News & Blogs

Strategic Research Dissemination: PECARN’s 4-Year Social Media Impact Study

Study Overview Professional research dissemination requires dedicated infrastructure—not an afterthought. From 2020 to 2023, PECARN teamed up with Academic Life in Emergency Medicine (ALiEM) to develop and manage a systematic social media strategy (specifically Twitter/X) focused on amplifying research impact. This deliberate investment in professional digital scholarship has been documented in a peer-reviewed study published […]

Challenging Spinal Immobilization Dogma: Evidence from 7,700 Pediatric Trauma Cases

Background Spinal motion restriction (SMR) has been a cornerstone of prehospital trauma care for decades, based on the premise that immobilization prevents secondary spinal cord injury. However, a new PECARN study published in Prehospital Emergency Care reveals a striking disconnect between SMR application and actual cervical spine injury (CSI) rates in children—raising important questions about […]

Can AI Help Us Better Understand Community Perspectives in Clinical Trials?

Background Researchers have discovered that artificial intelligence systems called large language models (LLMs), like ChatGPT and Claude, can effectively analyze patient and community feedback in emergency research settings. In a new study published in Scientific Reports, investigators evaluated how well these AI tools could assess community perspectives within the Exception from Informed Consent (EFIC) process, […]

Finding the Right Dose: New PECARN Study Reveals Target Levels for IV Magnesium in Pediatric Asthma

Background Pediatric asthma exacerbations represent a significant burden on emergency departments, with over 1.2 million ED visits and 110,000 hospitalizations annually in the United States. While many treatment options exist for the emergency care of asthma (such as albuterol, ipratropium bromide, and corticosteroids), some children continue to have persistent symptoms and require hospitalization despite these […]

Novel Potential Approach to Pain Management in Sickle Cell Disease: Arginine Therapy

Introduction Vaso-occlusive episodes (VOEs) remain the primary cause of morbidity in sickle cell disease (SCD), with management heavily reliant on opioid analgesics. Early literature suggests that VOEs may be related to an arginine deficiency. Arginine produces nitric oxide (a potent vasodilator), improves mitochondrial function, and decreases oxidative stress. It is also the precursor for kyotorphin, […]

24-Hour Warning Signs for Suicide Attempt

Background With adolescent suicide rates increasing by 50% since 2001 and approximately 10% of U.S. high school students reporting a suicide attempt within a 12-month period, identifying imminent warning signs is crucial. This PECARN study addresses a critical knowledge gap by examining the 24-hour warning signs preceding adolescent suicide attempts [1]. Study Question What warning […]

Respiratory Distress is the Best Predictor of Pneumonia on Chest X-ray in Febrile Infants

Febrile infants aged 60 days and younger present unique challenges for emergency physicians, with serious bacterial infections (SBI) posing a significant risk. Among the various potential infections, pneumonia is a critical concern, with prevalence ranging from 0.1% to 8% in these young infants. Current diagnostic practices, primarily relying on clinical evaluation, struggle to identify pneumonia […]

Probiotics Do Not Improve the Outcomes in Pediatric Acute Gastroenteritis

Introduction Acute gastroenteritis affects millions of children in the U.S. every year, leading to emergency department visits and hospitalizations. Probiotics, particularly Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG), have been commonly used as a treatment, but evidence supporting their effectiveness has been limited [1-3]. A new study conducted by the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) aimed […]

A New PECARN Clinical Decision Rule Minimizes Unnecessary Imaging for Pediatric Cervical Spine Injuries

Author(s): Bashar Shihabuddin, MD, MS, FAAP, FACEP

Introduction Each year, more than 8 million children in the U.S. are evaluated in emergency departments (EDs) following blunt trauma, but less than 1% are diagnosed with cervical spine injuries (CSI). Computed tomography (CT) scans are often used to evaluate for CSIs. This exposes children to ionizing radiation increasing their lifetime risk of cancer. A […]

Press Release: Study Finds Neck Injury Prediction Rule Could Decrease Imaging Exposure in Children

Author(s): Emily Lemiska

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Cervical spine injuries in children are relatively rare but can have serious consequences, like paralysis. The standard method for detecting these injuries involves X-rays and computed tomography (CT) scans, which expose children to radiation and may pose long-term health risks. In a study published today in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, researchers […]