December 2011. Volume 7. Number 4

The reference values of cardiac and breath frequency may be wrong

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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AVC | Critically appraised articles

Fleming S, Thompson M, Stevens R, Heneghan C, Plüddemann A, Maconochie I. Normal ranges of heart rate and respiratory rate in children from birth to 18 years of age: a systematic review of observational studies. Lancet. 2011;377:1011-8.
Reviewers: Esparza Olcina MJ1, González Rodríguez MP2.
1Centro de Salud Barcelona. Móstoles. Madrid. España.
2CS Barrio del Pilar. Área 5. Madrid. España.
Correspondence: María Jesús Esparza Olcina. Email: mjesparza8@gmail.com
Reception date: 27/10/2011
Acceptance date: 08/11/2011
Publication date: 16/11/2011

Abstract

Authors’ conclusions: the existing referenceranges for heart rate and respiratory rate in children are inconsistent, and do not agree with centile charts derived from a systematic review of observational studies. This finding has potentially wide-ranging implications for clinical assessment of children, and for design of resuscitation guidelines, triage scores, and early warning systems.

Reviewers' commentary: the measure of cardiac and respiratory rate offers relevant information in children care decision making. This systematic review of quality concludes that the more used charts don’t agree in some values, carrying the risk of over or infra diagnosis of potential serious conditions. This study is based on multiple registers with heterogeneity of the population as well as of the registration process, what makes risky the extrapolation of the results. It seems important that big population studies were addressed in healthy children as well as in children with conditions such as fever or infections. In the meanwhile the clinician has to make decisions taking into account the existent variability and other examination data.

How to cite this article

Esparza Olcina MJ, González Rodríguez MP. Los valores de referencia de frecuencia cardiaca y respiratoria pueden ser erróneos. Evid Pediatr. 2011;7:94.

AVC | Critically appraised articles

Fleming S, Thompson M, Stevens R, Heneghan C, Plüddemann A, Maconochie I. Normal ranges of heart rate and respiratory rate in children from birth to 18 years of age: a systematic review of observational studies. Lancet. 2011;377:1011-8.
Reviewers: Esparza Olcina MJ1, González Rodríguez MP2.
1Centro de Salud Barcelona. Móstoles. Madrid. España.
2CS Barrio del Pilar. Área 5. Madrid. España.
Correspondence: María Jesús Esparza Olcina. Email: mjesparza8@gmail.com
Reception date: 27/10/2011
Acceptance date: 08/11/2011
Publication date: 16/11/2011

How to cite this article

Esparza Olcina MJ, González Rodríguez MP. Los valores de referencia de frecuencia cardiaca y respiratoria pueden ser erróneos. Evid Pediatr. 2011;7:94.

References

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  2. Biarent D, Resuscitation Council (UK), European Resuscitation Council. European paediatric life support course, 2nd ed. London: Resuscitation Council, 2006.
  3. American College of Surgeons. ATLS: advanced trauma life support for doctors, 7th ed. Chicago, IL: American College of Surgeons; 2004.
  4. Feverish illness in children: assessment and initial management in children younger than 5 years. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excelence. 2007. NICE clinical guideline 46. [en línea] [fecha de consulta: 24-X-2011. Disponible en: http://guidance.nice.org.uk/CG47
  5. Fischer J, Fanconi S. Systemicinflammatoryresponsesyndrome (SIRS) in pediatricpatientes. In: Tibboelo, vanderVoort E, editores. Intensive care in childhood. A challenge to the future. Berlin: Springer; 1996. p. 239-54.
16/11/2011

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