scholarly journals Enhancing Safe Medication Use for Pediatric Patients in the Emergency Department

2009 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Greenall ◽  
Pauline Santora ◽  
Christine Koczmara ◽  
Sylvia Hyland
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Medication Use ◽  
Safe Medication

Presentation and Referral Patterns in Pediatric Closed Hand Fractures

Hand ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 155894472110085
Author(s):  
Landis R. Walsh ◽  
Laura C. Nuzzi ◽  
Amir H. Taghinia ◽  
Brian I. Labow
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Referral Patterns ◽  
Old Patients ◽  
Hand Surgeon ◽  
Hand Fractures ◽  
The Mean

Background Although pediatric hand fractures are common and generally have good outcomes, they remain a considerable source of anxiety for non–hand surgeons, who are less familiar with these injuries. We hypothesized that this anxiety may manifest as inefficiency in referral patterns. Methods The records of pediatric patients with isolated, closed hand fractures without concurrent trauma seen at our institution by a hand surgeon between January 2017 and December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Results There were 454 patients included; 62.1% were men, and the mean age was 9.6 years at initial encounter. Most patients (89.6%) were treated nonoperatively and incurred few complications (0.5%). Roughly half of all cases (n = 262) initially presented to an outside provider. Of these, 24.0% (n = 64 of 262) were evaluated by 2+ providers before a hand surgeon. Most commonly, these patients were referred from an outside emergency department (ED) to our ED before hand surgeon evaluation (n = 45 of 64). Forty-seven patients required surgery; however, none were performed urgently. Although a greater proportion of 7- to 11-year-old patients saw 2+ providers prior to a hand surgeon ( P = .007), fewer required surgery ( P < .001). Conclusions Pediatric closed hand fractures are mainly treated nonoperatively and nonemergently with generally excellent outcomes. Our data suggest that many patients continue to be referred through the ED or multiple EDs/providers for treatment. These inefficient referral patterns demonstrate the need for better education for ED and primary care providers, as well as better communication between these providers and local pediatric hand surgeons. Advancements in these areas are likely to improve efficiency of care and decrease costs.

scholarly journals Interpreting Anion Gap Values in Adult and Pediatric Patients: Examining the Reference Interval

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 126-135
Author(s):  
Nadia Ayala-Lopez ◽  
Roa Harb
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Reference Interval ◽  
Adult Patients ◽  
Anion Gap ◽  
Moderate Degree ◽  
New Haven ◽  
Repeated Testing ◽  
Median Percent Change

Abstract Background The anion gap is primarily used in the diagnosis of acid-base disorders. We conducted a study to determine the anion gap reference interval in our patient population, investigated the workup of abnormal vs normal anion gaps, and examined the anion gap variation upon repeated testing. Methods A retrospective review was performed on 17137 adult and pediatric patients who presented to Yale-New Haven Hospital outpatient clinics, emergency department, or intensive care units between 2012 and 2017. Results We derived a new reference interval of 7 to 18 mmol/L with a median of 13 mmol/L in healthy adults with no significant differences owing to partitioning by sex or age. Based on the new reference interval, 5%, 23%, and 18% of healthy, emergency department, and intensive care unit adult patients, respectively, were misclassified as having high values with the previous interval of 6 to 16 mmol/L. However, there were no significant differences in the number of tests ordered in patients with anion gaps above and below the upper limit of the previous reference interval. The majority of increased anion gaps that were repeated normalized by 12 h. In a subgroup of healthy adult patients with annual testing, the median percent change in each patient's anion gap from 2015 to 2016 was approximately 13%. Conclusions The anion gap should be used with an appropriate reference interval to avoid misclassification. There may be a moderate degree of individuality that argues for comparing the anion gap with its baseline value in the same patient pending further studies that formally derive its biological variation.

Physician Assistant Management of Pediatric Patients in a General Community Emergency Department

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Pavlik ◽  
Alfred Sacchetti ◽  
Amanda Seymour ◽  
Bonnie Blass
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Physician Assistant ◽  
General Community

Vagus nerve stimulation for partial and generalized epilepsy from infancy to adolescence

2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 200-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric M. Thompson ◽  
Susan E. Wozniak ◽  
Colin M. Roberts ◽  
Amy Kao ◽  
Valerie C. Anderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Seizure Frequency ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Medication Use ◽  
Partial Epilepsy ◽  
Seizure Duration ◽  
Antiepileptic Medication ◽  
Generalized Epilepsy

Object Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is approved by the FDA for the treatment of partial epilepsy in patients older than 12 years. Authors of the current study performed a large retrospective analysis and comparison of VNS outcomes in children with an age ≥ and < 12 years, including those with partial and generalized epilepsy. Methods A retrospective review of the records of pediatric patients (age < 18 years) who had undergone primary VNS system implantation between 2001 and 2010 by a single pediatric neurosurgeon was undertaken. Considered data included demographics, epilepsy type (partial vs generalized), seizure frequency, seizure duration, postictal period duration, and antiepileptic medication use. Results One hundred forty-six patients (49% female) were followed up for a mean of 41 months after VNS implantation. Thirty-two percent of patients had partial epilepsy and 68% had generalized epilepsy. After VNS system implantation, seizure frequency was reduced in 91% of patients, seizure duration in 50%, postictal period in 49%, and antiepileptic medication use in 75%. There was no significant difference in age, sex, or duration of follow-up according to epilepsy type. Neither was there any significant difference in seizure frequency reduction, seizure duration, postictal period, medication use, overall clinical improvement, or improvement in quality of life based on an age ≥ or < 12 years or epilepsy type. Conclusions Vagus nerve stimulation reduced both seizure frequency and antiepileptic medication use in the majority of pediatric patients regardless of sex, age cohort, or epilepsy type. Vagus nerve stimulation also reduced seizure duration and postictal period in approximately half of the pediatric patients. Contrary to expectation, children with partial epilepsy do not benefit from VNS at higher rates than those with generalized epilepsy.

scholarly journals Protocol for Reducing Time to Antibiotics in Pediatric Patients Presenting to an Emergency Department With Fever and Neutropenia

2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (11) ◽  
pp. 739-745 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clay Cohen ◽  
Amber King ◽  
Chee Paul Lin ◽  
Gregory K. Friedman ◽  
Kathy Monroe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Time To Antibiotics

Pediatric Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Hypoglycemia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel J Williams ◽  
Samantha L. Wood
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Diabetic Ketoacidosis ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Cerebral Edema ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Serum Glucose ◽  
Neurologic Function ◽  
Threat To Life

Abnormalities of serum glucose in pediatric patients are commonly encountered in the emergency department and represent an acute threat to life and neurologic function. Rapidly identifying and aggressively treating hyperglycemia with diabetic ketoacidosis and hypoglycemia are critical to ensure the best possible outcome. This review will guide the emergency provider in the identification, resuscitation, workup, and disposition of these critically ill patients. This review contains 6 figures, 13 tables, and 50 reviews. Key Words: Cerebral edema, diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia

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