Journal of pediatric surgery
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The natural history and management of pediatric duodenal injuries are incompletely described. This study sought to review injury mechanism, surgical management, and outcomes from a collected series of pediatric duodenal injuries. ⋯ Duodenal injuries in children were predominantly blunt and had a low mortality rate. When surgery was required, primary repair was usually feasible.
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Review Multicenter Study
The optimal initial management of children with suspected appendicitis: a decision analysis.
As abdominal imaging has improved, the use of computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonography (US) for evaluating children with suspected appendicitis has increased. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal management strategy for evaluating children with suspected appendicitis given the current accuracy of abdominal imaging. ⋯ CT has an important role in the management of suspected appendicitis. Among children with a low or high likelihood of appendicitis, the cost of imaging tests required to prevent the complications of appendicitis is high.
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Review Comparative Study
Incidence and clinical significance of abdominal wall bruising in restrained children involved in motor vehicle crashes.
Children involved in motor vehicle crashes (MVC) can sustain bruising of the abdominal wall associated with seat belt restraint. The incidence of bruising and its relationship with significant intraabdominal injuries are not known. ⋯ Abdominal wall bruising was relatively uncommon in both OR and S-OR children. Among restrained children involved in MVC, those with a bruise were 232 times more likely to have a significant intraabdominal injury when compared with those without a bruise. It is imperative to pursue intraabdominal injury in children with a bruise of the abdominal wall after MVC.
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Review Comparative Study
How low can you go? Effectiveness and safety of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in low-birth-weight neonates.
Controversy exists regarding the criteria for placement of infants on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) at low birth weights. The authors hypothesized that ECMO is effective and safe in babies under 2 kg and sought to examine outcome and survival rate in these infants. ⋯ Cannulation for ECMO may be safe and effective in babies under 2.0 kg and potentially as low as 1.6 kg. Judicious anticoagulation might limit bleeding, which occurred in a minority of these patients.
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Over the last decade, an ambulatory burn care (ABC) and procedural sedation (PS) program was instituted at St Louis Children's Hospital (SLCH). This study assessed the effect of these interventions on resource utilization. ⋯ Over a 10-year period, the program achieved a significant reduction in resource utilization while increasing the number of patients treated and maintaining a low incidence of infection. This was due in large part to a shift to ABC and the use of PS.