‐attempt success rate was 72%, with the rate varying by location, patient, and provider factors—for example, 68% at the pre‐ED setting, 67% for children <2 years, 56% for children with airway‐related anatomical anomalies, and 61% with intubation by a resident physician. Intubation‐related adverse events were observed in 17%, most of which were hypoxemia (14%). Conclusions Based on data from a multicenter prospective study, the overall first‐attempt intubation success rate in pediatric EDs in Japan was 72%, with large variations by location, patient, and provider factors.

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