[Care of the critically ill child with heart disease in Spain]. / La asistencia al niño crítico con cardiopatía en España.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of the present study is to present the organization of the resources of paediatric cardiac critical care in Spain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data were collected through questionnaires sent by e-mail to Spanish PICUs. RESULTS: 22 PICUs were enrolled. The median number of beds were 9.5 (4-18 beds). Total cardiac admissions represented a 20 % of total PICUs admissions per year, firstly for congenital heart defects, and secondly for respiratory problems. Cardiac surgical activities were carried out in 16 centres, centralized in PICU in 10 cases. Mechanical support of the myocardium was performed in 7 PICUs. A total of 10 participating PICUs considered echocardiograph training necessary and also an increase in the amount of activity for better results. CONCLUSIONS: Paediatric cardiac critical care involves a significant use of resources, including PICUs with no surgical activity. This study is useful for detecting common problems and for improving clinical care.

[Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine failure in HIV-infected child. Clinical case]. / Fallo de la vacuna antineumocócica conjugada en un niño VIH positivo. A propósito de un caso.

Despite appropriate antimicrobial therapy and vaccination, invasive pneumococcal infections remain associated with significant mortality, especially in selected high-risk groups (asplenic, humoral immunity deficient patients, etc.). We present a 13-year-old caucasian boy with HIV infection (vertical transmission). He received treatment with highly-active antiretroviral therapy (amprenavir, lamivudine and zidovudine) and vaccination with 23-valent vaccine (6 years old) and 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (10 years old). His CD4 count and his viral load at these times were 2,063/microl and 13461 cop/ml, when he was 6 years old and 1,315/microl and 32400 cop/ml when he was 10 years old, respectively. The latest CD4 count (1,000/microl) and his viral load (3800 cop/ml) confirmed satisfactory control of the disease. He was referred to our emergency department presenting with fever, head and stomach-ache and vomiting. In the following hours his condition continued to deteriorate and depressed level of consciousness and meningismus were observed. Streptococcus pneumoniae, serotype 18 C, was detected in blood and cerebrospinal fluid cultures. Despite appropriate treatment with antibiotics (cefotaxime and vancomycin) and anti-oedema medications, brain-death was confirmed 24 hours after his admittance.

[Diabetic ketoacidosis and coma. Insulin perfusion (author's transl)]. / Cetoacidosis y coma diabético. Tratamiento con perfusión contínua de bajas dosis de insulina y actualización terapéutica.

Ten cases of diabetic ketoacidosis treated by low-dose insulin continuous perfusion are reported. The severe period therapeutic guide is exposed in two stages showing the form of correction of the most important ketoacidosis. Insulin doses have been, initially, 0.1 U./Kg. in a bolus, followed by 0.1-0.01 U./Kg./h. till acidosis and dehydration are corrected. Evolution of every case was good, without any important complication. Advantages of this therapeutic modality are appointed: an easy treatment management, lesser glycaemia oscillations and lesser complications than using the conventional method of intermittent high doses. In order to overcome, the acidosis and hyperglicaemia resistance found in some of the severest cases, authors suggest to increase the dose of perfused insulin as well as hydration, Finally, the importance of control and patient care is stressed, recommending their admission to a Paediatric Intensive Care unit.

[Intrauterine renal vein thrombosis (author's transl)]. / Trombósis venosa renal intrauterina.

One case of renal venous thrombosis in a male foetus, born of a diabetic mother is reported. The intrauterine origin and the long age of the thrombosis were confirmed by pathologic studies. Some speculation about the etiopathogenic mechanisms of intrauterine renal venous thrombosis are made.

[Fisher's index as indicator of severity and its course in the postoperative period following liver transplantation in children]. / Indice de Fisher como indicador de gravedad y su evolución en el postoperatorio inmediato del trasplante hepático en niños.

OBJECTIVES: To study the evolution of Fisher index during the early postoperative period after liver transplantation in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We have studied 32 liver transplants performed on 26 pediatric patients, during the first week of the post-operative period. In all cases the BCAA/AAA quotient was determined before transplant, at the time of PICU admission, and on days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 after transplant. RESULTS: Compared to control group values, the Fisher index for these patients is significantly lower at pre-transplant (p < 0,0001), upon admission (p < 0,001), and days 1 (p < 0,0001), 2 (p < 0,0001) and 3 (p < 0, 0001). Comparison between non-survivors and survivors shows a significant reduction in the first group on the index in days 1 (p < 0,02), 3 (p < 0,02), 4 (p < 0,005), 5 (p < 0,002), 6 (p < 0,03) and 7 (p < 0,01) of post-transplant. CONCLUSIONS: The evolution of the Fisher index can be useful as an indication of the severity of the condition of these kinds of patients, which would help to establish more aggressive treatment to improve prognosis.

[Desquamative interstitial pneumonia]. / Neumonía intersticial descamativa.

Authors describe a case of desquamative interstitial pneumonia in a seven month old boy. Initial manifestations were anorexia, feeding difficulties, retarded ponderal and progressive respiratory distress. Pathologic diagnosis was performed by open pulmonary biopsy. He was treated with steroids and followed a severe clinical course dying at 9 months of age. Etiopathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment as well as cases published in pediatric literature are reviewed.