Pediatric emergency care
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Pediatric emergency care · Mar 2024
Multicenter StudyA Descriptive Analysis: Infants Presenting to the Pediatric Emergency Department With a Brief Resolved Unexplained Event.
Infants presenting to pediatric emergency departments (EDs) after a choking episode, cyanotic event, or irregular breathing pattern are often diagnosed with a brief, resolved, unexplained event (BRUE). Social determinants of health may affect these patients; therefore, we aimed to define population demographics and determine significant demographic predictors between 2 cohorts-infants presenting with BRUE, and those admitted to the intensive care unit. ⋯ Black race and Medicaid insurance predicted admission in this patient population, but demographics did not play a role in intensive care unit admission overall. Social determinants of health and demographics therefore appeared to play a role in admission for patients presenting to the ED. Future research could evaluate the effect of focused interventions, such as providing additional resources to socially at-risk families through community outreach, on admission rates of patients with these specific at-risk demographics.
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Pediatric emergency care · Mar 2024
Effect of an Evaluation Algorithm on CT Utilization in Identifying Appendicitis in Children.
Our objective was to determine if there was a significant change in computed tomography (CT) utilization or length of stay (LOS) among patients evaluated for acute appendicitis after implementation of an appendicitis evaluation algorithm. ⋯ Overall, the appendicitis evaluation algorithm did not significantly decrease CT utilization or LOS. Equivocal grade 2 or 3 ultrasound finding rates were high, likely leading to higher rates of CT utilization and increasing LOS.
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Pediatric emergency care · Mar 2024
Effects of Endotracheal Epinephrine on Pharmacokinetics and Survival in a Swine Pediatric Cardiac Arrest Model.
The aim of this study was to compare the endotracheal tube (ET) and intravenous (IV) administration of epinephrine relative to concentration maximum, time to maximum concentration, mean concentration over time (MC), area under the curve, odds, and time to return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in a normovolemic pediatric cardiac arrest model. ⋯ Based on the results of this study, the ET route of administration should be considered a first-line intervention.
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Pediatric emergency care · Feb 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.