Intracranial hypertension and monitoring
Pearls • As intracranial hypertension progresses, changes may occur in the vital signs, with an elevation of blood pressure, decrease or increase in pulse, and irregularity in the respiratory rhythm….
Acute neuromuscular disease and disorders
Pearls • Common causes of acute flaccid paralysis in childhood include Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), acute flaccid myelitis, botulism, tick paralysis, periodic paralyses, and organophosphate poisoning. • Risk factors for respiratory…
Neurologic assessment and monitoring
Pearls • Much of the practice of brain-directed critical care in children is empiric, but studies in traumatic brain injury show that protocol-directed care with multidisciplinary teams in the intensive…
Structure, function, and development of the nervous system
Pearls • In humans, general central nervous system anatomy is established by birth. However, the brain undergoes substantial postnatal development, including changes in synaptic density and dendritic arborization, maturation of…
Mechanical ventilation and respiratory care
Pearls • Modern respiratory care requires a major institutional commitment in resource allocation for state-of the-art management of the pediatric patient requiring mechanical ventilation. • A comprehensive and unified approach…
Pediatric lung transplantation
Pearls • Pediatric lung transplantation is an accepted option for children of all ages who have end-stage, life-threatening disease and all medical options for treatment have been exhausted. • Outcomes…
Status epilepticus
Pearls • A seizure is a paroxysmal central nervous system disorder resulting from excessive hypersynchronous discharge of cortical neurons. • Status epilepticus is a common pediatric neurologic emergency that requires…
Coma and depressed sensorium
Pearls • Coma is a state of unconsciousness with lack of awareness and loss of wakefulness. • A Glasgow Coma Scale score of less than 15 in children should be…
Noninvasive ventilation in the pediatric intensive care unit
Pearls • The wide availability, ease of use, and low-risk profile of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) make it an attractive alternative to intubation and invasive mechanical ventilation. Consequently, its use is…
Extracorporeal life support
Pearls • The miniaturization and increased efficacy of centrifugal pump systems and low-resistance membrane lungs have resulted in a transition from roller pump devices to centrifugal setups in many centers….
