Paediatric respiratory reviews
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Paediatr Respir Rev · Sep 2005
The burden of paediatric intensive care: a South American perspective.
Paediatric intensive care is a relatively new medical specialty that has shown a marked growing up around the world over the last three decades. The limits and the development of this new specialty are not uniform from country to country. Original articles relating to paediatric intensive care and some South American data bases of health care were evaluated and relevant results were selected. ⋯ In conclusion, during the last 20 years PICUs have developed and increased their coverage in South America. However, the most sophisticated and well equipped PICUs are preferentially located in the more developed areas whereas those areas with higher infant mortality rates have few PICU beds. Improvements in the economical stability, regional health organisation as well as the rationale for PICU localisation are some of the important goals to be reached in the near future.
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Paediatr Respir Rev · Sep 2005
The burden of paediatric intensive care: an Australian and New Zealand perspective.
Most seriously ill children in Australia and New Zealand are cared for in specialised intensive care units associated with tertiary children's hospitals. Highly regionalised models of care are in operation. Children from remote areas are transported to intensive care by paediatric emergency transport services. ⋯ There is also evidence of uniformity of outcomes across paediatric intensive care units in the region and that outcomes have been improving. Although there are some downward pressures on intensive care workloads (preventative strategies such as immunisation, safety campaigns), these are counterbalanced by new surgical initiatives and increasing expectations of extended high tech support for children with life shortening diseases and disabilities. This expanding group of technology-dependent children will be one of the major challenges facing health authorities and intensive care physicians in this region in the coming decade.