Paediatric High Dependency Unit Research Articles

Prospective cohort study to test the predictability of the Cardiff and Vale paediatric early warning system

Objective:To develop and test the predictability of a paediatric early warning score to identify children at risk of developing critical illness.Design:Prospective cohort study.Setting:Admissions to all paediatric wards at the University...

Consultation in paediatric psychology: An attempt to provide and evaluate a staff support group for specialist registrars working in paediatric high dependency, intensive care and neonatal care

This article describes the set up, running and evaluation of a staff support group for specialist registrars working in paediatric high dependency units (PHDUP), paediatric intensive care units (PICU) and neonatal intensive care units (NICU).

Postoperative Coma in a Child with Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase I Deficiency

Postoperative Coma in a Child with Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase I Deficiency

Photographic and angiographic characterization of the retina of Kenyan children with severe malaria.

To investigate retinal lesions in children with severe falciparum malaria. Color photography and fluorescein angiography were performed in consecutive children admitted to a pediatric high-dependency unit in Kenya during 1 malaria season. The presence and category of retinal lesion was compared with disease severity, clinical outcome, anemia, lactic acidosis, and parasite count. Twenty-six patients with cerebral malaria and 14 patients who were prostrate were studied. Thirty-one of the patients had clinical features of ocular disease, including round, flame-shaped, and white-centered hemorrhages; peripheral and foveal retinal opacification; peripheral vascular occlusion; venous dilation; disc edema with hyperemia; and arterial pulsatility. Of 8 patients with retinal opacification, only 2 showed small, infrequent zones of capillary nonperfusion on fluorescein angiography; the leakage of dye at sites of opacification was not seen. Retinal opacification was significantly associated with a higher parasite count (P < .02). White-centered hemorrhages were significantly associated with a higher parasite count (P < .05), severe disease (p < .05), and severe anemia (P < .02). The blood-retina barrier and retinal vascular flow remain substantially normal despite widespread pathological features. Retinal features in children with severe malaria are consistent with cellular hypoxia, nutritional deficiency, or both rather than with vascular occlusion; they support the concept of metabolic steal by parasites.

Letter

Dear Editor Our paediatric high dependency unit is currently updating the information booklet given to parents when their child is admitted. I would be grateful to receive examples that are used in similar units.