NEAR4PEM

The National Emergency Airway Registry for Pediatric Emergency Medicine (NEAR4PEM) was established in 2021 as a subgroup of the NEAR4KIDS collaborative. NEAR4PEM includes research, education, and an international, multi-center data collection effort of markers of intubation safety and quality.

Tracheal intubation of children in the emergency department is a low-frequency, high-risk procedure. Acutely ill and injured patients requiring intubation in the emergency department present unique challenges including complications related to trauma, acute physiologic abnormalities, and lack of a fasted state. Additionally, emergency medicine providers are challenged to secure the airway of pediatric patients with very little time to prepare for the procedure, and often with limited available information. Post-intubation management in the emergency setting also requires systems challenges that are unique to the practice setting, such as patient transport for various studies and/or to their next location of continued care. Adverse events occur in approximately 16 percent of intubation encounters, with a first attempt success rate of around 75 percent for attending emergency medicine providers.

Through extensive data collection, multicenter collaboration, and evidence-based improvement efforts, our program aims to advance meaningful change in pediatric emergent airway management and improve patient outcomes.