Emergency department management of children with tracheostomies, feeding tubes, and cerebrospinal fluid shunts.

Abstract

Children with medical complexity represent a growing population in emergency medicine, and many of these children depend on medical technology. This issue provides an evidence-based framework for the emergency management of children with 3 commonly encountered technologies: tracheostomies, enteral feeding tubes, and cerebrospinal fluid shunts. Distinct risks, including obstruction, dislodgement, infection, and mechanical failure, are discussed. Strategies for early recognition, stabilization, and incorporation of caregiver input are reviewed to improve outcomes and reduce medical errors. By understanding technology-specific complications and emphasizing collaborative care, emergency clinicians can deliver safer, more effective treatment for this high-risk pediatric population.