Once children have been successfully resuscitated and emergency treatment provided, they remain at high risk for death or disability.
In order to optimise outcomes, the following principles of care apply:
- Admit or refer to ward with appropriate monitoring facilities e.g. high care or intensive care unit as soon as possible.
- Identify and manage underlying pathology.
- Maintain normoxia (avoid both hyperoxia and hypoxia).
- Avoid hypo- and hypercapnia,
- Maintain systolic BP ≥5th percentile for age (refer to Chapter 4: Cardiovascular System, Hypertension ); this may require intravascular fluids and/or inotropes.
- Avoid hyperthermia and treat fever aggressively.
- Provide adequate nutrition,
- Monitor and correct glucose and electrolyte abnormalities.
- Provide appropriate analgesia.
- Consider rehabilitation requirements.