Pediatr Crit Care Me
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Jan 2004
Multicenter Study Comparative StudySeverity of injury and mortality associated with pediatric blunt injuries: hospitals with pediatric intensive care units versus other hospitals.
To a) compare in-hospital mortality rates for pediatric (age <13 yrs) patients with blunt injuries in the New York State Trauma Registry based on hospital type (dedicated pediatric intensive care unit [PICU] and designated trauma centers and noncenters that do not have a dedicated PICU) for the purpose of determining whether there is a reduction in mortality at a specialty hospital and b) determine the extent to which high-risk patients are admitted to specialty hospitals. ⋯ There is significant triaging of the most seriously injured pediatric trauma inpatients to PICUs, and there is evidence that this policy is effective.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Jan 2004
Predicted versus measured energy expenditure by continuous, online indirect calorimetry in ventilated, critically ill children during the early postinjury period.
Compare the energy expenditure, predicted by anthropometric equations, with that measured by continuous on-line indirect calorimetry in ventilated, critically ill children during the early postinjury period. ⋯ Predictive equations do not accurately predict energy expenditure in ventilated, critically ill children during the early postinjury period; if available, indirect calorimetry must be performed.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Jan 2004
Use of the nursing acuity score in children admitted to a pediatric oncology intensive care unit.
To determine whether a unit specific nursing acuity score is useful for assessing patients with cancer admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit. ⋯ The nursing acuity score accurately predicts survival in pediatric patients with cancer, correlates with established indexes of severity of illness and predictors of mortality, and identifies different mortalities across the nursing acuity categories. Although its predictive value may have been enhanced by the use of a second shift score, these findings suggest that it may be a useful tool in this patient population and affirms the insight of the bedside nurse in assessing severity of illness.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Jan 2004
Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical TrialDecision making and satisfaction with care in the pediatric intensive care unit: findings from a controlled clinical trial.
To facilitate critical decision making and improve satisfaction with care among families of patients in a pediatric intensive care unit. ⋯ Prospectively screening for and intervening to mitigate potential conflict did not increase decision making or parental satisfaction with the care provided in this pediatric intensive care unit.
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Acidosis is now recognized as an important component of the severe malaria syndrome and a predictor of fatal outcome. Alterations in plasma potassium concentrations are commonly associated with acidosis. To date, there is little information about the changes in potassium in severe malaria. ⋯ Hypokalemia is a common complication of severe malaria; however, it is often not apparent on admission. On correction of acidosis, plasma potassium decreases precipitously, and thus careful, serial monitoring of serum potassium is suggested in patients with severe malaria complicated by acidosis.