April 23, 2014 Vol. V, Issue 17

For optimal functionality we recommend you VIEW this newsletter as a web page.

Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair.

A retrospective study of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair in 874 children indicates that it is feasible, safe and efficacious when compared to an "open procedure". It is rapidly becoming routine.

Journal of Pediatric Surgery

"Finger counting": an alternate method for estimating pediatric weight.

A study evaluated and compared 5 different methods ("Finger counting"; "Broselow tape" - relating height to weight; "Lauscomb formula" - age x 3 +7; weight estimates according to the "Advanced Life Support (APLS) formula"; and "Parental estimate") of weight in children 1-9 years of age.

"Finger counting" to estimate children's weight is an acceptable alternative to the Broselow method (and better than the "APLS formula" which underestimates "Parental estimate" and the "Lauscomb formula").

American Journal of Emergency Medicine

Late outcomes of High Frequency Oscillation Ventilation (HFOV) treatment in preterm (< 29 wks.) infants.

A pulmonary function study of the small-airways, respiratory health, health-related quality of life and functional status of 319 adolescents (11-14 years of age) who had been enrolled as neonates in a multicenter randomized trial which compared HFOV with conventional ventilation, indicates that HFOV treated babies appear subsequently to have better lung function with no evidence of poorer global functional outcomes.

New England Journal of Medicine

Guest Blog by Kathy McCoy

NCQA Launches New PCMH Standards; Announces Deadline for 2011 PCMH Recognition

The Patient-Centered Medical Home, a concept first introduced by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in 1967 but now adopted much more broadly, is continuing to develop as studies demonstrate the need for different requirements.

Contact the Editor

Visit Us on the Web

________________________

Radiation exposure during emergency computerized tomography (CT).

"Comprehensive CT dose standards exist for adults but are incomplete for children".

CT is apparently requested in 0.39% of pediatric emergency department presentations, mostly (90%) following trauma (predominantly falls), 19% after road accidents, 12% after sports injury and 12% after parent assault.

Calculations of size-specific dose estimates of radiation exposure in pediatric CT patients of all ages and anatomic regions, indicate a wide variation in radiation dosage; sometimes larger than recommended for adults. As concern exists regarding radiation exposure in children there is an urgent need to define standards of radiation dosage in children.

Journal of Pediatric Surgery

Video Feature

Safer CT Scans with less radiation dose

via YouTube

Predictors of persistence of Functional Somatic Symptoms (FSS) in Adolescents.

Somatic symptoms (e.g. pain and fatigue) which cannot be explained by an underlying organic pathological process are designated as FSS's.

It appears that 4.1% of adolescents suffer from persistent FSS's. Risk factors include; being a girl, having depressive symptoms, poor self-related health and high parent-reported FSS's (anxiety, parental over protection, school absenteeism and diversity of symptoms DO NOT predict FSS).

Journal of Pediatrics

Risk & prevalence of developmental delay in young children with severe Congenital Heart Disease (CHD).

A study of 99 children during the first 3 years of life (evaluated 3-6 times) with severe CHD in which the Bayley Scales of Infant Development was used to assess cognitive, language and motors skills (and compared to normative data) indicates that developmental delay occurs in most (75%) severe CHD patients (without a genetic syndrome)..

Cognitive and language are dynamic phenomena and prevalence and risk change over time. Long-term follow-up is essential.

Pediatrics

INFORMATION BONUS!

2014 Recommendations for Preventive Pediatric Health Care

Download, print and pin this information on your office wall.

-This is a "Must Have" (Ed.)

Pearl of wisdom: "We don't stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing."

-George Bernard Shaw

Underwriting Opportunities

With a circulation of over 5,000, Updates in Pediatrics offers an excellent opportunity to promote your brand at affordable rates.

Contact Ad Dept to learn more.

Updates in Pediatrics is brought to you by: