The surgical airway
23.6 The surgical airway Judith Klein Background The paediatric airway is distinct from that of the adult. The epiglottis is floppy and the larynx is shorter, more anterior, and more…
Pericardiocentesis
23.15 Pericardiocentesis Ronald A. Dieckmann Background The pumping heart is extremely sensitive to rapid accumulation of pericardial fluid. Small amounts of fluid acutely increase intrapericardial pressure and may significantly impede…
Removing and replacing a tracheostomy tube
23.9 Removing and replacing a tracheostomy tube Ronald A. Dieckmann Background Children with tracheostomy tubes are increasingly common in out-of-hospital and emergency department settings. Laryngeal trauma, cervical cord injury, subglottic…
Lumbar puncture
23.18 Lumbar puncture Ronald A. Dieckmann Background Lumbar puncture (LP) is a time-honoured method for obtaining cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for diagnostic evaluation of suspected central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities. LP…
Umbilical Vessel Cannulation
23.13 Umbilical Vessel Cannulation Judith Klein Background During fetal life, two umbilical arteries transport nutrients and oxygen from the placenta and one umbilical vein helps dispose of fetal waste. During…
Transurethral catheterisation and suprapubic bladder aspiration
23.16 Transurethral catheterisation and suprapubic bladder aspiration Conor Deasy, Judith Klein Background Obtaining an uncontaminated specimen of urine is essential to diagnose urinary tract infection (UTI). UTIs are a common…
Tube thoracostomy
23.8 Tube thoracostomy Ronald A. Dieckmann Background Traumatic pneumothorax and haemothorax are the most frequent paediatric indications for tube thoracostomy. Pneumothorax is a serious sequela of major chest trauma in…
Emergency medical transport and retrieval
27.1 Emergency medical transport and retrieval Andrew Berry Essentials 1 Children are different from adults and therefore can have different needs in terms of medical retrieval. Early consultation with clinicians…
Confirmation of intubation
23.5 Confirmation of intubation Michelle Lin Background Confirming correct placement of the endotracheal tube is crucial because of the high morbidity and mortality of an inadvertent and unrecognised oesophageal intubation….
Electrical countershock
23.14 Electrical countershock Ronald A. Dieckmann, Conor Deasy Background When a child’s heart deteriorates into ventricular fibrillation (VF) or pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VT), there is usually a severe systemic insult,…
