Pediatric emergency care
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Pediatric emergency care · Oct 1999
Case ReportsBilateral localized tension pneumothoraces refractory to needle decompression.
We present the unusual case of a 12-year-old child with bilateral localized tension pneumothoraces that were initially both difficult to diagnose and refractory to needle decompression. This case illustrates several important variations in the diagnosis and treatment of tension pneumothorax. To the best of our knowledge, it also represents the only reported case of bilateral localized tension pneumothoraces presenting in the pediatric age group.
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Pediatric emergency care · Aug 1999
Comparative StudyVariations in sedating uncooperative, stable children for post-traumatic head CT.
To characterize variations among pediatric emergency physicians and their hospital facilities regarding sedation of the uncooperative, stable child for head CT following closed head injury. ⋯ Sedation practices for post-traumatic pediatric head CT vary widely, among both physicians and individual practitioners. Institutional and individual sedation-relation policies vary widely as well. Variation and dissatisfaction with sedation practices may reflect uncertainty regarding optimal sedation strategies. Further cost-effectiveness research is necessary.
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Pediatric emergency care · Aug 1999
Comparative StudyDiscordant radiograph interpretation between emergency physicians and radiologists in a pediatric emergency department.
To describe the types of discrepancies in radiograph interpretation between emergency physicians and radiologists in a pediatric emergency department, and to determine the impact of discrepant interpretations on patient care. ⋯ Emergency physicians would benefit from more rigorous interpretation of chest x-rays to avoid unnecessary treatment with antibiotics. Emergency physicians do a good job interpreting plain radiographs, but occasionally miss significant findings that could lead to adverse outcomes. The presence of radiologists to immediately read radiographs 24 hours a day could prevent missed findings, but, given the small number of significant misinterpretations, is unlikely to be cost effective.