Pediatr Crit Care Me
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Mar 2012
ReviewSimulation-based crisis resource management training for pediatric critical care medicine: a review for instructors.
To review the essential elements of crisis resource management and provide a resource for instructors by describing how to use simulation-based training to teach crisis resource management principles in pediatric acute care contexts. ⋯ Crisis resource management principles form the foundation for efficient team functioning and subsequent error reduction in high-stakes environments such as acute care pediatrics. Effective instructor training is required for those programs wishing to teach these principles using simulation-based learning. Dissemination and integration of these principles into pediatric critical care practice has the potential for a tremendous impact on patient safety and outcomes.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Mar 2012
ReviewCritically ill children: to transfuse or not to transfuse packed red blood cells, that is the question.
This article summarizes the current data on packed red blood cell transfusion in the pediatric intensive care unit setting to help providers make evidence-based decisions regarding packed red blood cell transfusions. ⋯ The use of packed red blood cell transfusions is common in the pediatric intensive care unit setting. However, until recently there have been little data to guide providers in this practice. Studies in adult intensive care units have shown less favorable outcomes in patients who received packed red blood cell transfusions. This has led to renewed questioning of the practice of packed red blood cell transfusion in critically ill pediatric patients. New data indicate that using a hemoglobin transfusion threshold of >7 g/dL does not yield improved outcomes. Furthermore, smaller studies have suggested that pediatric intensive care unit patients may be at an increased risk for morbidity and mortality when undergoing transfusion.