Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine
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Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med · Aug 2012
Multicenter StudyValidation and refinement of a prediction rule to identify children at low risk for acute appendicitis.
To validate and refine a clinical prediction rule to identify which children with acute abdominal pain are at low risk for appendicitis (Low-Risk Appendicitis Rule). ⋯ We have validated and refined a simple clinical prediction rule for pediatric appendicitis. For patients identified as being at low risk, clinicians should consider alternative strategies, such as observation or ultrasonographic examination, rather than proceeding to immediate computed tomographic imaging.
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Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med · Aug 2012
Comparative StudyPresentations and outcomes of children with intraventricular hemorrhages after blunt head trauma.
To describe the clinical presentations and outcomes of children with intraventricular hemorrhages (IVHs) after blunt head trauma (BHT). ⋯ Children with nonisolated IVHs after BHT typically present with GCS scores of less than 14, frequently require neurosurgery, and have high mortality rates. In contrast, those with isolated IVHs typically present with normal mental status and are at low risk for acute adverse events and poor outcomes.
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Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med · Aug 2012
Cranial computed tomography use among children with minor blunt head trauma: association with race/ethnicity.
To determine if patient race/ethnicity is independently associated with cranial computed tomography (CT) use among children with minor blunt head trauma. ⋯ Disparities may arise from the overuse of cranial CT among patients of nonminority races/ethnicities. Further studies should focus on explaining how medically irrelevant factors, such as patient race/ethnicity, can affect physician decision making, resulting in exposure of children to unnecessary health care risks.
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Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med · Aug 2012
Patterns of care at end of life in children with advanced heart disease.
To describe patterns of care for pediatric patients with advanced heart disease who experience in-hospital death. ⋯ Infants and children who die of advanced heart disease frequently succumb in the intensive care setting with multisystem organ failure and exposure to highly technical care.