The journal of pediatric pharmacology and therapeutics : JPPT : the official journal of PPAG
-
J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther · May 2019
A Retrospective Review of Antipsychotic Medications Administered to Psychiatric Patients in a Tertiary Care Pediatric Emergency Department.
An increasing number of pediatric patients with psychiatric chief complaints present to emergency departments (EDs) nationwide. Many of these patients require treatment with antipsychotic medications to treat agitation. We sought to examine the use of antipsychotic medications in pediatric patients presenting to a tertiary care pediatric ED. ⋯ In this retrospective series, the majority of patients were treated with newer oral antipsychotics. Administration of multiple medications was associated with a significantly longer length of stay in the ED, as was parenteral administration of antipsychotics.
-
J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther · May 2019
Case ReportsSugammadex for Reversal of Neuromuscular Blockade in a Patient With Renal Failure.
Residual neuromuscular blockade following the use of non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) can lead to postoperative respiratory complications, including oxygen desaturation, atelectasis, and pneumonia. Sugammadex rapidly reverses steroidal NMBAs by encapsulating them in a highly stable water-soluble complex. ⋯ We present a 19-year-old patient with renal failure who received sugammadex for reversal of neuromuscular blockade. The use of sugammadex in patients with renal dysfunction is discussed and safety concerns are reviewed.
-
J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther · Mar 2019
Population Pharmacokinetics of Vancomycin in the Pediatric Cardiac Surgical Population.
Vancomycin is often used in the pediatric cardiac surgical population, but few pharmacokinetic data are available to guide dosing. ⋯ Vancomycin dosing in the postoperative pediatric cardiac surgical population should incorporate postmenstrual age and creatinine clearance. A vancomycin dose of 20 mg/kg every 8 hours is a reasonable empiric strategy.
-
J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther · Nov 2018
Safety and Utility of Continuous Ketamine Infusion for Sedation in Mechanically Ventilated Pediatric Patients.
The selection of sedative medications for mechanically ventilated pediatric patients remains an ongoing clinical challenge. Although continuous ketamine infusion has been used in this population, support for its use remains largely anecdotal. This study describes a single institution's use of ketamine infusions as part of a sedation protocol in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). ⋯ The addition of a ketamine infusion as part of a multidrug sedation regimen was at least as effective as patients' regimen prior to ketamine addition in this population of intubated pediatric patients, with no adverse events.
-
Asthma pathways have been shown to improve resource use and decrease length of stay (LOS). A tertiary care hospital implemented an asthma pathway in May 2015 to standardize inpatient care. We predicted that the pathway would increase the use of albuterol metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) and steroids; decrease use of albuterol nebulizer, antibiotics, chest radiograph (CXR), and respiratory viral panel (RVP); and decrease LOS. ⋯ The asthma pathway improved inpatient albuterol MDI use. The LOS decreased while maintaining readmission rates.