Just Breathe
Anatomically, the airway is ever changing in size, anteroposterior alignment, and point of most narrow dimension. Special considerations regarding obesity, chronic and acute illness, underlying developmental abnormalities, and age can…
High-Risk Medicolegal Conditions in Pediatric Emergency Medicine
The top 5 reasons for pediatric malpractice are cardiac or cardiorespiratory arrest, appendicitis, disorder of male genital organs, encephalopathy, and meningitis. Malpractice is most likely to result from an “error…
Big Tests in Little People
Can laboratory tests that are routinely used in adult patients also be used in pediatric patients? Does the current literature support the routine use of troponin, brain natriuretic peptide, D-dimer,…
Emerging and Re-emerging Infections in Children
The role of the emergency provider lies at the forefront of recognition and treatment of novel and re-emerging infectious diseases in children. Familiarity with disease presentations that might be considered…
Board review questions
Chapter 1 : History of pediatric critical care medicine 1. Treatment for which of the following disease entities was not an important trigger in the early development of distinct, full-time,…
Molecular mechanisms of drug actions
Pearls • Receptors play a central role in determining the nature of the pharmacologic effects produced by a drug. • Most drugs and endogenous compounds (e.g., hormones, neurotransmitters) exert their…
Airway management
Pearls • Safe management of the critically ill child’s airway requires a comprehensive understanding of the anatomic and physiologic changes that occur from birth through adolescence, advance recognition of congenital…
Anesthesia effects on organ systems
Pearls • The anesthetic care of ICU patients is an extension of medical and anesthetic management principles employed in the operating room. • Anesthesiologists caring for critically ill children must…
Traumatic brain injury
Pearls • Complete and rapid physiologic resuscitation is essential to the initial treatment of infants and children with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). • There are many age- and injury…
Pediatric abdominal trauma
Pearls • In pediatric trauma, as with all trauma patients, the first priority remains the ABCs: airway, breathing, circulation. • Intubation in children can be challenging and is best done…
