Epidemiology of Pediatric Critical Illness in a Population-Based Birth Cohort in Olmsted County, MN.

OBJECTIVES: Investigations of pediatric critical illness typically focus on inpatient cohorts drawn from wide referral areas and diverse healthcare systems. Cohorts amenable to investigating the full spectrum of critical illness as it develops within a community have yet to be studied in the United States. Our objective was to provide the first epidemiologic report of the incidence and presentation of pediatric critical illness within a U.S. population-based birth cohort. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: A geographically defined community (Olmsted, MN) with medical record linkage across all health systems. All ICU services are provided within a single children's hospital. PATIENTS: A birth cohort of children (n =9,441) born 2003-2007 in Olmsted County, MN. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: During the study period, there were a total of 15,277 ICU admissions to Mayo Clinic Children's Hospital. A total of 577 birth cohort children accounted for 824 of these admissions during the 61,770 person-years of follow-up accumulated. Incidence of first-time ICU admission was 9.3 admits per 1,000 person-years. Admission rates were highest in the first year of life and then declined steadily. Respiratory problems were among the most common reasons for admission at any age and diagnoses reflect changes in health risk factors as children grow and develop over time. After 1 year old, a majority of children admitted have preexisting chronic comorbidities and/or prior ICU stays. In-hospital mortality occurred exclusively in children admitted prior to 5 days of age (n = 4). Seven children died after hospital discharge. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report characterizing critical illness within a population-based birth cohort of U.S. children. The results demonstrate the changing incidence, presentation, and healthcare requirements associated with critical illness across the developmental spectrum as a population of children ages.

Evaluation of the Mayo Clinic Phenotype-Based Genotype Predictor Score in Patients with Clinically Diagnosed Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Genetic testing for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) can provide an important clinical marker for disease outcome and family screening. This study set out to validate our recently developed phenotype-based HCM genotype predictor score. Patients clinically diagnosed with HCM and evaluated by genetic counselors comprised the study cohort. Genotype score was derived based on clinical and echocardiographic variables. Total score was correlated with the yield of genetic testing. Of 564 HCM patients, 198 sought genetic testing (35 %; 55 % male; mean age at diagnosis, 50 ± 20 years). Of these, 101 patients (51 %) were genotype positive for a HCM-associated genetic mutation (55 % male; mean age at diagnosis, 42 ± 18 years). Cochran-Armitage analysis showed similar, statistically significant trends of increased yields for higher genotype scores for both the original and study cohort. Validated by the current study, this scoring system provides an easy-to-use, clinical tool to aid in determining the likelihood of a positive HCM genetic test.

Topical amitriptyline combined with ketamine for the treatment of erythromelalgia: a retrospective study of 36 patients at Mayo Clinic.

BACKGROUND: Erythromelalgia is an uncommon neurovascular disorder characterized by redness, increased skin temperature, and pain that usually occurs in the extremities. Treatment remains challenging because of its varying response to medical therapy. The objective of this study was to assess the response of erythromelalgia to compounded topical amitriptyline-ketamine. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 36 patients with erythromelalgia who were treated with compounded topical amitriptyline-ketamine from January 1, 2004, through January 31, 2011. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients (89%) were female. Mean (standard deviation) age was 44.7 (15.8) years (range, 5-74 years). Patients applied the medication 1 to 6 times per day (median, 5 times). One patient (3%) had complete relief from symptoms, 14 (39%) had substantial relief, 12 (33%) had some relief, 7 (19%) had no relief, and 2 (6%) had local worsening of symptoms. No patients had systemic adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: A majority of patients with erythromelalgia (75%) reported improvement in pain with topical application of a compounded amitriptyline-ketamine formulation. The medication was well tolerated.

Topical amitriptyline-ketamine for treatment of rectal, genital, and perineal pain and discomfort.

BACKGROUND: Pain in the rectal, genital, and perineal area is a common condition treated by pain physicians. These chronic pain syndromes are therapeutically challenging because both interventional and drug therapies often are ineffective. OBJECTIVES: To determine if pelvic pain can be treated effectively with compounded topical amitriptyline-ketamine. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of medical records. SETTING: A single academic medical center in the United States. METHODS: We identified all patients treated with topical amitriptyline-ketamine from January 1, 2004, through November 28, 2011. Medical records were evaluated to determine the diagnosis for which the medication was prescribed. Treatment efficacy and any adverse effects were recorded. RESULTS: Of the 1,068 patients who received amitriptyline-ketamine, 13 had the medication prescribed for genital, rectal, or perineal pain and had medication efficacy recorded. Of these 13 patients, one (8%) had complete relief, 6 (46%) had substantial relief, 4 (31%) had some relief, and 2 (15%) had no response. One patient reported occasional irritation while using topical amitriptyline-ketamine with lidocaine; no other patients reported local or systemic adverse effects. LIMITATIONS: Retrospective review; lack of uniform system for pain grading; concurrent use of other medications. CONCLUSIONS: Topical amitriptyline-ketamine provided a high rate of pain relief with a low adverse-effect burden in patients with pelvic pain. This topical medication could offer an effective, noninvasive, nonopioid therapy for pain in the rectum, perineum, and genitals.