Pediatric emergency care
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Pediatric emergency care · Apr 2024
Utility of Serum Amylase in Children With Abdominal Pain in the Pediatric Emergency Department.
Abdominal pain is among the most common chief complaints seen in pediatric emergency departments (PEDs). This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic utility of amylase and lipase in the evaluation of abdominal pain in the PED. ⋯ Although serum amylase and lipase testing may be suitable for abdominal pain screening, the concurrent use of both does not seem to add any clinically significant value to diagnosis.
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Pediatric emergency care · Apr 2024
Test Characteristics of Cardiac Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Children With Preexisting Cardiac Conditions.
The aim of the study is to assess diagnostic performance of cardiac point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) performed by pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) physicians in children with preexisting cardiac disease. ⋯ Cardiac POCUS demonstrates good sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing pericardial effusion and left ventricular systolic dysfunction in children with preexisting cardiac conditions when technically adequate studies are obtained. These findings support future studies of cardiac POCUS in children with preexisting cardiac conditions presenting to the ED.
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Pediatric emergency care · Apr 2024
Impact of Using a Precompleted Consent Form for Procedural Sedation in the Pediatric Emergency Department.
This study aimed to compare elements discussed during the consent process for procedural sedation in the pediatric emergency department to documentation and parental recall before and after implementation of a standardized consent form. ⋯ Implementing a precompleted consent form for procedural sedation was associated with providers reporting decreased time spent completing the consent form and better alignment of key consent elements between reported provider discussion and parental recall.
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Pediatric emergency care · Apr 2024
Is Being Overweight a Risk Factor for Torsion of the Appendix Testis in Children?: A Paired Case-Control Study.
This study aimed to determine whether being overweight during childhood is a risk factor for torsion of the appendix testis (TAT). ⋯ Overweight increases the risk of being operated on because of TAT. Because obesity is a rising problem, a greater incidence of TAT remains to be proved.
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Pediatric emergency care · Apr 2024
Communication Strategies to Improve Antibiotic Prescribing in Pediatric Urgent Care Centers.
Urgent care (UC) clinicians frequently prescribe inappropriate antibiotics for upper respiratory illnesses. In a national survey, pediatric UC clinicians reported family expectations as a primary driver for prescribing inappropriate antibiotics. Communication strategies effectively reduce unnecessary antibiotics while increasing family satisfaction. We aimed to reduce inappropriate prescribing practices in otitis media with effusion (OME), acute otitis media (AOM), and pharyngitis in pediatric UC clinics by a relative 20% within 6 months using evidence-based communication strategies. ⋯ Using templates to standardize communication with caregivers, a national collaborative decreased inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions for AOM and had downward trend in inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions for pharyngitis. Clinicians increased the inappropriate use of "watch and wait" antibiotics for OME. Future studies should evaluate barriers to the appropriate use of delayed antibiotic prescriptions.