Pediatric advanced life support: a review of the AHA recommendations. American Heart Association.
The etiologies of respiratory failure, shock, cardiopulmonary arrest and dysrhythmias in children differ from those in adults. In 1988, the American Heart Association implemented the pediatric advanced life support (PALS) program. Major revisions to the program were made in 1994, with further revisions in 1997. The PALS program teaches a systematic, organized approach for the evaluation and management of acutely ill or injured children. Early identification and treatment of respiratory failure and shock in children improve survival, from a dismal 10 percent to an encouraging 85 percent. Family physicians who care for acutely ill or injured children have a tremendous opportunity to save lives through implementation of the PALS information.
Bardella
I J
IJ
Department of Family Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania 15261, USA.
D000465:Algorithms; D000572:American Heart Association; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008020:Life Support Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000592:standards*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States