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.