High-frequency oscillatory ventilation in children: a 10-year experience.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to describe the experience with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) in a Portuguese Pediatric Critical Care Unit, and to evaluate whether HFOV allowed improvement in oxygenation and ventilation. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational cohort study of children ventilated by HFOV between January, 2002 and December, 2011. The following parameters were recorded: demographic and clinical data, and blood gases and ventilatory parameters during the first 48 hours of HFOV. RESULTS: 80 children were included, with a median age of 1.5 months (min: one week; max: 36 months). Pneumonia (n=50; 62.5%) and bronchiolitis (n=18; 22.5%) were the main diagnoses. Approximately 40% (n=32) of the patients developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Conventional mechanical ventilation was used in 68 (85%) of patients prior to HFOV. All patients who started HFOV had hypoxemia, and 56 (70%) also presented persistent hypercapnia. Two hours after starting HFOV, a significant improvement in SatO2/FiO2 ratio (128±0.63 vs. 163±0.72; p<0.001) that was sustained up to 24 hours of HFOV and a decrease in FiO2 were observed. Since the beginning of HFOV, the mean PCO2 significantly decreased (87±33 vs. 66±25; p<0.001), and the pH significantly improved (7.21±0.17 vs. 7.32±0.15; p<0.001). Overall survival was 83.8%. CONCLUSIONS: HFOV enabled an improvement in hypercapnia and oxygenation. It is a safe option for the treatment of ARDS and severe small airway diseases.

Non-invasive ventilation in acute respiratory failure in children.

The aim of this paper is to assess the clinical efficacy of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in avoiding endotracheal intubation (ETI), to demonstrate clinical and gasometric improvement and to identify predictive risk factors associated with NIV failure. An observational prospective clinical study was carried out. Included Patients with acute respiratory disease (ARD) treated with NIV, from November 2006 to January 2010 in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). NIV was used in 151 patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF). Patients were divided in two groups: NIV success and NIV failure, if ETI was required. Mean age was 7.2±20.3 months (median: 1 min: 0,3 max.: 156). Main diagnoses were bronchiolitis in 102 (67.5%), and pneumonia in 44 (29%) patients. There was a significant improvement in respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR), pH, and pCO(2) at 2, 6, 12 and 24 hours after NIV onset (P<0.05) in both groups. Improvement in pulse oximetric saturation/fraction of inspired oxygen (SpO(2)/FiO(2)) was verified at 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 hours after NIV onset in the success group (P<0.001). In the failure group, significant SpO(2)/FiO(2) improvement was only observed in the first 4 hours. NIV failure occurred in 34 patients (22.5%). Risk factors for NIV failure were apnea, prematurity, pneumonia, and bacterial co-infection (P<0.05). Independent risk factors for NIV failure were apneia (P<0.001; odds ratio 15.8; 95% confidence interval: 3.42-71.4) and pneumonia (P<0.001, odds ratio 31.25; 95% confidence interval: 8.33-111.11). There were no major complications related with NIV. In conclusion this study demonstrates the efficacy of NIV as a form of respiratory support for children and infants with ARF, preventing clinical deterioration and avoiding ETI in most of the patients. Risk factors for failure were related with immaturity and severe infection.

H1N1 disseminated infection in a 3-month-old boy.

Earlier this year a new influenza virus emerged. In children, the clinical manifestations of H1N1 infection are similar to those reported during periods of seasonal influenza. We report on a 3-month-old boy with an upper respiratory tract infection who presented enteropathy, coagulopathy and encephalitis related to H1N1. The infection was confirmed in nasopharyngeal aspirate, stools and cerebrospinal fluid by real-time PCR. Treatment with oseltamivir was started.

Familial haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: two case reports.

Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a life threatening inflammatory syndrome, which presents a highly stimulated but ineffective immune response with severe hypercytokinaemia. HLH, primary or secondary, is characterised by prolonged fever and hepatosplenomegaly associated with pancytopenia, hypertriglyceridaemia and hypofibrinogenaemia. However, the hallmark of HLH is impaired or absent function of natural killer cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes. HLH presents major diagnostic difficulties, since it may have an incomplete and/or late onset and with many conditions leading to the same clinical picture. When untreated, it is fatal in all primary cases and in a high percentage of acquired cases. Awareness of the clinical picture and diagnostic criteria is thus important to start life saving treatment. We describe two cases of primary HLH, with significant differences in their clinical presentation and evolution.

Ventilação oscilatória de alta frequência em crianças: uma experiência de 10 anos / High-frequency oscillatory ventilation in children: a 10-year experience

OBJETIVOS: O objetivo do estudo foi descrever a experiência com ventilação oscilatória de frequência (VOAF) em uma unidade portuguesa de Cuidados Intensivos Neonatais e Pediátricos e avaliar se a VOAF permitiu uma melhoria na oxigenação e na ventilação. MÉTODOS: Estudo de coorte retrospectivo observacional em crianças submetidas À ventilação com VOAF entre janeiro de 2002 e dezembro de 2011. Os seguintes parâmetros foram registrados: dados demográficos e clínicos; gases sanguíneos; e parâmetros ventilatórios durante as primeiras 48 horas de VOAF. RESULTADOS: O estudo incluiu 80crianças com uma idade média de 1,5 mês (mínima: uma semana; máxima: 36 meses). Pneumonia (n = 50; 62,5%) e bronquiolite (n = 18; 22,5%) foram os principais diagnósticos. Cerca de 40% (n = 32) dos pacientes desenvolveram a síndrome da angústia respiratória aguda (SARA). A ventilação mecânica convencional foi utilizada em 68 (85%) pacientes antes da VOAF. Todos os pacientes que começaram a VOAF tiveram hipoxemia, e 56 (70%) também apresentaram hipercapnia persistente. Duas horas após o início da VOAF, foi observada uma melhoria significativa na proporção SatO2/FiO2 (128 ± 0,63 em comparação a 163 ± 0,72; p < 0,001), que foi mantida durante as 24 horas de VOAF, e uma redução da FiO2. Desde o início da VOAF, a PCO2 média teve uma queda significativa (87 ± 33 em comparação a 66 ± 25; p < 0,001) e o pH aumentou significativamente (7,21 ± 0,17 em comparação a 7,32 ± 0,15; p < 0,001). A sobrevida geral foi de 83,8%. CONCLUSÕES: A VOAF permitiu uma melhoria na hipercapnia e na oxigenação. Trata-se de uma opção segura no tratamento da SARA e de doenças graves das pequenas vias aéreas.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to describe the experience with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) in a Portuguese Pediatric Critical Care Unit, and to evaluate whether HFOV allowed improvement in oxygenation and ventilation. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational cohort study of children ventilated by HFOV between January, 2002 and December, 2011. The following parameters were recorded: demographic and clinical data, and blood gases and ventilatory parameters during the first 48 hours of HFOV. RESULTS: 80 children were included, with a median age of 1.5 months (min: one week; max: 36 months). Pneumonia (n = 50; 62.5%) and bronchiolitis (n = 18; 22.5%) were the main diagnoses. Approximately 40% (n = 32) of the patients developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Conventional mechanical ventilation was used in 68 (85%) of patients prior to HFOV. All patients who started HFOV had hypoxemia, and 56 (70%) also presented persistent hypercapnia. Two hours after starting HFOV, a significant improvement in SatO2/FiO2 ratio (128 ± 0.63 vs. 163 ± 0.72; p < 0.001) that was sustained up to 24 hours of HFOV and a decrease in FiO2 were observed. Since the beginning of HFOV, the mean PCO2 significantly decreased (87 ± 33 vs. 66 ± 25; p < 0.001), and the pH significantly improved (7.21 ± 0.17 vs. 7.32 ± 0.15; p < 0.001). Overall survival was 83.8%. CONCLUSIONS:HFOV enabled an improvement in hypercapnia and oxygenation. It is a safe option for the treatment of ARDS and severe small airway diseases.