Pediatric emergency care
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Pediatric emergency care · Dec 2007
Knowledge of procedural sedation and analgesia of emergency medicine physicians.
Pediatric procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA) is unique. The goals of this study were to examine emergency medicine (EM) physicians' baseline knowledge of general and pediatric PSA compared with that of other nonanesthesiologist physicians and to test effectiveness of a seminar required for credentialing in PSA. ⋯ The EM physicians have stronger knowledge about general PSA than other nonanesthesiologist physician participants, but not for pediatric PSA, thus providing a target for future interventions. This course on PSA improved practitioners' knowledge of general and pediatric PSA and can be used as an educational model for PSA training. Further study is needed to determine decay rates for this knowledge and impact on patient care.
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Pediatric emergency care · Nov 2007
Multicenter StudySimulated pediatric trauma team management: assessment of an educational intervention.
Trauma is the leading cause of death in children. The quality of initial medical care received by injured children contributes to outcomes. Our objective was to assess effectiveness of an educational intervention on performance of emergency department (ED) teams during simulated pediatric trauma resuscitations. ⋯ This study demonstrated that an on-site educational intervention was effective in improving the performance of ED teams during simulated pediatric trauma resuscitations. Postintervention performance was more consistent with the Pediatric Advanced Life Support and Advanced Trauma Life Support guidelines. Further studies are needed to determine if improved performance in a simulated scenario leads to improved performance and better clinical outcomes of critically injured children.
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Atrial fibrillation is a rare diagnosis in children and adolescents. We report a case of a 17-year-old previously healthy boy who presented to the emergency department with a 3-week history of shortness of breath, chest pain, and 1 episode of hemoptysis. ⋯ An extensive workup led to the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. This case highlights the importance of evaluating for thromboembolic events in pediatric patients presenting with new-onset atrial fibrillation and typical electrocardiogram pattern of cor pulmonale with or without respiratory symptoms.