Quick Hits for Pediatric Emergency Medicine, 2nd Edition
🔍 Overview of the Book:
This book is structured in quick-hit bullet format, focusing on core clinical pearls, critical decision-making, and differential diagnoses. Each chapter covers high-yield topics seen in the emergency room and is designed for rapid reference.
🧠 Main Sections & Key Takeaways:
1. General Emergency Approach
- ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation)
- Pediatric assessment triangle (PAT): Appearance, Work of Breathing, Circulation
- Neonatal vs. infant vs. child resuscitation differences
- Pediatric vital signs and their interpretation by age
2. Trauma
- Head injuries (concussion, epidural/subdural hematoma)
- Cervical spine clearance
- Abdominal trauma: liver/spleen injury management
- Non-accidental trauma (child abuse recognition)
- Fracture types common in children: greenstick, buckle
3. Respiratory Emergencies
- Croup, bronchiolitis, asthma exacerbations
- Foreign body aspiration
- Pneumothorax, pneumonia
- High-flow nasal cannula and BiPAP indications
4. Cardiac Emergencies
- Congenital heart disease presentations (ductal-dependent lesions)
- Cyanosis differentials in neonates
- Arrhythmias: SVT, VT, bradycardia, torsades
- Shock: hypovolemic, distributive, cardiogenic, obstructive
5. Neurological Emergencies
- Status epilepticus: benzodiazepines → fosphenytoin
- Febrile seizures (simple vs. complex)
- Meningitis, encephalitis
- Shunt malfunction
6. Gastrointestinal & GU
- Pyloric stenosis, intussusception (target sign)
- Appendicitis (classic and atypical)
- Dehydration assessment and rehydration strategies
- UTI, testicular torsion, ovarian torsion
7. Infectious Disease
- Sepsis workup by age
- Kawasaki disease vs. MIS-C
- Meningococcemia
- Common exanthems (measles, rubella, roseola, etc.)
8. Endocrine & Metabolic
- Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA): fluid resuscitation and insulin timing
- Hypoglycemia management
- Adrenal crisis in congenital adrenal hyperplasia
- Thyroid storm, SIADH vs. DI
9. Toxicology
- Acetaminophen and salicylate overdose
- Iron poisoning
- Anticholinergic and opioid toxidromes
- Activated charcoal indications
- Use of naloxone, flumazenil (with caution)
10. Environmental & Other
- Drowning: hypoxia-based management
- Electrical injuries
- Heat stroke vs. heat exhaustion
- Anaphylaxis protocols: IM epinephrine first
- Bites, stings, envenomation
11. Psychiatric Emergencies
- Suicide risk assessment in children and teens
- Acute psychosis or agitation
- Use of restraints and sedation
12. Dermatology in the ED
- Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), Kawasaki, and viral exanthems
- Urticaria vs. anaphylaxis
- Infectious rashes (impetigo, cellulitis, etc.)
13. Procedures & Sedation
- Sedation protocols (ketamine, midazolam)
- Lumbar puncture tips
- Airway management (BVM, ETT)
- IV, IO access
- Pain control in kids (dosing, scales)
📝 High-Yield Features of the Book:
- ✅ Board-style formatting for fast recall
- ✅ Differential diagnosis tables by presenting complaint
- ✅ Key pediatric medication doses
- ✅ Algorithms for critical care (e.g., asthma, seizures, trauma)
- ✅ Evidence-based, up-to-date protocols
📚 Who Should Use This Book?
- Pediatric emergency residents
- General pediatricians on-call
- Emergency medicine residents
- Medical students on pediatric EM rotations
- Nurses, paramedics, PAs, NPs in urgent care and ED
⭐ Strengths of the Book:
- Clear layout with no fluff
- Life-saving information quickly accessible
- Useful as both a study guide and a clinical resource
- Excellent for PEM boards and in-service exams