Use of Ondansetron for Vomiting After Head Trauma: Does It Mask Clinically Significant Traumatic Brain Injury?

Objectives: We describe ondansetron use in children with head injury evaluated in pediatric emergency departments and its association with return visits and late diagnoses of intracranial injuries requiring intervention.

Methods: Children ages 6 months to 18 years discharged without neuroimaging from 35 pediatric emergency departments with a diagnosis of head injury from 2009 to 2013 were identified retrospectively from the Pediatric Health Information System. We evaluated the rates of ondansetron use during the study period and of the association of ondansetron treatment with the diagnosis of intracranial injury, skull fracture, and return visits within 72 hours requiring admission or operative intervention.

From development to implementation-A smartphone and email-based discharge follow-up program for pediatric patients after hospital discharge.

The purpose of this case study was to investigate opportunities to electronically enhance the transitions of care for both patients and providers and to describe the process of development and implementation of such tools. We describe the current challenges and fragmentation of care for pediatric patients and families being discharged from inpatient stays, and review barriers to change in practice. Care transitions vary in the complexity of the clinical and social scenarios and no one-size-fits-all approach works for every patient, provider or hospital system.

Comparison Between Direct and Video-assisted Laryngoscopy for Intubations in a Pediatric Emergency Department.

Objectives: The objective was to compare video-assisted laryngoscopy (VAL) to direct laryngoscopy (DL) on success rate and complication rate of intubations performed in a pediatric emergency department (ED).

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of attempted intubations of children aged 0-18 years in a pediatric ED between 2004 and 2014 with first attempt by an ED provider. In VAL, the laryngoscopist attempts direct visualization of the glottis with a C-MAC video laryngoscope while the video monitor is used for real-time guidance by a supervisor, back-up visualization for the laryngoscopist should the direct view be inadequate, and confirmation of endotracheal tube passage through the vocal cords.

Using Video-recorded Laryngoscopy to Evaluate Laryngoscopic Blade Approach and Adverse Events in Children.

Objectives: Using recordings of endotracheal intubation attempts obtained with a video-enabled laryngoscope with Miller and Macintosh blades, the authors sought to evaluate the association between laryngoscopic approach (right-sided vs. midline) and intubation success, as well as adverse event rates in the pediatric emergency department (ED).

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of children younger than 21 years who underwent endotracheal intubation with a C-MAC video laryngoscope in a tertiary care ED between August 2009 and May 2013.

Endotracheal Intubation In Pediatric Patients Using Video Laryngoscopy: An Evidence-Based Review.

Endotracheal intubation of pediatric patients is an infrequent, though high-risk, procedure in emergency medicine. Emergency clinicians should be aware of available approaches to assist with successful intubation in pediatric patients. Video laryngoscopy involves the utilization of optical and video technology to facilitate indirect visualization of laryngeal structures during intubation.

Cardiac troponin T as a screening test for myocarditis in children.

Objective: The objective of this study was to define the test characteristics of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) in pediatric patients who presented with suspected myocarditis.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of all patients at a large urban children's hospital 21 years or younger who had a cTnT test sent for evaluation for myocarditis over a 13-month period. Patients were excluded if they had any history of heart disease or cardiac arrest before presentation, or the cTnT was sent for reasons other than concern for myocarditis.

Brief Report: Question-Asking and Collateral Language Acquisition in Children with Autism.

The literature suggests children with autism use communication primarily for requests and protests, and almost never for information-seeking. This study investigated whether teaching "Where" questions using intrinsic reinforcement procedures would produce the generalized use of the question, and whether concomitant improvements in related language structures, provided as answers to the children's questions, would occur. In the context of a multiple baseline across participants design, data showed that the children could rapidly acquire and generalize the query, and that there were collateral improvements in the children's use of language structures corresponding to the answers to the questions the children asked.

Cerebellar ataxia following prolonged use of metronidazole: case report and literature review.

Cerebellar toxicity is a rare adverse event in patients treated with metronidazole. Here, we present a patient who developed cerebellar toxicity accompanied by objective abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging, and review the literature on this unusual reaction. Discontinuation of metronidazole almost always results in resolution of symptoms and structural lesions.

Priming as a Method of Coordinating Educational Services for Students With Autism.

Purpose: The importance of coordination of educational services has been well documented in the literature. For students with disabilities, coordinated programs result in more rapid acquisition of targeted behaviors and the increased likelihood of long-term maintenance of gains. The purpose of this study was to assess whether "priming" or exposing students with autism and disruptive behaviors to school assignments before their presentation in class would affect academic performance and problem behaviors.