This is the current release of the guideline.

All clinical reports from the American Academy of Pediatrics automatically expire 5 years after publication unless reaffirmed, revised, or retired at or before that time.

The following are important conclusions in the evaluation of sudden, unexplained infant deaths:

• Accurate history taking by emergency responders and medical personnel at the time of death and immediate transmission of this historical information to the medical examiner or coroner
• Prompt investigation of the scene (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1996; Bass, Kravath, & Glass, 1986) at which the infant was found lifeless or unresponsive and careful interviews of household members by knowledgeable individuals with the legal authority and mandate to conduct such investigations
• Appropriate consultations with available medical specialists (e.g., pediatrician, pediatric pathologist, pediatric radiologist, and/or pediatric neuropathologist) by medical examiners and coroners
• Complete autopsy performed by a forensic pathologist within 24 hours of death, including examination of all major body cavities including cranial contents, microscopic examination of major organs, radiographic examination, and toxicological and metabolic screening
• Collection of medical history through interviews of caregivers, interviews of key medical providers, and review of previous medical charts
• Maintenance of an unbiased, nonaccusatory approach to parents during the death-review process
• Consideration of intentional asphyxia in cases of unexpected infant death with a history of recurrent cyanosis, apnea, or apparent life-threatening events (ALTEs) witnessed only by a single caregiver
• Use of accepted diagnostic categories on death certificates as soon as possible after review
• Prompt imparting of information to parents when results indicate Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) or accidental or medical causation of death
• Review of collected data by locally based infant death-review teams (Granik, Durfee, & Wells, 1991) with participation of the medical examiner or coroner

None provided

The type of evidence supporting each recommendation is not specifically stated.

Not applicable: The guideline was not adapted from another source.

2001 Feb (revised 2006 Jul)

American Academy of Pediatrics - Medical Specialty Society

American Academy of Pediatrics

Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect

Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect, 2004-2005: Robert W. Block, MD, Chairperson; Roberta Ann Hibbard, MD; Carole Jenny, MD, MBA; Nancy D. Kellogg, MD; Betty S. Spivack, MD; John Stirling, Jr, MD; Kent P. Hymel, MD, Past Committee Member

Liaison Representatives: David L. Corwin, MD, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; Joanne Klevens, MD, MPH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Staff: Tammy Piazza Hurley

National Association of Medical Examiners: Randy Hanzlick, MD; Michael Graham, MD; Tracey S. Corey, MD

Not stated

National Association of Medical Examiners - Professional Association

This is the current release of the guideline.

All clinical reports from the American Academy of Pediatrics automatically expire 5 years after publication unless reaffirmed, revised, or retired at or before that time.

None available

None available

This summary was completed by ECRI on September 17, 2001. The information was verified by the guideline developer as of December 5, 2001. This summary was updated by ECRI on August 14, 2006. The updated information was verified by the guideline developer on September 1, 2006.

This NGC summary is based on the original guideline, which is subject to the guideline developer's copyright restrictions. Please contact the Permissions Editor, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), 141 Northwest Point Blvd, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007.