Emergency Department Management of Patients With Failure to Thrive

Emergency Department Management of Patients With Failure to Thrive is organized by EB Medicine.

Publication Date: March 2, 2020
CME Expiration Date: April 2, 2023

Description:
Failure to thrive (FTT) is a relatively common presentation in the emergency department. Up to 90% of cases of FTT have no identifiable cause and are categorized as nonorganic. Before deciding that FTT is nonorganic, it is imperative to consider and rule out organic causes. Identifying the underlying issues surrounding FTT is essential, as it will likely impact the treatment the patient receives. This issue reviews common causes of FTT; provides recommendations for the diagnostic workup, treatment, and disposition of patients with FTT; and offers information to help improve outcomes while minimizing unnecessary testing, decreasing cost, and expediting emergency department care. You will learn:
• Criteria that can be used to identify patients with FTT
• Common etiologies of organic FTT and nonorganic FTT
• Key questions to ask while taking the history, including questions about the pregnancy history, birth history, difficulty with feeding, types of feeds, frequency of feeds, and feeding technique
• When diagnostic studies should be ordered, and which diagnostic studies are the most high-yield
• Recommendations for managing patients with FTT
• How to develop an appropriate disposition for patients with FTT