Pediatric emergency care
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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.
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Pediatric emergency care · Dec 2021
Intentional Poisoning in Pediatric Patients: Examining the Risk Factors.
Poisonings in children are common reasons for presentation to the emergency department and can potentially have serious complications. Our research aims to review risk factors leading to intentional self-poisoning. ⋯ Known psychiatric history or a history of deliberate self-harm are risk factors for intentional poisoning. Appropriate risk stratification and preemptive interventions involving closer surveillance or cognitive behavioral programs are possible measures to prevent intentional self-poisoning, especially in these at-risk groups.
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Pediatric emergency care · Dec 2021
A Pulse Check on Leadership and Teamwork: An Evaluation of the First 5 Minutes of Emergency Department Resuscitation During Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Arrests.
Effective leadership and teamwork are imperative during pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitations (CPR). The initial phase of pediatric CPR, termed the "first 5 minutes," has significant care delivery gaps in both leadership and team performance. The aim of the study was to describe the performance data of emergency department (ED) teams who performed CPR in a pediatric ED. ⋯ Our study of leadership and teamwork during the first 5 minutes of pediatric CPR care noted wide variation in team performance. Opportunities for improvements in CPR readiness can be incorporated into education and quality programs to drive improvements in the care of future pediatric patients experiencing cardiac arrest.
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Pediatric emergency care · Dec 2021
Minimizing Ionizing Radiation in Evaluating Suspected Appendicitis in Children Before and After the Release of the ACEP Clinical Policy.
The aim of this study was to examine the impact of the ACEP (American College of Emergency Physicians) clinical policy regarding diagnosis of suspected appendicitis on changing practice in the pediatric emergency department (ED) in the absence of a formal departmental protocol. ⋯ After the release of the clinical policy, CT utilization decreased significantly suggesting possible effectiveness of the policy in bringing about change in practice. Subsequently, there was an increase in the definitiveness in the ultrasound results. Physicians also evolved in their response to indeterminate ultrasound results, with fewer CTs ordered reflexively after indeterminate results.
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Pediatric emergency care · Dec 2021
Sound and Air: Ultrasonographic Measurements of Pediatric Chest Wall Thickness and Implications for Needle Decompression of Tension Pneumothorax.
Needle decompression is potentially life-saving in cases of tension pneumothorax. Although Advanced Trauma Life Support recommends an 8-cm needle for decompression for adults, no detailed pediatric guidelines exist, specifically regarding needle length or site of decompression. ⋯ The standard 1.25-in (3.175 cm) catheters are sufficient to treat most tension pneumothoraces in pediatric patients.