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Subject: EMedHome Clinical Pearl

 

Pediatric Asthma? Use Dexamethasone


There is an increasing amount of evidence, including a recent systematic review and meta-analysis, that dexamethasone is preferable to prednisone/prednisolone for pediatric patients presenting to the ED with an acute asthma exacerbation (1-3).


A single IM/PO dose of dexamethasone (+/- a single PO dose to take at home) is as effective as 5 day dose of prednisone/prednisolone. In addition, dexamethasone offers the advantages of less vomiting (dexamethasone has antiemetic properties), improved compliance, and parenteral preference.


Practitioners should consider single or 2-dose regimens of dexamethasone as a viable alternative to a 5-day course of prednisone/prednisolone for pediatric asthma.

References:

(1) Keeney GE, et al.
Pediatrics
March 1, 2014, 133: 493 -499.

(2) Redman E, et al.
Arch Dis Children
2013; 98: 916.

(3) Williams KW,  et al.
Clin Pediatr
2013;52:30.

 

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EMed, 

 

Good evidence to support this approach in adults as well - quote below is from the Jul. '13 edition of Emergency Medicine Practice's article "Management of Acute Asthma in the Emergency Dept." -  sources quoted seem to all be from peds studies, but the article it's coming from doesn't suggest it be limited to peds pts. alone.  Have changed my practice in turn...

 

 

“Single-dose dexamethasone at 0.6 mg/kg (up to 18 mg), by both oral and intramuscular routes, is as effective as 3-day or 5-day therapy with predni­sone.110-112 Nonadherence to medication regimens with prednisone therapy is a significant problem that this treatment method solves.113 For return to normal activity, 2 days of dexamethasone at 16 mg/ day is superior to 5 days of prednisone at 50 mg daily.114 Given the available evidence, we recom­mend dexamethasone over other regimens for outpatient treatment.”

 

110. Gordon S, Tompkins T, Dayan PS. Randomized trial of single-dose intramuscular dexamethasone compared with prednisolone for children with acute asthma. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2007;23(8):521-527. (Prospective randomized con­trolled trial; 88 patients)

111. Altamimi S, Robertson G, Jastaniah W, et al. Single-dose oral dexamethasone in the emergency management of children with exacerbations of mild to moderate asthma. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2006;22(12):786-793. (Prospective double-blind randomized controlled trial)

112. Cronin J, Kennedy U, McCoy S, et al. Single dose oral dexa­methasone versus multi-dose prednisolone in the treatment of acute exacerbations of asthma in children who attend the emergency department: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2012;13:141. (Open-label randomized controlled trial; 232 patients)

113. Butler K, Cooper WO. Adherence of pediatric asthma patients with oral corticosteroid prescriptions following pe­diatric emergency department visit or hospitalization. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2004;20(11):730-735. (Prospective cohort study; 161 patients)

114. Kravitz J, Dominici P, Ufberg J, et al. Two days of dexa­methasone versus 5 days of prednisone in the treatment of acute asthma: a randomized controlled trial. Ann Emerg Med. 2011;58(2):200-204. (Double-blind randomized controlled trial; 200 patients)

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  • 9 months later...
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Subungual hematomas: instead of digital block & battery powered bove, soak affected finger/toe in ice water with betadine for 10-15 minutes, then use 18 gauge needle on 10 cc syringe (for a handle).  Good results, much less pain.

if you do the electrocautery right and stop as soon as you see blood you don't need the digital block. last time I checked, fingernails don't have nerves. in almost 20 yrs doing this I have never blocked a subungal before electrocautery drainage,

n= ten gazillion

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  • 8 months later...

if you do the electrocautery right and stop as soon as you see blood you don't need the digital block. last time I checked, fingernails don't have nerves. in almost 20 yrs doing this I have never blocked a subungal before electrocautery drainage,

n= ten gazillion

Where can one tie up a bed for 15" to allow a digit to soak before using a syringe/needle when you could've done one per minute with the cautery and still had time left over for coffee?

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If you see the patient before registration gets to them.

our new model of "in room triage and registration" is a nightmare. between the triage nurse and registration we can't see a new pt within 40 min of their arrival, or if they are really sick and we push our way in and start care, they can't be transferred out of the dept until they are registered....!@#$%

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4 hours ago, EMEDPA said:

This is a new one for me. Have to try this:

Emergency medicine cases this week discussed using dermabond for dental fxs if no temp filling (like cavit or calcium hydroxide)material present in the dept

Is that to glue the tooth back together or to use as a temporary restoration?

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