Recognize signs of respiratory
distress/failure, and shock to provide life
saving interventions
Learn systematic approach to the pediatric
assessment
Practice throughout the course – the
foundation for all cases
Assess-Categorize-Decide-Act
General Assessment
Primary, Secondary, Tertiary Assessments
Life-Threatening Conditions
Rapid visual & auditory assessment (within
seconds)
Used in triaging (ETAT) – EPQ
Sick or Not Sick
Muscle tone
Interaction
Ability to be consoled
Look/gaze or speech/cry
Importance of mental status!
Increased
nasal flaring, retractions, accessory muscle use
Decreased or absent respiratory effort
Abnormal sounds
wheezing, grunting, stridor
Abnormal skin color (pallor or mottling)
Blue/gray skin color: poor perfusion, oxygenation or
both
Flushed: fever or toxicity
Diaphroesis/sweating
Significant distress, cardiac problem,
hyperthermia
Bleeding
Cases with normal appearance seem but
potentially life-threatening problem
Ingestion
Internalbleeding (temporarily maintain BP by
increasing HR and SVR)
Rapid, hands-on approach
Evaluation cardiopulmonary and neurologic
function
Focused physical exam
Vital signs & pulse oximetry
ETAT PALS
Airway Airway
Breathing Breathing
Circulation Circulation
Coma Disability
Convulsion
Dehydration Exposure
Assess patency
Clear
Maintainable with simple measures
Cannot be maintained without advanced
interventions
Respiratory rate
Respiratory effort
Tidal volume
Airway and lung sounds
Pulse oximetry
Rate > 60 is a “red flag”
Tachypnea
“Quiet tachypnea” (no distress): high fever, pain, mild
metabolic acidosis associated with dehydration, sepsis
(w/o pneumonia)
Bradypnea
Ominous sign; fatigue, CNS injury/infection,
hypothermia, medications
Apnea – central, obstructive, mixed
Attempt to improve oxygenation, ventilation
or both
Nasal flaring
Chest retractions
Head bobbing or seesaw respirations
Observe magnitude of chest wall excursion
Auscultate for distal air movement
Minute Ventilation = RR x TV
Stridor
Grunting
Gurgling
Wheezing
Crackles
Percentage of hemoglobin saturated with
oxygen
Can be misleading
Poor perfusion
Does not reflect oxygen delivery
Anemia
Cardiovascular function
Skin
color/temperature, HR, rhythm, BP, pulses
(central & peripheral), CRT
End-organ function
Brain perfusion (mental status)
Skin perfusion
Renal perfusion (urine output)
Hypotension (minimum SBP by age)
Term neonates SBP < 60
Infants SBP < 70
1 to 10 y/o < 70 + (age in years x 2)
Ex. 4 y/o child minimum SBP = 70 + (4x2) = 78
Older than 10 years < 90
Sudden & severe cerebral hypoxia
Lossof muscular tone, generalized seizures,
pupillary dilation, unconsciousness
Gradual cerebral hypoxia
Alteredconsciousness with confusion, irritability,
lethargy, agitation
Drugs
Metabolic conditions (ammonia)
Increased intracranial pressure
Assess cerebral cortex & brainstem
AVPU
GCS
Pupillary light response
Remove clothing
Close exam of face, trunk, extremities, skin
Look for signs of trauma (protect spine)
Treat hypothermia
Airway Complete or severe airway obstruction
Breathing Apnea, significant work of breathing, bradypnea
Circulation Absence of detectable pulses, poor perfusion,
hypotension, bradycardia
Disability Unreponsiveness, depressed consciousness
Exposure Significant hypothermia, bleeding,
petechiae/purpura (shock), distended abdomen
(acute abdomen)
Focused medical history
Whatinformation do you need to help explain
impaired respiratory, cardiovascular or
neurologic function?
Head-to-toe physical exam
Signs & Symptoms
Allergies
Medications
Past Medical History
Last Meal
Events
Labs: ABG, VBG, Hemoglobin
Non-labs: Pulse oximetry, exhaled CO2, Chest
x-ray, echocardiography
Actions appropriate for clinical condition &
severity
Calling for help
Starting CPR
Obtaining code cart & monitor/defibrillator
Placing on a monitor & pulse oximetry
Giving oxygen
Starting treatments (IV fluid bolus etc)
Transition of care
REASSESS
Afterevery
intervention