Journal of pediatric surgery
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The Institute of Medicine has identified medical error as a leading cause of death and injury, with deaths resulting from medical error exceeding those caused by motor vehicle collisions, breast cancer, or AIDS. The authors examined the incidence and sources of medical error in relation to adverse events on a pediatric general surgery service. ⋯ Medical error occurs in more than one half of hospital admissions on a general pediatric surgery service and contributes to a substantial number of adverse outcomes.
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The authors report 2 cases of pediatric emergencies caused by fishbone ingestion. In the first case, 2 fishbones within the sac of an inguinal hernia were detected during an emergency operation for suspected testicular torsion; in the second case, a big fishbone was found in the omentum covering an inflammed appendix during an emergency appendicectomy. In some cases this three foreign bodies can be detected with a simple abdominal X-ray; the relationship between the fish species involved and the diagnosis is discussed.
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The aim of this study was to describe the state of pediatric trauma system development in the United States in 1997 and 1998 and to characterize the hospitalization patterns of injured children in states with different types of pediatric trauma systems. The authors also investigated the impact of sociodemographic, injury, and geographic characteristics on those hospitalization patterns. ⋯ Even in states with trauma systems, a large proportion of severely injured children are treated in nontrauma center facilities.
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The aim of this study was to present the entire spectrum of pediatric bronchoscopy performed for foreign body aspiration (FBA), with emphasis on accuracy of diagnostic tools, technical aspects, and predictors of complications. ⋯ The third year of the life carries the highest risk for FBA. There are no specific symptoms and signs to make a clear-cut differential diagnosis between FBA and respiratory tract infection. Bronchoscopy is invariably indicated on the basis of reliable history alone even when symptoms are minimal, and imaging studies are negative. Secondary bronchoscopy should be done in patients with persistent signs and symptoms to rule out overlooked organic foreign body particles or to remove persistent granulation tissue to avoid long-term complications necessitating lobectomy. The long duration of the procedure, presence of dense granulation tissue, and type of foreign body are important predictors of complications. Bronchoscopy should be regarded as an expert procedure and done with great care to avoid lethal complications. Differential diagnosis of respiratory tract infection by various diagnostic tools is of utmost important to avoid morbidity and mortality related to needless bronchoscopy.
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Preliminary studies have shown aminocaproic acid (AMICAR), an inhibitor of fibrinolysis, reduced the incidence of intracranial hemorrhage and significant surgical site bleeding in patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The purpose of this analysis is to determine if these benefits remain when AMICAR is used in a large population. ⋯ In this large experience, use of AMICAR for high-risk patients on ECMO did not appear to alter the rate of neonatal intracranial hemorrhage, but did significantly reduce the incidence of surgical site bleeding. AMICAR remains a valuable tool for the prevention of hemorrhage in patients undergoing operation prior to or while on ECMO.