Pediatric emergency care
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Pediatric emergency care · May 2024
Long-Acting Reversible Contraception Knowledge Among Female Adolescents Presenting to a Pediatric Emergency Department.
The objective of this study was to assess awareness and use of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) among female adolescents presenting to a pediatric emergency department (PED). ⋯ Knowledge about LARC remains low in our PED, despite it being the most effective method of contraception. Even when interventions were made to link interested respondents to outpatient women's health services, follow-up attendance was poor, and no patients obtained LARC. There is a significant discrepancy between the consensus standard of contraception care across all relevant medical specialties and current utilization by high-risk populations. Future efforts must focus on how to close this gap, and the ED could be pivotal for improving both reproductive health education and intervention among adolescent patients.
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Pediatric emergency care · May 2024
Dissemination, Utilization, and Satisfaction With Emergency Medicine Resident Simulation Curriculum for Pediatrics (EM ReSCu Peds) by North American Residency Programs.
Our research team's primary objective was to investigate how a custom standard simulation curriculum for teaching emergency medicine residents about pediatrics was being used by programs across North America. We also wanted to know if program directors were satisfied with the curriculum and whether they had challenges with implementing it. Our long-term goal is to promote the Emergency Medicine Resident Simulation Curriculum for Pediatrics for use by all programs in the United States. ⋯ Of those who responded, our target audience of EM physicians used our curriculum the most. Further investigation on implementation needs, specifically for lower resource emergency programs, is needed.
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Pediatric emergency care · Apr 2024
Ultrasound Investigation of the Fifth Intercostal Space Landmark for Chest Tube Thoracostomy Site Selection in Pediatric Patients.
Chest tube thoracostomy site selection is typically chosen through landmark identification of the fifth intercostal space (ICS). Using point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), studies have shown this site to be potentially unsafe in many adults; however, no study has evaluated this in children. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of the fifth ICS for pediatric chest tube placement, with the secondary aim to identify patient factors that correlate with an unsafe fifth ICS. ⋯ A significant number of pediatric patients have diaphragms that cross into or above the fifth ICS, suggesting that placement of a chest tube thoracostomy at this site would pose a significant complication risk. POCUS can quickly and accurately identify these unsafe sites, and we recommend it be used before pediatric chest tube thoracostomy.
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Pediatric emergency care · Apr 2024
Effect of Routine Child Physical Abuse Screening Tool on Emergency Department Efficiency.
Physical abuse is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality for children. Routine screening by emergency nurses has been proposed to improve recognition, but the effect on emergency department (ED) workflow has not yet been assessed. We sought to evaluate the feasibility of routine screening and its effect on length of stay in a network of general EDs. ⋯ Routine screening identifies children at high risk of physical abuse without increasing ED length of stay or resource utilization. Next steps will include determining rates of subsequent serious physical abuse in children with or without routine screening.