title: Variation in treatment of acute childhood wheeze in emergency departments of the United Kingdom and Ireland: an international survey of clinician practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  National clinical guidelines for childhood wheeze exist, yet despite being one of the most common reasons for childhood emergency department (ED) attendance, significant variation in practice occurs in other settings. We, therefore, evaluated practice variations of ED clinicians in the UK and Ireland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two-stage survey undertaken in March 2013. Stage one examined department practice and stage two assessed ED consultant practice in acute childhood wheeze. Questions interrogated pharmacological and other management strategies, including inhaled and intravenous therapies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Member departments of Paediatric Emergency Research in the United Kingdom and Ireland and ED consultants treating children with acute wheeze.
  
  
  RESULTS
  30 EDs and 183 (81%) clinicians responded. 29 (97%) EDs had wheeze guidelines and 12 (40%) had care pathways. Variation existed between clinicians in dose, timing and frequency of inhaled bronchodilators across severities. When escalating to intravenous bronchodilators, 99 (54%) preferred salbutamol first line, 52 (28%) magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) and 27 (15%) aminophylline. 87 (48%) administered intravenous bronchodilators sequentially and 30 (16%) concurrently, with others basing approach on case severity. 146 (80%) continued inhaled therapy after commencing intravenous bronchodilators. Of 170 who used intravenous salbutamol, 146 (86%) gave rapid boluses, 21 (12%) a longer loading dose and 164 (97%) an ongoing infusion, each with a range of doses and durations. Of 173 who used intravenous MgSO4, all used a bolus only. 41 (24%) used non-invasive ventilation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significant variation in ED consultant management of childhood wheeze exists despite the presence of national guidance. This reflects the lack of evidence in key areas of childhood wheeze and emphasises the need for further robust multicentre research studies.
authors.affiliation: Academic Department of Emergency Care, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK Emergency Department, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8634-7210
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Lyttle
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland School of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland Paediatric Emergency Research Unit (PERU), National Children's Research Centre, Dublin 12, Ireland.
authors.forename: Ronan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Respiratory Medicine and Specialist Cystic Fibrosis Centre, Children's Hospital for Wales, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Iolo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Doull
authors.affiliation: Birmingham Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hartshorn
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital for Wales, Wales Deanery, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health, Children's Hospital for Wales, Cardiff, UK Department of Child Health, Children's Hospital for Wales, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Colin V E
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Powell
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012135:Respiratory Sounds; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents
keywords: Accident & Emergency; General Paediatrics; Pharmacology; Respiratory