Modification of the Laerdal SimBaby to include an integrated umbilical cannulation task trainer.

Background: Given the emphasis on early vascular access via the umbilical vein in neonatal resuscitation it is essential that participants in neonatal resuscitation simulation training be given the opportunity to practice both the placement and use of an emergency umbilical venous catheter. By integrating available parts from the Laerdal catalog, combined with a few other inexpensive components, into a Laerdal SimBaby we were able to create a single, integrated neonatal simulator that could be used to practice both the placement and use of an emergent umbilical vein catheter.

Methods: To integrate an umbilical cannulation task trainer into the Laerdal SimBaby we used a specially modified replaceable umbilical cord and reservoir from the Laerdal Neonatal Resuscitation Baby.

Internet-based home monitoring and education of children with asthma is comparable to ideal office-based care: results of a 1-year asthma in-home monitoring trial.

Objective: The goal was to determine whether home asthma telemonitoring with store-and-forward technology improved outcomes, compared with in-person, office-based visits.

Methods: A total of 120 patients, 6 to 17 years of age, with persistent asthma were assigned randomly to the office-based or virtual group. The 2 groups followed the same ambulatory clinical pathway for 12 months.

Concurrent use of metered-dose and dry powder inhalers by children with persistent asthma does not adversely affect spacer/inhaler technique.

Background: Studies conducted in adults have suggested that patients who use a metered-dose inhaler/holding chamber spacer (MDI/S) and dry powder inhaler (DPI) concurrently will have poorer MDI/S technique than that of patients who use MDI/S exclusively. To our knowledge, as of August 31, 2006, no studies have been performed in pediatric patients.

Objective: To compare MDI/S technique scores of children using only MDI/S with scores of those using both MDI/S and DPIs.

Increased diagnosis of asthma in hospitalized infants: the next target population for care management?

Hospitalization of children with asthma declined at our institution between 1996 and 2000, before stabilizing for the past 5 years. The ages of children hospitalized since 2000 were examined to see if the demographics of the hospitalized population have changed to better understand why the hospitalization rate has remained the same despite continued, aggressive screening and education efforts. Data were gathered for our hospital through the Department of Defense Medical Health System Management Analysis and Reporting System (M2).

Caring for children with asthma through teleconsultation: "ECHO-Pac, The Electronic Children's Hospital of the Pacific".

A Web-based store-and-forward teleconsultation asthma management system was implemented to provide subspecialty asthma care to military children with asthma living in the Western Pacific. Seven children with moderate to severe asthma (mean age 11.9 +/- 3.

An Internet-based store-and-forward video home telehealth system for improving asthma outcomes in children.

The adherence and disease-control outcomes associated with the use of an Internet-based store-and-forward video home telehealth system to manage asthma in children were studied. Pediatric patients with persistent asthma were provided with home computers and Internet access and monitored biweekly over the Internet. All patients were seen in the pediatric clinic at 0, 2, 6, 12, and 24 weeks.

Report of the first annual Hawaii Asthma Research Consortium.

The first Hawaii Asthma Research Consortium was held on 7 May 2001 at Tripler Army Medical Center. Researchers investigating asthma-related problems and program directors of asthma projects were solicited statewide to present their projects. Ten lecturers focused on research and asthma projects in Hawaii in 20-minute presentations.