Pediatric emergency care
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Pediatric emergency care · Jul 2022
The Association Between Initial Serum Bicarbonate Levels and the Management of Dehydrated Children in the Emergency Department: A Retrospective Review.
There is no consensus in the current literature on the relevance of serum bicarbonate levels, cutoff benchmarks and the management of dehydration; therefore, this study aims to explore whether an association can be established between initial serum bicarbonate levels and the subsequent management of children between the ages of 0 to 36 months presenting to the emergency department (ED) with dehydration. ⋯ Initial serum bicarbonate level of dehydrated children does not appear to be associated with the severity of dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea and the patients' management in the ED or the hospital. Initial serum bicarbonate is associated with the decision to administer fluid boluses and potential bounce back.
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Pediatric emergency care · Jul 2022
Severity of Illness Scoring for Pediatric Interfacility Transport: A North American Survey.
Severity of illness scoring during pediatric critical care transport may provide objective data to determine illness trajectory and disposition and contribute to quality assurance data for pediatric transport programs. The objective of this study was to ascertain the breadth of severity of illness scoring tool application among North American pediatric critical care transport teams. ⋯ Severity of illness scoring is not consistently performed by pediatric interfacility transport programs in North America. Among the programs that use a scoring tool, there is variability in its application. There is no universally accepted or performed severity of illness scoring tool for pediatric interfacility transport.Future research to validate and standardize a pediatric transport severity of illness scoring tool for North America is necessary.
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Pediatric emergency care · Jul 2022
Skin and Soft Tissue Infection Treatment and Prevention Practices by Pediatric Emergency Medicine Providers.
The aim of the study was to evaluate skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI) treatment and prevention practices among pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) clinicians in the context of current clinical practice guidelines and contemporary evidence. ⋯ Although current evidence supports adjuvant antibiotics for all drained SSTI and decolonization for the index patient and household contacts, PEM clinicians do not consistently adhere to these recommendations. In light of these findings, development and implementation of institutional guidelines are necessary to aid PEM clinicians' point-of-care decision making and improving evidence-based practice.