Pediatric emergency care
-
Pediatric emergency care · May 2007
Meta Analysis Comparative StudyAbsorbable versus nonabsorbable sutures in the management of traumatic lacerations and surgical wounds: a meta-analysis.
To complete a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compare the cosmetic outcomes and complications of traumatic lacerations and surgical incisions closed with absorbable sutures versus nonabsorbable sutures. ⋯ Our meta-analysis suggests a lack of large, methodologically sound RCTs evaluating the effectiveness of absorbable versus nonabsorbable sutures. Although our analysis demonstrates that nonabsorbable sutures seem to be no better than absorbable sutures in the management of wound repair, a large methodologically sound RCT is needed to adequately answer this question.
-
Pediatric emergency care · May 2007
Review Case ReportsCongenital malaria, an important differential diagnosis to consider when evaluating febrile infants of immigrant mothers.
Congenital malaria is reported rarely in the United States and almost exclusively affects infants of immigrant mothers. Because of its nonspecific presentation with fever during the first 3 months of life, it is an important differential diagnosis when evaluating such infants with fever in the pediatric emergency department. ⋯ As intercontinental travel and immigration increases, emergency department physicians should be alert to the diagnosis of malaria in ill neonates and young infants. We discuss a case of congenital malaria in a 26-day-old infant and review the clinical features of previously reported cases in the United States.
-
Pediatric emergency care · May 2007
Clinical TrialUrine specific gravity and other urinary indices: inaccurate tests for dehydration.
Urine output, specific gravity, and ketones (urinary indices) are commonly used as an objective means to assess for dehydration and gastroenteritis severity; however, their utility has not been established. The study was designed to evaluate the accuracy of urinary indices as diagnostic tests to identify acute dehydration. ⋯ Urinary indices are not useful diagnostic tests to identify the presence of dehydration during the initial assessment of children with gastroenteritis.