Subject(s)
Emergency Treatment/adverse effects , Emergency Treatment/methods , Hypothermia/diagnosis , Hypothermia/etiology , Monitoring, Physiologic/methods , Multiple Trauma/complications , Body Temperature , Disease Progression , Emergency Treatment/nursing , Humans , Hypothermia/physiopathology , Monitoring, Physiologic/nursing , Multiple Trauma/therapy , Nursing Assessment/methods , Nursing Records/standards , Patient TransferABSTRACT
Cardiac arrest in the pediatric patient is an infrequent event. Although an emergency department thoracotomy is a potentially lifesaving procedure, it should be used in only a small, select group of patients. A literature review was conducted to determine the indications, surgical techniques, emergency procedures, and nursing responsibilities associated with an emergency department thoracotomy.
Subject(s)
Emergency Nursing/methods , Pediatric Nursing/methods , Thoracotomy/methods , Thoracotomy/nursing , Child , Education, Nursing, Continuing , Emergency Medical Services/methods , Heart Massage/methods , Heart Massage/nursing , HumansABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare initial rectal and aural (i.e., ear-based) temperature measurements in children with moderate and severe injuries during their trauma care in the emergency department. DESIGN: A cross-sectional, prospective design was used to compare aural temperature and rectal temperatures in injured children. SAMPLE/SETTING: A convenience sample of 40 children who met the study inclusion criteria were enrolled at the level I pediatric regional resource trauma center in western Pennsylvania. METHODS: Aural temperature was measured by infrared technology (IVAC Corporation, San Diego, Calif.), and rectal temperatures were measured with a thermistor (IVAC Corporation). RESULTS: The subjects (N = 40) ranged in age from 1 to 14 years (mean 6.9 years; SD = 4.4 years). The mean difference between rectal and aural temperature measurements (mean = -0.3 degree C; SD = 0.76 degree C) was statistically significant when compared with a paired t test (p < 0.05). The Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient between aural and rectal temperature measurements was moderate to high (r = 0.85). CONCLUSION: The moderate to high correlation between the two methods shows promise for use of aural infrared temperature measurements as a screening measure for children with moderate and severe injuries.
