Pediatr Crit Care Me
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Jul 2005
The spiritual needs of parents at the time of their child's death in the pediatric intensive care unit and during bereavement: a qualitative study.
Death is common in pediatric intensive care units. A child's death can shatter parents' personal identities, disrupt their relationships, and challenge their worldviews. Spirituality is a human characteristic that engenders transcendence; seeks meaning, purpose, and connection to others; and helps to construct a coherent worldview. Greater attention to spiritual needs may help parents cope with their loss. Our objective is to gain a deeper understanding of parents' spiritual needs during their child's death and bereavement. ⋯ Bereaved parents have intense spiritual needs. Health care providers can help to support parents' spiritual needs through words and actions that demonstrate a caring presence, impart truth, and foster trust; by providing opportunity to stay connected with the child at the time of death; and by creating memories that will bring comfort in the future.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Jul 2005
Case ReportsCardiopulmonary resuscitation of a near-drowned child with a combination of epinephrine and vasopressin.
To report a cardiopulmonary resuscitation attempt in a 20-month-old child employing a combination of vasopressin and epinephrine. ⋯ Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation, early and aggressive advanced life support, rewarming, and the combination of intravenous epinephrine and vasopressin were associated with sustained return of spontaneous circulation following hypothermic submersion-associated cardiac arrest.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Jul 2005
Aggressive management of dengue shock syndrome may decrease mortality rate: a suggested protocol.
Dengue shock syndrome is a leading cause of mortality among Indian children. In January 2000, we instituted a protocol for aggressive management of children with dengue shock syndrome. The objective of this study was to compare outcomes (duration of ventilation, pediatric intensive care unit stay, incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome, and intensive care unit and hospital mortality) before and after the protocol. ⋯ Patients with dengue shock syndrome are at high risk of mortality due to refractory shock and multiple organ failure. Survival was better for patients in the P group. Aggressive shock management and possibly the use of judicious fluid removal may decrease mortality rates in the severest forms of dengue shock syndrome.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Jul 2005
Editorial CommentDexmedetomidine: promising drug for pediatric sedation?