Dr Natalie Phillips
Prof Meredith Borland AM
A/Prof Shane George
Dr Michelle Davison
Dr Bhavesh Patel
Dr Melissa Short
Dr Wei Hao Lee
Dr Deborah Shellshear
Associate Investigators
Mr Mark Moore
Dr Sarah Davidson
Ms Karla Mulready
Abdominal pain is one of the commonest reasons for children to attend the emergency department (ED), and acute appendicitis is the most common cause of abdominal pain requiring surgery. There are various clinical prediction scores that have been developed to help doctors diagnose appendicitis; however, most scores were developed overseas and are not routinely used in Australian EDs. The aim of this project is to review different published scores and compare them with overall clinician impression in diagnosing acute appendicitis in children presenting to ED.
The project will include all patients presenting to the ED with abdominal pain that are having investigations for possible appendicitis. The treating doctor will be asked to complete a case report form detailing patient history, examination findings, investigation results, as well as their overall clinical impression of the patient’s likelihood of having the diagnosis of appendicitis. Data collected will be analysed by project researchers to determine which scores are the most helpful for clinicians in diagnosing acute appendicitis in children presenting to Australian EDs, with the expectation that this will improve future care provided to children with abdominal pain.
A/Prof Donna Franklin
A/Prof Shane George
Dr Clinton Gibbs
A/Prof Ulrich Orda
Prof Andreas Schibler
A/Prof Sally West
The next phase of studies, titled "Paris on Country," represents a continuation of efforts in Australia and New Zealand to enhance care for infants and children presenting with acute respiratory issues in emergency departments. Through these studies, we have successfully implemented changes in treatment protocols, aimed at alleviating respiratory distress and reducing anxiety for both patients and their parents.
In rural and remote areas of Queensland, approximately 38 percent of the state's total population resides. However, access to healthcare and emergency services in these areas can significantly differ from urban regions. The primary goal of this project is to elevate the standard of care for children experiencing acute respiratory distress in remote and regional settings to match the level of care available in larger cities.
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Raman S, Gibbons KS, Jayashree M, Lalitha AV, Bellomo R, Blythe R, Buckley D, Butt W, Cho HJ, Cree M, de Souza DC. Resuscitation in Paediatric Septic Shock Using Vitamin C and Hydrocortisone (RESPOND): The RESPOND Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol. Pediatric Critical Care Medicine. 2024 Dec 26:10-97.
Snelling, P.J., Goodwin, P., Clark, J., Bade, D., Bindra, R., Ware, R.S. and Keijzers, G., 2024. Minimal intervention (removable splint or bandage) for the management of distal forearm fractures in children and adolescents: A scoping review. Injury, p.111897.
Schwarz, S., Dong, Y., Snelling, P. J., Hoffmann, B., Nourkami-Tutdibi, N., Huang, Y. L., Chen, S., Cekuolis, A., Augustiniene, R., Schreiber-Dietrich, D., Grevelding, L., Dietrich, C.F., 2024. An [illustrative] update on pediatric emergency ultrasound: part 3–cerebral, musculoskeletal and other applications. Medical Ultrasonography.
Schibler, A., El-Heneidy, A., Ware, R., George, S. and Franklin, D., 2024. OP036 Topic: AS15–Lung: Respiratory Support/Acute Respiratory Failure/Other: Extubation failure and length of respiratory support post extubation in children admitted to intensive care. Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, 25(11S), p.e14.
George, S., Williams, T., Humphreys, S., Gelbart, B., Gibbons, K. and Schibler, A., 2024. OP020 Topic: AS15–Lung: Respiratory Support/Acute Respiratory Failure/Other: Nasal High-Flow oxygen during pediatric emergency endotracheal intubation - A randomized trial. Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, 25(11S), p.e8.
George, S., Wake, E., Jansen, M., Soundappan, S., Ellis, D., Blanch, A., Gibbons, K. and Winearls, J., 2024. PP031 Topic: AS03–Disaster Medicine/Trauma, Triage and Transport/Mass Critical Care/Pandemics/Medicine in War Zones/Other: Fibrinogen early in severe paediatric trauma study (FIESTY JUNIOR): A randomised clinical trial. Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, 25(11S), p.e30.
