[Neurogenic stunned myocardium in Pediatrics. A case report]. / Aturdimiento miocárdico neurogénico en Pediatría. A propósito de un caso.

Neurogenic stunned myocardium is an unusual clinical entity. It mimics an acute coronary syndrome with electrocardiographic abnormalities, cardiac dysfunction and elevated cardiac enzymes with absence of obstructive coronary disease. It may occur after a neurosurgical procedure. A case is presented of neurogenic stunned myocardium occurring in a child after removal of a posterior fossa medulloblastoma. The patient developed nodal tachycardia with hemodynamic impairment. The clinical course was satisfactory due to antiarrhythmic therapy, with biochemical, echocardiographic, and clinical improvement within a week.

[Usefulness of monitoring anaesthesia with the bispectral index in upper gastrointestinal endoscopies with spontaneous breathing]. / Utilidad de la monitorización anestésica con el índice biespectral en endoscopias digestivas altas en respiración espontánea.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this investigation is to determine whether bispectral index (BIS®) monitoring during intravenous anaesthesia with spontaneous breathing for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGE) in a pediatric population is useful for: a) decreasing the amount of drug, b) decreasing the time for awakening, and c) improving patient safety. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A quasi-experimental case-control prospective study was conducted in the setting of a second level hospital pediatric intensive care unit. PATIENTS: Children aged 1-13 years. CASE: ASA I patient who needed a diagnostic UGE; eligible, 36, participants, 30. CONTROL: historical cohort of patients who needed UGE (years 2008-2010): 50 patients. INTERVENTION: UGE performed with anaesthetic protocol, vital signs monitoring, sedation level (Ramsay scale) and BIS monitoring. VARIABLES OF INTEREST: propofol total dose (mg/kg), induction time, time in performing the UGE, awakening time (min); initial BIS (iBIS), and BIS during the UGE; adverse effects. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in sex, age or weight between case (B) and control (C) population. No significant differences in total propofol doses: (B 4.9 ± 1.4 mg/kg; C 5.2 ± 1.6 mg/kg, P=.492), awakening time (B 12.2 ± 4.6 min; C 12.8 ± 4.4 min, P=.402), time for execution of UGE (B 9.5 ± 4.8 min; C 11.3 ± 6.5 min, P=.335) and induction time (B 11.1 ± 2.6 min; C 10.1 ± 4.2 min, P=.059), iBIS 55.4 ± 6.9. There were no significant differences in adverse effects: 2 patients suffered from mild desaturation in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: BIS monitoring for diagnostic UGE in spontaneous breathing in a pediatric population is feasible, but does not appear to decrease awakening time or the amount of propofol needed. Furthermore, there was no statistically significant decrease in the number of adverse effects.

[Adequacy of acute peritoneal dialysis in pediatric patients]. / Adecuación de diálisis peritoneal aguda en Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátrica.

Acute peritoneal dialysis (APD) is still a useful tool in the critical pediatric patient. Acute kidney failure due to septic shock often requires invasive depuration procedures and although hemofiltration is very effective, not all pediatric Intensive Care Units have the equipment necessary to establish it. Pediatric APD is generally initiated with short dwell times, every hour exchanges and 10-20 ml/kg filling volumes. We present the evolution of two critical patients with kidney failure on APD who benefited from the measurement of dialysate-to-plasma (D/P) ratios for creatinine and urea, and dialysate-to-solution ratio for glucose (Dt/Do) to optimize APD prescription.