Pediatric emergency care
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Unintentional injury is the leading cause of death in children older than 1 year and disproportionately affects pediatric patients in low- and middle-income countries.Improved prehospital care capacity has demonstrated the ability to improve care and save lives. Our collaboration developed and implemented a sustainable prehospital emergency pediatrics care course (EPCC) for Service d'Aide Medicale Urgente, the public emergency medical service in Rwanda. ⋯ This study demonstrates effective implementation of a context-appropriate prehospital pediatric training program in Kigali, Rwanda. This program may be effective to support capacity development for prehospital care in Rwanda using a qualified local source of instructors.
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Pediatric emergency care · May 2022
Observational StudyAssessment of Iron Status in Adolescents Presenting to the Emergency Department With Heavy Menstrual Bleeding.
Iron deficiency is extremely common in adolescents with heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) presenting to the emergency department; however, patients are rarely screened for this. The objective of this study was to evaluate screening for iron deficiency in adolescents presenting to the emergency department for HMB. ⋯ Adolescents presenting to the emergency department with HMB are at significant risk of iron deficiency but are not being screened or treated, which may have significant consequences.
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Pediatric emergency care · May 2022
When Adenosine Does Not Work: Apparent and Real Adenosine-Resistant Tachycardia.
Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is the most common arrhythmia in the pediatric population. Adenosine is widely accepted as the first-line pharmacological treatment for hemodynamically stable SVT, constituting a class I recommendation in the 2020 American Heart Association guidelines for pediatric life support (2020 American Heart Association Guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency cardiovascular care). As most pediatric SVTs are dependent on the atrioventricular node (AVN) for their propagation, and adenosine acts primarily on the AVN, adenosine will frequently terminate the arrhythmia. ⋯ Because of its very short half-life, there is confusion between improper delivery, failure to have any effect on the tachycardia, or transient termination. There are some pediatric SVTs, which are not AVN dependent, and which truly are refractory to adenosine. Simultaneous electrocardiogram recording during administration can provide important information to differentiate between adenosine resistance and transient adenosine effect, thus guiding further management.
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Pediatric emergency care · May 2022
Comparison of Same and Different Level Height Falls on Subsequent Midline Shift in Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury.
Up to 44% of pediatric traumatic brain injury occurs as a result of a fall. We hypothesized that a fall from height is associated with higher risk for subsequent midline shift in pediatric traumatic brain injury compared with a fall from same level. ⋯ In kids with traumatic brain injury, trauma activations due to falls from the same level are associated with a 2.5-fold higher risk of subsequent midline shift, compared with falling from height.