The Decompensating Child: Blood Pressure Ranges to Watch
Why is it important to measure the blood pressure in an unwell child? What defines hypotension in a child? Have a quick refresher here.
Children are more likely to arrest due to a lack of oxygen or hypotension than a cardiac cause
Smith, G. 2015. Prevention of cardiac arrest and decisions about CPR, Available Online: https://www.resus.org.uk/resuscitation-guidelines/prevention-of-cardiac-arrest-and-decisions-about-cpr/#decisions (Accessed 02/05/2018)
What red flags need to be looked out for in a child?
According to Bruga et al (2013), the red flags to look out for range from those which directly concern a child's vital signs to states such as 'seizures', rashes and 'haemorrhage' (Bruga et al, 2013: 12). For the full list, please see the image below.
Fare Warning: The Decompensating Child
Be cautious during your medical examination of a young patient about how well children tend to compensate in illness