[Cardiorespiratory arrest in children with trauma]. / Parada cardiorrespiratoria secundaria a traumatismos en niños. Características y evolución.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the characteristics and outcome of cardiorespiratory arrest secondary to trauma in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a secondary analysis of data from a prospective, multicenter study of cardiorespiratory arrest in children. Data were recorded according to the Utstein style. Twenty-eight children (age range: 7 days to 16 years) with cardiorespiratory arrest secondary to trauma were evaluated. The outcome variables were return of spontaneous circulation, sustained (more than 20 minutes) return of spontaneous circulation (initial survival), and survival at hospital discharge (final survival) in relation to the characteristics of the cardiorespiratory arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Neurological and general performance outcome was assessed by means of the Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category scale and the Pediatric Overall Performance Category scale. RESULTS: Return of spontaneous circulation was obtained in 18 patients (64.2 %), initial survival was achieved in 14 (50 %) and final survival was achieved in three (10.7 %) (two without neurological sequelae and one with vegetative status). Final survival was significantly higher in patients with respiratory arrest (33.3 %) than in those with cardiac arrest (4.5 %), p = 0.04. Final survival was also higher in patients with a duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation shorter than 20 minutes (27.2 %) than in the remaining patients (0 %), p =0.05. The two survivors without neurologic sequelae had respiratory arrest. CONCLUSIONS: Survival until hospital discharge in children with cardiorespiratory arrest secondary to trauma is lower than that in children with cardiorespiratory arrest. Patients with respiratory arrest when resuscitation is started and those with a duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation of less than 20 minutes showed better survival than the remaining patients.

[Characteristics and evolution of cardiopulmonary arrest in children in Spain: comparison between autonomous communities]. / Características y evolución de la parada cardiorrespiratoria infantil en España: comparación entre Comunidades Autónomas.

INTRODUCTION: In Spain there are many differences between autonomous regions in terms of geography, population distribution and health care organisation. We do not know if these differences could have influenced the characteristics and evolution of cardiopulmonary arrest in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A secondary analysis of data from a prospective, multicenter and previously published study, analysing cardiorespiratory arrest in children was made to compare the characteristics and evolution of cardiopulmonary arrest in children depending on the region where the arrest occurred. We studied 283 children aged between 7 days and 17 years who suffered respiratory or cardiopulmonary arrest. Data were recorded according to the international Utstein style recommendations. Patients were classified according to the autonomous region where the cardiac arrest occurred: Catalonia (94 cases), Andalusia (64 cases), Madrid (61 cases) and the rest of the regions (64 patients). A statistical analysis was performed to compare the characteristics of cardiac arrest, resuscitation, evolution and survival between the four groups. RESULTS: Sixty percent of patients initially survived the cardiac arrest episode and 33% (94 patients) were still alive one year later. No significant differences in the characteristics of arrest, resuscitation and evolution were found when the autonomous regions were compared. Even though the differences were not statistically significant, there was a tendency to less than expected survival in Andalusia and higher than expected survival in Catalonia. CONCLUSIONS: There are no important differences in the characteristics of pediatric cardiopulmonary arrest, resuscitation, evolution and survival between the autonomous regions in Spain. Additional studies are needed to analyze the hypothetical influence of health care organization and life support training on survival.

[Erythropoietin treatment in critically ill children]. / Tratamiento con eritropoyetina en niños críticamente enfermos.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze whether erythropoietin treatment increases hemoglobin and decreases transfusion requirements in critically ill children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed an observational, prospective study of 23 critically ill children aged between 1 month and 6 years. Recombinant human eritropoietin (rHuEPO) was administered at a dosage of 150-750 U/kg/week over 3 days. Hemogram, reticulocyte, iron metabolism, serum ferritin and transferrin were measured before treatment started and weekly thereafter. RESULTS: After erythropoietin treatment, hematocrit, hemoglobin and red blood cells progressively increased, with a maximal response in the sixth week. At the end of treatment, hemoglobin increased 1.68 g/dl, hematocrit by 5 % and erythrocytes 600,000/ml/mm3. Transfusion requirements decreased from 59 transfusions at baseline to 12 in the first week of treatment and none from the sixth week. No treatment-related adverse effects were observed. CONCLUSION: Erythropoietin can be an effective treatment for anemia in some critically ill children, decreasing the number of transfusions and increasing hemoglobin.

[Effects of prone position, inhaled nitric oxide and surfactant in children with hypoxemic pulmonary disease]. / Efecto del óxido nítrico, la postura en prono y la administración de surfactante en niños con enfermedad pulmonar hipoxémica.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the therapeutic response to prone position, inhaled nitric oxide (NO) and surfactant in children with hypoxemic pulmonary disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied the effect of prone position, NO, and surfactant in critically ill children with acute hypoxemic pulmonary disease unresponsive to conventional therapy. We analyzed PaO2, SatO2, the PaO2/FiO2 ratio, oxygenation index and PaCO2 before and after each treatment, as well as the subsequent clinical course. An increase of more than 20 % in the PaO2/FiO2 ratio was considered a positive response. RESULTS: Ninety treatments were administered in 56 patients: 55 patients were treated with NO, 18 with prone position and 17 with surfactant. All three treatments substantially improved oxygenation. The mean increase in the PaO2/FiO2 ratio was 35 % with nitric oxide, 33 % with prone position and 50 % with surfactant. The mean decrease in oxygenation index was 22 % with nitric oxide, 24 % with prone position and 17 % with surfactant. Seventy-one percent of patients treated with NO, 61 % of patients treated with prone position, and 64 % of patients who received surfactant were responders. The three treatments produced a slight decrease in PaCO2 (2.5 mmHg with nitric oxide, 4.7 mmHg with prone position and 5.1 mmHg with surfactant). CONCLUSIONS: Inhaled NO, prone position and surfactant improve oxygenation in some children with hypoxic pulmonary disease.

[Prognostic value of the pediatric index of mortality (PIM) score and lactate values in critically-ill children]. / Valor pronóstico de la puntuación PIM (índice pediátrico de mortalidad) y del ácido láctico en niños críticamente enfermos.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze and compare the prognostic value of the pediatric index of mortality (PIM) score and lactate values on admission to a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a prospective study of 500 consecutive children: 237 girls (47.4 %) and 263 boys (52.6 %) with a mean age of 51.5 59.7 (range: 3 days-18 years) admitted to our PICU. PIM scores and blood lactate concentrations were determined on admission. The predictive ability of PIM and lactate concentrations in relation to mortality and length of stay in the PICU were analyzed. RESULTS: Thirty-six patients (7.2 %) died. According to the PIM score, the mean probability of death in children who died was 23.6 % 28.9, which was significantly higher than that in surviving children (3.4 % 7.3; p < 0.001). The area under the ROC curve for PIM was 0.81 0.03 (95 % CI: 0.74-0.89). Lactate level in nonsurvivors was 4.9 % 3.5 mmol/L, which was significantly higher than that in survivors (1.9 % 1.5 mmol/L; p < 0.001). The area under the ROC curve for blood lactate was 0.76 0.04 (95 % CI: 0.67-0.85). No statistically significant differences were found between either ROC curves. In survivors, a significant relationship was found between PIM score and length of stay in the PICU while in nonsurvivors an inverse relationship was found between blood lactate concentrations and length of stay. CONCLUSIONS: Both PIM score and blood lactate concentrations on admission to the PICU have a moderate prognostic value in critically-ill children. The prognostic value of the PIM score is greater than that of blood lactate concentration but is more difficult to obtain, whereas blood lactate determination is fast and easy.