[Nasal mechanical ventilation in pediatric patients at home]. / Ventilación domiciliaria vía nasal en pacientes pediátricos.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to show our experience in the surveillance of home mechanical ventilation in pediatric patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between July 1992 and September 1996, 14 patients (20 months to 18 years of age) received home ventilation on 16 occasions. There were 10 boys and 4 girls. Home ventilation lasted from 7 days to 28 months. All patients had chronic respiratory failure secondary to neuromuscular disease, cystic fibrosis or sleep apnea syndrome. RESULTS: Tolerance was good in 11 patients and bad in 3, 2 of which suffered from cystic fibrosis and died in terminal respiratory failure. The patients who benefited most were those with neuromuscular disease, cyphoscoliosis and sleep apnea syndrome. The technique also has been used for ventilator weaning and as a bridge to lung transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Home nasal mechanical ventilation is a useful technique for the treatment of chronic respiratory failure in adults and children.

[Acute otitis media in childhood. Clinical and microbiological study of 50 cases]. / Otitis media aguda en la infancia. Estudio clínico y microbiológico de 50 casos.

Fifty cases of acute otitis media effusion (AOME) in children less than 14 years of age are reported. The largest age group consisted of children less than 22 months of age (22 cases). Otolgia or irritability (80%) and fever (66%) were the most common symptoms. Tympanocentesis of the middle-ear effusion was performed in all of the cases. Haemophilus influenzae was recovered in 13 patients (26%), S. pneumoniae in 12 (24%), S. pyogenes in 4 (8%), P. aeruginosa in 2 (4%), anaerobic bacteria in 2 (4%) and mixed cultures in 4 children; 2 cases of H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae, 1 case of S. pneumoniae and E. coli, and 1 case of E. coli and P. aeruginosa. There were no cases of M. catarrhalis or S. aureus. We conclude that H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae are the most frequent pathogens (60% of all patients and 81% of the positive cultures).