Care of the acutely ill pediatric heart transplant recipient.
Young children may present to the emergency department after undergoing orthotopic heart transplantation. Emergency department care of pediatric heart transplant recipients with an acute illness is not clearly defined. To assist the emergency physician with treating these children, 2 cases are detailed to demonstrate the variation in outcome of young children presenting to the emergency department with acute illness months after their transplant. The cases typify the varied outcomes possible after emergency department presentation. After the cases, a review of the medical conditions common in transplant recipients precedes a description of management suggestions.
Woods
William A
WA
Department of Emergency Medicine, Pediatric Cardiology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA. waw9h@virginia.edu
McCulloch
Michael A
MA
D000208:Acute Disease; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003384:Coxsackievirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009325:Nausea / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology