Pediatric emergency care
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Pediatric emergency care · Mar 2011
Comparative StudyProspective validation of two systems of classification for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.
The objectives of this study were (1) to validate the Alvarado score and pediatric appendicitis score (PAS) in a prospectively identified pediatric cohort and (2) to assess abdominal ultrasonography (AUS) as a tool to increase the diagnostic reliability of both scores. ⋯ Both scores are a useful tool in the evaluation of children with possible AA. For extreme values of scores, the results really ensure their use in the emergency department. The AUS can help on decision making for intermediate values.
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Pediatric emergency care · Mar 2011
Comparative StudyAre antibiotics necessary for pediatric epididymitis?
To determine the percentage of cases of epididymitis in pediatric patients that is of bacterial cause and to identify factors that predict a positive urine culture. ⋯ Given the low incidence of urinary tract infections in boys with epididymitis, in prepubertal patients, antibiotic therapy can be reserved for young infants and those with pyuria or positive urine cultures. Because it is difficult to predict which patients will have a positive urine culture, urine cultures should be sent on all pediatric patients with epididymitis.
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Pediatric emergency care · Mar 2011
Comparative StudyA survey of emergency physicians' fear of malpractice and its association with the decision to order computed tomography scans for children with minor head trauma.
The objective of the study was to determine whether fear of malpractice is associated with emergency physicians' decision to order head computed tomography (CT) in 3 age-specific scenarios of pediatric minor head trauma. We hypothesized that physicians with higher fear of malpractice scores will be more likely to order head CT scans. ⋯ Members of Michigan College of Emergency Physicians with a higher fear of malpractice score tended to order more head CT scans in pediatric minor head trauma. However, this trend was shown to be statistically significant only in 1 case and not overall.
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Pediatric emergency care · Mar 2011
Case ReportsAutoresuscitation after pediatric cardiac arrest: is hyperventilation a cause?
There are a number of reports of delayed return of spontaneous circulation after pulseless arrest (the Lazarus phenomenon) in adults. There are no published reports of this phenomenon in children. We report 2 pediatric cases of the Lazarus phenomenon, likely caused by unintentional hyperventilation during resuscitation.