Asking youth and adults about child maltreatment: a review of government surveys.

OBJECTIVES: In this review we: (1) identify and describe nationally representative surveys with child maltreatment (CM) questions conducted by governments in low-income, middle-income and high-income countries and (2) describe procedures implemented to address respondents' safety and minimise potential distress. DESIGN: We conducted a systematic search across eight databases from 1 January 2000 to 5 July 2021 to identify original studies with information about relevant surveys. Additional information about surveys was obtained through survey methods studies, survey reports, survey websites or by identifying full questionnaires (when available). RESULTS: Forty-six studies representing 139 surveys (98 youth and 41 adult) conducted by governments from 105 countries were identified. Surveys implemented a variety of procedures to maximise the safety and/or reduce distress for respondents including providing the option to withdraw from the survey and/or securing confidentiality and privacy for the respondent. In many surveys, further steps were taken such as providing information for support services, providing sensitivity training to survey administrators when interviews were conducted, among others. A minority of surveys took additional steps to empirically assess potential distress experienced by respondents. CONCLUSIONS: Assessing risk and protective factors and developing effective interventions and policies are essential to reduce the burden of violence against children. While asking about experiences of CM requires careful consideration, procedures to maximise the safety and minimise potential distress to respondents have been successfully implemented globally, although practices differ across surveys. Further analysis is required to assist governments to implement the best possible safety protocols to protect respondents in future surveys.

Identifying children exposed to maltreatment: a systematic review update.

BACKGROUND: Child maltreatment affects a significant number of children globally. Strategies have been developed to identify children suspected of having been exposed to maltreatment with the aim of reducing further maltreatment and impairment. This systematic review evaluates the accuracy of strategies for identifying children exposed to maltreatment. METHODS: We conducted a systematic search of seven databases: Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Cochrane Libraries, Sociological Abstracts and the Education Resources Information Center. We included studies published from 1961 to July 2, 2019 estimating the accuracy of instruments for identifying potential maltreatment of children, including neglect, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse. We extracted data about accuracy and narratively synthesised the evidence. For five studies-where the population and setting matched known prevalence estimates in an emergency department setting-we calculated false positives and negatives. We assessed risk of bias using QUADAS-2. RESULTS: We included 32 articles (representing 31 studies) that evaluated various identification strategies, including three screening tools (SPUTOVAMO checklist, Escape instrument, and a 6-item screening questionnaire for child sex trafficking). No studies evaluated the effects of identification strategies on important outcomes for children. All studies were rated as having serious risk of bias (often because of verification bias). The findings suggest that use of the SPUTOVAMO and Escape screening tools at the population level (per 100,000) would result in hundreds of children being missed and thousands of children being over identified. CONCLUSIONS: There is low to very low certainty evidence that the use of screening tools may result in high numbers of children being falsely suspected or missed. These harms may outweigh the potential benefits of using such tools in practice (PROSPERO 2016:CRD42016039659).

Primary Castleman's Disease of the Liver.

Castleman's disease is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder that may affect the liver as part of mutlicentric disease or, rarely, as unicentric hepatic disease. Primary hepatic disease is difficult to diagnose but demonstrates diffusion restriction on magnetic resonance scan and can be treated curatively with hepatic resection.

CT enterography: Mannitol versus VoLumen.

INTRODUCTION: Several different neutral oral contrast agents have been trialled in magnetic resonance and CT enterography (CTE). In the Auckland region, Mannitol 2.5% and VoLumen are both used in CTE. This study compares the performance of these two neutral oral contrast agents in CTE. METHODS: Computed tomography enterography data were collected from 25 consecutive studies that used either Mannitol or VoLumen in 2014. All images were reviewed by three radiologists blinded to the type of oral contrast. Each quadrant was assessed for maximum distension, proportion of bowel loops distended, presence of inhomogeneous content and bowel wall visibility. Assessment also included whether the contrast agent reached the caecum and an overall subjective quality assessment. Patients were invited to answer a questionnaire regarding tolerability of the preparations. RESULTS: Mannitol achieves better wall visibility in the right upper quadrant, left upper quadrant and left lower quadrant (P < 0.01). Overall differences in study quality favours Mannitol (P < 0.01) with 48% of the Mannitol studies being considered excellent compared with 4% of the VoLumen studies. There was no difference in maximal distension or proportion of loops distended. CONCLUSION: Mannitol in CTE achieves studies of a better quality than and is a viable alternative to VoLumen.

Carbon dioxide monitoring during laparoscopic-assisted bariatric surgery in severely obese patients: transcutaneous versus end-tidal techniques.

Various factors including severe obesity or increases in intra-abdominal pressure during laparoscopy can lead to inaccuracies in end-tidal carbon dioxide (PETCO2) monitoring. The current study prospectively compares ET and transcutaneous (TC) CO2 monitoring in severely obese adolescents and young adults during laparoscopic-assisted bariatric surgery. Carbon dioxide was measured with both ET and TC devices during insufflation and laparoscopic bariatric surgery. The differences between each measure (PETCO2 and TC-CO2) and the PaCO2 were compared using a non-paired t test, Fisher's exact test, and a Bland-Altman analysis. The study cohort included 25 adolescents with a mean body mass index of 50.2 kg/m2 undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery. There was no difference in the absolute difference between the TC-CO2 and PaCO2 (3.2±3.0 mmHg) and the absolute difference between the PETCO2 and PaCO2 (3.7±2.5 mmHg). The bias and precision were 0.3 and 4.3 mmHg for TC monitoring versus PaCO2 and 3.2 and 3.2 mmHg for ET monitoring versus PaCO2. In the young severely obese population both TC and PETCO2 monitoring can be used to effectively estimate PaCO2. The correlation of PaCO2 to TC-CO2 is good, and similar to the correlation of PaCO2 to PETCO2. In this population, both of these non-invasive measures of PaCO2 can be used to monitor ventilation and minimize arterial blood gas sampling.

Ventilation during laparoscopic-assisted bariatric surgery: volume-controlled, pressure-controlled or volume-guaranteed pressure-regulated modes.

INTRODUCTION: Managing ventilation and oxygenation during laparoscopic procedures in severely obese patients undergoing weight loss surgery presents many challenges. Pressure-controlled ventilation, volume-guaranteed (PCV-VG) is a dual-control mode of ventilation and an alternative to pressure (PC) or volume (VC) controlled ventilation. PCV-VG features a user-selected tidal volume target, that is auto-regulated and pressure controlled. We hypothesized that PCV-VG ventilation would provide improved oxygenation and ventilation during laparoscopic bariatric surgery with a lower peak inflating pressure (PIP) than either PC or VC ventilation. METHODS: This was a prospective cross-over cohort trial (n = 20). In random sequence each patient received the three modes of ventilation for 20 minutes during the laparoscopic portion of the procedure. For all modes of ventilation the goal tidal volume was 6-8 mL/kg, and the respiratory rate was adjusted to achieve normocarbia. The PIP, exhaled tidal volume, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation were recorded every five minutes. At the end of 20 minutes, an arterial blood gas was obtained. Data were analyzed using a paired t-test. RESULTS: PCV-VG and PC ventilation both resulted in significantly lower PIP (cmH2O) than VC ventilation (30.5 ± 3.0, 31.6 ± 4.9, and 36.3 ± 3.4 mmHg respectively; p < 0.01 for PCV-VG vs. VC and PC vs. VC). There was no difference in oxygenation (PaO2), ventilation (PaCO2) or hemodynamic variables between the three ventilation modes. CONCLUSIONS: In adolescents and young adults undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery, PCV-VG and PC were superior to VC ventilation in their ability to provide ventilation with the lowest PIP.

Accuracy of the CNAP™ monitor, a noninvasive continuous blood pressure device, in providing beat-to-beat blood pressure measurements during bariatric surgery in severely obese adolescents and young adults.

BACKGROUND: During perioperative care, the continuous measurement of blood pressure (BP) provides superior physiological monitoring compared to intermittent techniques, especially for patients with comorbid conditions such as severe obesity. The current study prospectively assesses the accuracy of a continuous, noninvasive BP device in severely obese adolescents and young adults. METHODS: The technology evaluated was the CNAP Monitor 500, developed by CNSystems AG (Graz, Austria). The study cohort was composed of severely obese adolescents (body mass index ≥ 35 kg/m(2)) undergoing a surgical weight loss procedure (robotically assisted or laparoscopic vertical sleeve gastrectomy or laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass). Systolic (sBP), diastolic (dBP), and mean arterial (MAP) blood pressure readings were captured from an intraoperatively placed radial arterial cannula (AC) and the CNAP device at regular intervals (once per minute) during anesthetic care. RESULTS: The study cohort consisted of 18 severely obese subjects undergoing weight loss surgery. A total of 2,159 pairs each of sBP, dBP, and MAP values obtained. The correlation coefficient between the AC and the CNAP device was 0.655, 0.667, and 0.783 for the sBP, dBP, and MAP, respectively. The CNAP values (sBP, dBP, MAP) were ≤5 mmHg from the AC values in 33, 40, and 41% of the values, respectively. The difference was more than 10 mmHg (sBP, dBP, MAP) in 39, 28, and 25% of the values, respectively. Using a Bland-Altman analysis, the precision and bias for the sBP, dBP, and MAP were 0.3 ± 14.2, -1.3 ± 9.5, and -0.6 ± 8.6 mmHg, respectively. CONCLUSION: When compared to previous studies in the adult population, the accuracy of the CNAP device in a cohort of severely obese adolescents undergoing weight loss surgery was slightly less than previously reported. The current data demonstrate a clinically useful trend of the CNAP device with arterial values in this challenging patient population in whom an arterial cannula may at times be difficult.

Dexmedetomidine as the primary anesthetic agent during cardiac surgery in an infant with a family history of malignant hyperthermia.

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is an acute hypermetabolic crisis triggered in susceptible patients by the administration of succinylcholine or a volatile anesthetic agent. When providing anesthetic care for MH-susceptible agents, a total intravenous anesthetic (TIVA) technique is frequently chosen. When choosing the components for TIVA, several options exist including the combination of propofol or dexmedetomidine with an opioid. We present our experience with the use of dexmedetomidine as a key component of the anesthetic regimen in a 5-month-old infant with a family history of MH. Previous reports of the use of dexmedetomidine in MH-susceptible patients are reviewed and its benefits in such patients discussed.

Long-term stability of lip bumper therapy followed by fixed appliances.

Lip bumper treatment has been shown to successfully increase arch width, procline the incisors, and distalize molars. However, few studies have been performed showing the long-term stability of lip bumper treatment. In this study, mandibular casts taken by a single practitioner from 51 patients treated with lip bumpers without rapid palatal expansion were analyzed at pretreatment, post-lip bumper treatment, posttreatment, and long-term out of treatment. Measurements of arch width, arch depth, arch length, and anterior crowding were made. During treatment, there was a mean decrease in irregularity of 3.73 mm, with a posttreatment increase of 0.76 mm, for a net decrease of 2.97 mm. Despite posttreatment decreases, significant gains in arch width were maintained for extended periods of time. The intercanine width had a net increase of 1.78 mm (19% relapse), first premolars 3.39 mm (26% relapse), second premolars 2.58 mm (34% relapse), and first molars 2.17 mm (20% relapse). Lip bumper treatment along with fixed appliances is an effective means to obtain long-term increases in arch width and decreases in the irregularity index.