VIDEO: Observation time for anaphylaxis can safely be reduced

WASHINGTON — Study findings suggest that most children who visit the ED with anaphylaxis can safely be discharged after 2 hours of observation or less, researchers reported at the Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting.

Existing anaphylaxis guidance recommends an observation period of 4 to 6 hours in the ED after receiving epinephrine, no matter the severity of the reaction, co-author Tim Dribin, MD, associate professor of emergency medicine at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, told Healio.

“There is a need to tailor our management practice, including how long we observe children based on how sick they are when they arrive in the emergency department,” Dribin says in the above video.

The study found that most patients can be discharged, depending on their symptoms, following a period ranging from 5 minutes to 2 hours.

Reference:

Study: Emergency room anaphylaxis observation times could be reduced. https://scienmag.com/study-emergency-room-anaphylaxis-observation-times-could-be-reduced/. Published April 28, 2023. Accessed April 30, 2023.