Pediatric emergency care
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Pediatric emergency care · Feb 2023
Machine Learning-Based Prediction of Hospital Admission Among Children in an Emergency Care Center.
Machine learning-based prediction of hospital admissions may have the potential to optimize patient disposition and improve clinical outcomes by minimizing both undertriage and overtriage in crowded emergency care. We developed and validated the predictive abilities of machine learning-based predictions of hospital admissions in a pediatric emergency care center. ⋯ Machine learning-based prediction of hospital admissions may support physicians' decision-making for hospital admissions. However, further improvements are required before implementing these models in real clinical settings.
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Pediatric emergency care · Feb 2023
Ultrasound-Guided Regional Anesthesia of the Femoral Nerve in the Pediatric Emergency Department.
Femur fractures are painful, and use of systemic opioids and other sedatives can be dangerous in pediatric patients. The fascia iliaca compartment nerve block and femoral nerve block are regional anesthesia techniques to provide analgesia by anesthetizing the femoral nerve. They are widely used in adult patients and are associated with good effect and reduced opioid use. Ultrasound (US) guidance of nerve blocks can increase their safety and efficacy. We sought to report on the use and safety of US-guided regional anesthesia of the femoral nerve performed by emergency physicians for femur fractures in 6 pediatric emergency departments. ⋯ Ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia of the femoral nerve is widely performed and can be performed safely on pediatric patients by emergency physicians and trainees in the pediatric emergency department.
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Pediatric emergency care · Feb 2023
The Role of Ultrasound in Pediatric Skull Fractures: Determination of Fracture and Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter Measurements.
The aim of the present study was to determine the accuracy of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) for detecting skull fractures and to evaluate sonographic measurements of optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) and ONSD/eyeball vertical diameter (EVD) ratios in children with head trauma. ⋯ When used with clinical decision rules to minimize the risk for clinically important traumatic brain injury, POCUS seems to be a promising tool to detect skull fractures and calculate ONSD measurements and rates to predict the risk for SOLs and perform further risk stratification of children with minor head trauma.
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Pediatric emergency care · Feb 2023
The Association of Antimicrobial Prophylaxis With Return Visits After Dog Bites in Children.
Dog bites occur frequently in the United States, yet there are no clear guidelines for prescribing antibiotic prophylaxis in healthy children after a dog bite. The aim of our study was to assess antibiotic prophylaxis and subsequent rates of infection after dog bites in children. We hypothesized a negative association between prophylactic prescription of any antimicrobial and return visit within 14 days for infection. ⋯ Most children are prescribed antibiotics at an initial emergency department visit after a dog bite. However, very few return for infection independent of antimicrobial prophylaxis, which suggests antibiotics are overprescribed in this setting.