CASE 34
Relevant information
▪ Aircraft: Rotary wing
▪ Local resources: Local General Practitioner Clinic nurse. Land ambulance
▪ Retrieval options: General hospital 40 minutes by air
▪ Other: Dedicated paediatric/neonatal team not available. Child arrived in clinic 09:10. PHR team arrival 10:15
Questions
34.1 What should the PHR team be doing en route?
On arrival, the following clinical information is available:
• Unresponsive since arrival at the clinic.
• P 140.
• Capillary refill 3 seconds.
• Temperature 39.8°C (103.6°F).
• GCS (adjusted for age) 6 (E1, V1, M4).
• Last seizure terminated 5 minutes ago.
Drugs administered:
• High-flow oxygen.
• Three doses of intravenous diazepam (0.5 mg/kg).
34.2 Discuss further management of this child.
34.3 Discuss general intubation and ventilation issues relevant to this age group.
Discussion
34.1 The retrieval plan should focus on initial stabilisation of the child. Local resources are very likely to be overwhelmed by such a case and the team should not assume that appropriate algorithms have been followed. Advanced airway management is possible and drug calculations should be performed based on a weight estimate. In this case, the relevant formula ([age + 4] x 2) would give 11 kg. This can be rounded to 10 kg for mathematical ease. The doses calculated in the back of the aircraft are an estimate and may need modification after assessment of the child but they will serve as a guide and may prevent major drug dose errors. Some services will carry pre-prepared adjuncts for paediatric drug calculation (e.g. Broselow tape). It is prudent to use a calculator and to cross-check drug calculations with another member of the PHR team. If possible, ask the tasking agency to obtain an accurate weight from the clinic.
34.2 A typical ‘Safe ABC’ approach is required for this patient. Once the PHR team is satisfied that the child is stable at this moment from an ABC perspective, they should turn to stabilising the child and managing the resources available. There are some omissions from the clinical information handed over and these should be promptly addressed:
• Blood sugar level (BSL): measure and treat with 5 mL/kg of 5% dextrose if BSL < 3 mmol/L.
• Antipyretics should be administered rectally or intravenously and the child should be actively cooled (e.g. remove clothing).
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