Pediatric emergency care
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Pediatric emergency care · Feb 2004
Case ReportsEdema, anemia, hypoproteinemia, and acrodermatitis enteropathica: an uncommon initial presentation of cystic fibrosis.
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder characterized by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pancreatic exocrine deficiency, and abnormally high sweat electrolyte concentrations. Less frequently, the presenting features in infants may include edema, anemia, hypoproteinemia, and acrodermatitis enteropathica. ⋯ Early recognition and institution of appropriate nutritional supplementation and pancreatic enzymes is essential to improve outcome. Since the sweat test may be falsely negative, emergency physicians must maintain a high index of suspicion to make the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis in an infant who presents with edema, anemia, hypoproteinemia, and acrodermatitis enteropathica.
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Pediatric emergency care · Jan 2004
ReviewSecondary triage of the injured pediatric patient within the trauma center: support for a selective resource-sparing two-stage system.
While it is generally agreed that pediatric trauma patients exposed to high-risk injury mechanisms should be sent to trauma centers, many patients seen with full trauma alerts are determined to have minimal injury. The purpose of this study was to develop and test a clinical tool to safely triage a group of pediatric trauma patients for initial evaluation by the emergency department (ED) within the trauma center. ⋯ This study serves as further support for the concept of multitiered triage systems within trauma centers. In such settings, initial evaluations of select pediatric patients can be safely performed by emergency medicine staff with deferral of full trauma team alerts.
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Pediatric emergency care · Jan 2004
ReviewPediatric observation status beds on an inpatient unit: an integrated care model.
Describe the usage of observation status (OS) beds on a pediatric inpatient unit and identify diagnoses likely to be successfully discharged compared to those requiring formal inpatient admission. ⋯ We describe the usage of OS beds in a community hospital that we believe can be a successful model for the care of pediatric patients. Future studies are needed to delineate the clinical characteristics of patients that would benefit from this care delivery model.