Paediatrics

A rapid review of selected paediatric emergency medicine papers from 2015, presented at the Irish Association of Emergency Medicine conference. Natalie May examines research on trauma assessment, serious infection, cardiac arrest, bronchiolitis and procedural anxiety, highlighting limitations as well as possible implications for practice.

What counts as a normal respiratory or heart rate in a child? This 2015 appraisal examines emergency department centile data, compares published reference ranges and considers how rounded measurements and uneven age groups affect interpretation. It asks how confidently these observations can inform clinical assessment.

Persistent fast breathing in an otherwise well baby can be difficult to interpret. This 2015 review explores respiratory-rate measurement, clinical context and possible underlying causes, highlighting the importance of reassessment and follow-up when the initial examination or investigations do not explain the finding.

Do vein-finding devices improve first-attempt cannulation in children? This 2015 appraisal compares ultrasound, near-infrared imaging and standard practice in a Canadian emergency department trial. It examines staff training, sample size and generalisability, asking whether better vein visualisation translates into better outcomes.

A 2015 clinical review of torticollis, from a painful neck on waking to presentations associated with injury, medication, infection or neurological disease. It explores assessment across adults and children, highlighting why persistent symptoms, associated illness and follow-up matter when an apparently minor complaint may need another explanation.

Does therapeutic hypothermia improve outcomes after cardiac arrest in children? This 2015 journal club examines a trial comparing cooling with active temperature control after out-of-hospital arrest, exploring neurological outcomes, confidence intervals, study limitations and why a non-significant result does not establish that two treatments are equivalent.