Pediatrics
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To assess the impact of burn injury sustained during childhood on long-term mortality and to quantify any increased risk of death attributable to burn injury. ⋯ Burn injury sustained by children is associated with an increased risk of long-term all-cause mortality. Estimates of the total mortality burden based on in-hospital deaths alone underestimates the true burden from burn injury.
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To examine the relationship of cardiac biomarkers with postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) among pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery. ⋯ Preoperative CK-MB and h-FABP are associated with increased risk of postoperative AKI and provide good discrimination of patients who develop AKI. These biomarkers may be useful for risk stratifying patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
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Clinicians commonly use continuous pulse oximetry (CPOx) for hospitalized children with respiratory illnesses. The Choosing Wisely initiative recommended discontinuing CPOx for children on room air. We used quality improvement methods to reduce time on CPOx in patients with wheezing. ⋯ With interventions focused on clarity and awareness of CPOx discontinuation criteria, we decreased time on CPOx; however, we saw no impact on time until medically ready. We expect that other centers could use analogous methods to standardize and reduce oxygen monitoring to meet Choosing Wisely recommendations.
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Review Meta Analysis
Lung ultrasound for the diagnosis of pneumonia in children: a meta-analysis.
Pneumonia is the leading cause of death of children. Diagnostic tools include chest radiography, but guidelines do not currently recommend the use of lung ultrasound (LUS) as a diagnostic method. We conducted a meta-analysis to summarize evidence on the diagnostic accuracy of LUS for childhood pneumonia. ⋯ Current evidence supports LUS as an imaging alternative for the diagnosis of childhood pneumonia. Recommendations to train pediatricians on LUS for diagnosis of pneumonia may have important implications in different clinical settings.
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Children and adolescents with minor blunt head trauma and isolated skull fractures are often admitted to the hospital. The objective of this study was to describe the injury circumstances and frequency of clinically important neurologic complications among children with minor blunt head trauma and isolated linear skull fractures. ⋯ Children with minor blunt head trauma and isolated linear skull fractures are at very low risk of evolving other traumatic findings noted in subsequent imaging studies or requiring neurosurgical intervention. Hospital admission for neurologically normal children with isolated linear skull fractures after minor blunt head trauma for monitoring is typically unnecessary.