Pediatric emergency care
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Pediatric emergency care · Dec 2021
Pain Assessment in Pediatric Emergency Departments: A National Survey.
Accurate and consistent assessment of pain is essential in the pediatric emergency setting. Despite recommendations for formal assessment protocols, current data are lacking on pain assessment in pediatric emergency departments (EDs) and, specifically, whether appropriate tools are being used for different age groups. Our aim was to determine the status of pain assessment in US pediatric EDs. ⋯ In contrast to prior research, US pediatric EDs are routinely assessing pain with scales that are mostly appropriate for their respective age groups. Further research is needed to explore barriers to implementing appropriate pain ratings for all children and, ultimately, how these assessments impact the care of children in the emergency setting.
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Pediatric emergency care · Dec 2021
Meta AnalysisThe Utility of Ultrasound in Detecting Skull Fractures After Pediatric Blunt Head Trauma: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Head trauma is a common reason for evaluation in the emergency department. The evaluation for traumatic brain injury involves computed tomography, exposing children to ionizing radiation. Skull fractures are associated with intracranial bleed. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) can diagnose skull fractures. ⋯ A POCUS skull study significantly increases the probability of skull fracture, whereas a negative study markedly decreases the probability if the pretest probability is very low.
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Pediatric emergency care · Dec 2021
Serum Albumin Level as a Predictor of Outcome in Patients Admitted to Pediatric Intensive Care Units.
The aim of this study was to assess serum albumin level on admission to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) as a prognostic indicator. ⋯ In PICUs, admission hypoalbuminemia is a good predictor of mortality. Further studies to confirm the value of adding serum albumin to PRISM-III score are recommended.
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Pediatric emergency care · Dec 2021
Randomized Controlled TrialThe Feasibility of Using Comic-Based Concussion Discharge Instructions: Gauging Likeability and Knowledge Improvement Among Adolescents and Parents.
The objective of this study was to evaluate feasibility of supplementing emergency department (ED) concussion discharge instructions for adolescents and parents with a newly created educational comic and a publicly available comic-based video at an outpatient sports neurology clinic. ⋯ Patients showed increased concussion knowledge using the favorably endorsed comic-based discharge instructions. Using comic-based supplemental discharge tools may optimize concussion education for adolescents.
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Pediatric emergency care · Dec 2021
Pediatric Heatstroke Fatalities Caused by Being Left in Motor Vehicles.
Fatalities due to being left in motor vehicles is an important cause of pediatric mortality. Few studies in the medical literature focus on this topic. This study aims to describe the circumstances surrounding these deaths, to determine their geographic distribution, and to evaluate the legal consequences for those responsible. ⋯ Pediatric fatalities due to being left in motor vehicles most commonly occur when a caregiver leaves a child unknowingly in a home parking area. These fatalities occur most often in Texas, Florida, and California. Responsible individuals are frequently charged with a crime.