Pediatric emergency care
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Pediatric emergency care · Jun 2011
Comparative StudyPredictors of psychiatric boarding in the pediatric emergency department: implications for emergency care.
Patients who present to the emergency department (ED) and require psychiatric hospitalization may wait in the ED or be admitted to a medical service because there are no available inpatient psychiatric beds. These patients are psychiatric "boarders." This study describes the extent of the boarder problem in a large, urban pediatric ED, compares characteristics of psychiatrically hospitalized patients with boarders, and compares predictors of boarding in 2 ED patient cohorts. ⋯ Suicidal patients continue to board. Limits within the system, including timing of ED presentation and a dearth of specialized services, still exist, elevating the risk of boarding for some populations. Implications for pediatric ED psychiatric care delivery are discussed.
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Pediatric emergency care · Jun 2011
Comparative StudyIs the Broselow tape a reliable indicator for use in all pediatric trauma patients?: A look at a rural trauma center.
The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the Broselow tape in the evaluation of pediatric trauma patients. ⋯ In our population, the Broselow tape is an ineffective tool to predict weight in more than 50% of pediatric trauma patients. This may lead to the underdosing of emergency medications and blood products.
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Pediatric emergency care · Jun 2011
Case ReportsCholelithiasis in a toddler with sickle cell disease.
Cholelithiasis is rarely seen in toddlers and school-aged children, even in the setting of sickle cell anemia. In addition to more common etiologies, such as gastroenteritis, constipation, and urinary tract infection, the differential diagnoses of acute abdominal pain in young children with sickle cell disease include vaso-occlusive pain crisis and splenic sequestration. We describe a case of a toddler with sickle cell disease initially presenting with abdominal pain who was found to have symptomatic cholelithiasis.