Pediatric emergency care
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Pediatric emergency care · Feb 2018
Neuroimaging Rates for Closed Head Trauma in a Community Hospital.
We aimed to characterize the utility of neuroimaging for head trauma in a suburban community hospital and determine whether imaging practices conform to most recent pediatric guidelines. ⋯ Our rate of serious lesions in GCS 14-15 patients was identical to a larger prospective study in urban teaching hospitals. Using their previously described algorithm might have reduced the number of patients scanned by more than 70% and saved close to $750,000 for the study period.
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Pediatric emergency care · Feb 2018
Review Case ReportsAcute Exertional Compartment Syndrome in Young Athletes: A Descriptive Case Series and Review of the Literature.
Acute exertional compartment syndrome (AECS) is a rare presentation of acute compartment syndrome (ACS) after exertion without injury. Unfamiliarity with this entity can lead to delay in diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to increase awareness of AECS and illustrate the morbidities associated with delayed diagnosis. ⋯ Despite the rarity of AECS, orthopedists as well as primary care, emergency medicine, and sports medicine physicians should maintain a high index of suspicion when examining a patient with leg pain out of proportion to examination after exertion. Delay in diagnosis of AECS is associated with substantial muscle necrosis and morbidity.
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Pediatric emergency care · Feb 2018
Review Case ReportsInterventricular Septal Pseudoaneurysm After Blunt Chest Trauma in a 6 Year Old: An Illustrative Case and Review.
Motor vehicle accident is the most common cause of blunt cardiac injury (BCI) in children (85.3%) due to the height of the child in relation to proper restraints and the compliant pediatric rib cage (J Trauma. 1996;40:200-202). Trauma to the chest wall may lead to injury of the myocardium, resulting in myocardial contusion, ventricular septal defect (VSD), ventricular free wall rupture, or valve compromise (J Trauma. 1996;40; 200-202; Heart Lung. 2012;41:200-202; J Inj Violence Res. 2012;4:98-100). There are several proposed mechanisms for the formation of VSD after blunt chest trauma including rupture of ischemic myocardium related to the initial trauma and reopening of a spontaneously closed congenital VSD. ⋯ At the time of resuscitation, an emergent transthoracic echocardiogram noted an interventricular pseudoaneurysm. She has been followed with serial transthoracic echocardiograms and has not required surgical intervention. We discuss the risk factors, prevalence, and diagnostic studies and recommended treatment options for structural heart disease after BCI.
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Pediatric emergency care · Feb 2018
The Utility of Cranial Ultrasound for Detection of Intracranial Hemorrhage in Infants.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of cranial ultrasound (CUS) for detection of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in infants with open fontanels. ⋯ The sensitivity of CUS is inadequate to justify its use as a screening tool for detection of ICH in young infants.
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Pediatric emergency care · Feb 2018
Point-of-Care Ultrasound Integrated Into a Staged Diagnostic Algorithm for Pediatric Appendicitis.
We hypothesized that point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is as accurate as radiology-performed ultrasound in evaluating children with clinical concern for appendicitis. As part of a staged approach, we further hypothesized that POCUS could ultimately decrease computed tomography (CT) utilization. ⋯ In pediatric patients presenting with clinical concern for acute appendicitis, a staged algorithm that incorporates POCUS is accurate and has the potential to decrease CT scan utilization.