Pediatric emergency care
-
Pediatric emergency care · Feb 2011
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyFamily presence during invasive procedures at the emergency department: what is the opinion of Spanish medical staff?
Family presence (FP) during invasive procedures (IPs) in children remains controversial among pediatric emergency department (PED) staff. The authors aimed to determine health care providers' attitudes toward FP during IPs in Spain, to learn whether parents are given the option of being present during different IPs, and to study which factors influence the providers' opinions. ⋯ The PED staff tend to prefer parents not to be present during IPs as the level of invasiveness increases. Family presence is not common in Spanish PEDs. Older physicians are more likely to support FP than nurses.
-
Pediatric emergency care · Feb 2011
Comparative StudyLow-risk criteria for pelvic radiography in pediatric blunt trauma patients.
The American College of Surgeons recommends that any patient with blunt trauma undergoes radiographic evaluation, including a radiograph of the pelvis. Studies have questioned the use of such routine pelvic radiographs (PXR) in pediatrics. Selective elimination of PXR would save time, money and unshielded radiation exposure to the gonads. ⋯ Using the clinical findings of (1) lack of lower extremity injury, (2) lack of an abnormal physical examination of the pelvis, and (3) no need for abdominopelvic CT, pelvic fracture can be reliably excluded. Pelvic radiography can be eliminated in the evaluation of these patients, potentially decreasing time expenditure, radiation exposure, and cost.
-
Pediatric emergency care · Feb 2011
Factors associated with prolonged emergency department length of stay for admitted children.
To estimate the prevalence of and to identify factors associated with prolonged emergency department length-of-stay (ED-LOS) for admitted children. ⋯ We found that prolonged ED-LOS occurs frequently for admitted pediatric patients and is associated with Hispanic ethnicity, presentation during winter season, and early morning arrival. Potential strategies to reduce ED-LOS include improved availability of interpreter services and enhanced staffing and additional inpatient bed availability during winter season and overnight hours.