Evaluation of the Emergency Severity Index (Version 4) in Postpartum Women after Cesarean Delivery

Abstract

Objective The Emergency Severity Index (ESI) version 4 is a 5-level triage system (1 being the highest acuity and 5 being the lowest acuity) used in the emergency department (ED). Our goal of the study was to compare rates of readmission according to ESI in postpartum women.

Study Design This was a secondary analysis of a retrospective cohort study of all women who presented to the ED within 6 weeks after cesarean delivery. The acuity level was assigned by triage nurses at the time of triage presentation. Our primary outcome was postpartum readmission. To examine if the addition of blood pressure to vital sign abnormalities would improve the prediction for readmission, we created a modified ESI. We identified women who had an ESI of level 3 and reassigned to a modified ESI of level 2 if blood pressure was in the severe range. Receiver operating characteristic curves with area under the curve (AUC) were created and compared between ESI and modified ESI.

Results Of 439 women, ESI distribution was 0.2% ESI 1, 23.7% ESI 2, 56.0% ESI 3, 19.4% ESI 4, and 0.7% ESI 5. Readmission rates by ESI level were 100% ESI 1, 47% ESI 2, 18% ESI 3, 2% ESI 4, and 0% ESI 5 (p < 0.001). Of 246 women who were assigned an ESI of 3, total 25 had severe range blood pressures and were reassigned to a modified ESI of 2. Of these 25 women, 14 were readmitted. The AUC of the modified ESI was statistically higher than that of the standard ESI (AUC: 0.77 and 95% confidence interval: 0.72–0.82 vs. AUC: 0.73 and 95% confidence interval: 0.68–0.78; p < 0.01).

Conclusion The ESI was a useful tool to identify women who required postpartum readmission. Incorporation of severe range blood pressure as a parameter of acuity improved the prediction of readmission.

Key Points

• ESI does not consider blood pressure.

• The ESI version 4 was predictive of postpartum readmission.

• Consideration of a severe range blood pressure significantly improved the prediction of readmission.

Keywords

blood pressure - resource use - time-efficient care - triage

Publication History

Received: 25 April 2020

Accepted: 21 July 2020

Article published online:
30 August 2020

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