PALS Flashcards
You are called to Urgently evaluate a child. What 3 things should you assess on initial impression?
- Level of consciousness
- unresponsive, irritable, lethargic, alert - Breathing
- not breathing, gasping, abnormal sounds, increased work of breathing - Color
- pallor, cyanosis, mottling
You are called to bedside ad child is unresponsive and pale. What do you do?
- Shout for help/call a code
- Check for pulse
- yes: start rescue breathing
- no: start chest compressions
How do you assess upper airway patency?
- look for movement of chest or abdomen
- listen for air movement or breath sounds
Who should you suspect cervical spine injury in? How do you open their airway
Suspect cervical spine injury in any kid with head r neck injury
-do jaw thrust without neck extension
A 2yo child is alert, has significant retractions, but is not making a sound. You suspect —–. You do —–.
Alert but unable to make any sound–suspect foreign body
- if < 1 yo: give 5 back slaps and 5 chest thrusts
- if 1 yo or older: give abdominal thrusts
What is the normal RR for: infant, toddler, preschooler, school age, adolescent?
Infant: 30-60 Toddler(1-3 yrs): 24-40 Preschool (4-5yrs): 22-34 School age(6-12 yrs): 18-30 Adolescent: 12-16
RR: count # breaths in 30 secs x 2
True or false: infants may have irregular breathing during sleep with pauses up to 10-15 seconds.
True.
RR should count # breaths in 30 sec
A consistent RR less than —– or greater than —– is very abnormal and signals a serious problem
RR < 10 breaths per min
RR > 60 breaths per min
Define apnea
Cessation of breathing for 20 secs or cessation for less than 20 secs if: bradycardia, cyanosis or pallor
Define hypoxemic
O2 sat less than 94%
How can you estimate hypotension if a child is 1-10 years old?
SBP= 70 + (child’s age in years x 2) mmHg
True or false: automated BP readings are only accurate when there is good distal perfusion
True
If distal pulses difficult to palate or extremities are cool, automated BP may be less accurate
You are concerned a child is in shock. Name some things you should evaluate to assess perfusion.
- Vitals-heart rate and BP
- Skin exam: pale, mottled, diaphoretic
- Cap refill
- Pulses-weak vs bounding, central vs peripheral
- Decreased urine output/oliguria
- Decreased level of consciousness (cerebral perfusion)
Name 4 major types of shock
- Hypovolemic
- Distributive (septic, anaphylactic)
- Cardiogenic
- Obstructive (tamponade,
What does compensated shock mean?
They are in shock but BP is NOT hypotensive
Once hypotensive end organ perfusion severely compromised
Define shock
Critical condition that results from inadequate tissue delivery of O2 and nutrients to meet metabolic need
-usu inadequate peripheral and end organ perfusion.
Name some warning signs of worsening shock
Increased HR Diminishing or absent peripheral pulses Weakening central pulses Narrowing pulse pressure Cold distal extremities with prolonged cap refill Decreasing level of consciousness Hypotension ( late finding)
What are some signs of cardio genie shock?
Signs of poor perfusion AND pulmonary or systemic venous congestion including:
Increased work of breathing Grunting respirations Distended neck veins Hepatomegaly Clinical worsening in response to giving fluid boluses
Name the 9 important components of managing a child in shock
- Positioning child
- Airway and breathing
- Vascular access
- Fluid resuscitation
- Monitoring (vitals, mental status, UOP)
- Frequent reassessment
- Lab studies
- Medications
- Sub specialty consults
What is the initial fluid bolus for treating shock?
20 ml/kg
Reassess after for need for repeat bolus
For cardiogenic shock, DKA, tamponade, tension pneumo give smaller volumes more slowly
When is blood indicated for management of shock?
In setting of traumatic volume loss after 2-3 boluses of 20 ml/kg of normal saline if perfusion is still not adequate
You decide to give blood as part of management of shock. How much?
10 ml/kg PRBCs
What is the major side effect of over aggressive fluid resuscitation?
Pulmonary edema
What are 3 major complications from giving blood products rapidly during resuscitation?
- Hypothermia
- Myocardial dysfunction
- Ionized hypocalcemia