Pediatric emergency care
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Pediatric emergency care · Aug 2014
Case ReportsTumor lysis syndrome: risk factors, diagnosis, and management.
Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is a potentially fatal complication of induction therapy for several types of malignancies. Electrolyte derangements and even downstream complications may also occur prior to the initial presentation to a medical provider, before an oncologic diagnosis has been established. ⋯ Careful evaluation of serum electrolytes, uric acid, and renal function must occur. Patients at risk for TLS and those who already exhibit laboratory or clinical evidence of TLS require close monitoring, aggressive hydration, and appropriate medical treatment.
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Pediatric emergency care · Aug 2014
J-Splint Use for Temporizing Management of Pediatric Femur Fractures: A Review of 18 Cases.
Pediatric femoral fractures are common injuries encountered in the field and in emergency departments. Currently described temporizing management strategies include skeletal traction, skin traction, traction splinting, and posterior splinting, all of which are suboptimal in some instances. J-splinting femur fractures may be advantageous in temporizing management of pediatric femur fractures. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of J-splint use for temporizing management of pediatric femur fractures. ⋯ The J-splint is a reliable, simple, and rapidly applied splint that prevents many of the complications and downfalls of other described temporizing measures and helps to provide excellent pain management in the acute setting.
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Pediatric emergency care · Aug 2014
Epidemiology of Hospital-Based Emergency Department Visits Due to Sports Injuries.
Sports-related injuries in adolescents incur a significant amount of hospital resources. Sports-related injuries are not an uncommon cause of ED visit; however, national estimates of such injuries in teenagers are unknown. ⋯ Sports injuries account for a substantial number of 2008 teenage ED visits in the United States. Patient- and hospital-level characteristics were analyzed and highlighted.
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Pediatric emergency care · Aug 2014
Adolescents' and Young Adults' Perspectives on Their Emergency Care.
The aim of this study was to assess the perspectives of adolescents and young adults seen in the emergency department (ED) on the optimal age for transition from a pediatric ED (PED) to an adult ED (AED) as well as the appropriateness of their assigned ED site. Secondary aims were to determine ED physicians' understanding and assessment of their psychosocial needs, to determine whether subjects had a primary care provider (PCP), as well as to identify resources they felt would improve their ED experience. ⋯ Adolescents and young adults identify the age of 18 years as optimal for transition from a PED to an AED setting. Instituting a standardized HEADSS assessment protocol and offering age-appropriate resources may enhance the emergency experience for this population.
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Pediatric emergency care · Aug 2014
Case ReportsAnother Angry Adolescent: Another Boxer's Fracture?
Hand injuries are a common chief complaint in the pediatric population presenting for emergency care. Adolescents, in particular, often present with trauma to their hands after punching objects. The most frequent result of this action is a fracture to one or more of their metacarpals, also known as a boxer's fracture. However, we present a case with this common mechanism that resulted in an uncommon injury, carpometacarpal joint dislocations.