The first part of this series dealt with guidelines for the care of ischemic stroke. This issue applies the same principles of evidence-based medicine to hemorrhagic stroke and traumatic brain injury. Hemorrhagic stroke is less common than ischemic stroke, but can be more devastating.
While rhythm disturbance may be a common presenting complaint among adult emergency department (ED) patients, the incidence of cardiac dysrhythmia among pediatric patients is relatively low. In one retrospective review, primary cardiac arrhythmias were identified in 13.9 per 100,000 pediatric ED visits.1 The incidence of these dysrhythmias peaked during infancy and then again in adolescence.1 Cardiac dysrhythmias in children may be due to primary conduction abnormalities or may occur in the setting of structural heart disease, metabolic derangements from toxic ingestions, or infections. Supraventricular tachycardias (SVT) represent the most common pediatric dysrhythmias in adolescents (an estimated 63% of all documented tachycardias).1 After a brief review of initial emergency management of dysrhythmia, the authors will emphasize important pediatric ECG parameters and how they differ from adults.
Child abuse is not uncommon and frequently presents to the emergency department (ED). Sometimes the presentation is subtle and masked by vague histories and nonspecific physical findings. Considering sexual abuse in the differential diagnosis is important for the child and his or her safety. Understanding techniques for obtaining a directed history and recognizing the physical findings and abnormalities that are associated with abuse will enable the physician to complete a thorough evaluation and to document with confidence. High-risk populations, such as children with special needs, present unique challenges to the clinician. This article reviews the history, physical examination, diagnostic evaluation, and reporting expectations for children with suspected sexual abuse.