The Initial Assessment–Formerly Called Pediatric Assessment Triangle

How do we recognize a sick infant or child and know that they need to be treated promptly?

The key is to use the PALS Systematic Approach Algorithm of the 2010 edition Pediatric Advanced Life Support Provider Manual (a modification of the Pediatric Assessment Triangle in the 2006 edition of the PALS textbook).

PALSInitialImpression

Initial impression

You look at the enter child as you enter the room and you note his or her consciousness, breathing, and color.

Consciousness

The level of consciousness may be characterized as unresponsive, irritable, or alert. Decreased level of consciousness may result from inadequate 02 or substrate delivery or brain trauma/dysfunction.”

 Breathing

Abnormal breathing includes use of accessory muscles, extra sounds of breathing [these are sounds that are heard without a stethoscope] or abnormal breathing patterns.”

Color

Pale, modeled, or bluish/gray skin color suggests poor perfusion, poor oxygenation, or both. A flushed appearance suggests fever or the presence of a toxin.”

TICLS

Consciousness in the newborn and infant can be assessed using the TICLS mneumonic.

T stands for tone. And the tone can be from vigorous to limp. Every child including newborns should have good muscle tone, that is, they should not be floppy.

I stands for interactive. The infant normally should be interested in his or her surroundings.

C stands for consolability. The normal infant should be able to be consoled.

L stands for look meaning gaze. The normal infant should follow with his or her eyes interesting objects. A glassy eyed stare is abnormal.

S stands for speech or cry. The normal infant should have a normal cry.

If the initial impression does not call for immediate action, then the next step is the Primary Assessment (next post).

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What follows are two outstanding resources. The first is a summary of a part of a lecture which is available from Audio Digest. The lecture itself covers much more than just the Pediatric Assessment Triangle. It is worth getting and listening to. The second resource gives a quick review of the Pediatric Assessment Triangle and more details on the TICLS mneumonic. 

 The Undifferentiated Sick Infant                                                                                          Timothy Horeczko, MD, MCSR, Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine, University of California, Davis, School of Medicine; Director, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, University of California, Davis, Health System, Sacramento. [from PEDIATRIC EMERGENCIES: SEPSIS/DEHYDRATION, Audio-Digest Emergency Medicine Volume 31, Issue 11 June 7, 2014,The Undifferentiated Sick Infant – Timothy Horeczko, MD, MCSR, Management of the Dehydrated Child – Marc H. Gorelick, MD]

An outstanding one page quick review of the Pediatric Assessment Triangle (accessed 6-14-2014) is from the Family Practice Notebook. It reads as fast as the above paragraph and has additional useful details about TICLS evaluation as well as other reminders on assessment.

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