
Episode 216: BRUE (Brief Resolved Unexplained Event)
From Core EM - Emergency Medicine Podcast by Core EM
December 1, 2025 · Episode 216
About this episode
This episode reviews Brief Resolved Unexplained Events (BRUEs).
We review BRUEs (Brief Resolved Unexplained Events). Hosts: Ellen Duncan, MD, PhD Noumi Chowdhury, MD https://media.blubrry.com/coreem/content.blubrry.com/coreem/BRUE.mp3 Download Leave a Comment Tags: Pediatrics Show Notes What is a BRUE? BRUE stands for Brief Resolved Unexplained Event. It typically affects infants <1 year of age and is characterized by a sudden, brief, and now resolved episode of one or more of the following: Cyanosis or pallor Irregular, absent, or decreased breathing Marked change in tone (hypertonia or hypotonia) Altered level of responsiveness Crucial Caveat: BRUE is a diagnosis of exclusion . If the history and physical exam reveal a specific cause (e.g., reflux, seizure, infection), it is not a BRUE. Risk Stratification: Low Risk vs. High Risk Risk stratification is the most important step in management. While only 6-15% of cases meet strict “Low Risk” criteria, identifying these patients allows us to avoid unnecessary invasive testing. Low Risk Criteria To be considered Low Risk, the infant must meet ALL of the following: Age: > 60 days old Gestational Age: GA > 32 weeks (and Post-Conceptional Age > 45 weeks) Frequency: This is…
Topics covered
- health
- medicine
- pediatrics
Keywords
- BRUE
- Brief Resolved Unexplained Events
- pediatrics
- medical review
- emergency medicine
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