Pediatric emergency care
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The objective of this study was to assess charting errors by junior trainees in the emergency department at the beginning of the academic year and to evaluate the effect of audits and reminders in reducing charting errors in July. ⋯ There is a significant increase in charting errors by new trainees in July compared with June. A simple intervention of reminders and alerts significantly reduced charting errors in July.
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Pediatric emergency care · Mar 2012
Case series of mercury toxicity among children in a hot, closed environment.
Mercury poisoning is much more prevalent in the general population than possibly many physicians realize. We present data on 26 pediatric cases with mercury intoxication from exposure to mercury by inhalation or skin contact as a result of a broken thermometer in a school laboratory. This is the largest pediatric series in Turkey. ⋯ N-acetylcysteine and chelation treatments were started in 21 children who had symptoms of mercury intoxication and high mercury levels in their blood or urine. No adverse effects were observed during chelation therapy. Prompt removal of children from contaminated environments and proper decontamination or elimination of devices containing large amounts of mercury from schools are necessary to prevent serious complications caused by exposure to mercury.
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Ménétrier disease is a protein-losing gastroenteropathy often misdiagnosed in the pediatric population. The disease is characterized by hypoalbuminemia secondary to protein loss through the gastrointestinal mucosa and resultant peripheral edema. It is important for emergency department practitioners to consider this diagnosis in the differential diagnosis for edema and low albumin levels in pediatric patients. We present a case report of Ménétrier disease in an edematous child and a brief review.
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Pediatric emergency care · Mar 2012
Impact of patient and family communication in a pediatric emergency department on likelihood to recommend.
Identify the specific patient experience variables that most strongly predict satisfaction as measured by the likelihood to recommend rating. ⋯ This study demonstrates that keeping patients and their families informed has a more positive effect on patient satisfaction than any other variable studied even in the setting of increased census and wait times.
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Pediatric emergency care · Mar 2012
Foreign body aspiration in childhood: evaluation of diagnostic parameters.
Foreign body aspiration (FBA) is one of the most important preventable causes of childhood mortality and morbidity. ⋯ Especially, male children younger than 3 years have an increased risk of FBA. Neither clinical symptoms nor the radiological findings alone are sufficiently specific and sensitive in diagnosing FBA. The most important factor for diagnosis is the presence of aspiration history.