Pediatric blunt abdominal trauma: recognition and management in the emergency department.

Blunt abdominal trauma is the third most common cause of pediatric deaths from trauma, but it is the most common unrecog­nized fatal injury. The history and physical examination, combined with the mecha­nism of injury, should be used to develop a thoughtful and directed diagnostic workup. The mainstays of diagnostic evaluation in­clude laboratory testing, sonography, and computed tomography.

Propofol Versus Dexmedetomidine for Procedural Sedation in a Pediatric Population.

Objectives: Frequently, infants and children require sedation to facilitate noninvasive procedures and imaging studies. Propofol and dexmedetomidine are used to achieve deep procedural sedation in children. The objective of this study was to compare the clinical safety and efficacy of propofol versus dexmedetomidine in pediatric patients undergoing sedation in a pediatric sedation unit.

Pediatric blunt abdominal trauma in the emergency department: evidence-based management techniques.

Blunt abdominal trauma is the third most common cause of pediatric trauma deaths, but it is the most common unrecognized fatal injury. This issue discusses common mechanisms and injuries seen in children with blunt abdominal trauma and takes a closer look at current evaluation and management techniques. The main-stays of diagnostic evaluation include laboratory, sonography, and computed tomography studies.

Expedited Delivery of Pain Medication for Long-Bone Fractures Using an Intranasal Fentanyl Clinical Pathway.

Objective: This study aims to determine whether a pathway designed to facilitate the use of intranasal (IN) fentanyl for long-bone fractures will expedite the delivery of pain medication, decrease the total length of emergency department (ED) stay, and provide faster analgesia compared with intravenous (IV) morphine.

Methods: A pain pathway for IN fentanyl in long-bone fractures was instituted in our ED in July 2011. We performed a retrospective and prospective chart review of patients aged 3 to 21 years who presented to the ED with a clinically suspected long-bone fracture and either received IV morphine or were placed on IN fentanyl pain pathway.