Age and weight considerations for the use of continuous positive airway pressure therapy in pediatric populations: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine position statement.

This position statement provides guidance for age and weight considerations for using continuous positive airway pressure therapy in pediatric populations. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine commissioned a task force of experts in pediatric sleep medicine to review the medical literature and develop a position statement based on a thorough review of these studies and their clinical expertise. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine Board of Directors approved the final position statement. It is the position of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine that continuous positive airway pressure can be safe and effective for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea for pediatric patients, even in children of younger ages and lower weights, when managed by a clinician with expertise in evaluating and treating pediatric obstructive sleep apnea. The clinician must make the ultimate judgment regarding any specific care in light of the individual circumstances presented by the patient, accessible treatment options, patient/parental preference, and resources. CITATION: Amos L, Afolabi-Brown O, Gault D, et al. Age and weight considerations for the use of continuous positive airway pressure therapy in pediatric populations: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine position statement. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022;18(8):2041-2043.

Endobronchial Glomus Tumor in a Child.

Glomus tumors (GTs) are rare, usually benign, mesenchymal neoplasms typically located in the cutaneous tissues of the extremities. Visceral locations have been reported in ∼5% of cases. The average age at diagnosis is 42 years. GTs originating in the respiratory tract of pediatric patients are exceedingly rare. We report a 16-year-old male with a GT of the right lower lobe bronchus.

Disclosure of Misattributed Paternity.

One of the most common dilemmas faced by physicians and genetic counselors is the discovery of misattributed paternity. In this article, we present a case in which misattributed paternity was discovered as an incidental finding. Experts analyze the competing moral obligations that might dictate disclosure or nondisclosure.

Retrospective study of the incidence of unstable and shock patients presenting to the emergency room.

BACKGROUND: Over a period of three decades, medical personnel working in our emergency room observed that fewer severe cases presented to the emergency department. The objective of this study is to assess whether a genuine change in the presentation rates of clinically unstable non-trauma patients to the emergency room indeed exists. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of patients treated in the shock room. Patients' demographic data, diagnoses and outcomes were accessed. Populations of patients presenting to the shock room over a span of four seasons, in two separate periods eight years apart were compared. This rate was compared with the complementary bulk rate of patients presenting to the emergency room at the center. RESULTS: While absolute rates of emergency room utilization rose, the rate of unstable patients demanding urgent intensive care showed a clear decline. An absolute reduction of close to 50% across the different seasons of the examined years was found. Per patient, the proportion of those requiring artificial respiration and urgent hemodialysis remained uniform in both periods. All parameters of patient outcomes were similar in both periods of the study. CONCLUSION: This unexplored aspect of emergency care demonstrates a dramatic decline in the incidence of unstable patients. While we should continue to reinforce delivery of superior care, our medical educational system should adapt itself to compensate for the diminished exposure of our trainees to emergencies. Further research in this field should explore whether the trend we observed exists in other geographical locations and whether this parameter can be utilized as a quality measure of medical systems.