Research Article

Chest Pain in the Pediatric Emergency Department: Evaluation of Clinical and Laboratory Findings of Patients

Volume: 13 Number: 1 April 26, 2023
  • Hale Çitlenbik
  • Aslı Şener

Chest Pain in the Pediatric Emergency Department: Evaluation of Clinical and Laboratory Findings of Patients

Abstract

Aim: Chest pain is a very common complaint in children and adolescents, and it is one of the common reasons for applying to the pediatric emergency department. Determining the etiological causes of chest pain in childhood is necessary to apply the right treatment and relieve the family and child’s concerns. This study was planned to retrospectively examine the clinical and laboratory findings of children admitted to the pediatric emergency department with chest pain, evaluate the etiological causes, and investigate the pathological findings detected in cases with a cardiac cause. Material and Method: The study included pediatric patients aged <18 who presented to the pediatric emergency department with chest pain between January 2019 and January 2022. Patient files were reviewed retrospectively, and age, gender, time of admission and season, symptoms at presentation, physical examination findings, chest X-ray findings, electrocardiography and echocardiography findings, laboratory findings, final diagnosis, hospitalization, and duration were recorded. Results: Two hundred and forty-eight patients were included in the study, 119 (48%) of whom were male, while 129 (52%) were female. The median age was 14 years (IQR: 10–16). Mostly musculoskeletal, respiratory, and idiopathic causes were identified in the etiology of chest pain. In the cases with a cardiac cause, it was observed that chest pain was accompanied by symptoms such as palpitation and syncope, and pathological physical examination and ECG findings were more common. Conclusion: Chest pain is one of the most common reasons for referral to the pediatric emergency department. In contrast to adults, chest pain of cardiac origin is extremely rare in childhood, and the cause of chest pain is usually benign. While evaluating patients who present to the pediatric emergency department with chest pain, a detailed anamnesis, and comprehensive physical examination should provide guidance, and detailed tests should be performed in necessary cases.

Keywords

References

  1. 1. Selbst SM, Ruddy RM, Clark BJ, Henreting FM, Santulli Jr T. Pediatric chest pain: a prospective study. Pediatrics. 1988; 82:319–23.
  2. 2. Friedman KG, Alexander ME. Chest pain and syncope in children: a practical approach to the diagnosis of cardiac disease. J Pediatr. 2013; 163:896–901.
  3. 3. Danduran MJ, Earing MG, Sheridan DC, Ewalt LA, Frommelt PC. Chest pain: characteristics of children/adolescents. Pediatr Cardiol. 2008; 29:775–81.
  4. 4. Rowe BH, Dulberg CS, Peterson RG, Vlad P, Li MM. Characteristics of children presenting with chest pain to a pediatric emergency department. CMAJ. 1990; 143:388–94.
  5. 5. Saleeb SF, McLaughlin SR, Graham DA, Friedman KG, Fulton DR. Resource reduction in pediatric chest pain: standardized clinical assessment and management plan. Congenit Heart Dis. 2018; 13:46–51.
  6. 6. Chun JH, Kim TH, Han MY, Kim NY, Yoon KL. Analysis of clinical characteristics and causes of chest pain in children and adolescents. Korean J Pediatr. 2015; 58:440–5.
  7. 7. Sert A, Aypar E, Odabas D, Gokcen C. Clinical characteristics and causes of chest pain in 380 children referred to a pediatric cardiology unit. Cardiol Young. 2013; 23:361–7.
  8. 8. Gesuete V, Fregolent D, Contorno S, Tamaro G, Barbi E, Cozzi G. Followup study of patients admitted to the pediatric emergency department for chest pain. Eur J Pediatr. 2019; 179:303–8.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Clinical Sciences

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Hale Çitlenbik This is me
Türkiye

Aslı Şener This is me
Türkiye

Publication Date

April 26, 2023

Submission Date

July 7, 2022

Acceptance Date

January 10, 2023

Published in Issue

Year 2023 Volume: 13 Number: 1

APA
Çitlenbik, H., & Şener, A. (2023). Chest Pain in the Pediatric Emergency Department: Evaluation of Clinical and Laboratory Findings of Patients. Kafkas Journal of Medical Sciences, 13(1), 45-50. https://izlik.org/JA26KW89HY
AMA
1.Çitlenbik H, Şener A. Chest Pain in the Pediatric Emergency Department: Evaluation of Clinical and Laboratory Findings of Patients. Kafkas Journal of Medical Sciences. 2023;13(1):45-50. https://izlik.org/JA26KW89HY
Chicago
Çitlenbik, Hale, and Aslı Şener. 2023. “Chest Pain in the Pediatric Emergency Department: Evaluation of Clinical and Laboratory Findings of Patients”. Kafkas Journal of Medical Sciences 13 (1): 45-50. https://izlik.org/JA26KW89HY.
EndNote
Çitlenbik H, Şener A (April 1, 2023) Chest Pain in the Pediatric Emergency Department: Evaluation of Clinical and Laboratory Findings of Patients. Kafkas Journal of Medical Sciences 13 1 45–50.
IEEE
[1]H. Çitlenbik and A. Şener, “Chest Pain in the Pediatric Emergency Department: Evaluation of Clinical and Laboratory Findings of Patients”, Kafkas Journal of Medical Sciences, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 45–50, Apr. 2023, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA26KW89HY
ISNAD
Çitlenbik, Hale - Şener, Aslı. “Chest Pain in the Pediatric Emergency Department: Evaluation of Clinical and Laboratory Findings of Patients”. Kafkas Journal of Medical Sciences 13/1 (April 1, 2023): 45-50. https://izlik.org/JA26KW89HY.
JAMA
1.Çitlenbik H, Şener A. Chest Pain in the Pediatric Emergency Department: Evaluation of Clinical and Laboratory Findings of Patients. Kafkas Journal of Medical Sciences. 2023;13:45–50.
MLA
Çitlenbik, Hale, and Aslı Şener. “Chest Pain in the Pediatric Emergency Department: Evaluation of Clinical and Laboratory Findings of Patients”. Kafkas Journal of Medical Sciences, vol. 13, no. 1, Apr. 2023, pp. 45-50, https://izlik.org/JA26KW89HY.
Vancouver
1.Hale Çitlenbik, Aslı Şener. Chest Pain in the Pediatric Emergency Department: Evaluation of Clinical and Laboratory Findings of Patients. Kafkas Journal of Medical Sciences [Internet]. 2023 Apr. 1;13(1):45-50. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA26KW89HY