Fifteen-minute consultation: a guide to paediatric major haemorrhage.

Major trauma is a principal cause of morbidity and mortality in children. Severe haemorrhage is the second-leading cause of death in paediatric trauma, preceded by traumatic brain injury. Major haemorrhage protocols (MHPs), also known as 'code red' and 'massive transfusion protocols', are used to make large volumes of blood products rapidly available.

Characteristics of paediatric pre-hospital intubation by Intensive Care Paramedics.

Objectives: Emergency intubation in children is an infrequent procedure both in the pre-hospital and hospital setting. The anatomical, physiological and situational challenges together with limited clinician exposure can make this a difficult procedure with high risk of adverse events. The aim of this collaborative study between a state-wide ambulance service and a tertiary children's hospital was to describe the characteristics of pre-hospital paediatric intubations by Intensive Care Paramedics.

Placental chorioangioma: an unusual cause of neonatal cardiomyopathy.

A late preterm baby presented with clinical and echocardiographic features of cardiomyopathy and cardiac failure soon after birth. After extensive metabolic, infective and genetic investigations, the likely cause was established to be due to multiple small placental chorioangiomas. While large placental chorioangiomas are associated with maternal, fetal and neonatal complications, small chorioangiomas are usually asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally on placental histology.

Febrile children in the Emergency Department: Frequency and predictors of poor outcome.

Aim: To evaluate the frequency and predictors of poor outcome in febrile children presenting to the Emergency Department.

Methods: Retrospective observational study from the Emergency Department of The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. All children with presenting complaint of fever or triage temperature >38°C over a 6-month period were included.

Epidemiology and effects of fluid bolus administration in the paediatric emergency department.

Objective: Fluid bolus therapy (FBT) is recommended as the initial form of acute circulatory support for many disease processes. The epidemiology of its use in the ED is unknown. The aim of this study was to assess indications, use patterns and short-term effects of FBT in a paediatric ED.

Mercury exposure in pregnancy: a review.

Mercury exposure in pregnancy has been associated with both pregnancy complications and developmental problems in infants. Apart from industrial accidents and contaminated food, mercury exposure is likely to arise from predatory fish consumption, environmental contamination and dental amalgam restorations placed before or during pregnancy. It would be prudent to recommend that pregnant women avoid these potential problems and minimize any risk.