Pediatric emergency care
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Pediatric emergency care · Dec 1990
Adoption of intraosseous infusion technique for prehospital pediatric emergency care.
A telephone survey was conducted, contacting 51 designated state EMS offices, to determine the extent of use of intraosseous (IO) infusions in prehospital pediatric emergency care nationally and to identify common means of promoting IO adoption, training EMS personnel, and monitoring intraosseous field use. Less than half of the respondents reported actual prehospital use of IO infusions in pediatric patients, and an additional third indicated that they were unaware of any future plans for introducing the technique into EMS practice. This study's documentation of the current limited prehospital use of intraosseous infusions indicates a need for concerted efforts to promote broad adoption and continued evaluation of the IO technique in prehospital pediatric emergency care. Suggestions to enhance adoption include increased utilization of existing successful IO teaching approaches, development of national EMS standards regarding intraosseous infusions, active involvement of EMS regulatory agencies for widespread practice changes, and consistent quality assurance activities.
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Pediatric emergency care · Dec 1990
Case ReportsSymptomatic cerebral swelling complicating diabetic ketoacidosis documented by intraventricular pressure monitoring: survival without neurologic sequela.
A six-year-old boy developed symptomatic cerebral swelling four hours after the initiation of treatment for newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus complicated by ketoacidosis. Ventriculostomy documented intracranial pressure over a two-day period. ⋯ Intracranial pressure monitoring was a useful adjunct in management of this rare, but often lethal, complication of diabetes mellitus. One year later, both school performance and the results of a neurologic examination were normal.
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Pediatric emergency care · Dec 1990
Accuracy of flexible fiberoptic endoscopy in identifying abnormal endotracheal tube positions.
This study was carried out to investigate the accuracy of a simple, nonmaneuverable, flexible fiberoptic catheter in identifying both normal and abnormal endotracheal tube (ETT) positions. In addition, the utility of flexible fiberoptic endoscopy (FFE) for ETT position determination in inexperienced hands was examined. One adult dog was sedated and instrumented in the esophagus and trachea with identical ETTs. ⋯ There was no difference in performance by investigator training level or endoscopy experience. We conclude that FFE is a rapid and accurate method for determining both normal and abnormal ETT locations. ETT position determination can be confidently performed by health professionals with minimal training.
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Pediatric emergency care · Dec 1990
Case ReportsPott's puffy tumor: a complication of frontal sinusitis.
In children sinusitis is a frequent complication of upper respiratory infections but an infrequently considered diagnosis. Although most sinus infections are resolved without complications, when complications do occur they can be serious or life threatening. ⋯ This paper describes two patients with subperiosteal abscess resulting from frontal sinusitis, one with CNS and orbital extension. A brief literature review is presented, and presentation, diagnosis, and treatment are discussed.
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Pediatric emergency care · Dec 1990
Case ReportsPresentation and management of an acute caffeine overdose.
A one-year-old white female ingested approximately two to three grams of caffeine (200-300 mg/kg). The patient survived the ingestion with a maximum caffeine concentration of 385 micrograms/ml four hours postingestion. The child developed ventricular arrhythmias, seizures, metabolic disturbances, and severe pulmonary edema. She survived without apparent long-term sequelae despite having reached a serum caffeine concentration that is the second highest reported level in a survivor.