10.5 Disorders of fluids, electrolytes and acid–base Barry Wilkins, Wayne Hazell Essentials 1 The most common causes of hypovolaemic shock in paediatric patients are sepsis, dehydration and trauma. 2 Vigorous…
16.3 Hypertension Frank Willis Essentials 1 Hypertension is blood pressure that is consistently above the 95th percentile. 2 Severe hypertension is blood pressure that is consistently above the 99th percentile…
17.1 Paediatric psychiatric emergencies Raymond Chin, Michael Fairley Essentials 1 Children with psychological problems often present with somatic complaints and at times of family crisis. The treating emergency physician should…
5.9 Cardiac Arrhythmias Gary Williams Essentials 1 Focus initially on airway, breathing and circulation and then recognise and treat arrhythmias compromising cardiac output using the safest possible means. 2 If…
23.7 Needle thoracostomy Judith Klein Background Normally, the visceral and parietal pleura are closely adherent to one another. However, if either surface is violated, air enters into the potential space…
23.2 Bag–mask ventilation Michelle Lin Background Bag–mask (BM) ventilation is the most important skill in paediatric airway management. This non-invasive manoeuvre for assisted, positive-pressure ventilation is effective treatment for most…
12.1 Dermatology Roderic Phillips, David Orchard, Mike Starr Essentials 1 Look at the rash. • Are there any blisters? Finding fluid-filled lesions greatly narrows the range of possible diagnoses. •…
23.11 Intraosseous infusions Lindsay Bridgford, Ronald A. Dieckmann Background Peripheral intravenous cannulation in a critically ill or injured child can be difficult, time consuming, and sometimes impossible. Small veins collapse…
23.12 Rectal drug administration Ronald A. Dieckmann Background Status epilepticus is a major paediatric medical emergency that requires emergency treatment. Although the first priority is airway and breathing, additional therapy…
19.2 Forensic paediatrics and the law Maree Crawford, Natalie Phillips Essentials 1 Emergency physicians will frequently be involved in the area of forensic medicine and hence require skills and knowledge…
