Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 15, 2026

Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) Placement in a Neonatal Patient Simulator Using a Non-Inflatable Supraglottic Airway (SGA)
04:56

Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) Placement in a Neonatal Patient Simulator Using a Non-Inflatable Supraglottic Airway (SGA)

Published on: July 14, 2023

Global paediatric advanced life support: improving child survival in limited-resource settings

Mark E Ralston1, Louise T Day, Tina M Slusher

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Naval Hospital, Oak Harbor, WA 98278, USA.

Lancet (London, England)
|January 22, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Simple, inexpensive advanced life support can significantly improve child survival in developing nations. Integrating these interventions into primary care addresses critical resource limitations and reduces child mortality from common illnesses like pneumonia and diarrhea.

Area of Science:

  • Global Health
  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Resource-Limited Settings

Background:

  • Child mortality disproportionately affects developing countries, with pneumonia and diarrheal diseases as leading causes.
  • Current advanced life support guidelines for children in low-resource settings are often empirical, hospital-focused, and lack systematic patient assessment.
  • Limited resources hinder the provision of adequate advanced life support for critically ill children in developing nations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review strategies for extending higher-quality emergency and critical care services to children in developing countries.
  • To highlight the potential of simple, inexpensive advanced life support management to improve child survival.
  • To advocate for evidence-based, standardized approaches to pediatric advanced life support in resource-limited contexts.

Main Methods:

  • This is a review article, synthesizing existing literature and data on pediatric emergency and critical care in developing countries.
  • Focus on identifying and evaluating simple, cost-effective advanced life support interventions.
  • Analysis of current guideline limitations and proposed improvements for resource-constrained environments.

Main Results:

  • Simple, inexpensive advanced life support management, when integrated into primary care, can substantially improve child survival rates.
  • Addressing resource limitations through adapted, evidence-based protocols is crucial for effective pediatric critical care.
  • Standardized assessment and categorization of illness are essential for optimizing care delivery.

Conclusions:

  • Extending quality emergency and critical care services to children in developing countries is feasible and impactful.
  • Simple, inexpensive advanced life support interventions offer a viable pathway to reducing global child mortality.
  • Integration into primary care programs is key to widespread implementation and improved child survival outcomes.

More Related Videos

Standardized Model of Ventricular Fibrillation and Advanced Cardiac Life Support in Swine05:36

Standardized Model of Ventricular Fibrillation and Advanced Cardiac Life Support in Swine

Published on: January 30, 2020

A Modified Sonographic Algorithm for Image Acquisition in Life-Threatening Emergencies in the Critically Ill Newborn11:27

A Modified Sonographic Algorithm for Image Acquisition in Life-Threatening Emergencies in the Critically Ill Newborn

Published on: April 7, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation I: Adult01:21

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation I: Adult

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, is a life-saving emergency procedure performed when a person's heart has stopped beating or they are no longer breathing. The foundation of CPR is Basic Life Support (BLS), which focuses on the early recognition of cardiac arrest, the immediate start of high-quality chest compressions, and the timely use of an automated external defibrillator (AED).Assessing Responsiveness and Checking the Carotid PulseWhen approaching an unresponsive person, first ensure...
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation V: Advanced Airway Management Techniques01:30

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation V: Advanced Airway Management Techniques

Airway management is essential in emergency and surgical medicine, ensuring ventilation and oxygenation in patients who cannot maintain their own airway. Clinicians use a range of techniques and devices to secure the airway, depending on the patient’s condition and the clinical context. Key methods include endotracheal intubation, rapid sequence intubation (RSI), supraglottic airway devices, and advanced visualization aids. In cases where these approaches fail, surgical airway interventions are...
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation II: ACLS Airway Management01:22

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation II: ACLS Airway Management

Airway management is a key skill in emergency and critical care settings, as maintaining a clear airway is essential for adequate oxygenation and ventilation.Head Tilt-Chin Lift TechniqueThe head tilt-chin lift maneuver is an essential technique primarily used in patients without suspected cervical spine injuries. To perform this maneuver, one hand is placed on the patient’s forehead, and gentle pressure is applied backward to tilt the head. The fingertips of the other hand are positioned under...
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation IV: Pharmacological Management01:25

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation IV: Pharmacological Management

Pharmacologic intervention is crucial in treating cardiac arrest patients during ACLS or Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support. The ACLS algorithms guide the administration of specific drugs based on the patient's cardiac arrest rhythm, which includes pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VT), ventricular fibrillation (VF), asystole, and pulseless electrical activity (PEA).EpinephrineIndication: Epinephrine is the first-line drug for all cardiac arrest rhythms.Mechanism of Action: Epinephrine...
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation III: AED Use01:23

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation III: AED Use

Introduction to AEDAn Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a portable medical device that analyzes the heart's rhythm and, if necessary, delivers an electrical shock to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm during sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). SCA occurs when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating, leading to a loss of blood flow to the brain and other vital organs. In such emergencies, time is of the essence, and using an AED, combined with Cardiopulmonary...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...