METHODS
We carried out a descriptive, retrospective study of HCT patients who presented to our PED in Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2015. Our hospital performs 40 to 50 HCT procedures each year.
The study sample comprised HCT patients between the ages of 0 and 18 years. Multiple presentations per patient were allowed.
The following data were retrieved from the electronic medical charts: date of birth, gender, time since HCT [categorized as (i) pre-engraftment (<30 days after HCT), (II) early post-engraftment (30-100 days after HCT), and (iii) late post-engraftment (>100 days after HCT)], number of PED visits, Pediatric Assessment Triangle (PAT) applied in the PED, chief complaint, length of PED stay, diagnostic tests performed (e.g., blood, imaging), treatment received in the PED (e.g., airway or respiratory antibiotic support, cardiovascular support, intravenous fluids, blood transfusion), admission, return visit (unplanned emergency visit for any diagnosis within 72 hours of discharge from the PED), and admission rate for the second visit (unplanned acute readmission for any diagnosis within 72 hours of discharge from the PED). Patient identities and data were anonymized.
Data were analyzed with Stata software, version 15.0. Normally distributed variables are reported as mean and standard deviation, non-normally distributed data as median and interquartile range. Categorical variables are expressed as percentages. Two-tailed t tests were used to compare mean values between groups, χ2tests to compare proportions. A p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.