What are the three parameters of the Pediatric Assessment Triangle (PAT)?

The Pediatric Assessment Triangle (PAT) is a crucial assessment tool used in pediatric emergency care that allows healthcare providers to quickly evaluate a child's clinical status. The three parameters that constitute the PAT are appearance, work of breathing, and circulation to the skin.

Appearance involves assessing the child's responsiveness and neurological status, looking for signs of distress or altered mental state. Work of breathing focuses on the child’s respiratory effort, observing for signs of respiratory distress, such as grunting, nasal flaring, or use of accessory muscles. Circulation to the skin evaluates the child's overall perfusion and can be assessed by examining skin color, temperature, and capillary refill time. This triad provides a comprehensive snapshot of the child's condition, which is particularly vital in emergency situations.

The other options presented do not encompass the key elements of the PAT. Heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure are vital signs that provide important information but do not conform to the specific parameters of the PAT framework. Skin color, temperature, and fever can indicate circulation status but lack the broader assessment emphasis required by PAT. Consolability, interaction, and muscle tone involve the assessment of neurological and social aspects of a child but do not directly address the breathing or circulation components necessary for a quick triage approach