Journal of paediatrics and child health
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Acute abdominal pain is a common problem in childhood, and appendicitis is frequently diagnosed by general practitioners and doctors working in emergency departments. The objective of the present report was to determine the frequency of appendicitis in a group of children with acute abdominal pain presenting to the emergency department of a general hospital, as well as attempting to analyse the manner in which these patients were managed. ⋯ Appendicitis is a clinical diagnosis, best made by an experienced member of the paediatric surgical team. Frequent review, with a minimum of investigations, provides the best means of making a rational decision regarding surgery.
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J Paediatr Child Health · Apr 1996
Surgery and the tiny baby: sensorineural outcome at 5 years of age. The Victorian Infant Collaborative Study Group.
To determine whether an association exists between long-term sensorineural outcome and the need for surgery requiring general anaesthesia during the primary hospitalization in extremely preterm (<27 weeks of gestational age) or extremely low birthweight (ELBW birthweight <100Og) infants. ⋯ There is an adverse association between the need for surgery requiring general anaesthesia during the primary hospitalization and sensorineural outcome in extremely preterm or ELBW infants.
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J Paediatr Child Health · Feb 1996
Clinical TrialReducing the anxiety of children undergoing surgery: parental presence during anaesthetic induction.
The primary aim was to determine whether child anxiety could be reduced by the presence of a parent during anaesthetic induction. Secondary aims involved clarification of the effect of the timing of parental separation, the use of premedication, the seriousness of the surgical procedure, and the flow-on effect of parental anxiety on the level of child anxiety. ⋯ It was concluded that there are benefits in allowing parents to be present during anaesthetic induction. However, the potential negative effect of parental anxiety must be acknowledged before parents are allowed to accompany their child as a matter of course.
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J Paediatr Child Health · Dec 1995
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialAnalgesia for venepuncture in a paediatric surgery centre.
To establish an effective and efficient method of painless venepuncture in children 8 years and older in an ambulatory paediatric surgery centre. ⋯ Oral midazolam in combination with 50% nitrous oxide provides adequate analgesia and anxiolysis for venepuncture in patients 8 years and older. The addition of EMLA cream or intradermal lidocaine will decrease the likelihood of patient movement.
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To assess whether information about asthma acquired by individual teachers, following attendance at an inservice seminar, would be communicated to other school staff, and whether policies about asthma management would be subsequently developed in schools. ⋯ A programme of one-off seminars attended by one teacher from each primary school resulted in large increases in the proportion of schools with appropriate policies for the management of asthma in the school environment.