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Important: please update your RDS app to version 4.7.3 Details with newsletter below.

Please update your RDS app to v4.7.3

We asked you in January to update to v4.7.2.  After the deployment planned for 27th February, this new update will be needed to ensure that you are able to download RDS toolkits even when the RDS website is not available. We will wait until as many users as possible have downloaded the new version before switching off the old system for app downloads and moving entirely to the new approach.

To check your current RDS version, click on the three dots bottom right of the RDS app screen. This takes you to a “More” page where you will see the version number. 

To update to the latest release:

 On iPhones – go to the Apple store, click on your profile icon top right, scroll down to see the apps waiting to be updated and update the RDS app.

On Android phones – these can vary, but try going to the Google Play store, click on your profile icon top right, click on “Manage apps and device”, select and update the RDS app.

Right Decision Service newsletter: February 2025

Welcome to the February 2025 update from the RDS team

1.     Next release of RDS

 

A new release of RDS is planned (subject to outcomes of current testing) for week beginning 24th February. This will deliver:

 

  • Fixes to mitigate the recurring glitches with the RDS admin area and the occasional brief user interface outages which have arisen following implementation of the new distributed technology infrastructure in December 2024.

 

  • Capability to embed content from Google calendar, Google Maps, Daily Motion, Twitter feeds, Microsoft Stream into RDS pages.

 

  • Capability to include simple multiplication in RDS calculators.

 

The release will also incorporate a number of small fixes, including:

  • Exporting of form within Medicines Sick Day Guidance in polypharmacy toolkit
  • Links to redundant content appearing in search in some RDS toolkits
  • Inclusion of accordion headers alongside accordion text in search result snippets.
  • Feedback form on mobile app.
  • Internal links on mobile app version of benzo tapering tool

 

We will let you know when the date and time for the new release are confirmed.

 

2.     New RDS developments

There is now the capability to publish toolkits on the web with left hand side navigation rather than tiles on the homepage. To use this feature, turn on the “Toggle navigation panel” option at the top of the Page settings menu at toolkit homepage level – see below. Please note that publication to downloadable mobile app for this type of navigation is still under development.

The Benzodiazepine tapering tool (https://rightdecisions.scot.nhs.uk/benzotapering) is now available as part of the RDS toolkit for the national benzodiazepine prescribing guidance developed by the Scottish Government Effective Prescribing team. The tool uses this national guidance developed with a wide-ranging multidisciplinary group. This should be used in combination with professional judgement and an understanding of the needs of the individual patient.

3.     Archiving and version control and new RDS Search and Browse interface

Due to the intensive work Tactuum has had to undertake on the new technology infrastructure has pushed back the delivery dates again and some new requirements have come out of the recent user acceptance testing. It now looks likely to be an April release for the search and browse interface. The archiving and version control functionality may be released earlier. We’ll keep you posted.

4.     Statistics

At the end of January, Olivia completed the generation of the latest set of usage statistics for all RDS toolkits. If you would like a copy of the stats for your toolkit, please contact Olivia.graham@nhs.scot .

 

5.     Review of content past its review date

We have now generated reports of all RDS toolkit content that has exceeded its review date by 6 months or more. We will be in touch later this month with toolkit owners and editors to agree the plan for updating or withdrawing out of date content.

 

6.     Toolkits in development

Some important toolkits in development by the RDS team include:

  • National CVD prevention pathways – due for release end of March 2025.
  • National respiratory pathways, optimal cancer diagnostic pathways and cancer prehabilitation pathways from the Centre for Sustainable Delivery. We will shortly start work on the national cancer referral pathways, first version due for release via RDS around end of June 2025.
  • HIS Quality of Care Review toolkit – currently in final stages of quality assurance.

 

The RDS team and other information scientists in HIS have also been producing evidence summaries for the Scottish Government Realistic Medicine team, to inform development of national guidance around Procedures of Limited Clinical Value. This guidance will in due course be translated into an RDS toolkit.

 

7. Training sessions for new editors (also serve as refresher sessions for existing editors) will take place on the following dates:

  • Friday 28th February 12-1 pm
  • Tuesday 11th March 4-5 pm

 

To book a place, please contact Olivia.graham@nhs.scot, providing your name, organisation, job role, and level of experience with RDS editing (none, a little, moderate, extensive.)

 

To invite colleagues to sign up to receive this newsletter, please signpost them to the registration form  - also available in End-user and Provider sections of the RDS Learning and Support area.   If you have any questions about the content of this newsletter, please contact his.decisionsupport@nhs.scot  If you would prefer not to receive future newsletters, please email Olivia.graham@nhs.scot and ask to be removed from the circulation list.

With kind regards

 

Right Decision Service team

Healthcare Improvement Scotland

 

 

Brief Resolved Unexplained Event or BRUE (ALTE guideline update), paediatrics (056)

Objectives

This guideline has been developed for the evaluation, risk stratification, investigation and management of patients presenting to hospital with a brief resolved unexplained event (BRUE). This guideline is intended to replace the previous guidance on Apparent life-threatening events (ALTE), due to updated evidence and reclassification of such presentations. 

An ALTE is a descriptive term based on an event that is frightening to the observer including a combination of: apnoea, colour change, change in muscle tone, choking or gagging. This definition includes both physiological and pathological causes for events. 

It has been recommended that the term ALTE is replaced with the new term “Brief Resolved Unexplained Event” or BRUE. This concept differs from an ALTE both in definition, and in allowing risk stratification of patients, which in turn can guide further management. 

BRUE allows for health care professional to categorise event, and stratify infants as lower or higher risk of having a repeated episode or a serious underlying disorder. Higher risk patients require further investigation +/- treatment.

Definition of a brief resolved unexplained event (BRUE)

The diagnosis of a BRUE can only be used as a diagnosis if there is no explanation for the event after a thorough history and examination.   

BRUE is defined as an episode in an infant less than 12 months old characterized by: 

  • < 1 minute duration (typically 20-30s)
  • Followed by return to baseline state
  • Not explained by identifiable medical conditions

Includes one or more of the following: 

  • Central cyanosis/pallor
  • Absent, decreased or irregular breathing
  • Marked change in tone (hyper or hypotonia)
  • Altered level of consciousness

Flow diagram for assessment / risk stratification of BRUE presentation

Source: American Academy of Pediatrics;Brief resolved unexplained events (formerlyApparent life-threatening events) and evaluation of lower risk infants.Pediatrics 2016, 137(5): e20160590.

Differential diagnosis (not exhaustive)

Physiological

Gagging, laryngospasm, neonatal periodic breathing

Cardiac

Congenital heart disease, arrhythmias, prolonged QT, vascular ring

Respiratory

Inhaled FB, airway obstruction incl. laryngomalacia, congenital malformation.

Infection

Pertussis, pneumonia, URTI/LRTI (esp. RSV), meningitis/encephalitis, UTI, septicaemia, gastroenteritis.

CNS

Head injury, seizures, cerebral malformations, central hypoventilation syndrome.

Non-accidental injury

Inflicted injury incl. drug ingestion, factitious illness (Munchhausen by proxy), suffocation.

Gastrointestinal

Gastro-oesophageal reflux

Surgical

Intussuception, testicular torsion

Metabolic/toxins

Hypoglycaemia, hypocalaemia, hypokalaemia, inborn error(s) of metabolism, intentional and non-intentional drug overdose. 

History: Factors to consider when taking a thorough history of BRUE*

General description of event:

  • Who reported/witnessed event?
  • Where did it occur?
  • What was patient doing immediately before event started?
  • Awake or asleep?
  • Position: supine / prone / upright/ moving?
  • Feeding? How long since last feed? Vomiting or anything near the mouth?

During event: 

  • Choking or gagging?
  • Awake or asleep?
  • Moving or quiet?
  • Conscious?
  • Responsive to voice?
  • Muscle tone? Any repetitive movements?
  • Distressed?
  • Breathing? Struggling to breathe?
  • Skin colour: normal/pale/blue/red?
  • Colour of lips?
  • Bleeding from nose, ears or mouth?
  • Eye movements ie. open, closed, blinking, deviated, flickering?

End of event:     

  • Duration?
  • How did it stop: spontaneous/ when picked up / back slaps/ mouth to mouth / chest compressions?
  • Sudden or gradual cessation?
  • Any treatment given: medications / sugary drink or food?
  • 999 called?

After event:

  • Back to normal? How long did this take?
  • Condition after event: pale / sleepy/ floppy/ poorly responsive/ vomiting etc?
  • Anything noticed by parents/carers during period prior to return to baseline? If not returned to normal, what is different?

Recent past medical history:

  • Preceeding illness? URTI symptoms / D&V etc.
  • Any injuries/falls recently?

Past medical history: 

  • Perinatal history, including NICU/SCBU admissions.
  • Gestational age at birth
  • Newborn screening results
  • Gastro-oesophageal reflux?
  • Breathing patterns eg. snoring, apnoeas.
  • Development to date? Meeting milestones?
  • Previous unexplained episodes?
  • Previous presentations to GP/OOH/ED: illnesses/injuries.
  • Any previous resuscitation required? If so, explore the nature of this.
  • Any recent hospitalisation/ surgery?
  • Recent immunisations an immunisation history? Recent travel?
  • Medications: prescribed and over-the-counter.
  • Allergies?

Family history: 

  • Sudden unexplained deaths in 1st/2nd degree relatives under 35; esp. as infant?
  • ALTE/BRUE in sibling?
  • Long QT syndrome/ arrhythmias?
  • Inborn error of metabolism (IEM) or genetic conditions in family?
  • Parental consanguinity?

Social & Environmental history:

  • Family structure? Who lives at home with child?
  • Smokers in house? Drugs or toxic substances at home?
  • Anyone unwell at home?
  • Any social work involvement with family (both in general; for this patient and for any other siblings in the household?)
  • Mental illness or substance abuse at home?

Examination

Full ABCDE assessment; with consideration of differential diagnosis. 

Observations including temp, RR, HR, BP, AVPU and oxygen saturations. 

Plot weight, length and head circumference. 

Consideration for child protection concerns:

  • Multiple or changing versions of history?
  • Inconsistencies with developmental age of child?
  • Unexplained bruising? Unexplained bleeding from nose/mouth?
  • Is the infant on the Child Protection Register?

If ANY Child Protection concerns then HIGH RISK and needs to be
discussed with ED senior.

Risk stratification

Often after history and examination there may be no specific diagnosis found. 

Factors which make the event higher risk: 

  • Infants < 2 months of age
  • History of prematurity esp. if < 32 weeks at birth.
  • More than 1 event.

Patients may be classified as lower risk BRUE if they have no concerning feature on history/examination PLUS:

  • Age > 60 days
  • Born ≥32wks gestation and corrected gestational age ≥45 weeks
  • No CPR by trained health care professional
  • 1st event
  • < 1 minute total duration

A low risk event is unlikely to represent a severe underlying disorder; and is unlikely to recur. Therefore based on the above risk stratification of patients; it is possible to guide what further investigation of the event, if any, is required. 

Please refer to Flow diagram (1) above for guidance

Investigations

  1. Lower risk: no investigations required, however capillary blood glucose and urinalysis may be performed if clinical concern.

  2. Higher risk:discuss with senior doctor (ED Consultant or OOH senior paediatric registrar – phone 84678)
    Consider: FBC, UEC, CRP, glucose, naso-pharyngeal aspirate, blood gas, ECG plus any further investigations felt appropriate based on clinical presentation; and referral to relevant guidelines. 

Management

By definition if patient requiring ongoing treatment, episode is NOT a BRUE. Lower risk patients do not routinely need admitted for cardio-respiratory monitoring. 

Lower risk: Discharge home only if: 

  1. Low clinical suspicion of serious underlying disorder.
  2. Parents reassured and happy to care for child at home. If not for discussion with medical team for period of inpatient observation.
    Provide parents carers with education / advice on BRUE, including worsening statement for representation.

Lower risk does not mean no risk.  Lower risk patients could be considered for a period of observation within the ED department if required.

Higher risk: Following discussion with ED Consultant or OOH senior paediatric registrar, consider admission for observation, cardio-respiratory monitoring and further investigations as guided by presentation. 

Involve and refer to relevant specialties as appropriate if underlying cause identified: 

  • Paediatric medicine
  • Paediatric general surgery or neurosurgery - Other (e.g. medical or surgical subspecialties)
  • Social work/child protection unit if appropriate.

Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 14/12/2018

Next review date: 31/10/2025

Author(s): S Farquharson, S Foster..

Version: 2

Approved By: Paediatric Clinical Effectiveness & Risk Committee

Document Id: 056

References
  1. American Academy of Pediatrics.  Brief resolved unexplained events (formerly Apparent life-threatening events) and evaluation of lower risk infants. Pediatrics 2016, 137(5): e20160590.
  2. Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne.  Brief resolved unexplained event
  3. Dynamed Plus. Brief resolved unexplained event (BRUE),
  4. Fox, S (2017). Pediatric EM Morsels (CME Website). Published 2nd September 2016; updated 23rd July 2017.
  5. Tate C, Sunley R. Brief resolved unexplained events (formerly apparent lifethreatening events) and evaluation of lower-risk infants, Archives of Disease in Childhood - Education and Practice; 2017.