Pediatric Point of Care Ultrasonography ALiEMU Course on Intussusception

Our ALiEMU learning management system, which currently houses the AIR series, Capsules series, and In-Training Exam Prep courses, is ready to slowly open the doors to welcome external authors with high quality content. We are thrilled to welcome a UCSF-sponsored pediatric emergency medicine (EM) point of care ultrasonography (POCUS) series, led by Dr. Margaret Lin. The first course is on the intussusception scan, filled with multiple ultrasound scans showing normal variants and two different types of intussusception.

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By Michelle Lin, MD|2019-11-10T21:51:53-08:00Jun 28, 2019|ALiEMU, Gastrointestinal, Pediatrics, Radiology, Ultrasound|

New PECARN Febrile Infant Rule: A 3-Variable Approach for Ages 29-60 Days | Interview with Dr. Kuppermann

The diagnosis and risk stratification of febrile young infants continues to present a clinical challenge. Serious bacterial infection (SBI) rates in infants ≤60 days have continued to be reported between 8-13%. Despite several different classification rules and pathways, we continue to struggle to accurately delineate which infants have SBI and which do not. A paper titled “A Clinical Prediction Rule to Identify Febrile Infants 60 days and Younger at Low Risk for Serious Bacterial Infections” was published in JAMA Pediatrics in February of 2019.¹ The authors sought to derive a new clinical prediction rule for infants with fever. The research was conducted as part of the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN). We discussed this publication with lead author Dr. Nathan Kuppermann on a podcast and summarize our discussion below.

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By Jason Woods, MD|2021-07-01T21:15:48-07:00Jun 19, 2019|Pediatrics|

Algorithm for ED Evaluation and Management of Pediatric UTI

When should urinary tract infections (UTI) be included in the differential diagnosis for febrile infants and young children? The EM Committee on Quality Transformation in the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) thoughtfully outlines a clinical algorithm to help guide clinicians towards a standardized, evidence-based approach. Thanks to the expert content team (Drs. Shabnam Jain, Anne Stack, Scott Barron, Pradip Chaudhari, and Kathy Shaw) for sharing this clinical algorithm.

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By Shabnam Jain, MD, MPH|2019-03-28T21:46:07-07:00Jan 10, 2019|Genitourinary, Infectious Disease, Pediatrics|

IDEA Series Highlights JETem Innovations: A Low Cost Trainer for Neonatal Umbilical Catheterization

The Problem

Although umbilical catheterization can be a lifesaving technique in the emergent management of a critically ill neonate, it is performed infrequently in the ED.¹ Simulation has emerged as a key teaching modality for residents to gain both proficiency and competency with this important procedure.²,³ Commercially available umbilical catheterization models are available, but costly, and often require an expensive investment (over $1,000 for a single trainer).⁴ This expense may discourage residency programs from acquiring the trainer and offering it to learners. In an effort to minimize this barrier to learning, a team from Kings County Hospital “home built” their own umbilical catheterization model. Their work was recently published in the Journal of Education and Teaching Emergency Medicine (JETem), and the ALiEM IDEA Series is proud to have recently teamed up with this journal to periodically share their innovations with our readership!

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By Caitlin Feeks, DO|2018-12-14T19:46:41-08:00Dec 15, 2018|IDEA series, Pediatrics|

Case of a Lethargic Child: Developing a Differential Diagnosis

A 2-year-old previously healthy boy presents to the emergency department (ED) acting sleepier than usual. Yesterday, he was in his usual state of health, but this morning he didn’t wake up at his usual time of 6 am. When his father went to his room at 7 am, the child was lying in bed. He opened his eyes to look at his father, but did not get out of bed. The mother and father deny any trauma, fever, or seizure activity.

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By Aaron Kornblith, MD|2018-11-22T15:23:48-08:00Nov 28, 2018|Pediatrics, Tox & Medications|

PECARN Study: Accuracy of Urinalysis for Febrile Infants ≤60 Days Old

The reported accuracy of the urinalysis (UA) for diagnosing urinary tract infections (UTI) is febrile infants ≤ 60 days has been widely variable. Some guidelines specifically exclude these patients due to this variability or recommend urine culture as the primary test.¹

Accuracy of the Urinalysis for Urinary Tract Infections in Febrile Infants 60 Days and Younger, published in Pediatrics in February of 2018, addressed this topic head-on.² The authors sought to evaluate the accuracy of the UA by analyzing data in a planned secondary analysis of a prospectively collected data set, as part of the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN). We review this publication and present a behind-the-scenes podcast interview with lead author Dr. Leah Tzimenatos.
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By Jason Woods, MD|2021-07-01T21:07:41-07:00Sep 27, 2018|Infectious Disease, Pediatrics|

Trick of the Trade: Hair tourniquet removal using depilatory cream

A hair tourniquet occurs when a strand of hair coils around a patient’s appendage. It can cause damage to the skin, nerves, or affect blood supply. It is more common in infants as their skin appendages are small which allows for hair or thread to trap inside. Because in some cases these pediatric patients can present with inconsolable crying, it is important to perform a thorough physical examination to evaluate for the presence of such a hair tourniquet. We present a simple trick for removing a hair tourniquet using depilatory cream!

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By Layla Abubshait, MD|2021-05-13T09:38:51-07:00Sep 5, 2018|Pediatrics, Tricks of the Trade|