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Safe paediatric intensive care : Part 1: Does more medical care lead to improved outcome?

Frey, Bernhard ; Argent, Andrew

In: Intensive Care Medicine, 2004, vol. 30, no. 6, p. 1041-1046

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    Title
    • Safe paediatric intensive care
      Part 1: Does more medical care lead to improved outcome?
    Author
    • Frey, Bernhard. Department of Intensive Care and Neonatology, University Children's Hospital, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland
    • Argent, Andrew. Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Rondebosch, 7700, Cape Town, South Africa
    Document Type
    • Postprint
    OAI-PMH Identifier
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:317120
    Summary
    Neonatal and paediatric intensive care has improved the prognosis for seriously sick infants and children. This has happened because of a pragmatic approach focused on stabilisation of vital functions and immense technological advances in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. However, the belief that more medical care must inevitably lead to improved health is increasingly being questioned. This issue is especially relevant in developing countries where the introduction of highly specialised paediatric intensive care may not lead to an overall fall in child mortality. Even in developed countries, the complexity and availability of therapeutics and invasive procedures may put seriously ill children at additional risk. In both developing and industrialised countries the use of safe and simple procedures for appropriate periods, particular attention to drug prescription patterns and selection of appropriate aims and modes of therapy, including non-invasive methods, may minimise the risks of paediatric intensive care