Hemorrhagic shock due to ileal varices, a diagnostic challenge.

Gastrointestinal bleeding due to portal hypertension is a major complication in patients with cirrhosis, commonly attributed to esophagogastric varices. However, bleeding from ectopic varices accounts for 5% of variceal bleeding cases and it may occur at lower pressures than esophageal varices. Thus, ectopic varices should be considered in patients with portal hypertension that present with gastrointestinal bleeding lacking evidence of esophagogastric variceal bleeding on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. We present the case of a patient with cirrhosis that had recurrent hemorrhagic shock due to small intestinal varices that were diagnosed via capsule endoscopy.

Use of high-flow cannula in pediatric patients with respiratory failure: A prospective cohort study in three high-altitude hospitals.

Background and Aims: Acute respiratory failure (ARF) is a common cause of morbimortality, and a frequent reason for admission to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). It requires a high-flow oxygen device as treatment. Our aim is to determine the frequency and main indications for the use of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), and the prevalence of HFNC failure and its main causes, in three hospitals. Methods: It is a multicenter prospective cohort study, developed in three hospitals in Bogota. Eligible patients were children older than 1 month and younger than 18 years who presented ARF and required management with an HFNC. The study was carried out between April 2020 and December 2021. The follow-up was carried out at 1, 6, and 48 h after starting the management. Results: Of 685 patients included in the study, 296 developed ARF. The prevalence of patients with ARF who required management with HFNC was 48%. The frequency of the pathologies that cause the ARF was: Bronchiolitis was the most frequent pathology (34.5%), followed by asthmatic crisis (15.5%) and pneumonia (12.7%). The average time of use of HFNC was 81.6 h. Regarding treatment failure with HFNC, 15 patients presented torpid evolution and required invasive mechanical ventilation, with a prevalence of therapeutic failure of the HFNC of 10.6%. Conclusion: The use of HFNC is more frequent in patients with bronchiolitis, in children under 2 years of age and in males, which is in line with what has been reported in the literature. In addition, the failure rate of HFNC is low (10.6%), and it may be useful in other pathologies besides bronchiolitis, such as asthma, pneumonia, among others. It opens the possibility to continue evaluating the role of HFNC in pediatric pathology in new studies.

Association Between Unbalanced Solutions and Acute Kidney Injury During Fluid Resuscitation in Children With Sepsis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcomes of patients with sepsis-associated organ dysfunction and septic shock who receive fluid resuscitation with balanced and unbalanced solutions in a middle-income country. DESIGN: An observational, analytical cohort study with propensity score matching (PSM) in children admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Patients from one month to 17 years old who required fluid boluses due to hemodynamic instability were included. The primary outcome was the presence of acute kidney injury and the secondary outcomes were the need to begin continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), metabolic acidosis, PICU length of stay and mortality. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Out of the 1,074 admissions to the PICU during the study period, 99 patients had sepsis-associated organ dysfunction and septic shock. Propensity score matching was performed including each patient´s baseline characteristics. The median age was 9.9 months (IQR 4.9-22.2) with 55.5% of the patients being male. Acute kidney injury was seen less frequently in children who received a balanced solution than in those who received an unbalanced solution (20.3% vs 25.7% P = 0.006 ORa, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.65-0.87), adjusted for disease severity. In addition, the group that received balanced solutions had less need for CRRT (3.3 % vs 6.5%; P = 0.02 ORa 0.48; 95% CI, 0.36-0.64) and a shorter PICU stay (6 days IQR 4.4-20.2 vs 10.2 days IQR 4.7-26; P < 0.001) than the group with unbalanced solutions. We found no difference in the frequency of metabolic acidosis (P = 0.37), hyperchloremia (P = 0.11) and mortality (P = 0.25) between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: In children with sepsis-associated organ dysfunction and septic shock, the use of unbalanced solutions for fluid resuscitation is associated with a higher frequency of acute kidney injury, a greater need for continuous renal support and a longer PICU stay compared to the use of balanced solutions, in a middle-income country.

COVID-19 in children and the influence on the employment activity of their female caregivers: A cross sectional gender perspective study.

Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, women disproportionately assume more unpaid activities, affecting their employment. Objective: Describe the influence of COVID-19 on the employment of caregivers of children and adolescents from a gender perspective. Methods: Cross-sectional study in three high-complexity hospitals in Bogotá, Colombia from April 2020 to June 2021. A subsample of the FARA cohort was taken, including those patients with a positive test for SARS-COV2. We took as our analysis category children older than 8 years and younger than 18 years who had a positive SARS-COV2 test, as well as, caregivers of all children with a positive SARS-COV2 test. This subsample was drawn from the FARA cohort. A survey was applied to them. We carried out a descriptive and stratified analysis by age group, educational, and socioeconomic level. Results: We included 60 surveys of caregivers and 10 surveys of children. The main caregiver in 94.8% of the cases was a female. At the beginning of the pandemic, 63.3% of the caregivers were employed, and 78.9% of those lost their employment. The vast majority of these caregiver were women (96.6%, n = 29). A predominance of loss of work activity was documented in caregivers of children in early childhood 66.6% (n = 20), with lower education 66.6% (n = 20), and from lower strata 56.6% (n = 17). Conclusion: Caregivers of children with COVID-19 with low educational levels and lower socioeconomic conditions, as well as those with children under 5 years showed greater likelihood of employment loss between the interviewed subsample.

Incidence, etiology, sociodemographic and clinical characterization of acute respiratory failure in pediatric patients at a high-altitude city: A multicenter cohort study.

Background: Acute respiratory failure is a life-threatening medical condition, associated with a variety of conditions and risk factors, including acute respiratory diseases which are a frequent cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality worldwide. In Colombia, the literature related to ARF is scarce. Objective: To determine the incidence, causes, and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of ARF in three hospitals in Bogota, a high-altitude city located in Colombia, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A multicenter prospective cohort study called the FARA cohort was developed between April 2020 - December 2021. Patients older than one month and younger than 18 years with respiratory distress who developed ARF were included. Results: 685 patients with respiratory distress were recruited in 21 months. The incidence density of ARF was found to be 41.7 cases per 100 person-year CI 95%, (37.3-47.7). The median age was 4.5 years.. Most of the patients consulted during the first 72 h after the onset of symptoms. Upon admission, 67.2% were potentially unstable. The most frequent pathologies were asthma, bronchiolitis, pneumonia, and sepsis. At admission, 75.6% of the patients required different oxygen delivery systems, 29,5% a low-flow oxygen system, 36,8% a high-flow oxygen system, and 9,28% invasive mechanical ventilation. SARS-COV-2, respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus/enterovirus, and adenovirus were the most frequently isolated viral agents. The coinfection cases were scarce. Conclusions: This multicenter study, the FARA cohort, developed at 2,600 meters above sea level, shows the first data on incidence, etiology, sociodemographic and clinical characterization in a pediatric population with ARF that also concurs with the COVID-19 pandemic. These results, not only have implications for public health but also contribute to the scientific and epidemiological literature on a disease developed at a high altitude.

Venous-arterial CO2 difference in children with sepsis and its correlation with myocardial dysfunction.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the association between venous-arterial CO2 difference (Pv-aCO2) and clinical outcomes of interest in children with severe sepsis and septic shock. Design: An analytical observational study of a prospective cohort was conducted. Setting: The study was carried out from January 2015 to January 2018 in the pediatric intensive care unit of a referral hospital. Materials and methods: Of a total of 1159 patients who were admitted to pediatric critical care, 375 had severe sepsis and septic shock, of which 67 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Arterial and venous gases were drawn simultaneously with a transthoracic echocardiogram, Pv-aCO2, and other measures of tissue perfusion such as arterial lactate, venous, and evolution to multiple organ failure. Measurements and main results: Half (53.7%) of the patients were under 24 months old, with a slight predominance of male patients. The main site of infection was the lungs in 56% of the cases, with a 91.2% survival rate. Patients who died had a higher venous lactate level (interquartile range 16.2-33.6, p = 0.02). However, there was no correlation between myocardial dysfunction seen on echocardiogram and a Pv-aCO2 greater than 6 mm Hg in children with severe sepsis and septic shock (r = 0.13). Pv-aCO2 and central venous saturation had low sensitivity to detect multiple organ failure and poor correlation with the number of compromised systems (r = 0.8). Conclusion: Pv-aCO2 was not associated with myocardial dysfunction, measured by echocardiogram, in children with severe sepsis and septic shock. It also did not correlate with the number of organs involved or mortality.

Association of Toll-like receptor 4 single-nucleotide polymorphisms Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile with the risk of primary open angle glaucoma.

PURPOSE: Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is a transmembrane receptor that mediates immune responses to exogenous and endogenous ligands. Previously, non-coding single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the TLR4 gene were related to primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). This study was undertaken to investigate whether coding TLR4 Asp299Gly (rs4986790 A/G) and Thr399Ile (rs4986791 C/T) are associated with POAG in a Mexican population. METHODS: One hundred and eighty-seven unrelated Mexican patients with POAG (94 men and 95 women; mean age 66.49 ± 14.3 years) and 109 control subjects (40 men and 69 women; age, 63.28 ± 7.93 years) were included. SNPs Asp299Gly (rs4986790 A/G) and Thr399Ile (rs4986791 C/T) were genotyped by a Taqman® Allelic Discrimination Assayand. Allelic, genotypic, haplotypic, and model-based (dominant, recessive, and codominant) associations of the SNPs with POAG were analyzed using Chi-squared tests or Fisher exact tests and logistic regression. RESULTS: Strong linkage disequilibrium was observed among the SNPs (D' = 0.8692), which were located in one haplotype block. With respect to allelic diversity, the minor allele of both SNPs generates a significantly increased risk of POAG. The minor allele of Asp299Gly conferred the highest increased risk of POAG (P = 0.0054, OR = 4.47, 95% CI = 1.46-13.70). With regard to genotypic diversity, individuals carrying the minor allele of Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile had a significant increased risk for POAG with OR of 4.47 (P = 0.054, 95% CI = 1.30-15.35) and 3.5, respectively (P = 0.012, 95% CI = 1.17-10.44). Haplotype analysis was non-significant. CONCLUSIONS: TLR4 coding SNPs Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile might be used as genetic susceptibility alleles for POAG in Mexican population. Our findings support the role of TLR4 in the pathophysiology of glaucoma.

Descenso endoanal en la enfermedad de Hirschsprung: nuestra experiencia en 17 pacientes / Descent endoanal in the illness of Hirschsprung: our experience in 17 patients

La tendencia actual en el tratamiento de la enfermedad de Hirschsprung es la cirugía a temprana edad, en un solo tiempo quirúrgico y mediante del descenso transanal. Se realizó un estudio observacional y retrospectivo con el objetivo de describir los resultados preliminares en 17 niños (12 varones y 5 hembras) tratados transanalmente por enfermedad de Hirschsprung, entre abril de 2004 y abril de 2006 en el Hospital Pediátrico Universitario William Soler. La edad promedio al momento de la operación fue de 4 meses, 6 operados recién nacidos, 8 en los primeros 6 meses y 3 después del primer año. Un solo paciente tenía enfermedad asociada (síndrome de Down). El 23,5 por ciento (4) tuvo enterocolitis preoperatoria. Tres niños tenían ostomía antes de la intervención. La variedad rectosigmoidea se presentó en el 76,4 por ciento. La disección submucosa se comenzó a nivel de la línea dentada en 9 pacientes y en 8, entre 3 y 5 mm. El promedio de intestino agangliónico resecado fue de 20 cm (entre 11 y 45 cm). Se transfundieron 6 niños. Tres pacientes fueron convertidos por segmento intestinal agangliónico largo. El tiempo operatorio medio fue de 189 min. Ninguno tuvo complicaciones operatorias. La irritación de la piel perianal se presentó en 14 niños. El tiempo medio para la alimentación enteral fue de 36 horas y la estancia hospitalaria media de 6,4 días. Ocurrió enterocolitis posoperatoria en 3 pacientes (17,6 por ciento). Se les programó un esquema de dilataciones anales después de dos semanas de operados. Actualmente la continencia anorrectal es buena en 14 pacientes (82,3 por ciento) y regular en 3 (17,6 por ciento). El descenso endorrectal totalmente transanal constituye una técnica segura y factible para el tratamiento de la enfermedad de Hirschsprung rectosigmoidea clásica. Entre sus ventajas están los excelentes resultados estéticos y el posoperatorio más confortable, sin incremento del riesgo de complicaciones. Pensamos que seguimientos a más largo plazo son necesarios para evaluar mejor los resultados funcionales, las secuelas y la calidad de vida futura(AU)

Análisis de la continencia fecal en 83 pacientes operados de malformaciones anorrectales / Analysis of fecal incontinence in 83 patients operated on for anorrectal malformation

Se realiza un estudio retrospectivo de 83 pacientes operados de malformaciones anorrectales en el Hospital Pediátrico Universitario "William Soler" (46 varones y 37 hembras) en el período de enero de 1984 a diciembre de 1997, donde se analiza la continencia fecal según el método evaluativo de Kelly después de realizada la anorrectoplastia sagital posterior como técnica quirúrgica. Se relaciona la continencia fecal según variedad anatómica de la malformación y sexo, tiempo de seguimiento y relación con las alteraciones del hueso sacro, y se hallaron mejores resultados en las hembras con defectos bajos, con mayor tiempo de evolución y en aquellos niños donde el hueso sacro es normal

Análisis de la continencia fecal en 83 pacientes operados de malformaciones anorrectales / Analysis of fecal incontinence in 83 patients operated on for anorrectal malformation

Se realiza un estudio retrospectivo de 83 pacientes operados de malformaciones anorrectales en el Hospital Pediátrico Universitario "William Soler" (46 varones y 37 hembras) en el período de enero de 1984 a diciembre de 1997, donde se analiza la continencia fecal según el método evaluativo de Kelly después de realizada la anorrectoplastia sagital posterior como técnica quirúrgica. Se relaciona la continencia fecal según variedad anatómica de la malformación y sexo, tiempo de seguimiento y relación con las alteraciones del hueso sacro, y se hallaron mejores resultados en las hembras con defectos bajos, con mayor tiempo de evolución y en aquellos niños donde el hueso sacro es normal (AU)

Cirugía de mínimo acceso / Minimally invasive surgery

Los avances en los procederes quirúrgicos no invasivos facilitan el tratamiento de patologías ginecológicas en edades tempranas

Cirugía de mínimo acceso / Minimally invasive surgery

Los avances en los procederes quirúrgicos no invasivos facilitan el tratamiento de patologías ginecológicas en edades tempranas (AU)

Tumores primarios del mediastino en la infancia / Primary mediastinal tumors in childhood

Sesenta y seis pacientes en edades comprendidas entre 16 horas y 15 años recibieron tratamiento en el Hospital Pediátrico Docente "William Soler" de 1967 a 1988. Las lesiones encontradas fueron las siguientes: neuroblastoma, 11; ganglioneuroma, 6; ganglioneuroblastoma, 5; quiste broncógeno, 6; quiste enterógeno, 5;higroma quístico, 3;teratoma, 3; lipoma, 2; timoma linfocítico, 1; timoma teratomatosa, 1; timoma granulomatoso, 1; carcinoma indiferenciado del timo, 1; timolipoma, 12; hiperplasia del timo, 5; enfermedad de Hodgkin, 9 y linfosarcoma, 6.Veinte y ocho (42,4 %) tenían de 0 a 2 años y 38 (57,7 %) entre 3 y 15 años. En 31 pacientes (47%) la lesión se localizó en el mediastino posterior; en 14 (21 %) en el medio: en 16 (25,7%) se localizó en el anterior y en 5 (6%) ocupó más de un comportamiento mediastínico. Veinte y cuatro pacientes (36%) se mostraron asintomáticos. En los pacientes sintomáticos predominaron los sintomas respiratorios, entre ellos disnea, tos, cianosis e infecciones respiratorias repetidas. Hubo 29 tumores benignos (44 %) y 37 lesiones malignas (56%). Entre la lesiones benignas sobrevivieron 26 (90%) y entre las malignas 23 (62%). El diagnóstico se comprobó por toracotomía en 53 pacientes, por biopsia ganglionar en 12 y por necropsia en uno. El tratamiento de elección fue la cirugía, excepto en los linfomas. En los tumores malignos se usó radioterapia y poliquimioterapia

Irrigación total del intestino: nuestra experiencia en pacientes pediátricos / Total intestinal irrigation: our experience in pediatric patients

Se realiza irrigación total del intestino en 278 pacientes pediátricos en edades comprendidas entre 11 meses y 15 años, utilizando solución salina y manitol al 20 %. La irrigación se emplea en pacientes que iban a ser operados por distintas técnicas, para ser sometidos a diferentes estudios endoscópicos, con fines diagnósticos (manometría rectal, estudios radiológicos) y en el tratamiento de la constipación. Se emplea la solución salina en dosis de 200 ml por kg de peso y manitol al 20 % en dosis de 25 g. Se le realizó a los pacientes antes de la irrigación total y después ionograma, Hb, Hto, así como la toma de los signos vitales. No se usaron antibióticos profilácticos. La preparación fue satisfactoria en todos los casos y la infección posoperatoria se redujo al 3,7 %. La irrigación total del intestino en nuestros pacientes pediátricos resulto ser bién tolerada, fácil, rápida con excelentes resultados en la limpieza, exenta de complicaciones y con una significativa reducción en las infecciones en el posoperatorio