ReviewInternational journal of emergency medicine2026
Clinical accuracy and applications of the Pediatric Assessment Triangle in emergency care: a narrative review.
Review in International journal of emergency medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe Pediatric Assessment Triangle (PAT) is a rapid visual assessment framework designed to support early identification of critically ill or injured children in emergency departments. It enables clinicians to quickly evaluate appearance, work of breathing, and circulation to the skin, forming the foundation for immediate triage and management decisions. This narrative review synthesizes evidence regarding the clinical applications, diagnostic accuracy, workflow integration, and emerging innovations related to PAT use in pediatric emergency medicine.
methodsA comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases, focusing on studies evaluating the validity, reliability, and implementation of PAT from inception through 2025. Articles addressing diagnostic accuracy, educational impact, and applicability in low-resource settings were included.
resultsAcross available validation studies, PAT demonstrated strong diagnostic accuracy, with reported area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) values ranging from 0.85 to 0.96 for identifying high-acuity conditions such as respiratory distress, shock, and altered mental status. Implementation has been associated with improved early recognition and team communication, although evidence of direct effects on clinical outcomes remains limited. Noted challenges include interobserver variability, inconsistent training, and limited applicability in neonates and patients with complex chronic conditions.
conclusionPAT remains a practical, structured, and accessible bedside tool for rapid pediatric assessment in emergency care. Further multicenter validation, standardized education, and integration with artificial intelligence, wearable technologies, and telemedicine could enhance its accuracy, consistency, and global utility.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.