Methods and implementation of a pediatric asthma pharmacogenomic study in the emergency department setting.

Objectives: The emergency department (ED) is a challenging setting to conduct pharmacogenomic studies and integrate that data into fast-paced and potentially life-saving treatment decisions. Therefore, our objective is to present the methods and feasibility of a pilot pharmacogenomic study set in the ED that measured pediatric bronchodilator response (BDR) during acute asthma exacerbations.

Methods: This is an exploratory pilot study that collected buccal swabs for DNA and measured BDR during ED encounters for pediatric asthma exacerbations.

Pediatric cardiac disorders.

Although pediatric cardiac disorders are not commonly seen in the Emergency Department, they are important to identify to prevent further morbidity or mortality. Diagnosis may be complicated by the lack of classic complaints such as chest pain or palpitations that are commonly associated with cardiac disorders. In fact, presenting complaints associated with pediatric cardiac disorders, like "fussiness" or "difficulty feeding," may seem quite nonspecific.