Dehydration treatment practices among pediatrics-trained and non-pediatrics trained emergency physicians

A pragmatic randomized controlled trial of multi-dose oral ondansetron for pediatric gastroenteritis (the DOSE-AGE study): statistical analysis plan

Background

Acute gastroenteritis is a leading cause of emergency department visits and hospitalizations among children in North America. Oral-rehydration therapy is recommended for children with mild-to-moderate dehydration, but children who present with vomiting are frequently offered intravenous rehydration in the emergency department (ED). Recent studies have demonstrated that the anti-emetic ondansetron can reduce vomiting, intravenous rehydration, and hospitalization when administered in the ED to children with dehydration. However, there is little evidence of additional benefit from prescribing ondansetron beyond the initial ED dose. Moreover, repeat dosing may increase the frequency of diarrhea. Despite the lack of evidence and potential adverse side effects, many physicians across North America provide multiple doses of ondansetron to be taken following ED disposition. Thus, the Multi-Dose Oral Ondansetron for Pediatric Gastroenteritis (DOSE-AGE) trial will evaluate the effectiveness of prescribing multiple doses of ondansetron to treat acute gastroenteritis-associated vomiting. This article specifies the statistical analysis plan (SAP) for the DOSE-AGE trial and was submitted before the outcomes of the study were available for analysis.

Methods/design

The DOSE-AGE study is a phase III, 6-center, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel design randomized controlled trial designed to determine whether participants who are prescribed multiple doses of oral ondansetron to administer, as needed, following their ED visit have a lower incidence of experiencing moderate-to-severe gastroenteritis, as measured by the Modified Vesikari Scale score, compared with a placebo. To assess safety, the DOSE-AGE trial will investigate the frequency and maximum number of diarrheal episodes following ED disposition, and the occurrence of palpitations, pre-syncope/syncope, chest pain, arrhythmias, and serious adverse events. For the secondary outcomes, the DOSE-AGE trial will investigate the individual elements of the Modified Vesikari Scale score and caregiver satisfaction with the therapy.

Discussion

The DOSE-AGE trial will provide evidence on the effectiveness of multiple doses of oral ondansetron, taken as needed, following an initial ED dose in children with acute gastroenteritis-associated vomiting. The data from the DOSE-AGE trial will be analyzed using this SAP. This will reduce the risk of producing data-driven results and bias in our reported outcomes. The DOSE-AGE study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov on February 22, 2019.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03851835. Registered on 22 February 2019.

Multi-dose Oral Ondansetron for Pediatric Gastroenteritis: study Protocol for the multi-DOSE oral ondansetron for pediatric Acute GastroEnteritis (DOSE-AGE) pragmatic randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

There are limited treatment options that clinicians can provide to children presenting to emergency departments with vomiting secondary to acute gastroenteritis. Based on evidence of effectiveness and safety, clinicians now routinely administer ondansetron in the emergency department to promote oral rehydration therapy success. However, clinicians are also increasingly providing multiple doses of ondansetron for home use, creating unquantified cost and health system resource use implications without any evidence to support this expanding practice.

METHODS/DESIGN

DOSE-AGE is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, six-center, pragmatic clinical trial being conducted in six Canadian pediatric emergency departments (EDs). In September 2019 the study began recruiting children aged 6 months to 18 years with a minimum of three episodes of vomiting in the 24 h preceding enrollment, <72 h of gastroenteritis symptoms and who were administered a dose of ondansetron during their ED visit. We are recruiting 1030 children (1:1 allocation via an internet-based, third-party, randomization service) to receive a 48-h supply (i.e., six doses) of ondansetron oral solution or placebo, administered on an as-needed basis. All participants, caregivers and outcome assessors will be blinded to group assignment. Outcome data will be collected by surveys administered to caregivers 24, 48 and 168 h following enrollment. The primary outcome is the development of moderate-to-severe gastroenteritis in the 7 days following the ED visit as measured by a validated clinical score (the Modified Vesikari Scale). Secondary outcomes include duration and frequency of vomiting and diarrhea, proportions of children experiencing unscheduled health care visits and intravenous rehydration, caregiver satisfaction with treatment and safety. A preplanned economic evaluation will be conducted alongside the trial.

DISCUSSION

Definitive data are lacking to guide the clinical use of post-ED visit multidose ondansetron in children with acute gastroenteritis. Usage is increasing, despite the absence of supportive evidence. The incumbent additional costs associated with use, and potential side effects such as diarrhea and repeat visits, create an urgent need to evaluate the effect and safety of multiple doses of ondansetron in children focusing on post-emergency department visit and patient-centered outcomes.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03851835. Registered on 22 February 2019.

Management of Acute Gastroenteritis in Children: A Survey among Members of the Korean Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition

PURPOSE

No national survey has yet described the guidelines followed by Korean pediatricians to treat acute gastroenteritis (AGE). An online survey was performed to investigate the management of AGE followed by members of The Korean Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, and the results were compared between pediatric gastroenterologists (PG) and general pediatricians (GP).

METHODS

Questionnaires were sent to pediatricians between June 2 and 4, 2018 regarding the type of hospital, indications for admission, antiemetic and antidiarrheal drugs and antibiotics prescribed, and dietary changes advised.

RESULTS

Among the 400 pediatricians approached, 141 pediatricians (35.3%) responded to the survey. PG comprised 39% of the respondents and 72.7% worked at a tertiary hospital. Both PG and GP considered diarrhea or vomiting to be the primary symptom. The most common indication for hospitalization was severe dehydration (98.8%). Most pediatricians managed dehydration with intravenous fluid infusions (PG 98.2%, GP 92.9%). Antiemetics were prescribed by 87.3% of PG and 96.6% of GP. Probiotics to manage diarrhea were prescribed by 89.1% of PG and 100.0% of GP. Antibiotics were used in children with blood in diarrheal stool or high fever. Dietary changes were more commonly recommended by GP (59.3%) than by PG (27.3%) (p<0.05). Tests to identify etiological agents were performed primarily in hospitalized children.

CONCLUSION

This survey assessing the management of pediatric AGE showed that the indications for admission and rehydration were similar between GP and PG. Drug prescriptions for diarrhea and dietary changes were slightly commonly recommended by GP than by PG.

Implementation of an Electronic Clinical Decision Support Tool for Pediatric Appendicitis Within a Hospital Network

OBJECTIVES

Computed tomography (CT) has been widely used in the evaluation of children with suspected appendicitis, but concerns about ionizing radiation have increased interest in ultrasound for these patients. We sought to assess the effectiveness of an appendicitis electronic clinical decision support (E-CDS) system in increasing ultrasound and decreasing CT use in children evaluated in emergency departments (EDs) for suspected appendicitis.

METHODS

This was a preintervention and postintervention analysis of an E-CDS implemented into an electronic health record system shared by an academic, tertiary-care children's hospital and a community hospital. The tool consisted of a structured order set with embedded clinical advice and a link to a Web site. Emergency department patients aged 3 to 18 years with suspected appendicitis were reviewed retrospectively. Imaging use was assessed 3 months before and 6 months after implementation of the intervention.

RESULTS

Three hundred twenty-seven patients were identified, 211 at postintervention; 80% were seen in the community ED. Among community ED patients with imaging, ultrasound use increased (36%-51%, P = 0.049), and CT scan use decreased (81%-66%, P = 0.044) in the postintervention period, with no change in complications or safety outcomes. No difference was found in ultrasound rate (100%-97%, P = 1.000) or CT scan rate (13%-10%, P = 1.000) among children's ED patients with imaging.

CONCLUSIONS

An E-CDS can effectively decrease CT scanning and increase use of ultrasound in children with suspected appendicitis in a community hospital ED. Electronic clinical decision support may be an effective method of disseminating pediatric best practices from a children's hospital to affiliated community EDs.

Practice Variation and Effects of E-mail-only Performance Feedback on Resource Use in the Emergency Department

OBJECTIVES

Higher resource utilization in the management of pediatric patients with undifferentiated vomiting and/or diarrhea does not correlate consistently with improved outcomes or quality of care. Performance feedback has been shown to change physician practice behavior and may be a mechanism to minimize practice variation. We aimed to evaluate the effects of e-mail-only, provider-level performance feedback on the ordering and admission practice variation of pediatric emergency physicians for patients presenting with undifferentiated vomiting and/or diarrhea.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective, quality improvement intervention and collected data over 3 consecutive fiscal years. The setting was a single, tertiary care pediatric emergency department. We collected admission and ordering practices data on 19 physicians during baseline, intervention, and postintervention periods. We provided physicians with quarterly e-mail-based performance reports during the intervention phase. We measured admission rate and created four categories for ordering practices: no orders, laboratory orders, pharmacy orders, and radiology orders.

RESULTS

There was wide (two- to threefold) practice variation among physicians. Admission rates ranged from 15% to 30%, laboratory orders from 19% to 43%, pharmacy orders from 29% to 57%, and radiology orders from 11% to 30%. There was no statistically significant difference in the proportion of patients admitted or with radiology or pharmacy orders placed between preintervention, intervention, or postintervention periods (p = 0.58, p = 0.19, and p = 0.75, respectively). There was a significant but very small decrease in laboratory orders between the preintervention and postintervention periods.

CONCLUSIONS

Performance feedback provided only via e-mail to pediatric emergency physicians on a quarterly basis does not seem to significantly impact management practices for patients with undifferentiated vomiting and/or diarrhea.

Quality Improvement Initiative to Increase the Use of Nasogastric Hydration in Infants With Bronchiolitis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Intravenous (IV) hydration is used primarily in children with bronchiolitis at our institution. Because nasogastric (NG) hydration can provide better nutrition, the goal of our quality improvement (QI) initiative was to increase the rate of NG hydration in eligible children 1 to 23 months old with bronchiolitis by 20% over 6 months.

METHODS

We used Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles to increase the use of NG hydration in eligible children. Interventions included educational and system-based changes and sharing parental feedback with providers. Chart reviews were performed to identify the rates of NG hydration, which were plotted over time in a statistical process control p chart. The balancing measure was the rate of complications in children with NG versus IV hydration.

RESULTS

Two hundred and ninety-three children who were hospitalized with bronchiolitis needed supplemental hydration during the QI initiative (January 2016-April 2016). Ninety-one children were candidates for NG hydration, and 53 (58%) received NG hydration. The rates of NG hydration increased from a baseline of 0% pre-QI bronchiolitis season (January 2015-April 2015) to 58% during the initiative. There was no aspiration and no accidental placement of the NG tube into a child's airway. Nine patients (17%) in the NG group had a progression of disease requiring nil per os status, and 6 of these were transferred to the PICU whereas none of those in the IV group were transferred to the PICU. Post-QI initiative, the majority of nurses (63%) and physicians (95%) stated that they are more likely to consider NG hydration in children with bronchiolitis.

CONCLUSIONS

We successfully increased the rates of NG hydration in eligible children with bronchiolitis by using educational and system-based interventions.

Comparing Practice Patterns Between Pediatric and General Emergency Medicine Physicians: A Scoping Review

OBJECTIVE

Acutely ill infants and children presenting to the emergency department are treated by either physicians with pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) training or physicians without PEM training, a good proportion of which are general emergency medicine-trained physicians (GEDPs). This scoping review identified published literature comparing the care provided to infants and children (≤21 years of age) by PEM-trained physicians to that provided by GEDPs.

METHODS

The search was conducted in 2 main steps as follows: (1) initial literature search to identify available literature with evolving feedback from the group while simultaneously deciding search concepts as well as inclusion and exclusion criteria and (2) modification of search concepts and conduction of search using finalized concepts as well as review and selection of articles for final analysis using set inclusion criteria. Each study was independently assessed by 2 reviewers for eligibility and quality. Data were independently abstracted by reviewers, and authors were contacted for missing data.

RESULTS

Our search yielded 3137 titles and abstracts. Twenty articles reporting 19 studies were included in the final analysis. The studies were grouped under type of care, diagnostic studies, medication administration, and process of care. The studies addressed differences in the management of fever, croup, bronchiolitis, asthma, urticaria, febrile seizures, and diabetic ketoacidosis.

CONCLUSIONS

This review highlights the lack of robust studies and heterogeneity of literature comparing practice patterns of PEM-trained physicians with GEDPs. We have outlined a systematic approach to reviewing a body of literature for topics that lack clear terms of comparison across studies.

Improving the management of acute diarrhoea and dehydration in under-5 children in a paediatric referral facility in Lagos, Nigeria

BACKGROUND

Mortality from acute diarrhoea and dehydration (AD/D) in children is high despite existing management guidelines.

AIM

The aim of this study was to identify deficiencies in the management of AD/D by health staff and assess changes in management after a training intervention in a paediatric referral facility in Lagos, Nigeria.

METHODS

In a retrospective review of case notes, the management of AD/D was assessed using WHO guidelines as the standard. An e-learning module was developed that directly addressed deficiencies and was used to train health staff. Changes in the management of AD/D were assessed by re-auditing case notes.

RESULTS

There were learning needs among health staff in the management of AD/D. Altogether, 34 (97.1%) of 35 residents were trained. Training resulted in modest improvements in the number of children in whom nutritional status was assessed, use of oral rather than intravenous fluids for rehydration and reducing unnecessary laboratory tests. Training resulted in marked improvements in the correct volume of (pre- vs. post-training 6.3% vs. 94.1%, P<0.001) and follow-up of fluid therapy (8.1% vs. 98.0%; P<0.001), prescription of zinc (41.6% vs. 85.1%, P<0.001) and providing advice on when to return after discharge (77.6% vs. 96.0%, P<0.001). Although statistically significant, the minimal improvements in antibiotic use (43.8% vs. 56.6%, P = 0.03), re-starting feeds (10.6% vs. 38.6%, P<0.001) and counselling about feeding (11.8% vs. 33.7%, P<0.001) highlighted areas for further training.

CONCLUSIONS

In low-resource countries, clinical auditing and training can significantly improve the management of illnesses that contribute to child deaths and identify areas where further training is required.

Disidratazione acuta da gastroenterite nei lattanti

Il bambino sotto 1 anno e, soprattutto, di meno di 6 mesi è ad alto rischio di disidratazione, la cui causa principale è una gastroenterite acuta, soprattutto di origine virale. La gestione di una disidratazione da gastroenterite ha due componenti: la sua correzione e il rapido ripristino della normale perfusione tissutale e il mantenimento dei fabbisogni di acqua e di nutrienti, per limitare al massimo il deficit energetico. La valutazione della gravità della disidratazione è l’elemento chiave che guiderà la terapia. La perdita di peso, espressa in percentuale di peso corporeo prima dell’episodio di disidratazione, è il metodo di riferimento, ma è spesso difficile o impossibile da ottenere. Inoltre, i segni clinici, come l’alterazione dell’aspetto generale, l’allungamento del tempo di riempimento capillare, il riconoscimento di una plica cutanea persistente, gli occhi infossati, una secchezza delle mucose e la mancanza di lacrime, sono i principali elementi che permettono di valutare la gravità della disidratazione. Il trattamento si basa sulla rapida correzione del deficit del settore extracellulare. Un’espansione volemica di 20 ml/kg di una soluzione isotonica somministrata per via endovenosa o intraossea può essere necessaria nella fase iniziale nei casi più gravi (disidratazione > 10%). In tutti gli altri casi, la reidratazione per via orale per correggere il deficit di acqua in 4-6 ore è la tecnica di scelta, che si è dimostrata efficace, sicura e veloce. Essa utilizza delle soluzioni di reidratazione adattate che soddisfano criteri specifici. Il loro utilizzo precoce è la prevenzione più efficace delle forme gravi. L’allattamento al seno non deve essere interrotto e l’alimentazione artificiale deve essere ripresa da 4 a 6 ore dopo l’inizio della reidratazione. La vaccinazione contro i rotavirus prima dei 6 mesi è fortemente raccomandata.

Ondansetron and probiotics in the management of pediatric acute gastroenteritis in developed countries

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is a common and impactful disease, typically managed with supportive care. There is considerable interest in the role of adjunctive therapies, particularly ondansetron and probiotics in improving AGE outcomes. The purpose of this review is to present the latest evidence regarding the use of these agents in children with AGE in developed countries.

RECENT FINDINGS

Single-dose oral ondansetron is effective and safe in reducing hospital admissions and the use of intravenous rehydration in children with AGE in emergency-department-based trials. Ondansetron use has increased significantly; however, 'real-world' studies of effectiveness have documented less impressive clinical impacts. Similarly, probiotic consumption is growing rapidly. Although several strains appear to reduce the duration of diarrhea in hospitalized children, current data are insufficient to support the routine use of probiotics in outpatient pediatric AGE.

SUMMARY

Ondansetron and probiotics may improve patient outcomes in pediatric AGE. Appropriate strategies are needed to optimally integrate oral ondansetron into clinical practice to maximize its potential benefits. Although probiotics remain a promising option, there are challenges in generalizing the data available to patients presenting for outpatient care. Large randomized controlled trials are needed to definitively guide the clinical use of probiotics in outpatients in developed countries.

Pediatric gastroenteritis in the emergency department: practice evaluation in Belgium, France, The Netherlands and Switzerland

BACKGROUND

Based on European recommendations of ESPGHAN/ESPID from 2008, first line therapy for dehydration caused by acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is oral rehydration solution (ORS). In case of oral route failure, nasogastric tube enteral rehydration is as efficient as intra-venous rehydration and seems to lead to fewer adverse events. The primary objective was to describe rehydration strategies used in cases of AGE in pediatric emergency departments (PEDs) in Belgium, France, The Netherlands, and Switzerland.

METHODS

An electronic survey describing a scenario in which a toddler had moderate dehydration caused by AGE was sent to physicians working in pediatric emergency departments. Analytical data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and Kruskal -Wallis Rank test.

RESULTS

We analyzed 68 responses, distributed as follows: Belgium N = 10, France N = 37, The Netherlands N = 7, and Switzerland N = 14. Oral rehydration with ORS was the first line of treatment for 90% of the respondents. In case of first line treatment failure, intravenous rehydration was preferred by 95% of respondents from France, whereas nasogastric route was more likely to be used by those from Belgium (80%), The Netherlands (100%) and Switzerland (86%). Serum electrolyte measurements were more frequently prescribed in France (92%) and Belgium (80%) than in The Netherlands (43%) and Switzerland (29%). Racecadotril was more frequently used in France, and ondansetron was more frequently used in Switzerland. No respondent suggested routine use of antibiotics.

CONCLUSION

We found variations in practices in terms of invasiveness and testing. Our study supports the need for further evaluation and implementation strategies of ESPGHAN/ESPID guidelines. We plan to extend the study throughout Europe with support of the Young ESPID Group.

Association of NPO Status and Type of Nutritional Support on Weight and Length of Stay in Infants Hospitalized With Bronchiolitis

OBJECTIVES

We investigated the association of nil per os (NPO) status and subsequent nutritional support with patient weight and length of stay (LOS) during admission for bronchiolitis in patients <2 years old.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was performed of all patients <2 years old admitted to an academic pediatric hospital between November 2009 and June 2011 with a Current Procedural Terminology code of bronchiolitis. Data extracted from the medical record included respiratory rate, per os/NPO status, use of intravenous fluids, use of enteral tube feedings, weight, and LOS. Patients who did not have 2 weights recorded were excluded. The major outcome measures were weight change during admission and LOS.

RESULTS

The study included 149 patients. The mean ± SD patient age was 3.7 ± 3.8 months, with a median age of 2 months. The median length of stay was 4 days (interquartile range: 3-6). Overall, 16% of patients were made NPO, 75% received intravenous fluids, and 9% received enteral tube feedings. The mean weight loss for all patients was 38 (289) g during the hospitalization, which was not statistically significant. No significant association was found between weight loss and LOS, per os/NPO status, or use of intravenous fluids. However, NPO status was associated with a significant increase in LOS.

CONCLUSIONS

The infants admitted for bronchiolitis did not demonstrate weight loss in this study; however, an association was seen between NPO status and prolonged LOS.

Preventing dehydration-related hospitalizations: a mixed-methods study of parents, inpatient attendings, and primary care physicians

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this study was to identify the proportion of dehydration-related ambulatory care-sensitive condition hospitalizations, the reasons why these hospitalizations were preventable, and factors associated with preventability.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey of primary care providers (PCPs), inpatient attending physicians, and parents was conducted in a consecutive series of children with ambulatory care-sensitive conditions admitted to an urban hospital over 14 months.

RESULTS

Eighty-five children were diagnosed with dehydration. Their mean age was 1.6 years; most had public (74%) or no (17%) insurance, and were nonwhite (91%). The proportion of hospitalizations assessed as preventable varied from 12% for agreement among all 3 sources to 45% for any source. Parents identified inadequate prevention (50%), poor self-education (34%), and poor quality of care (38%) as key factors. PCPs identified parents providing insufficient home rehydration (33%), not visiting the clinic (25%), and not calling earlier (16%) as reasons. Inpatient attending physicians cited home rehydration (40%), delays in seeking care (40%), and lacking a PCP (20%) as contributors. Physicians (PCPs and inpatient attending physicians) were more likely than parents to describe the admission as inappropriate (75% vs 67% vs 0%; P < .01). Parental dissatisfaction with their child's PCP and a history of avoiding primary care due to costs or insurance problems were associated with significantly higher odds of preventable hospitalization.

CONCLUSIONS

Up to 45% of dehydration-related hospitalizations may be preventable. Inadequate parental education by physicians, insufficient home rehydration, deferring clinic visits, insurance and cost barriers, inappropriate admissions, poor quality of care, and parental dissatisfaction with PCPs are the reasons that these hospitalizations might have been prevented.

Advances in pediatric dehydration therapy

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To review the advances in the assessment, treatment, and evaluation of care for pediatric dehydration.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent studies have added new information across the spectrum of care for dehydration. Advances in the assessment of dehydration allow more accurate clinical evaluation, but do not help predict the treatment outcomes. Antiemetics as an adjunct to oral rehydration therapy have been proven well tolerated, efficacious, and cost-effective. Rapid, large-volume intravenous rehydration for outpatients with dehydration did not show any benefit over more standard regimens. Clinical guidelines incorporate all these aspects of care; however, physicians show poor adherence to the guidelines despite the evidence that guidelines improve outcomes and reduce cost.

SUMMARY

Dehydration burdens the healthcare system worldwide. Through advances in its assessment, treatment with antiemetics and intravenous fluids, and standardization of practice with clinical guidelines, this burden could be reduced.

Hospital management of children with acute gastroenteritis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is a major cause of ED visits, hospitalizations, and prescription of investigations, drugs, and changes in diet. Several guidelines on management have been produced.

RECENT FINDINGS

There is new information on different rehydration protocols, use of antiemetics, and antidiarrheal drugs that could reduce the burden of AGE. The need of intravenous (i.v.) rehydration is the main cause of hospital admission yet a standardized rehydration scheme is not available. Rehydration therapy through nasogastric tube is better than i.v. rehydration, in children with moderate-severe dehydration. Ultrarapid rehydration has been proposed by enteric or i.v. route to reduce the time in hospital and costs. However, reduced rehydration times are associated with high readmission rates and side effects. Antiemetics may reduce the need of i.v. rehydration because of vomiting and the number of hospital admissions. However, the main antiemetic, ondansetron, has been loaded with a warning for potentially severe side effects. Selected antidiarrheal drugs could reduce the length of stay, but data on their use in inpatients are still not conclusive.

SUMMARY

Inappropriate medical interventions are still common in the hospital setting and have a high impact on costs. A validated management is still needed in inpatients.