ACEP 16: The Large Challenge to Diagnose Small Patients
Recognizing Symptoms in Head Injury Is Key to Proper Diagnosis and Treatment
By Leslie Coplin, Executive Editor, AHC Media
Traumatic brain injury significantly affects any provider who cares for children. Moderate to severe head injuries require early aggressive management to enable the child to achieve the best functional outcome possible. In recent years, there has been increased public awareness of mild traumatic brain injury, or concussion, in children, who often first present in the emergency department. Thus, understanding the latest guidelines on diagnosis, management, aftercare, and return to play are significant issues for emergency providers.
In back-to-back sessions at the ACEP 2016 Scientific Assembly, Evie G. Marcolini, MD, FACEP, and H. Andrew Sloas, DO, RDMS, discussed the latest literature on diagnosing and treating both pediatric traumatic brain injury and concussion. Marcolini discussed anatomic and physiologic differences and management strategies from the latest research on pediatric traumatic brain injury. Sloas discussed how to apply the current treatment methods and algorithms in a busy emergency department environment, as well as how to best identify which pediatric patients have concussion vs a more significant head injury.
More than 8,500 emergency medicine professionals are meeting at ACEP16 in Las Vegas this week to participate in educational sessions and learn about the latest issues in emergency medicine. For more information on pediatric head injury and concussion, please see Pediatric Trauma: Essential Care and Practical Application, recently released by AHC Media.