Paediatric Critical Care Pearls – Part 5

This episode covers ‘Paediatric Critical Care Pearls’ 41 – 50. This is the 5th episode of the multipart series. Click on the links below to view the first 40 Pearls.

The Pearls

41. Don’t hyperventilate an intubated asthmatic or a neonate with hypoplastic left heart syndrome

42. Consider performing an abdominal x-ray to rule out NEC in infants with sepsis and no obvious source

43. For a child in VF – think toxins, cardiac or electrolyte problem

44. When intubating a child in cardiac arrest or with upper airway obstruction put a stylet in the endotracheal tube

45. Use POCUS during your assessment of difficult ventilation or cardiovascular instability

46. For those who infrequently intubate neonates becoming skilled at video laryngoscopy with a traditional shaped blade will make this much easier

47. Practice using a hyperangulated video laryngoscope blade for routine airways will increase your chances of success when faced with a difficult airway

48. Just because you have needled a tension pneumothorax doesn’t mean that you have relieved the tension and prompt chest drain insertion should follow needle decompression

49. Don’t become to reliant on new technology as you might not always be able to use it

50. Mental rehearsal of rare emergencies is a great way to identify potential problems allowing solutions to be found in advance of the actual emergency