Pediatric emergency care
-
Pediatric emergency care · Dec 2002
Evaluation of a Capno-Flo resuscitator during transport of critically ill children.
Critically ill children often require endotracheal intubation prior to transport to a tertiary care center. Correct endotracheal tube (ETT) placement (trachea vs esophagus) and maintenance of ETT position during transport are of utmost importance. We evaluated the use of a Capno-Flo resuscitator (ventilation bag with a pH-sensitive colorimetric strip in the patient connector; Kirk Specialty Systems, Carrollton, TX) during transport of critically ill children. ⋯ The Capno-Flo resuscitator is useful in the initial confirmation of ETT position but not for continuous evaluation of ETT position during transport.
-
Pediatric emergency care · Oct 2002
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialDoes the use of volumetric bladder ultrasound improve the success rate of suprapubic aspiration of urine?
To determine whether a volumetric bladder scanner can improve the success rate of suprapubic aspiration and whether there is an optimal volume of urine required in the bladder before suprapubic aspiration should be attempted. ⋯ The volumetric bladder scanner is a rapid, safe, and accurate device that, in this study, greatly improved the success rate of suprapubic aspiration in small children. It also helped to avoid time delays or multiple blind attempts at suprapubic aspiration by predicting volumes at which suprapubic aspiration should or should not be attempted.
-
Pediatric emergency care · Oct 2002
Multicenter StudyWho is responsible for pediatric triage decisions in Australian emergency departments: a description of the educational and experiential preparation of general and pediatric emergency nurses.
Pediatric presentations to the emergency department (ED) account for approximately one third of ED presentations. Triage is the process employed by the ED to prioritize presenting patients, including children, on the basis of clinical urgency. This role is undertaken by emergency nurses, and a range of recommendations are available regarding the level of experience and education required by the nurse responsible for pediatric triage decisions. However, little is known about the actual education and experience of nurses undertaking pediatric triage. ⋯ Educationalists and managers must make a commitment to pediatric triage preparation for nurses in EDs providing pediatric services. In particular, emphasis must be placed on providing pediatric continuing education for nurses practicing in mixed population EDs. However, it is also essential that the impact of education and experience on patient outcomes be investigated before an attempt is made to influence the preparation of nurses for triage.
-
Pediatric emergency care · Oct 2002
Multicenter StudyFirst-time wheezing in infants during respiratory syncytial virus season: chest radiograph findings.
To evaluate the prevalence of pathologic chest radiographs in infants presenting with a first episode of wheezing during respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) seasons and to compare demographics and clinical variables between patients with benign and pathologic chest radiographs. ⋯ Seventeen percent of 140 previously healthy infants presenting with a first episode of wheezing during RSV seasons had a pathologic chest radiograph. However, only one patient (0.7%) had a cardiac anomaly, and all others had chest radiograph findings consistent with a respiratory tract infection.