Pediatric emergency care
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Pediatric emergency care · Jan 2010
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyPotential impact of peripheral intravenous catheter placement on resource use in the pediatric emergency department.
In an era of pediatric emergency department (PED) overcrowding and diminishing health care resources, routine peripheral intravenous (PIV) catheter placement in the pediatric population requires evaluation because it might directly impact PED efficiency. This study aims to determine the utility of routine PIV catheter placement during phlebotomy. ⋯ Nearly half of the PIV catheters placed in the PED were unused. Unused PIV catheters represent an inefficient use of limited resources that could be redistributed to improve ED efficiency, flow, and resource use.
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Pediatric emergency care · Jan 2010
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyPediatric metaxalone ingestions reported to Texas poison control centers, 2000-2007.
The purpose of this study was to describe the pattern of metaxalone ingestions by young children reported to poison control centers. ⋯ Pediatric metaxalone ingestions reported to Texas poison control centers usually resulted in minor or no effect. Most ingestions did not require hospitalization.
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Pediatric emergency care · Jan 2010
ReviewProcalcitonin as a marker of severe bacterial infection in children in the emergency department.
Procalcitonin, the prohormone of calcitonin, is a relatively new and innovative marker of bacterial infection that has multiple potential applications in the pediatric emergency department. In healthy individuals, circulating levels of procalcitonin are generally very low (<0.05 ng/mL), but in the setting of severe bacterial infection and sepsis, levels can increase by hundreds to thousands of fold within 4 to 6 hours. ⋯ To date, the use of procalcitonin has been limited in the United States, but this valuable biomarker has many potential applications in both the pediatric emergency department and the intensive care unit. The intent of this article is to review the history of procalcitonin, describe the kinetics of the molecule in response to bacterial infection, describe the laboratory methods available for measuring procalcitonin, examine the main causes of procalcitonin elevation, and evaluate the potential applications of procalcitonin measurements in pediatric patients.
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Pediatric emergency care · Jan 2010
Comparative StudyThe nature and characteristics of abdominal injuries sustained during children's sports.
To increase the evidence base by characterizing various features of pediatric sports-related abdominal injuries. ⋯ Sports-related abdominal injuries in children are mostly minor and not as common as other injury mechanisms. Despite this, they can be serious, with early diagnosis often delayed because of their subtle nature. Sports-related abdominal injuries in children require a high index of suspicion in the part of the clinician if they are to be recognized early and managed effectively.
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Pediatric emergency care · Jan 2010
Comparative Study Clinical TrialMake an M-PACT on asthma: rapid identification of persistent asthma symptoms in a pediatric emergency department.
To develop and validate a brief assessment instrument for persistent asthma symptoms in a pediatric emergency department (ED) population. ⋯ A brief screen can identify persistent symptoms in pediatric ED patients with good sensitivity compared with a longer instrument. Most of these patients will continue to report persistent symptoms and reduced ARQOL score 1 month after the ED visit and may be candidates for additional interventions in the ED to improve long-term asthma care.