Incidence and Outcomes of 72-Hour Return Visits in a Paediatric Emergency Department: A One-Year Retrospective Observational Study.

Background Emergency department (ED) return visits within 72 hours are a healthcare quality indicator and a measure of system efficiency. Paediatric Emergency Department (PED) revisits reflect both disease progression and healthcare utilisation patterns. Understanding revisit characteristics and outcomes can guide targeted quality improvement strategies. Objectives The primary objective of this study was to describe the pattern of PED return visits within 72 hours. Methods This study was conducted at the PED of Security Forces Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between January and December 2024. This was a retrospective descriptive study. The study population included paediatric patients (<14 years old) who revisited the PED within 72 hours of the initial (index) visit, and data were collected in an Excel sheet from the PED database system. In Saudi Arabia, pediatric age is 14 years old and below. Data variables included demographics, Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS) category, diagnosis (ICD-10), visit timing, and outcomes. Results The total number of PED visits during the study period was 69,288, of which 5081 (7.33%) were revisits. Of the total revisits (5081), 76.72% were within 72 hours. CTAS Category 3 accounted for the largest proportion of revisits, followed by CTAS Category 2. Most revisits occurred during evening shifts, with seasonal peaks in October, December, and January. The most common revisit diagnoses were respiratory tract and gastrointestinal complaints. Conclusion Most revisits involved young children and were due to respiratory infections. Health education for the high-risk group and improved initial triage may reduce revisit rates to PED.