Fluid Bolus: How Much More?

Fluid bolus in critically ill children is always a matter of concern and has to be balanced between benefits and harms. While optimizing pre-load is important in the golden hour period, fluid overload is a concern in ICU stay. Various dynamic parameters both clinical and device-guided assessment can help in optimizing fluid therapy. How to cite this article: Venkatesan DK, Goel AK. Fluid Bolus: How Much More? Indian J Crit Care Med 2023;27(4):296.

FOCUS more on POCUS.

How to cite this article: Venkatesan DK, Goel AK, Pratyusha, K. FOCUS more on POCUS. Indian J Crit Care Med 2023;27(3):225.

Splenic Dysfunction in Children With Sickle Cell Disease: A Single Centre Experience From Central India.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and predictors of splenic dysfunction in children with sickle cell disease (SCD). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2019 and December 2020 where children aged 1 to 15 years of age with SCD were screened for splenic dysfunction. Children who were splenectomised, those with other diseases known to affect splenic function like congenital malformations, immunodeficiencies, and chronic diseases like tuberculosis, nephrotic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, chronic liver disease, celiac disease or malignancy were excluded. Splenic size was assessed by clinical examination and ultrasonography. Splenic dysfunction was assessed by Technetium-99m (99mTc) labeled autologous RBCs and by the presence of Howell Jolly bodies in the peripheral smear. Laboratory and clinical predictors of splenic dysfunction were assessed by multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: We evaluated 66 children with SCD with a mean (SD) age of 7.41 (3.3) years. Impaired and absent splenic function as assessed by 99mTc scintigraphy was found in 13 (19.7%), and 3 (4.6%) children, respectively. Howell Jolly bodies in peripheral smear were found in 5 (7.5%) children; 3 of them had abnormal uptake on scintigraphy; all five had splenomegaly. Age > 5 years, > 4 episodes of vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC), > 3 hospitalization events in the past, > 5 blood transfusions, children not receiving hydroxyurea, reticulocyte count > 4%, and HbS > 70% were independent predictors of splenic dysfunction. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of splenic dysfunction in children with SCD in Central India is lower than that reported from the West. The decision to start antibiotic prophylaxis can be individualized in these children.

Every loin swelling in an infant is not a renal mass: rare presentation of psoas abscess in an infant.

Primary iliopsoas abscess (IPA) in infants is an uncommon condition. It presents as inguinal or thigh swelling with limitation of movements on the affected side. Early detection and timely drainage of the abscess can prevent serious complications related to the dissemination of infection. We report a case of primary IPA due to methicillin-sensitive staphylococcal infection presenting as a left lumbar mass in an immune-competent infant. The abscess was detected in time, drained surgically and treated with cloxacillin for 4 weeks, thereby preventing serious complications.