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Background: Although electromagnetic interference (EMI) with medical equipment is described in the engineering community, little documentation exists in the medical literature to address this largely theoretical concern. The FDA collects data on EMI, but often faces resistance from health care facilities during their investigations. Case Report: An 18-year-old male with metastatic chondrosarcoma, who was receiving an epinephrine infusion for septic shock, developed acute onset of agitation, hematemesis, and chest pain nine hours after the infusion began. Physicians diagnosed acute epinephrine poisoning and noted that the infusion bag contained less than the expected volume. Calculations determined that the patient received 10.5 mg of unintended epinephrine. The infusion pump was turned off and, despite myocardial ischemia and pulmonary edema, the patient ultimately recovered with supportive care. Examination of the implicated infusion pump found it was in normal working condition. Further scene investigation noted that a cellular phone in 'standby mode' as present in the immediate area during the event. When exposed to a similar 'standby' cellular phone in a laboratory setting, the infusion pump reproduced its bolus delivery. During the event the pump displayed '999' mL/h and corrected to the previous setting upon cessation of the signal. Interrogation of the pump's memory revealed that it did not record this event. The investigators thereby concluded the EMI was responsible for the infusion pump failure. Conclusions: This is the first documented case in which EMI with sensitive medical equipment caused substantial human morbidity. The implications of this interference are potentially grave and the health care industry should be cognizant of such possibilities. Reporting of all potential EMI events to the FDA and assistance in their inquiry is suggested., Hahn I, Schnadower D, Dakin RJ, Hoffman RS, Nelson LS. New York City Poison Control Center, New York University, New York, [...]

This article discusses a clinical trial, NCT06444282, that focuses on measuring the health outcomes of using an Emergency Care Action Plan (ECAP) for infants discharged from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The ECAP is a tool designed to assist providers in treating infants with complex medical needs during emergencies. The trial will assess the challenges and feasibility of implementing the ECAP, as well as gather perspectives from providers and caregivers on its use. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either an ECAP or standard care, and caregivers will complete surveys during a one-year feasibility trial period. The study aims to recruit 50 participants and is expected to be completed by August 2028. [Extracted from the article]

The article reports on a study that examined the effectiveness of probiotics in treatment of acute gastroenteritis in young children. Participants were children aged from three months to four years. Analysis of stool samples showed that 45.6 percent were positive for viruses and 15.2 percent were positive for bacteria that are probable or possible pathogens. The Vesikari Scoring System scale was used to examine the severity of gastroenteritis.

I am Ross Pelton, and I 'brand' myself as The Natural Pharmacist. I am writing to express my outrage and disappointment at an article titled 'The Probiotic Conundrum' (1) that [...]

Bedside ultrasonography is a core component of the practice of emergency medicine, and its use in the pediatric emergency setting has been growing. As a first-line imaging tool, it is [...]

1) Most of the infants born in the northern half of the US are at risk for rickets, especially if they are breast-fed. A) True B) False True. Dr. Joyce [...]

Of 973 preschool-aged children with acute gastroenteritis who visited 1 of 10 geographically diverse pediatric emergency departments (EDs), those who received a 5-day course of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, a commonly [...]