Daily changes in pain, mood and physical function in children hospitalized for sickle cell disease pain.

Background: Youth with sickle cell disease (SCD) are commonly hospitalized for treatment of painful vaso-occlusive episodes (VOE). However, limited data are available concerning the course of hospitalization for these children and adolescents and, in particular, whether daily changes occur in pain, emotional status and physical function.

Objectives: To characterize changes in daily pain intensity, physical function and mood over the course of hospitalization, and to determine whether specific clinical characteristics were associated with these changes.

Pain scores: are they used in sickle cell pain?

Objectives: We sought to evaluate the relationship between pain scores and time to analgesic administration in 2 patient groups: those with sickle cell disease (SCD) and those with long-bone fractures (LBFs).

Methods: Patients between the ages of 3 and 21 years who presented to a pediatric emergency department (ED) with a vaso-occlusive episode secondary to SCD or an isolated LBF during 2005 were included. A retrospective chart review was conducted for each visit.

Emergent endotracheal intubations in children: be careful if it's late when you intubate.

Objective: Emergent endotracheal intubations carry a high risk of morbidity and mortality in critically ill adults. Although children may be at higher risk during this procedure as a result of age-related differences in anatomy and physiology, this has not been previously examined. The purpose of this study was to delineate the risks of emergent endotracheal intubations in children.

Use of low-dose ketamine infusion for pediatric patients with sickle cell disease-related pain: a case series.

Objectives: Sickle cell disease-related pain is difficult to treat adequately. Pain secondary to vasoocclusive episodes (VOE) may be unresponsive to high-dose intravenous opiates. Alternative treatment options for VOE are needed.

Pediatrician attitudes, knowledge, and practice behavior regarding teen driving safety.

Problem: Each year about 4,000 teens ages 16-19 die on U.S. roads.

Pediatric snakebites: lessons learned from 114 cases.

Purpose: Evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of pediatric snakebite injuries are lacking because they occur infrequently in most centers.

Methods: We reviewed our experience treating snakebites from January 1995 through December 2005. Demographic (eg, age, sex, geographic location) and clinical information (eg, location of bite, species of snake, vital signs, laboratories, treatment, hospital length of stay) were obtained.

Racial disparities in the management of pediatric appenciditis.

Background: Our objective was to compare the racial differences in incidence and management of pediatric appendicitis.

Materials And Methods: Data for this study come from two large national hospital discharge databases from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Healthcare Costs and Utilization Project: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) and the Kids' Inpatient Database (KID). Analysis was restricted to age less than 18 years with an ICD-9 diagnosis of either simple (540.