Pediatric emergency care
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To determine the prevalence of serious bacterial infection in infants younger than 3 months with fever > or =40 degrees C. ⋯ Hyperpyrexia is rare among febrile infants younger than 3 months. One-third of infants with temperature > or =40.0 degrees C had SBI. Future management algorithms might include hyperpyrexia as a risk factor for serious infection.
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Pediatric emergency care · May 2005
Factors affecting emergency department assessment and management of pain in children.
To evaluate statewide emergency department assessment and management of pain in pediatric patients as a quality improvement initiative. ⋯ Disparity exists between perceived and documented emergency department pain management practices for children. Quality improvement initiatives should focus on improving pain assessment in infants, treating moderate to severe pain in children of all age groups, and education of health care providers in pain management strategies. Resources should target health care processes effective in decreasing pediatric pain.
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Pediatric emergency care · May 2005
Case ReportsThe lost endotracheal tube: an unreported complication of prehospital intubation.
This case describes a previously unreported rare, but potentially disastrous, complication of endotracheal tube intubation initiated by prehospital emergency medical services personnel. This report details an inadvertent prehospital esophageal intubation and a critical error in communication between the prehospital and hospital service that resulted in failure to identify or remove the tube until after admission. ⋯ Refraining from the use of slang terms may help prevent miscommunication between personnel upon transfer of patient care. This case shows the need be critical, observant, and wary at all times for even the most implausible findings in medicine.
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Pediatric emergency care · May 2005
Case ReportsPosterior sternoclavicular joint dislocation in children-role of spiral computed tomography.
Traumatic posterior dislocation of the sternoclavicular joint is an uncommon injury in children. It is not normally well seen on plain films. ⋯ Emergency physicians should be aware that the use of spiral computed tomography is the procedure of choice in posterior sternoclavicular joint dislocation. This is particularly helpful in allowing multiplanar reconstruction to show complications arising in the mediastinum.
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Pediatric emergency care · May 2005
Sedation for pediatric CT scanning: is radiology becoming a drug-free zone?
Cooperation for a diagnostic study is a frequent indication for pediatric procedural sedation. This study examines the continued need for sedation in the era of fast helical computerized tomography (CT) scanners. ⋯ Procedural sedation is infrequently used in infants and young children undergoing helical CT studies.