Pediatr Crit Care Me
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · May 2015
Measurement of Salivary Cortisol Level for the Diagnosis of Critical Illness-Related Corticosteroid Insufficiency in Children.
To compare serum total, serum free and salivary cortisol in critically ill children. ⋯ Serum free and salivary cortisol values correlate in critically ill children. Salivary cortisol can be used as a surrogate for serum free cortisol in critically ill pediatric patients. Salivary cortisol is a cost-effective and less invasive measure of bioavailable cortisol and offers an alternate and accurate method for assessing critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency in children.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · May 2015
Routine Medical Emergency Team Assessments of Patients Discharged From the PICU: Description of a Medical Emergency Team Follow-Up Program.
This study describes one follow-up program in the Ontario Rapid-Response System project consisting of routine medical emergency team visits of patients discharged from the PICU consisting of two planned visits within 48 hours following discharge. Study purpose was to describe interventions provided and the patient characteristics associated with medical emergency team utilization. ⋯ Routine medical emergency team visits following PICU discharge reduced the risk of early readmission. Our results suggest that one in seven patients in the follow-up program receive major medical emergency team support. We suggest a follow-up program with at least one routine medical emergency team visit within the first 24 hours of discharge with a second planned visit reserved for complex postsurgical patients.