Elevated plasma homocysteine concentrations after pediatric heart transplantations.

Graft coronary artery vasculopathy is the main cause of late morbidity and mortality in cardiac allograft recipients. A high plasma homocysteine (hcy) concentration is now generally accepted as a risk factor for coronary arteriosclerosis, but little information exists for the pediatric age group. We therefore explored the potential role of hcy and antioxidants in 31 pediatric allograft recipients. We found hcy concentrations to be significantly higher in recipients than in control. Hcy continued to rise within the first 2 postoperative years. Vitamin A and E concentrations were significantly lower in transplant patients. Hyperhomocysteinemia was significantly more common in patients with complications than in those without. Our findings suggest that pediatric allograft recipients experience oxidant stress, as highlighted by the high plasma levels of Hcy and the low concentrations of vitamins A and E. Nutritional supplementation may be indicated to lower plasma hcy and to reduce oxidant stress.

The safety and efficacy of parent-/nurse-controlled analgesia in patients less than six years of age.

UNLABELLED: Over the past 5 yr, we have treated nonsurgical and postoperative pain in children <6 yr of age by using a patient-controlled analgesia pump to deliver small-dose continuous IV opioid infusions supplemented by parent- and nurse-controlled opioid bolus dosing. We call this technique parent-/nurse-controlled analgesia (PNCA). Because the safety and efficacy of PNCA have not been previously evaluated, we have undertaken a prospective, 1-yr observational study to determine patient demographics, effectiveness of analgesia, and the incidence of complications (pruritus, vomiting, and respiratory depression) in patients receiving PNCA. Data were collected on 212 children (98 female) who were treated on 240 occasions with PNCA for episodes of pain. Patients averaged 2.3 +/- 1.7 yr of age and 11 +/- 5 kg, and received a median of 4 (range 2-54) days of PNCA therapy. Maximum daily pain scores were < or =3/10 (objective pain scale) or < or =2/5 (objective or self-report pain scale) in more than 80% of all occasions of PNCA use. PNCA usage was associated with an 8% incidence of pruritus and a 15% incidence of vomiting on the first day of treatment. Nine children studied received naloxone, four (1.7%) for treatment of PNCA-related apnea or desaturation. All had improvement in their symptoms after naloxone administration. IMPLICATIONS: Parent-/nurse-controlled analgesia provided effective pain relief in most children <6 yr of age experiencing nonsurgical or postoperative pain. The observed incidence of vomiting and pruritus was similar to that seen in older patients treated with patient-controlled analgesia. However, significant respiratory depression, although uncommon, did occur, thus reinforcing the need for close patient monitoring.

The management of pain in sickle cell disease.

The pain of vaso-occlusive crisis in patients with sickle cell disease is excruciating, incapacitating, and sometimes refractory to even the most advanced analgesic treatments. A comprehensive, multimodal approach to therapy that includes education, cognitive therapies, anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids, and psychostimulant adjuvant drugs has been presented. Until a cure for the underlying disease is found, these are the best approaches available. The authors hope that future research will find even better modalities of analgesic care.

Bacterial colonization and infection rate of continuous epidural catheters in children.

UNLABELLED: Continuous epidural infusions are widely used for postoperative analgesia in children. We prospectively studied the incidence of bacterial colonization of caudal and lumbar epidural catheters, as well as the incidence of serious systemic and local infection, in 210 children after short-term epidural analgesia. Using aseptic technique, epidural catheters were inserted into either the lumbar or the caudal epidural space based on the preferences of the anesthesia team and/or clinical indication. The integrity of the catheter and overlying transparent dressing site was evaluated by a member of the pediatric pain service at least once a day. The catheters were aseptically removed if the patient had a fever greater than 39 degrees C, if the dressing was compromised, or when epidural analgesia was no longer required. The subcutaneous portion of the catheter was semiquantitatively cultured. Cellulitis (erythema, swelling, purulent discharge, pustule formation, or tenderness) was diagnosed by examination of the epidural insertion site. The mean (+/- SD) age of patients in the caudal catheter group (n = 170) was 3 +/- 3 yr; their mean weight was 13 +/- 11 kg. The mean (+/- SD) age of patients in the epidural catheter group (n = 40) was 11 +/- 4 yr; their mean weight was 36 +/- 23 kg. All catheters remained in place for 3 +/- 1 days (range 1-5 days). There was no serious systemic infection (meningitis, epidural abscess, or systemic sepsis). Of all epidural catheters, 35% (73 of 210) were colonized. Gram-positive colonization was similar in caudal (25%; 43 of 170) and lumbar (23%; 9 of 40) catheters. Gram-negative organisms were cultured from 16% of the caudal catheters (27 of 170) and 3% of the lumbar catheters (1 of 40). In patients treated with caudal epidural catheters, children aged >3 yr were less likely to have colonized epidural catheters than younger children. Age did not affect the probability of developing cellulitis at the insertion site. Although patients aged <3 yr with caudal catheters had a slightly greater risk of cellulitis than children aged >3 yr (14% vs 9%), this association was very weak (P = 0.33). We observed that, despite bacterial colonization of caudal and lumbar epidural catheters, serious systemic and local infection after short-term epidural analgesia did not occur in our study. IMPLICATIONS: Continuous epidural infusions are widely used for postoperative analgesia in children. We found no serious systemic infections after short-term (3 days) continuous epidural analgesia in children.

Celiac plexus blockade in a 7-year-old child with neuroblastoma.

Celiac plexus blockade with ethanol is a widely accepted modality of pain control for adults with cancer pain. The role of interventional strategies in children is less well established. A 7-year-old child with abdominal pain secondary to a Wilms tumor was treated with neurolytic celiac plexus blockade. This resulted in control of abdominal pain for close to three months. This modality is underutilized and should be considered for children with pain due to upper abdominal malignancy.