Current opinion in pediatrics
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Curr. Opin. Pediatr. · Apr 2002
ReviewUses and abuses of sodium bicarbonate in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Despite the lack of evidence for its effectiveness in the treatment of acid-base disturbances in critically ill patients of all ages, and despite several lines of evidence that indicate it might be dangerous, bicarbonate therapy is used routinely in many neonatal intensive care units. The justification for the persistent use of this controversial therapy comes from a variety of sources, many based more in philosophy than in science. Clinicians contemplating the use of bicarbonate therapy should consider what they expect the intervention to accomplish and what evidence exists that their therapeutic objective will be met. Without rigorous scientific support for this therapy, it should be considered of unproven value and, therefore, experimental.
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Curr. Opin. Pediatr. · Feb 2002
ReviewAdolescents with cancer: access to clinical trials and age-appropriate care.
Many adolescents with cancer are denied the benefits of protocol inclusion and optimal supportive care. More than 70% of older adolescent patients are not treated at institutions representing pediatric cooperative groups and are not enrolled in clinical trials, despite a demonstrated survival advantage for patients registered in protocols. Failure to refer adolescent cancer patients to specialized pediatric oncology treatment centers also has an impact on their quality of care. The challenge before both the medical and pediatric health care communities is to assure adolescent patients the benefits of inclusion in clinical trials and treatment in age-appropriate settings.