Pediatric emergency care
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Pediatric emergency care · Jun 2013
Quality in triage: indicators in patients with respiratory disease.
The objective was to apply quality indicators in respiratory disease triage during a set time period. ⋯ Indicators of triage quality were acceptably met in respiratory disease. Breathing difficulty was identified and classified as urgent, although problems arouse at differentiation between moderate and severe dyspnea.
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Pediatric emergency care · Jun 2013
Review Case ReportsLaundry detergent "pod" ingestions: a case series and discussion of recent literature.
The objectives of this study were to present and explore the clinical presentation of the increasingly common pediatric exposure to the widely available single-use laundry packets or "laundry pods." ⋯ A different approach to the triage and management of pediatric exposures to laundry detergent pod ingestions is required compared with nonpod ingestions. Although the exact cause is not known, practitioners should be vigilant for rapid onset of neurological impairment and inability to protect the airway in addition to its caustic effects.
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Valproic acid intoxication may be associated with cerebral, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and hematologic complications. We report a case of a 7-year-old girl, epilepsy-treated chronically with valproic acid, sulthiame, and clonazepam, who presented to the emergency room because of a global deterioration during the preceding 2 months, including poorer feeding and worsened general responsiveness. The girl was later diagnosed to have chronic valproic acid intoxication.
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Pediatric emergency care · Jun 2013
Interfacility transfer of pediatric trauma patients by helicopter does not predict the need for urgent intervention.
Helicopter transport can allow trauma patients to reach definitive treatment rapidly, but its appropriate utilization for interfacility transfer to a pediatric trauma center (PTC) has not been well evaluated. This study evaluated differences in variables associated with transport type and intervention at a PTC between helicopter and ground transport for interfacility trauma transfers. ⋯ Most pediatric trauma patients transferred by helicopter did not require interventions. Epidural hematoma, vascular compromise/open fracture, and penetrating neck/trunk injuries predicted prompt interventions (<2 hours) and may have benefited from helicopter transport. There was a disparity between the perceived need for rapid transport and the need for urgent interventions.