Toxic Shock Syndrome: Eighteen Years of Experience in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Introduction Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a life-threatening disease usually caused by a Staphylococcus aureus or group Aß-hemolytic Streptococcus infection. Methods In this retrospective study, we included patients with TSS admitted to a tertiary hospital's pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) over the last 18 years. We compared the staphylococcal TSS (Staph-TSS) and streptococcal TSS (Strep-TSS) groups. Results We included 17 patients (64.7% male), with a median age of 6.1 years (3.0 years for streptococcal TSS versus 13.3 years for staphylococcal TSS, p = 0.040), a median of 3.0 days from symptom onset to diagnosis, and a median of 6.0 days of hospitalization. Ten patients met the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria for staphylococcal TSS (one menstrual-related) and seven met the criteria for streptococcal TSS (four of them occurring since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared). Fifteen patients had identified risk factors, primarily cutaneous lesions (29.4%). In 15 patients, at least three organs or systems were affected, with fever, rash, and hypotension as universal findings. Mucous membrane hyperemia was present in 16 patients, gastrointestinal symptoms in 14 patients, and desquamation in nine. Muscular involvement was present in seven patients, all with staphylococcal TSS (p = 0.010). All patients received two or more antibiotics, including a protein synthesis inhibitor (except for one), and required fluid resuscitation and vasoactive amines (median three days). Six patients needed invasive mechanical ventilation (median seven days). Albumin infusion was necessary in six patients, significantly more frequently in patients with streptococcal TSS (p = 0.035). Two patients with staphylococcal TSS died, while the seven patients with streptococcal TSS survived hospital discharge. There were no recurrent cases. Conclusions Our study revealed TSS severity and multiorgan involvement, emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis and intervention. Risk factors were prevalent, and we noted an increased frequency of group A streptococcal (GAS) TSS post-COVID-19 pandemic.

Acute Fulminant Cerebral Edema in a Child With Suspected Meningoencephalitis.

Acute fulminant cerebral edema (AFCE) is a recently identified encephalitis type associated with significant morbimortality. Described as rare, limited data exists on its early detection and treatment. This paper describes a case of AFCE that progressed to unresponsive intracranial hypertension. A previously healthy four-year-old boy presented with fever, myalgias, and neurological symptoms. Diagnostic assessments showed cerebrospinal fluid abnormalities, and despite medical interventions, his condition deteriorated rapidly and developed severe cerebral edema and herniation within 24 hours. A decompressive craniectomy was attempted to decrease intracranial pressure, without success. This case emphasizes the urgency of early AFCE recognition and effective management strategies given its severe prognosis, aiming to improve understanding and spur further research.

Renal Transplant in Pediatric Patients With Congenital Abnormalities of the Lower Urinary Tract.

OBJECTIVES: Congenital abnormalities of the lower urinary tract can result in end-stage renal disease and are responsible for a significant number of renal transplants. Management of these patients is not always consensual, and more evidence is required about the frequency of associated complications. Our aim was to report the experience of a Pediatric Renal Transplant Unit with renal transplant in pediatric patients with congenital abnormalities of the lower urinary tract. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data on renal transplants performed in pediatric patients with congenital abnormalities of the lower urinary tract between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2019, in this center were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Fifty-three pediatric renal transplants were performed in the institution during the considered time period. Of these, 26 transplants were performed in 24 patients with congenital abnormalities of the lower urinary tract, and 14 were male. The median age at the time of renal transplant was 10.5 years (interquartile range, 5.25-15 years), and the most frequent diagnoses were neurogenic bladder (n = 7; 29%) and posterior urethral valve (n = 7; 29%). Three patients (13%) underwent preemptive renal transplant, 15 were on peritoneal dialysis (63%), and 6 were on hemodialysis (25%). A total of 81 pyelonephritides were diagnosed in the 24 patients, mostly attributed to Escherichia coli, followed by Klebsiella pneumonia. The median follow-up was 92.5 months (interquartile range, 52.3-114 months). For patients with congenital abnormalities of the lower urinary tract, graft survival was 92.3% at 1, 5, and 10 years, with no deaths reported. CONCLUSIONS: Renal transplant is the treatment of choice for pediatric patients with end-stage renal disease. The procedure does not seem to be associated with worse patient outcomes. Additionally, despite the significant number of pyelonephritides cases, it does not seem to result in decreased graft or patient survival.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: The First 10 Years Experience of a Portuguese Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

INTRODUCTION: In Portugal, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is used in pediatric patients since 2010. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics of patients, indications, complications and mortality associated with the use of ECMO during the first 10-years of experience in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit located in Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective observational cohort study of all patients supported with ECMO in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, from the 1st of May 2010 up to 31st December 2019. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients were included: 37 neonatal (≤ 28 days of age) and 28 pediatric patients (> 28 days). In neonatal cases, congenital diaphragmatic hernia was the main reason for ECMO (40% of neonatal patients and 23% of total). Among pediatric patients, respiratory distress was the leading indication for ECMO (47% of total). The median length of ECMO support was 12 days. Clinical complications were more frequent than mechanical complications (65% vs 35%). Among clinical complications, access site bleeding was the most prevalent with 38% of cases. The overall patient survival was 68% at the time of discharge (65% for neonatal and 71% for pediatric cases), while the overall survival rate in Extracorporeal Life Support Organization registry was 61%. The number of ECMO runs has been increasing since 2011, even though in a non-linear way (three cases in 2010 to 11 cases in 2019). DISCUSSION: In the first 10 years we received patients from all over the country. Despite continuous technological developments, circuitrelated complications have a significant impact. The overall survival rate in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit was not inferior to the one reported by the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization. CONCLUSION: The overall survival of our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit is not inferior to one reported by other international centers. Our experience showed the efficacy of the ECMO technique in a Portuguese centre.

Introdução: Em Portugal, a oxigenação por membrana extracorporal (ECMO) é utilizado em doentes pediátricos de forma consistente desde 2010. O nosso objetivo é descrever as características clínicas, indicações, complicações e sobrevivência associadas à utilização da ECMO nos primeiros 10 anos de experiência na nossa unidade. Material e Métodos: Estudo de coorte retrospetivo dos doentes tratados com ECMO na Unidade de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos do Hospital de Santa Maria, de 1 de maio de 2010 a 31 de dezembro de 2019. Resultados: Foram incluídos 65 doentes: 37 neonatais (≤ 28 dias de idade) e 28 pediátricos (> 28 dias). Nos neonatais, a hérnia diafragmática congénita foi a principal indicação (40% dos recém-nascidos e 23% do total). Relativamente aos doentes pediátricos, a insuficiência respiratória constituiu a principal indicação para ECMO (47% do total). A mediana de duração da técnica foi de 12 dias. As complicações clínicas foram mais frequentes do que as mecânicas (65% vs 35%). Entre as complicações clínicas, a hemorragia no local de acesso foi a mais frequente (38% dos casos). A sobrevivência global do total da amostra foi de 68% no momento da alta (65% nos neonatais e 71% nos pediátricos), enquanto que a sobrevivência descrita no registo da Extracorporeal Life Support Organization é de 61%. O número de casos de utilização de ECMO tem vindo a aumentar desde 2011, embora de forma não linear (três casos em 2010 para 11 casos em 2019). Discussão: Nos primeiros 10 anos de experiência em ECMO na Unidade de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos recebemos doentes oriundos de várias partes do país. Apesar da evolução tecnológica contínua, as complicações relacionadas com o circuito têm um impacto significativo. A taxa de sobrevida global no nosso centro não foi inferior à reportada no relatório da Extracorporeal Life Support Organization. Conclusão: A sobrevida global na Unidade de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos não é inferior à descrita no registo internacional. A nossa experiência demonstra a eficácia da ECMO num centro Português.

Use of recombinant human deoxyribonuclease in pediatric intensive care unit - a single-center experience.

OBJECTIVE: Dornase alfa (rhDNase) reduces the viscosity of purulent sputum in the lungs. The use in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) is proven. However, the evidence of its applicability to other conditions is limited. This study aims to present the authors' experience with the use of rhDNase in non-CF patients admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). At the study center, rhDNase was used during flexible bronchoscopies in 24 cases, of which 20 (83%) had atelectasis and seven (29%) were admitted to PICU. Four patients (57%) were on invasive mechanical ventilation (MV). CASE DESCRIPTION: Two cases of daily rhDNase administration at PICU are presented: patient A was an 8-year-old boy admitted with septic shock and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The patient required mechanical ventilation with aggressive settings and experienced several clinical complications. On D50, he started rhDNase treatment with an improvement in FiO2, PaCO2 and PaO2/FiO2 ratio according to radiologic findings. He was extubated on D23 of treatment.Patient B was a 17-month-old girl admitted with a convulsive status epilepticus who experienced respiratory complications (infectious and barotrauma) with ARDS, requiring aggressive ventilation. She initiated rhDNase treatment on D60. During the treatment an improvement in FiO2, PaO2/FiO2 ratio and a tendency of PaCO2 decrease were found. She had radiological improvement. No complications were described. COMMENTS: RhDNase may be a helpful and safe tool to use in PICU prolonged intubated patients with ventilator-induced lung injury. Further studies are needed to assess and propose valid indications.

[Erratum to "Translation and Validation of the FOUR Scale for Children and its Use as Outcome Predictor: A Pilot Study"]. / Errata a "Tradução e Validação da Escala FOUR para a Pediatria e o seu Uso Como Indicador Prognóstico: Um Estudo Piloto".

The article "Translation and Validation of the FOUR Scale for Children and its Use as Outcome Predictor: A Pilot Study", published by Acta Médica Portuguesa on September 2017 [Acta Med Port 2017 Sep;30(9):599-607] exhibited the mistake detailed here below: On page 600, paragrapah 4, where it reads: "(...) only the last two are assessed by the GCS and depth of coma may not be accurately detected.4" It should read: "(…) GCS does not include important indicators for an adequate evaluation of coma severity, that is, it only evaluates the cortical function, not including brainstem function evaluation parameters such as respiratory pattern, pupil size and reflexes, nor eye movements; as such it may not detect the coma depth properly.4" Article published with the error: https://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/8052.

O artigo "Tradução e Validação da Escala FOUR para a Pediatria e o seu Uso Como Indicador Prognóstico: Um Estudo Piloto", publicado na edição da Acta Médica Portuguesa de Setembro de 2017 [Acta Med Port 2017 Sep;30(9):599-607] incluía o erro que passamos a descrever: Na página 600, parágrafo 4, onde se lê: "Porém, a GCS avalia apenas os dois últimos, podendo não detetar devidamente a profundidade do coma.4" Deverá ler-se: "A GCS não inclui indicadores importantes para uma avaliação adequada da gravidade do coma, isto é, avalia apenas a função cortical, não incluindo parâmetros da avaliação da função do tronco cerebral, tais como o padrão respiratório, o tamanho e os reflexos pupilares e os movimentos oculares, podendo não detetar devidamente a profundidade do coma. 4" Artigo publicado com erro: https://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/8052.

[Translation and Validation of the FOUR Scale for Children and its Use as Outcome Predictor: A Pilot Study]. / Tradução e Validação da Escala FOUR para a Pediatria e o seu Uso Como Indicador Prognóstico: Um Estudo Piloto.

INTRODUCTION: The Full Outline of UnResponsiveness - FOUR scale has been previously validated to assess impaired consciousness in the adult population. The aim of this study is the translation into Portuguese and validation of the FOUR scale in the pediatric population. The study also compares the FOUR scale and Glasgow coma scale score ratings and the clinical outcome of patients hospitalized in Pediatric Intensive Care Units. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study prospectively rated patients admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Units with impaired consciousness during one year. Both scales were applied daily to patients by three types of examiners: intensivists, residents and nurses, from the moment of admission until clinical discharge. Neurological sequelae was evaluated using the King's Outcome Scale for Childhood Head Injury - KOSCHI. RESULTS: Twenty seven patients between one and 17 years of age were included. Both scales are reliable and inter-rater reliability was greater for the FOUR score. Glasgow coma scale showed a minimum score in eight evaluations, whereas the FOUR scale obtained the minimum score in only two of these evaluations. In both scales there was a strong association between the admission score and the patient's outcome (area under curve FOUR = 0.939, versus Glasgow coma scale = 0.925). DISCUSSION: The FOUR scale provides more neurological information than Glasgow coma scale in patients with impaired consciousness and has prognostic interest. CONCLUSION: The FOUR scale can be applied in patients admitted with impaired consciousness in Pediatric Intensive Care Units. We think that a multicenter study would be very beneficial for confirming and generalizing these results.

Introdução: A escala FOUR - Full Outline of UnResponsiveness, já validada na população adulta, avalia a depressão do estado de consciência. O objetivo deste estudo consiste na tradução para português e validação da escala FOUR na população pediátrica, assim como na comparação da pontuação obtida e da evolução clínica dos doentes entre a escala FOUR e a escala de coma de Glasgow, nos doentes internados numa unidade de cuidados intensivos pediátricos. Material e Métodos: Estudo observacional prospetivo, envolvendo os doentes internados na unidade de cuidados intensivos pediátricos com depressão do estado de consciência, durante um ano. Ambas as escalas foram aplicadas diariamente aos doentes, por três avaliadores (médicos especialistas, médicos internos e enfermeiros), desde a admissão até à alta clínica, e as sequelas neurológicas foram avaliadas através da escala King's Outcome Scale for Childhood Head Injury - KOSCHI. Resultados: Foram incluídos 27 doentes com idades compreendidas entre um e 17 anos. Ambas as escalas são fiáveis e a concordância inter-avaliador foi superior na escala FOUR. A escala de coma de Glasgow apresentou pontuação mínima em oito avaliações. No entanto, a escala FOUR apresentou o score mínimo em apenas duas dessas avaliações. Em ambas as escalas verificou-se uma forte associação entre o valor obtido à entrada e a evolução clínica do doente (escala FOUR: área sob a curva =0,939; escala de coma de Glasgow: área sob a curva = 0,925). Discussão: A escala FOUR fornece mais informação sobre o estado neurológico dos doentes do que a escala de coma de Glasgow e tem interesse prognóstico. Conclusão: A escala FOUR pode ser aplicada nos doentes internados com depressão do estado de consciência na unidade de cuidados intensivos pediátricos. Consideramos que um estudo multicêntrico seria importante para confirmar estes resultados.