Pediatric emergency care
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Pediatric emergency care · Jan 2022
Utility of Body Habitus Parameters to Determine and Improve the Accuracy of the Broselow Tape.
The aims of this study were to determine and improve accuracy of the Broselow Tape (BT) in estimating children's weight by adding body habitus parameters. ⋯ We conclude that there might be inaccuracies in the weight predicted by BT in our patient population, especially those weighing more than 15 kg and older than 2 years. Our study also demonstrates that MTC correlates closely with the actual weight and could be used in addition to BT for more accurate weight estimation.
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Pediatric emergency care · Jan 2022
Pediatric Lamp Oil Injuries Treated in US Emergency Departments.
Ingestion and aspiration of lamp oil may result in serious adverse effects and even death. The objective of this study was to describe pediatric lamp oil-related injuries treated at US emergency departments (EDs). ⋯ Although the estimated number of lamp oil-related injuries declined during 2000-2014, it increased during 2015-2017. Most of the patients were aged 1 to 2 years and boys. The majority of the injuries occurred by ingestion and at home. Most of the patients were treated or evaluated and released from the ED.
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Pediatric emergency care · Jan 2022
Case ReportsThe Spice of Death: Sudden Cardiac Arrest After Novel Psychoactive Substance Exposure.
Novel psychoactive substances (NPSs), commonly referred to as "K2" or "spice," are a relatively new toxicology challenge for pediatricians. Adolescents often incorrectly believe that these drugs are safe and can be used without major adverse effects. ⋯ We report a case of fatal cardiac arrest in a 16-year-old adolescent boy temporally associated with use of the NPS, 5F-ADB. The case illustrates the dangerous consequences that these unregulated substances pose to users, as well as the need for the consideration of comprehensive toxicological testing in patients with a history of substance use and sudden cardiac arrest, despite a negative drug screen.
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Pediatric emergency care · Jan 2022
Multicenter StudyLow Concordance Between Pediatric Emergency Attendings and Pediatric Residents for Predictors of Serious Intracranial Injury.
Minor head trauma is a common cause of pediatric emergency room visits. The Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network head trauma clinical decision rules (PECARN-CDR) are designed to assist clinicians in determining which patients require imaging. However, only minimal data are available on the accuracy of residents' assessments using PECARN-CDR. Prior research suggests that trainees often come to erroneous conclusions about pediatric head trauma. The objective of the present study was to assess concordance between pediatric residents' and attending physicians' assessments of children with low-risk head trauma, with the ultimate goal of improving education in pediatric trauma assessment. ⋯ Resident assessment of children presenting to the ED with minor head trauma is often poorly concordant with attending assessment on the major predictors of clinically important traumatic brain injury (abnormal GCS, AMS, signs of skull fracture) based on the PECARN-CDR. Future work may explore the reasons for low concordance and seek ways to improve pediatric resident education in the diagnosis and management of trauma.
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Pediatric emergency care · Jan 2022
Impact of Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network Rules on Admission, Cranial Computed Tomography and Skull X-ray Rates in a Central European Hospital.
Mild head injury is a common cause of pediatric emergency department visits. Cranial computed tomography (CCT) is the diagnostic standard, although it involves inherent radiation risks. Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) clinical prediction rules were developed to reduce the number of CCT scans. They provide a guideline for CCT use in mild head injuries, based on clinical parameters.Our study aims to evaluate the impact of PECARN rules on hospital admission and CCT rate in children with mild head injury. ⋯ Our results show a significant reduction in the rate of hospital admission following implementation of the PECARN rules in our hospital. Already low, the CCT rate did not change after implementation.The PECARN rules appear to be safe because no readmissions were recorded.