Paediatric Vitals
	Date: Thu, 15 May 1997 13:16:17 +0800 From: Jacky [cfchong@ms12.hinet.net] Any easy way to memorize "unstable" vital signs in infants and children? Thanks Jack Chong
	Date: Thu, 15 May 1997 13:12:06 -0700 From: Keith Zuspan/Sally Jo Zuspan [zplus@beol.net] A pocket pediatric card...or a broselow tape. Memory not reliable!! also BP in kids is the last to change so knowing normals will only give you a false sense of security. I have seen some peds folks use >80 children and >160 for infants as a cut off for tachycardia. (above that be concerned) but that is fairly rough and could be unreliable in some circumstances. To determine fluid bolus you should use 20cc/kg or in a pinch you can use child age x 10 as a starting fluid bolus..works until roughly age 8 or so for a normal sized child..it too is rough, but better than just guessing!
	Date: Fri, 16 May 1997 13:45:06 -0400 (EDT) From: MikeJRains@aol.com Jack, I am responding to your letter anout Pediatric vital signs. I have no easy method of remembering the information you have requested but the way I do it is to remember the normal baselines and then if they are not around there I statrt getting concerned. The tough thing about dealing with Pediatric patients is that you need to look at the general apperarence not just vitals. The compensate so well that by the time they start to show vital signs changes it is late in the process. There is a list server related to the care of Pediatrics you might be interested in. You can get signed up for it by calling Dr. James McCoroy at Peds.cpr@gain.mercer.edu. Good luck with your future dealings with the Pediatric patients you come across. If you need any further help don't hesitate to contact me @ MikeJRains@aol.com. Mike Rains
	Date: Fri, 16 May 1997 21:18:10 +0000 From: Chris Frazier [cfrazier@chhi.org] There is also a device similar to the Broselow Tape called a Pedi-Wheel.... To all those interested, here is the information for the Pedi Wheel used in Pediatric Assessment for all values comparable to the Broslow Tape. EMS Advantage PO Box 188 Placerville, CA 95667-0188 1-(916)-622-2752 email: emsadvantage@telis.org Chris
	Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 07:09:23 +0100 From: Dr. Ed Walker [Ed_trauma@limeland.demon.co.uk] I agree with Mike Rains on this one. Paediatric vitals, like any other numerical function, are a number on a piece of paper. I'd concentrate less on remembering a list of meaningless figures, and more on looking at the patient - colour, general demeanour, respiratory effort and rate (rough guess will do), cpaillary refill. I'd personally ban sphygs from peadiatric ERs, (and adult for that matter) - BP is completely meaningless and can be misleading. Even tachycardia is not a reliable guide - most kids are tachycardic after a ride in an ambulance.
Previous	Next