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Recommended clinical evaluation of infants with an apparent life-threatening event. Consensus document of the European Society for the Study and Prevention of Infant Death, 2003

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Abstract

Infants with an apparent life-threatening event (ALTE) should not be treated nor monitored without a detailed medical evaluation, as different medical causes may be responsible for the initial clinical presentation. Standard and specific evaluation procedures are listed to help identify a cause for the ALTE. The most frequent problems associated with an ALTE are digestive (about 50%), neurological (30%), respiratory (20%), cardiovascular (5%), metabolic and endocrine (under 5%), or diverse other problems, including child abuse. Up to 50% of ALTEs remain unexplained. The finding of medical or surgical anomalies leads to specific treatments. Surveillance programmes with the use of home monitoring devices may be undertaken, preferably with cardiorespiratory monitors, and when possible, with event monitors, although no currently available home monitoring device is free of false alarms or offers complete protection. Long-term follow-up programmes of infants with an apparent life-threatening event contribute to adapt medical attitudes to the child’s needs and to confirm the medical diagnosis. Conclusion: a systematic diagnostic evaluation, together with a comprehensive treatment programme, increases survival and quality of life for most affected infants.

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Abbreviations

ALTE :

apparent life-threatening event

SIDS :

sudden infant death syndrome

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Hospital for Children, Av. J.J. Crocq 15, 1020 , Brussels, Belgium

    André Kahn

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  1. André Kahn
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Correspondence to André Kahn.

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For the European Society for the Study and Prevention of Infant Death (ESPID). Members of the ESPID who contributed to the present consensus statement: Bentele K, Belhadi B, Blair P, Byard RW, Cosmi EV, Fleming PJ, Franco P, Grogaard J, Groswasser J, Huber J, Hurgoiv V, Irgens LM, Jorch G, Jura J, Kaczmorski M, Katz-Salamon M, Kelmanson I, Kerbl R, Kiechl-Kohlendorfer U, Krous HF, Kurz R, L’Hoir M, Mallet E, Milerad J, Naulaers G, Neubauer D, Perk Y, Piumelli R, Poets CF, Rambaud C, Rognum OR, Sawaguchi T, Schlaud M, Shatz A, Sperl W, Stöllinger O, Stoltenburg-Didinger G, Sutter M, Tonkin S, Van Reempts P, Wasilewska J, Wilske J, Zotter H.

Specialists at large who contributed to the present consensus statement: Adamson R, Brooke H, Devlieger H, Follett F, Gaultier C, Gingras J, Gozal D, Harper R, Hessel L, Hunt C, Horne RSC, Jenik A, Keens T, Lahorgue M, Marcus C, Rivarola MR, Sebastiani P, Scaillet S, Thach B, Togari H, Vecchierini MF, Willinger M.

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Kahn, A. Recommended clinical evaluation of infants with an apparent life-threatening event. Consensus document of the European Society for the Study and Prevention of Infant Death, 2003. Eur J Pediatr 163, 108–115 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-003-1365-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-003-1365-x

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