Pediatric emergency care
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Pediatric emergency care · Sep 2024
Meta Analysis Comparative StudyEfficacy and Safety of Dexmedetomidine Compared to Other Needle-Free Pharmacological Sedation Methods in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Imaging Procedures.
Pediatric patients often require sedation during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) to ensure stillness and minimize stress. This meta-analysis compared the effectiveness and safety of 3 sedative agents-dexmedetomidine, midazolam, and chloral hydrate-for pediatric MRI/CT sedation. ⋯ Dexmedetomidine demonstrates effectiveness in pediatric MRI/CT sedation, offering advantages over midazolam and similar efficacy to chloral hydrate. Careful cardiovascular monitoring is essential during administration, particularly in patients with congenital heart disease. Sublingual and intranasal administration of dexmedetomidine is a viable option with high bioavailability. This meta-analysis contributes valuable insights into refining sedation protocols for pediatric imaging procedures, emphasizing efficacy and safety considerations.
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Pediatric emergency care · Sep 2024
Multicenter Study Observational StudyLactate Levels as a Predictor of Emergency Department Revisits in Infants With Acute Bronchiolitis.
This study aimed to identify predictive biomarkers for unscheduled emergency department (ED) revisits within 24 hours of discharge in infants diagnosed with acute bronchiolitis (AB). ⋯ Lactate value in infants diagnosed with AB were identified as a potential indicator of predicting unscheduled ED revisits within 24 hours of discharge. The predictive potential of lactate levels holds promise for enhancing prognosis prediction, reducing health care costs, and alleviating ED overcrowding. However, given the study's limitations, a more comprehensive prospective investigation is recommended to validate these findings.
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Pediatric emergency care · Sep 2024
Randomized Controlled TrialMolecular Point-of-Care Testing in the Emergency Department for Group A Streptococcus Pharyngitis: A Randomized Trial.
To compare clinical and health systems outcomes of rapid molecular testing versus throat culture recovery for the management of group A Streptococcus (GAS) pharyngitis in a pediatric emergency department (PED). ⋯ Establishing a POC nucleic acid amplification testing program for GAS in a PED facilitates earlier treatment and fewer antibiotic prescriptions. Although this did not translate to improved clinical and health systems outcomes in our study, it may serve as an important tool amid evolving pediatric febrile illnesses and growing antimicrobial resistance patterns.
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Pediatric emergency care · Sep 2024
Comparative StudyComparison of Length of Stay Between Children Admitted to an Observation Versus Inpatient Unit.
Many children who require hospitalization are ideal candidates for care in pediatric observation units (POUs) rather than inpatient pediatric units. Differences in outcomes between children cared for in these 2 practice settings have not been thoroughly evaluated. ⋯ These findings suggest that POU may provide the means toward efficient care for children in community settings with illnesses requiring brief hospitalizations. Future work including prospective investigations is needed to ascertain the generalizability of these findings.