Paediatric assessment Flashcards
Why are paeds more prone to muscle fatigue?
Less type 1 muscle fibres
Are infants mostly nasal or oral breathers and why is this significant?
Nasal breathers - problems occur when that entry is blocked and it is smaller and easier to block
What are the dangers of poor BVM on paeds?
Impinging the chest contents and splinting the diaphram
What are the differences in anatomy of the upper airway in paeds?
Smaller neck
Larynx is high and anterior
Epiglottis is long, floppy and U-shaped
Trachea is small
Larger tongue
Larger head and occiput
Large teeth
Easily compressible floor of mouth
Why do infants rely more heavily on their diaphragms?
Ribs lie more horizontally
Intercostals are weaker
They tire more easily
How do you roughly calculate average weight of infants?
10kg + 2kg for every year after 1
e.g. 4yrs old = 10 + (3x2) = 16kg
What percentage of paediatric arrhythmias are due to respiratory failure?
80%
What percentage of paediatric arrhythmias are non-shockable?
> 90%
What are paediatric ranges for resp. rate?
<1yrs: 30-40
1-5yrs: 25-30
5-12yrs: 20-25
>12yrs: 15-20
What are the paediatric ranges for heart rate?
<1yrs: 110-160
1-5yrs: 95-140
5-12yrs: 80-120
>12yrs: 60-100
What are the paediatric ranges for systolic BP?
<1yrs: 70-90
1-5yrs: 80-100
5-12yrs: 90-110
>12yrs: 100-120
What are the three sides of the paediatric patient assessment triangle?
Appearance
Work of breathing
Circulation
What are increaser risk factors for paediatric stroke?
Recent illness (6x)
Congenital heart disease (19x)
What is a petechial rash?
Red purple or brown pinpoint, round spots that appear on the skin as a result of bleeding. Non blanching
What is purpuric rash?
Red, purple or brown round spots larger than 0.5cm that appear on the skin as a result of bleeding. Non blanching
What are the main symptoms of meningitis?
Usual infection markers plus:
-Reduced GCS/lethargic
-Muscle and joint pain (esp.stiff neck)
-Rashes
-Severe headache
-Photophobia
-Seizures
-Hypotonia (floppy baby)
What airway manipulation is important for paediatrics and why?
A shoulder roll and head rest due to their large prominent occiput
What are neurological differences of paeds?
Poor temperature regulation
Presence of fontanelles (soft spots) and thinner cranial bones
What is TICLS?
Tone
Interactiveness
Consolability
Look
Speech
What are the symptoms of bronchiolitis in paeds?
Commonly starts with regular cold symptoms plus:
Irregular breathing
Inspiratory crackles
Expiratory wheeze
Low grade fever
Possible apnoea
Children under what age should always be conveyed?
2 years
Children under what age should always be referred to a GP?
5 years
