Pediatric emergency care
-
Pediatric emergency care · Feb 2012
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyA comparison of amethocaine and liposomal lidocaine cream as a pain reliever before venipuncture in children: a randomized control trial.
Although the use of anesthetic creams before intravenous (IV) insertion has been shown to be both safe and effective in decreasing pain during IV cannulation, the use of any single agent based on efficacy is not yet considered the standard of care in children. We sought to compare a commonly used preparation, 4% liposomal lidocaine (Maxilene), with 4% amethocaine (Ametop), a newer agent with reportedly good efficacy and an intrinsic vasodilatory effect. ⋯ This study demonstrates that there is no difference between 4% amethocaine and 4% liposomal lidocaine in reducing pain associated with IV cannulation in children. Amethocaine confers no advantage in improving IV cannulation success rate over lidocaine. Both agents are associated with few local adverse skin reactions.
-
Pediatric emergency care · Feb 2012
Review Meta AnalysisIntraosseous vascular access for in-hospital emergency use: a systematic clinical review of the literature and analysis.
Intraosseous (IO) vascular access is a viable primary alternative in patients requiring emergent vascular access in the hospital emergency department (ED) (eg, resuscitation, shock/septic shock) but is underutilized. ⋯ Recommendations/guidelines from physician specialty societies involved in the ED setting are also lacking. Underutilization exists despite recommendations for IO access use from a number of important medical associations peripherally involved in the ED such as the American Academy of Pediatrics. To encourage the IO approach, IO product champions (as both supporter and user) in the ED are needed for prioritizing and assigning IO access use when warranted. In addition, specialty societies directly involved in emergent hospital care should develop clinical guidelines for IO use.
-
Pediatric emergency care · Feb 2012
Case ReportsAnorexia nervosa: a case report of a teenager presenting with bradycardia, general fatigue, and weakness.
Anorexia nervosa is a disease with high prevalence in adolescents and carries the highest mortality of any psychiatric disorder. ⋯ Patients with anorexia may present with multiple medical complaints, and it is imperative that the emergency physician be familiar with the syndrome so as to correctly identify and treat patients with this disease.
-
Pediatric emergency care · Feb 2012
Profile of patients visiting the pediatric emergency service in an Egyptian university hospital.
The emergency department (ED) is an essential component of the medical service offered in any hospital. Yet, the published information about patients' profile and utilization of emergency services in both developing and developed countries is scarce. ⋯ Appropriate and ongoing data collection and analysis could guide more efficient utilization of pediatric emergency services to achieve better outcomes.