[Assembly and management of helmet-CPAP in infants and children with acute respiratory insufficiency]. / Montaje y manejo del sistema helmet-CPAP en lactantes y niños con insuficiencia respiratoria aguda.

Application of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) during respiratory insufficiency through a helmet interface is not well known in the Pediatric practice. The objective of this paper is to describe the necessary elements for it assembly, management and nursing care. The advantages and disadvantages of helmet compared to other interfaces are also discussed.

Helmet-delivered continuous positive airway pressure with heliox in respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis.

AIM: The objective of this study was to check the feasibility and efficacy of helmet-delivered heliox-continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in infants with bronchiolitis. METHODS: Children <3 months of age diagnosed with respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis and recurrent apnoeas or a venous PCO(2) >55 mmHg or a transcutaneous oxygen saturation <92% in room air were eligible for inclusion in the study. CPAP was delivered by a noninvasive ventilator connected to a heliox port. The interface was a helmet. RESULTS: Eight consecutive infants fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Apnoeas were present in six children before respiratory support was started; they disappeared in five of them. Two infants had to be changed to pressure support noninvasive ventilation, and one of them required intubation. No side effects were recorded. CONCLUSION: We propose a relatively new device to deliver heliox-CPAP in small infants with bronchiolitis. Although this is just a descriptive study with a short sample, this system seems to be feasible and effective.

Miliary tuberculosis and choroidal tuberculoma in a three-month old baby girl: Diagnosis and follow-up of a case. / Tuberculosis miliar y tuberculoma coroideo en una niña de 3 meses: diagnóstico y seguimiento de un caso.

A three-month old baby girl presented with fever of unknown origin and with signs of worsening of this episode. Funduscopy showed a solitary choroidal lesion in her left eye, as well as extraocular lesions suggesting disseminated tuberculosis. A favourable outcome was achieved after quadruple antibiotic course and cortisone therapy. Disseminated tuberculosis should be considered in cases of fever of unknown origin in children with an unsatisfactory evolution. Ocular examination is mandatory, due to the possible posterior uveitis signs that can help with early diagnosis and treatment of some diseases.

[Success and failure predictors of non-invasive ventilation in acute bronchiolitis]. / Predictores de éxito y de fracaso en la ventilación no invasiva en la bronquiolitis aguda.

INTRODUCTION: The objective was to identify predictive factors for non-invasive ventilation (NIV) failure and to describe its use in bronchiolitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective observational study that included patients diagnosed with bronchiolitis with a modified Wood's Clinical Asthma Score 5, or oxygen saturation <92%, or venous CO(2) partial pressure (PCO(2)) 60 mm Hg, with no response to medical treatment, who received NIV from December 2005 to May 2008. We collected clinical data before NIV began and at 1, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h. Need for intubation was considered as NIV failure. RESULTS: NIV was successful in 83% of 47 cases included. Patients in whom NIV failed had lower weight (5.2+/-2.2 vs. 3.5+/-0.8 kg, P=.011), lower age [1.8 (0.3-12.3) vs. 0.8 (0.4-4.3) months, P=.038)], lower heart rate (HR) before NIV began (176.3+/-19.1 vs. 160.4+/-9.7 beats/minute, P=.010), lower HR decrease at hours 1 (-16.0+/-17.3 vs.+1.1+/-11.6, P=.005) and 12 (-31.5+/-19.7 vs. -0.75+/-12.2, P=.002), presence of apnoeas (23.1% vs. 75%; P=.004) and of a predisposing condition (84.6% vs. 50%; P=.029). Multivariate analysis identified the absence of a predisposing condition, and a greater HR decrease during the first hour as success-associated independent factors (OR 0.004; 95% CI 0.000-0.664 and OR 0.896; 95% CI: 0.809-0.993, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: NIV has a high success rate in bronchiolitis. The main parameters which can predict NIV success are the absence of a predisposing condition and a higher HR decrease in the first hour.

Safety of aerosol therapy in children during noninvasive ventilation with helmet and total face mask.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the consequences of using nebulized drugs in patients subjected to noninvasive ventilation (NIV) with total face mask (TFM) and helmet. DESIGN: A descriptive analytical study of a prospective patient cohort was carried out. AMBIT: Pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a tertiary hospital. PATIENTS: Consecutive sampling was used to include all patients admitted to the PICU and requiring NIV with helmet or TFM over a period of 29 months. No patients were excluded. INTERVENTIONS: Nebulized treatment was added according to medical criteria. VARIABLES OF INTEREST: Independent variables were age, sex, diagnosis, disease severity, ventilation parameters and nebulized drugs (if administered). Secondary outcomes were duration and failure of NIV, and length of PICU stay. RESULTS: The most frequent diagnoses were bronchiolitis (60.5%) and asthma (23%). Patients received NIV for a median of 43h. Nebulized drugs were administered in 40% of the cases during NIV, and no adverse effects were registered. Using Bayesian statistics, the calculated probability of suffering an adverse effect was 1.3% with helmet and 0.5% with TFM (high density 95% probability intervals). Patients with helmet and nebulized therapy were in more serious condition than those who did not receive nebulization; nevertheless, no differences were observed regarding the need to change to bilevel modality. With TFM, PICU stay was shorter for the same degree of severity (p=0.033), and the NIV failure rate was higher in patients who did not receive inhaled drugs (p=0.024). CONCLUSIONS: The probability of suffering an adverse effect related to nebulization is extremely low when using a helmet or TFM. Inhaled therapy with TFM may shorten PICU stay in some patients.

[Thrombosis and obstruction associated with central venous lines. Incidence and risk factors]. / Trombosis y obstrucción asociadas a vías venosas centrales. Incidencia y factores de riesgo.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the incidence of thrombosis and obstruction associated with central venous lines (CVL) inserted in critically ill children, and to determine their risk factors. DESIGN: Prospective observational study in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in a University Hospital. MATERIAL AND METHOD: An analysis was made of 825 CVL placed in 546 patients. Age, gender, weight, type of catheter (lines, size, and brand), final location of the catheter, mechanical ventilation, type of sedation and analgesia used, initial failure by the doctor to perform CVL catheterization, number of attempts, CVL indication, admission diagnosis, emergency or scheduled procedure, and delayed mechanical complications (DMC). Risk factors for these complications were determined by a multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 52 cases of DMC, 42 cases of obstruction, and 10 of thrombosis were registered. Obstruction and thrombosis rates were 4.96 and 1.18 per 100 CVL, respectively. The only risk factor independently linked to obstruction was the duration of the CVL (OR 1.05; 95% CI; 1.00-1.10). The number of lines with thrombosis (OR 4.88; 95% CI; 1.26-18.0), as well as parenteral nutrition (OR 4.17; 95% CI; 1.06-16.31) was statistically significant according to bivariate analysis. However, no risk factors for thrombosis were found in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Obstruction and thrombosis of CVL inserted in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit are relatively common complications. CVL duration is an independent risk factor for any line obstruction.

Helmet-delivered heliox-CPAP in severe upper airway obstruction caused by PHACES syndrome.

We present the case of a 4-month-old girl with PHACES syndrome and severe upper respiratory airway obstruction secondary to multiple subglottic and tracheal hemangiomas effectively treated with heliox-CPAP delivered by helmet (HH-CPAP).

[Prediction of PaO2/FiO2 ratio from SpO2/FiO2 ratio adjusted by transcutaneous CO2 measurement in critically ill children]. / Predicción del índice PaO2/FiO2 a partir del índice SpO2/FiO2 ajustado por la medición transcutánea de CO2 en niños críticamente enfermos.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if the inclusion of the transcutaneous CO(2) tension measurement (PtcCO(2)) can improve partial pressure of oxygen/ fraction of inspired oxygen ratio [PaO(2)/FiO(2) (P/F)] prediction from pulse oximetry saturation/FiO(2) ratio [SpO(2)/FiO(2) (S/F)]. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of blood gas data from critically ill children. PaO(2), SpO(2), FiO(2) and PtcCO(2) from 40 samples in 8 patients were analysed. A multiple linear regression model was performed to predict P/F ratio from S/F ratio and PtcCO(2). Using the equation obtained, S/F ratio values were calculated for P/F ratios of 200 and 300 and different levels of PtcCO2. Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) curves were made to analyse the diagnostic values of P/F ratio (200 and 300). RESULTS: The linear regression model was: P/F=37.277+(1.072×S/F) - (1.567×PtcCO2); P<.0001; R(2)=0.469. Using the equation, for a PtcCO(2) value of 40 mmHg, P/F ratios of 200 and 300 corresponded to S/F ratios of 295.1 and 426.5, respectively. Computed P/F ratio less than 256.7 had 84.6% sensitivity and 85.2% specificity for the diagnosis of P/F ratio less than 200. Computed P/F ratio less than 297.6 had 89.7% sensitivity and 82% specificity for the diagnosis of P/F ratio less than 300. CONCLUSION: PtcCO(2) has a significant influence on the prediction of P/F ratio from S/F ratio. Prospective studies with more patients are needed to validate these results.