Pediatric emergency care
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Pediatric emergency care · Feb 2015
Observational StudySOUND: A Structured Handoff Tool Improves Patient Handoffs in a Pediatric Emergency Department.
Handoff communication is an important contributor to safety and quality in the emergency department (ED). Breakdowns in this process may lead to unsafe conditions or adverse events. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that the quality of patient handoffs in the pediatric ED would improve after implementation of a structured handoff method. ⋯ It is feasible to standardize patient handoffs in the pediatric ED. The implementation of SOUND improved completeness of handoffs with only a modest increase in the mean time spent discussing each patient. Future study is required to determine if SOUND will prove effective in other ED settings.
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Pediatric emergency care · Feb 2015
Meta AnalysisThe Efficacy of Isotonic and Hypotonic Intravenous Maintenance Fluid for Pediatric Patients: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
This study aimed to analyze the effect of isotonic versus hypotonic solution as intravenous maintenance fluid on level of plasma sodium in hospitalized children. ⋯ The meta-analysis revealed that there was potential risk of hyponatremia for routine infusion of hypotonic maintenance fluid. The use of isotonic solution was warranted in hospitalized pediatric patients.
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Pediatric emergency care · Feb 2015
Review Case ReportsUse of Point-of-Care Ultrasound to Evaluate for Penile Fracture in a Child.
Penile fracture is a urologic emergency requiring prompt surgical intervention. Ultrasound may help clarify the diagnosis in cases of uncertain history and physical examination. The author presents a case of suspected pediatric penile fracture, in which point-of-care ultrasound helped to rule out the condition and facilitated disposition of the patient.
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Pediatric emergency care · Feb 2015
Comparative StudyComparison of neonatal transport scoring systems and transport-related mortality score for predicting neonatal mortality risk.
To predict the risk of mortality of neonates, birth weight and gestational age were previously used. However, these criteria were considered inadequate; therefore, various scoring systems have been developed in the recent years. The aim of the study was to evaluate the performance of predicting mortality by Mortality Index for Neonatal Transportation (MINT), Score for Neonatal Acute Physiology-Perinatal Extension II (SNAP-PE-II), and Transport Related Mortality Score (TREMS). ⋯ The TREMS scoring system is a simple scoring system with a high specificity for predicting mortality. Further studies with larger sample size including more centers and newborn infants with diverse clinical problems are needed to assess the validity and reliability of the TREMS scoring system.
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Pediatric emergency care · Feb 2015
Prevalence of 3 sexually transmitted infections in a pediatric emergency department.
This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrheae, and Trichomonas vaginalis and to describe factors associated with sexually transmitted infection (STI) in a pediatric emergency department (ED). ⋯ Approximately 1 in 10 sexually active adolescent ED patients without reproductive complaints had 1 or more STIs. This suggests the need for strategies to increase STI testing for this population.