Management of suspected myocarditis during critical-care transport.
Myocarditis and malignant dysrhythmias are unusual presentations in pediatric patients. We report a series of 4 patients with myocarditis and arrhythmia who presented to community emergency departments and were transported to a pediatric tertiary-care center. Three of the patients required extracorporeal life support. We discuss considerations for stabilization and transport: airway and ventilation, hemodynamic support, induction and sedation medication choices, transport decisions, and the traits of an ideal receiving center.
Wolf
Gerhard K
GK
Division of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Anesthesia, Children's Hospital Boston, MA 02115, USA. gerhard.wolf@childrens.harvard.edu
Frakes
Michael A
MA
Gallagher
Michael
M
Allan
Catherine K
CK
Wedel
Suzanne K
SK
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003422:Critical Care; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D010360:Patient Transfer