The Journal of pediatrics
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The Journal of pediatrics · Jul 1982
Comparative StudyComparison of venipuncture blood counts with microcapillary measurements in screening for anemia in one-year-old infants.
The microhematocrit measurement of fingerstick blood in infants gives elevated values compared to venous hematocrits measured simultaneously in a Coulter Model S electronic counter. Thirty one-year-old infants had a mean microhematocrit of 36.6, significantly higher (p less than 0.001) than the mean venous Coulter S hematocrit of 34.6. Three children, who appeared to be normal by microhematocrit measurement, were found to be anemic by Coulter S measurement; in these children the microhematocrits were elevated 13.6%, 12.5%, and 5.1%, respectively, above venous Coulter S levels. ⋯ There was excellent correlation for mean cell volume (r = 0.98), but poor correlation for hemoglobin (r = 0.81) and hematocrit (r = 0.77). Four of 30 children had borderline low venipuncture hemoglobin values (less than or equal to 11.5 gm/dl) that were not detected by the capillary method. The inaccuracy of the fingerstick microhematocrit method and the discrepancy between the venipuncture and capillary Coulter S values supports the choice of venipuncture blood counts as the preferred method of screening for anemia in one-year-old infants.
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The Journal of pediatrics · May 1982
Disseminated intravascular coagulation fibrinolytic syndrome following head injury in children: frequency and prognostic implications.
Eight-seven consecutive children with head injury were evaluated within two hours of injury by clinical examination, by computed tomographic brain images, and for systemic blood clotting disorders. All were treated by a standard regimen and survival rates calculated according to the initial neurologic abnormalities and pathology of the injury. ⋯ The mortality was over four times greater in those patients with DIC compared to those with normal clotting values. Our findings indicate that minor hemostatic abnormalities are the rule in head-injured children, that DIC occurs in nearly one-third of cases, and that DIC is associated with a marked increase in the mortality after brain injury: DIC may be a treatable secondary effect of head trauma that could decrease the mortality.