Adverse events related to central venous catheters (CVC) and the influence of CVC characteristics on peripheral blood hematopoietic progenitor cell collection in children.

Introduction: The use of peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPCs) as a source for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in pediatric healthy donors is still under debate. The risk of a central venous catheter (CVC) placement and catheter-related complications continue to be the main arguments to discourage its use. Methods: we present a retrospective analysis of 140 PBPC collections in pediatric patients and donors, describing adverse events (AE) related to CVCs as well as the influence of catheterrelated variables on the efficiency of the leukapheresis. Results: 14 CVC-related AEs were recorded (10%). The most common was fever in 5 patients, 4 of which had a catheter-related bacteriemia. Thrombotic events were only observed in 3 patients with active malignancy. A healthy donor presented a moderate bleeding after catheter withdrawal that resolved with local measures, and none of the rest presented any AE. Regarding variables related to the development of AEs, the subject group (patient or donor) was the only one significantly associated (p < 0.0001). Of interest, efficiency was also related to catheter location, being worse in those located in the femoral vein than in into the jugular or the subclavian veins (p < 0.05). In a multivariate analysis, the only variable significantly associated was catheter size (beta 0.238, p < 0.01). Discussion: Placing a CVC for PBPC collection in pediatric subjects is overall safe; CVC-related complications in pediatric healthy donors are very rare. Furthermore, we should try to place catheters of the largest caliber possible, since the efficiency of the collection is related to this variable.

Cerebral salt wasting syndrome in children with acute central nervous system injury.

The purpose of this investigation was to describe the causes, clinical pattern, and treatment of cerebral salt wasting syndrome in children with acute central nervous system injury. This retrospective study focused on patients120 mEq/L), and volume depletion. Fourteen patients were identified with cerebral salt wasting syndrome, 12 after a neurosurgical procedure (8 brain tumor, 4 hydrocephalus) and 2 after severe brain trauma. In 11 patients the cerebral salt wasting syndrome was diagnosed during the first 48 hours of admission. Prevalence of cerebral salt wasting syndrome in neurosurgical children was 11.3/1000 surgical procedures. The minimum sodium was 122+/-7 mEq/L, the maximum urine osmolarity 644+/-59 mOsm/kgH2O. The maximum sodium supply was 1 mEq/kg/h (range, 0.1-2.4). The mean duration of cerebral salt wasting syndrome was 6+/-5 days (range 1-9). In conclusion, cerebral salt wasting syndrome can complicate the postoperative course of children with brain injury; it is frequently present after surgery for brain tumors and hydrocephalus and in patients with severe head trauma. Close monitoring of salt and fluid balance is essential to prevent severe neurologic and hemodynamic complications.

Serum procalcitonin in children with suspected sepsis: a comparison with C-reactive protein and neutrophil count.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the specific characteristics of serum procalcitonin in children with severe infection, to identify relevant factors influencing procalcitonin increase, to assess its prognostic value, and to compare it with C-reactive protein and neutrophil count DESIGN: A prospective observational study and 48 hrs of follow-up of a cohort of cases. SETTING: A pediatric intensive care unit within a children's university hospital in collaboration with a laboratory mainly involved in research in pediatric clinical immunology. PATIENTS: A total of 80 children (median age, 3.1 yrs; range, 1 month to 16 yrs) admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit by suspicion of sepsis. INTERVENTIONS: All patients were treated according to a protocol using antibiotics, fluid resuscitation, inotropic drugs, and mechanical ventilation when they presented with shock or respiratory failure. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Serum procalcitonin and C-reactive protein were measured at admission in all patients and, when possible, repeated 6,12, 24, and 48 hrs later. In most cases, serum procalcitonin was already very high at onset (range, 1.0-722 ng/mL), and it did not increase significantly afterward. Contrary to C-reactive protein, serum procalcitonin did not vary according to the age of patients. The increase of procalcitonin was higher in patients with shock or multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, having a high severity score (Pediatric Risk of Mortality) or in patients who later died. CONCLUSIONS: Serum procalcitonin levels show a rapid increase in children with sepsis, even in infants < 12 month old, and they have a better prognostic value than C-reactive protein or neutrophil count.