RELATIONS  9th NATIONAL CONGRESS OF THE SOCIETÀ ITALIANA DI MEDICINA DELL'ADOLESCENZA - Catanzaro, October 24-26, 2002 

Minerva Pediatrica 2002 December;54(6):599-606

Copyright © 2002 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Respiratory emergencies in adolescents

Pirlo D., Gastaldi R., Di Pietro P.

Background. The aim of this paper was to examine the preent situation of adolescents admission for respiratory emergency, management of these patients, identify strategies for the best therapeutic options and better collaboration.
Methods. We have gathered data of adolescent patients who were referred to the Emergency Unit of ''G. Gaslini'' Children's Hospital, and ''San Martino'' Hospital in Genoa and to the Intensive Care Unit of both Hospitals and to the Emergency Service 118 in Liguria district. Respiratory emergency in adolescence is a rare condition and it is usually due to a poor control of respiratory chronic diseases, i.e. respiratory distress in patients with asthma.
Results. We found that there is an increased number of respiratory emergencies because of psychological problems, drugs addiction, multiple trauma; in other words, we had an increased number of admissions due to behavioural problems. Temporary in-patients care has been showed to be the best therapeutic option after the admission in the Emergency Unit.
Conclusions. In conclusion, adolescent patients need to be hospitalized, but appropriate spaces and structures need to be found either in pediatric or adult Hospitals and qualified personnel must be trained.