BH ICU Manual
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Paediatric ICU (PICU) - Introduction

Bendigo ICU manages a limited number of carefully selected paediatric patients per year as the major regional referral hospital for the Lodden Mallee region.  On average, approximate 40 patients are admitted predominantly for acute respiratory illnesses requiring non-invasive ventilation support. These patients are managed in partnership with the Bendigo Health paediatric team, which includes the paediatric in-reach service (ext. 47250; 13:30 – 22:00, 7 days a week) and Royal Children’s Hospital (via PIPER - Paediatric Infant Perinatal Emergency Retrieval service).  Due to changes in patient demographics, healthcare resources and infrastructure, there is increasing need for Bendigo Health and other regional centres to develop their PICU services. To support development of the Bendigo Health PICU, we have formed a Paediatric Interest Group (aka PIGs*). If you have any questions, ideas or would like to join the group, please contact Emma Broadfield or Sarah Hobbs (see below).  Minutes of PIGs meetings are available on: G:\CCU\Clinical\Paediatric Interest Group.

We recommend downloading the PICU App (available for Apple and Android) which provides helpful and easily accessible guidelines on all common (and less common) paediatric conditions likely to present to PICU. A pdf file of the guidelines is also available - however, this is less easy to navigate.

Paediatric Interest Group
Dr Jason Fletcher (Director and PIG* member)
Dr Emma Broadfield (PIG* Medical Lead)
CCRN Sarah Hobbs (PIG* Nursing Lead)
CCRN Jenni Tuena (CNC and PIG* member)
CCRN Jenny Elliott (PIG* member)
CCRN Michelle Primmer (PIG* member)


Education
See here for education opportunities in paediatric critical care medicine.

PIPER Paediatric GO NOW criteria
Criteria for admission of children to a regional hospital ICU or a paediatric ward HDU
Criteria for early identification of severe sepsis and referral to ICU
Respiratory Distress Score for monitoring patients with bronchiolitis on HFNC and CPAP
Clinical Guidelines (TBA)

Paediatric Equipment
List of Paediatric equipment for general ICUs

Paediatric Emergency Medication Book
This excellent resource is available on the Broselow trolley in the ICU.  It contains extremely useful flow charts and information for topics including:  
  • Management of Paediatric status epilepticus flowchart
  • Management of the behaviourally disturbed child
  • Paediatric procedural sedation
  • Updated emergency dosing on all weights from 2kg – 80kg
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