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Brief Resolved Unexplained Event (BRUE)

Clinical Pathways promote evidence-based, safe, and high-value patient care by providing clinical recommendations and standard processes. They are developed by multidisciplinary committees of subject matter experts, informed by a methodical review of available evidence and consensus among committee members. 

Clinical Pathway: 

Additional tools associated with this pathway:

  • Brief Resolved Unexplained Event (BRUE) handout located in depart patient education (available in English and Spanish)

Inclusion criteria: 

  • Infants < 1 year of age 
  • Observer reports a sudden, brief, now resolved event including > 1 of the following: 
    • Cyanosis or pallor 
    • Absent, decreased, or irregular breathing 
    • Marked change in tone (hyper- or hypotonia) 
    • Altered level of consciousness 
  • No known explanation for qualifying event 

Committee members involved in the development: 

  • Marsha Dannenberg, MD | Urgent Care | Committee Chair  
  • Zarmina Ehsan, MD | Pulmonology | Committee Member  
  • Jessie Fazel, APRN, MSN, RN, RNP-C | Emergency Medicine | Committee Member 
  • Suzanne Rastorfer, MD | Hospital Medicine | Committee Member 

EBP Committee Members: 

  • Kathleen Berg, MD, FAAP | Hospitalist, Evidence Based Practice 
  • Kori Hess, PharmD | Evidence Based Practice 

Publication dates: 

  • Finalized date: 06/2024 
  • Next expected revision date: 2027 

If you have any questions regarding this content or identify a broken link, please email evidencebasedpractice@cmh.edu.  

These pathways do not establish a standard of care to be followed in every case. It is recognized that each case is different, and those individuals involved in providing health care are expected to use their judgment in determining what is in the best interests of the patient based on the circumstances existing at the time. It is impossible to anticipate all possible situations that may exist and to prepare a pathway for each. Accordingly, these pathways should guide care with the understanding that departures from them may be required at times.

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