Born into an isolating world: family-centred care for babies born to mothers with COVID-19.

Background: The benefits of facilitating breastmilk feeding and close contact between mother and neonate (family-centred care; FCC) in the perinatal period are well-established. The aim of this study was to determine how the delivery of FCC practices were impacted for neonates born to mothers with perinatal SARS-CoV-2 infection during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Neonates born to mothers with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy were identified from the 'EsPnIC Covid paEdiatric NeonaTal REgistry' (EPICENTRE) multinational cohort between 10 March 2020 and 20 October 2021. The EPICENTRE cohort collected prospective data on FCC practices. Rooming-in and breastmilk feeding practice were the main outcomes, and factors influencing each were determined. Other outcomes included mother-baby physical contact prior to separation and the pattern of FCC components relative to time and local site guidelines. Findings: 692 mother-baby dyads (13 sites, 10 countries) were analysed. 27 (5%) neonates were positive for SARS-CoV-2 (14 (52%) asymptomatic). Most sites had policies that encouraged FCC during perinatal SARS-CoV-2 infection for most of the reporting period. 311 (46%) neonates roomed-in with their mother during the admission. Rooming-in increased over time from 23% in March-June 2020 to 74% in January-March 2021 (boreal season). 330 (93%) of the 369 separated neonates had no FCC physical contact with their mother prior, and 319 (86%) were asymptomatic. Maternal breastmilk was used for feeding in 354 (53%) neonates, increasing from 23% to 70% between March-June 2020 and January-March 2021. FCC was most impacted when mothers had symptomatic COVID-19 at birth. Interpretation: This is the largest report of global FCC practice during the COVID-19 pandemic to date. The COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted FCC despite low perinatal transmission rates. Fortunately, clinicians appear to have adapted to allow more FCC delivery as the COVID-19 pandemic progressed. Funding: The National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia): Grant ID 2008212 (DGT), Royal Children's Hospital Foundation: Grant ID 2019-1155 (EJP), Victorian Government Operational Infrastructure Support Program.

The role of renal biomarkers to predict the need of surgery in congenital urinary tract obstruction in infants.

INTRODUCTION: The diagnosis of renal function impairment and deterioration in congenital urinary tract obstruction (UTO) continues to be extremely challenging. The use of new renal biomarkers in this setting may favor early renal injury detection, allowing for a reliable choice of optimal therapeutic options and the prevention or minimization of definitive renal damage. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate a selection of promising biomarkers of renal injury with the intention of evaluating and comparing their profile with clinically based decisions for surgical intervention of infants with congenital obstructive uropathies. STUDY DESIGN: The first-year profile of renal biomarkers, serum creatinine (sCr), serum and urine cystatin C (CyC), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-ß1), retinol-binding protein (RBP), and microalbuminuria (µALB), was analyzed in a cohort of 37 infants with congenital UTO, divided into three subgroups, 14 cases with grade III unilateral hydro(uretero)nephrosis, 13 cases with grade III bilateral hydro(uretero)nephrosis, and 10 cases with low urinary tract obstruction (LUTO), compared with 24 healthy infants matched by gestational age and birth weight. Serum and urine samples were stored at -70 °C and thereafter analyzed by quantitative enzymatic immunoassay. RESULTS: Compared with the control group (Figure), all renal biomarker values were significantly increased in patients (P ≤ 0.02). In the unilateral hydronephrosis and LUTO group, RBP (P ≤ 0.043), NGAL (P ≤ 0.043), KIM-1 (P ≤ 0.03), and TGF-ß1 (P ≤ 0.034) values dropped significantly after surgery. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin alone and in combination with urine and serum CyC demonstrated the best performance in determining the need for surgery (area under the curve, 0.801 and 0.881, respectively). Biomarker profile analysis was suggestive of surgical intervention in 55.4% (7/13) of non-operated cases, and most of the biomarker values were above the cutoff levels within at least 3 months before the clinically based surgical decision in 58% (14/24) of all operated patients. DISCUSSION: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to present the clinical use of selected group of serum and urinary biomarkers in the setting of UTO to distinguish between patients who would benefit from surgery intervention. The most promising results were obtained using NGAL, RBP, TGF-ß1, and KIM-1, especially in the unilateral hydro(uretero)nephrosis and LUTO subgroups when compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Urine biomarkers, alone and in combination, demonstrated high potential as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for identifying infants who may benefit from earlier surgical intervention.

Unplanned extubation in a paediatric intensive care unit: impact of a quality improvement programme.

Unplanned tracheal extubation is an important quality issue in current medical practice as it is a common occurrence in paediatric intensive care units. We have assessed the effectiveness of a continuous quality improvement programme in reducing the incidence of unplanned extubation over a 5-year period. After a 2-year baseline period, we developed action plans to address the issues identified. Following implementation of the programme, the overall incidence of unplanned extubation decreased from 2.9 unplanned extubations per 100 intubated patient days in the first year to 0.6 in the last year (p = 0.0001). This reduction was the result of a decrease in unplanned extubation in children younger than 2 years of age. Although mortality was similar to that of children who did not experience an unplanned extubation, those with an unplanned extubation had a significantly longer duration of mechanical ventilation, longer stay in the intensive care unit, and longer hospital stay. We found that the implementation of a continuous quality improvement programme is effective in reducing the overall incidence of unplanned extubations.

Conventional and conventional plus modified ultrafiltration during cardiac surgery in high-risk congenital heart disease.

BACKGROUND: This prospective nonrandomized study is the critical assessment of conventional ultrafiltration (CUF) and modified ultrafiltration (MUF) techniques and their efficiency in congenital heart disease surgeries. Use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in children is associated with body water retention as a consequence of prime volume and systemic inflammatory reaction. The CUF during CPB has reduced body water excess and the MUF after CPB, removes inflammatory mediators, improves hemodynamic performance, and decreases transfusion requirements. METHODS: Forty-one patients, aged 9 to 36 months, submitted to surgical correction for cardiac defects, using CPB, were divided into 2 similar groups: CUF (21 patients) operated between 1996-1997 were ultrafiltered during CPB, and CUF+MUF, (20 patients) operated between 1997-1998 and ultrafiltered during and after CPB. Postoperative duration of ventilator support, pediatric intensive care unit stay (PICU), hospital stay of the groups with and without preoperative pulmonary hypertension (PH), as well as transfusion requirement, hematocrit and platelet counts were compared. RESULTS: There were no technical complications and a significant ultrafiltrate in the CUF+MUF group was observed as compared to the CUF group. No significant differences were observed between the CUF and CUF+MUF groups regarding ventilatory support, PICU stay and hospital stay. Requirements for red cell transfusion, Ht and platelet counts were not statistically different. CONCLUSIONS: CUF and CUF+MUF were safe and efficient methods for patient stabilization independent of diagnosis and complexity of surgery. Future clinical evaluation should address a larger population of patients to research the different variables.

Comparison of two different severity scores (Paediatric Risk of Mortality [PRISM] and the Glasgow Meningococcal Sepsis Prognostic Score [GMSPS]) in meningococcal disease: preliminary analysis.

Two different illness severity scores, Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM) and the Glasgow Meningococcal Sepsis Prognostic Score (GMSPS), were evaluated and compared in meningococcal disease in two paediatric intensive care units. Forty-nine children with a median age of 36 months who had meningococcal sepsis confirmed by laboratory data were evaluated. Overall mortality was 18%. The median GMSPS was 3 in survivors and 8 in non-survivors. A GMSPS > or = 8 was significantly associated with death (p = 0.0001) with a mortality predictivity and specificity of 70% and 92.5%, respectively. The median PRISM score in survivors was 5.5 and 23 in non-survivors. A PRISM score of > or = 11 was significantly related to death (p < 0.0001). The Kendal correlation co-efficient between GMSPS and PRISM showed tau = 0.6859 (p = 0.0000). It is concluded that GMSPS and PRISM are useful methods for identifying and classifying children into low and high risk categories. GMSPS > or = 8 or a PRISM score > or = 11 are significantly predictive of mortality.

Assessment of splanchnic perfusion with gastric tonometry in the immediate postoperative period of cardiac surgery in children.

OBJECTIVE - A prospective, nonrandomized clinical study to assess splanchnic perfusion based on intramucosal pH in the postoperative period of cardiac surgery and to check the evolution of patients during hospitalization. METHODS - We studied 10 children, during the immediate postoperative period after elective cardiac surgery. Sequential intramucosal pH measurements were taken, without dobutamine (T0) and with 5mcg/kg/min (T1) and 10 (T2) mcg/kg/min. In the pediatric intensive care unit, intramucosal pH measurements were made on admission and 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours thereafter. RESULTS - The patients had an increase in intramucosal pH values with dobutamine 10mcg/kg/min [7.19+/- 0.09 (T0), 7.16+/-0.13(T1), and 7.32+/-0.16(T2)], (p=0.103). During the hospitalization period, the intramucosal pH values were the following: 7.20+/-0.13 (upon admission), 7.27+/-0.16 (after 4 hours), 7.26+/-0.07 (after 8 hours), 7.32+/-0.12 (after 12 hours), and 7.38+/-0.08 (after 24 hours), (p=0.045). No deaths occurred, and none of the patients developed multiple organ and systems dysfunction. CONCLUSION - An increase in and normalization of intramucosal pH was observed after dobutamine use. Measurement of intramucosal pH is a type of monitoring that is easy to perform and free of complications in children during the postoperative period of cardiac surgery.

Dosagem do fator natriurético atrial em pacientes pediátricos submetidos à ventilaçäo pulmonar mecânica / Dosage of atrial natriuretic peptide in pediatric patients submitted to mechanical ventilation

OBJETIVOS: Os objetivos deste trabalho foram verificar se existe alteraçäo na secreçäo do fator natriurético atrial (FNA) em crianças submetidas à ventilaçäo pulmonar mecânica e se essas possíveis alterações levariam à modificações no débito urinário e na excreçäo urinária de sódio. METODOLOGIA: Estudo prospectivo, realizado em uma Unidade de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos Terciária, em nove crianças submetidas à ventilaçäo pulmonar mecânica para recuperaçäo anestésica, exceto em uma que sofreu traumatismo cranioencefálico näo-cirúrgico. O período de estudo foi de Setembro de 1995 a Março de 1996. Aguardava-se pelo menos três horas do início da ventilaçäo pulmonar mecânica e entäo colhia-se amostra de sangue para dosagem de fator natriurético atrial, gasometria arterial, glicemia, creatinina e eletrólitos. Coletava-se ainda urina durante 6 horas para a verificaçäo do débito urinário e da concentraçäo de sódio. Depois da extubaçäo, aguardava-se por um período de 15 a 30 minutos e colhia-se sangue e urina para as mesmas dosagens realizadas anteriormente. A comparaçäo estatística foi feita pelo teste näo-paramétrico de Wilcoxon Signed Rank, sendo o nível de significância de 0,05. RESULTADOS: O fator natriurético atrial mostrou uma tendência ao aumento quando a ventilaçäo pulmonar mecânica foi retirada (p= 0,0547). O débito urinário e a natriurese näo se alteraram com a ventilaçäo pulmonar mecânica. CONCLUSÕES: A tendência ao aumento do fator natriuretico atrial ocorreu provavelmente por diminuiçäo da pressäo intratorácica. A reposiçäo volêmica no trans-operatório pode ter influenciado no débito urinário e na natriurese. Em pacientes submetidos à ventilaçäo pulmonar mecânica por períodos prolongados, com altos parâmetros de pressäo inspiratória e pressäo expiratória final positiva, seria interessante a dosagem do fator natriurético atrial e se esse se encontrasse diminuído, seria uma indicaçäo para o seu uso

[Airway pressure release in postoperative cardiac surgery in pediatric patients]. / Liberação de pressão de vias aéreas em pacientes pediátricos submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca.

OBJECTIVE: Comparison of three modes of MV: intermittent mandatory ventilation with positive end expiratory pressure (IMV + PEEP), APRV and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in children during cardiac surgery post operative with pulmonary hypertension and mild or moderate pulmonary lesion. METHODS: Ten patients were studied with respiratory monitoring (Bear Neonatal Volume Monitor-1) in MV with a continuous flow, time cycled and pressure limited ventilator. The cardiocirculatory variables analyzed were central venous pressure (CVP), oxygen extraction ratio, cardiac rate, systolic arterial pressure, and arterial-mixed venous CO2 difference. Friedman's test (nonparametric) was used to compare the variables in three modalities of ventilation and the Wilcoxon test was used for the variables obtained in two of the modalities. RESULTS: The mean airway pressure (MAP) showed a significant increasing during APRV compared to IMV + PEEP (p = 0.012). The positive inspiratory pressure (PIP), the minute volume and the ratio of oxygen arterial pressure to oxygen inspired fraction (PaO2/FiO2) didn't show statistical difference. During APRV there was a significant decrease in respiratory rate (p = 0.004) and an increase in tidal volume (p = 0.045) when compared to CPAP and IMV + PEEP. In the cardiocirculatory system only CVP showed a significant increased (p = 0.019) during APRV. CONCLUSION: Due to the methodology utilized MAP was higher with APRV resulting in an increased tidal volume without respiratory or cardiocirculatory adverse effects when the three modes were compared. Our results suggest that APRV is a simple and safe method of ventilation.

Liberaçäo de pressäo de vias aéreas em pacientes pediátricos submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca / Airway pressure release in postoperative cardiac surgery in pediatric patients

OBJETIVO: Comparar três modos de VPM, a ventilação mandatória intermitente com pressão expiratória positiva (VMI+PEEP), a VLPVA e a utilização de pressão positiva contínua em vias aéreas (CPAP) em crianças no pós-operatório de cirurgia cardíaca com hipertensão pulmonar e lesão pulmonar leve ou moderada. MÉTODOS: Estudados 10 pacientes com monitorização respiratória (Bear Neonatal Volume Monitor-1Ò), em VPM com aparelho de fluxo contínuo, ciclado a tempo e limitado a pressão. As variáveis cardiocirculatórias analisadas foram a pressão venosa central (PVC), extração de oxigênio (ExtO2), freqüência cardíaca (FC), pressão arterial sistólica (PAS), pressão arterial média (PAM) e a diferença artério-venosa de CO2 (D(A-V)CO2). Utilizou-se o teste não-paramétrico de Friedman para comparar as variáveis aferidas nas três modalidades de ventilação e o teste de Wilcoxon para a comparação das variáveis obtidas em duas das modalidades. RESULTADOS: A pressão média de vias aéreas (PMVA) apresentou um aumento significante durante a VLPVA em relação à VMI+PEEP (p=0,012). A pressão inspiratória positiva (PIP), o volume minuto e a relação da pressão arterial de O2 com a fração inspirada de O2 (PaO2/FiO2) não mostraram diferença estatística. Houve uma diminuição da freqüência respiratória (FR) na VLPVA (p=0,004) e um aumento do volume corrente (VC) (p=0,045) comparativamente aos outros dois modos de ventilação. A PVC foi a única variável cardiocirculatória que apresentou alteração mostrando ser maior (p=0,019) na VLPVA. CONCLUSÕES: Devido à metodologia empregada, houve um aumento significativo da PMVA na VLPVA, com conseqüente aumento do VC e manutenção das outras variáveis respiratórias e cardiocirculatórias quando comparados os três modos de VPM, indicando ser a VLPVA um método seguro e de fácil aplicação.

[Complications of arterial catheterization in children]. / Complicações da cateterização arterial em crianças.

UNLABELLED: The radial artery catheterization with the purpose of children's monitoring has been more and more used in Pediatric Intensive Care Units, and many times, is use is indispensable, like in cardiac surgery post-operative cases. However, there are only a few articles on the subject among us. PURPOSE: To analyse the complications of radial artery catheterization in the post-operative of cardiac surgery in children. METHODS: We studied the complications of this procedure in 120 children in cardiac surgery post-operative range from 1 month to 2 years. The children were catheterized by percutaneous technique (n = 67) and by cutdown technique (n = 53). The following complications were analysed in relation to the placement time of the catheter and the used technique: local infection, hemorrhagic complication, ischemia, catheter occlusion and accidental catheter displacement. RESULTS: Infection, ischemia and hemorrhage were more frequent and statistically significant in patients submitted to cutdown technique, while the catheter occlusion and accidental displacement were similar in both groups. The placement time of the catheter was an important variable in our study. All of the other infection cases occurred after 72 hours of the catheterization and the frequency of hemorrhage and ischemia was higher in the first 72 hours. CONCLUSION: The main complications of this proceeding are related to the technic utilized, time of utilization of the catheter and to the characteristics of the patients.

Complicações da cateterização arterial em crianças / Complications of arterial catheterization in children

A cateterização da artéria radial para fins de monitorização em crianças graves, vem sendo utilizado cada vez com maior freqüência em unidades de cuidados intensivos pediátricos e, muitas vezes, a sua presença é imprescindível, como nos casos de choque e pós-operatório de cirurgia cardíaca, entretanto há poucas publicações em nosso meio a respeito do assunto. OBJETIVO: Analisar as complicações da cateterização da artéria radial para fins de monitorização no pós-operatório de cirurgia cardíaca em crianças. MÉTODOS: Estudamos as complicações deste procedimento em 120 crianças em pós-operatório de cirurgia cardíaca, com idades entre um mês e dois anos. As crianças foram cateterizadas por punção percutânea (n = 67) e por dissecação (n = 63). Foram analisadas as seguintes complicações, em relação à técnica utilizada e ao tempo de permanência do cateter: infecção local, hemorragia, isquemia, obstrução do cateter e perda acidental do cateter. RESULTADOS: A presença de infecção, isquemia e hemorragia foram maiores e estatísticamente significantes nos pacientes submetidos à dissecção, enquanto que a obstrução e a perda acidental do cateter foram semelhantes em ambos os grupos. Todos os casos de infecção ocorreram após 72 horas da cateterização e a freqüência de hemorragia e isquemia foi maior nas primeiras 72 horas. CONCLUSÃO: As principais complicações deste procedimento estão relacionadas à técnica utilizada, ao tempo de permanência do cateter e às características do paciente.

[Dosage of atrial natriuretic peptide in pediatric patients submitted to mechanical ventilation]. / Dosagem do fator natriurético atrial em pacientes pediátricos submetidos à ventilação pulmonar mecânica.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this article are to verify if there is any alteration in the secretion of natriuretic atrial factor (NAF) in children submitted to mechanical pulmonary ventilation and if these possible alterations would lead to modification in the urinary volume and in the urinary sodium excretion. METHODOLOGY: A prospective study in a tertiary pediatric intensive care unit, nine children submitted to mechanical pulmonary ventilation for recuperation from anesthetics, except one who suffered a not surgical cranioencephalic trauma. The period of the study was from September 1995 to March 1996. Patients with renal pathology, pulmonary pathology, in use of diuretics until 24 hours before the collection of laboratory dosages, hemodynamic instability in need of vasoactive and inothropic agents, and patients with alterations of sodium blood levels were excluded from this work. In order to have an adequate alveolar recruitment at least 3 hours were taken. After this period a blood sample was collected for dosage of natriuretic atrial factor, arterial gas analysis, glucose analysis, creatinine and electrolytes dosage. Urine was collected in a 6 hours interval during the patient's period under mechanical pulmonary ventilation in order to verify the urinary volume and urinary sodium excretion. Fifteen to thirty minutes after extubation, blood an urine were collected for the same dosages done before. Urine was collected in a 6 hour period. A statistical comparison was done by the non parametric test of Wilcoxon signed rank, with a significance level of 0,05. RESULTS: The natriuretic atrial factor showed tendency to increase when mechanical pulmonary ventilation was taken away (p=0,0547). The urinary volume and natriuresis were not altered by mechanical pulmonary ventilation.

[Inhalation of nitric oxide - dependence: case report] / Dependência do óxido nítrico inalatório: relato de caso.

OBJECTIVE: Describe the hemodynamic response with rebound of pulmonary hypertension after withdrawal of inhaled nitric oxide (NO) in a pediatric patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). METHODS: Case report of a child with ARDS and pulmonary hypertension evaluated through ecocardiografic with dopller, receiving inhaled NO for a period of 21 days. RESULTS: There was a decrease of the pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) from 52 mmHg to 44 mmHg after the initial titulation of NO inhalation dose. After the withdrawal of inhaled NO an elevation of PAP was observed (55 mmHg). It was necessary to reinstall the inhaled NO to obtain a more appropriate value (34 mmHg). A new attempt of interruption of the inhaled NO after prolonged inhalation (20 days) resulted in a new clinic worsening and increase of PAP, with the indication to reinstall the inhaled NO. In the 24th day of permanence in the intensive care unit the patient died due to multiple organ dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: The possibility of pulmonary hypertension rebound after withdrawal of inhaled NO is a complication that may have important clinical implications for patients who need a prolonged treatment with NO. This case report emphasizes these implications.

[Withdrawal syndrome associated with cessation of fentanyl and midazolam in pediatrics]. / Síndrome de abstinência associada à interrupção da infusão de fentanil e midazolam em pediatria.

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of abstinence syndrome in children interned in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in fentanyl use and midazolam. METHODS: Evaluation of 36 children interned in PICU of the Hospital São Paulo--Federal University of São Paulo, in the period from March to September 1997, with age varying from 5 days to 22 months (22 masc: 14 fem) who used fentanyl use and midazolam for more than 24 hours. Used the Escore Neonatal of Abstinence adapted by Finnegan determines the occurrence of abstinence syndrome in was used to children 2 years old or less. Sustain larger or equal for 8 is considered as abstinence syndrome. Correlated the abstinence syndrome with the accumulated total dose, infusion velocity, daily dose and time of use of the fentanyl and midazolam. RESULTS: Certain abstinence syndrome in 18 (50%) of the 36 children. Applied Mann Whitney's statistical test to compare the groups with and without abstinence syndrome. Dose accumulated of fentanyl total (5732.7 +/- 5114.91 vs 624.2 +/- 591.2 mcg, p < 0.005), dose daily of fentanyl (98.54 +/- 6.12 vs 36.23 +/- 23.42 mcg/Kg/dia, p < 0.005), velocity of infusion of the fentayl (4.09 +/- 2.75 vs 1.5 +/- 0.95 mcg/Kg/hora, p < 0.005), time of use of the fentanyl (10.2 +/- 5.1 vs 3.16 +/- 1.09 days, p < 0.005), dose accumulated of midazolam total (118.8 +/- 86.97 vs 20.03 +/- 14.79 mg, p < 0.005), dose daily of midazolam (2.32 +/- 0.86 vs 1.21 +/- 0.68 mg/Kg/dia, p < 0.005), velocity of midazolam infusion (0.13 +/- 0.16 vs 0.05 +/- 0.02 mg/Kg/hora, p < 0.005) and time of use of the midazolam (9.20 +/- 4.67 vs 2.55 +/- 1.54 days, p < 0.005) they were considered significant. CONCLUSION: The abstinence syndrome presents an elevated incidence in children interned in PICU owing to the interruption of the fentanyl infusion and midazolam and in these patients it was related with the dose and the time of use.

Síndrome de abstinência associada à interrupçäo da infusäo de fentamil e midazolam em pediatria / Withdrawal syndrome associated with cessation of fentanyl and mydazolan in pediatrics

Objetivo. Determinar a ocorrência de síndrome de abstinência em crianças internadas em UCI Pediátrica em uso de fentanil e midazolam. Métodos. Avaliadas 36 crianças internadas na UCI Pediátrica do Hospital Sao Paulo - Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, no período de março a setembro de 1997, com idade variando de 5 dias a 22 meses (22 masc: 14 fem) que fizeram uso de fentanil e midazolam por mais de 24 horas. Utilizado o Escore Neonatal de Abstinência adaptado por Finnegan que determina a ocorrência de síndrome de abstinência em crianças menores de 2 anos. Escore maior ou igual a 8 é considerado como síndrome de abstinência. Correlacionados a síndrome de abstinência com a dose total acumulada, velocidade de infusao, dose diária e tempo de utilizaçao do fentanil e do midazolam. Resultados. Determinada síndrome de abstinência em 18 (50 por cento) das 36 crianças. Aplicado o teste estatístico de Mann Whitney para comparar os grupos com e sem síndrome de abstinência. Dose total acumulada de fentanil (5732.7 + 5114.91 vs. 624.2 + 591.2mcg, p<0.005), dose diária de fentanil (98.54 + 6.12 vs. 36.23 + 23.42mcg/kg/dia, p<0.005), velocidade de infusao do fentanil (4.09 + 2.75 vs. 1.5 + 0.95mcg/kg/hora, p<0.005), tempo de utilizaçao do fentanil (10.2 + 5.1 vs. 3.16 + 1.09 dias, p<0.005), dose total acumulada de midazolam (118.8 + 86.97 vs. 20.03 + 14.79mg, p<0.005), dose diária de midazolam (2.32 + 0.86 vs. 1.21 + 0.68mg/kg/dia, p<0.005), velocidade de infusao de midazolam (0.13 + 0.16 vs. 0.05 + 0.02mg/kg/hora, p<0.005) e tempo de utilizaçao do midazolam (9.20 + 4.67 vs. 2.55 + 1.54 dias, p<0.005) foram considerados significantes. Conclusoes. A síndrome de abstinência apresenta uma incidência elevada em crianças internadas em UCI Pediátrica devido a interrupçao da infusao de fentanil e midazolam e nestes pacientes estava relacionada com a dose e com o tempo de utilizaçao.

[Sedation and analgesia at the emergency room] / Sedação e analgesia no pronto socorro.

OBJECTIVES: To present research data about the adverse effects of pain and agitation in the emergency room with the best therapeutic options.METHODS: Review of the literature, covering some of the most important studies about analgesia and sedation in the emergency room, and pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the most important drugs.RESULTS: The metabolic responses, scales of evaluation of pain and anxiety and the different clinical situations in the emergency room are presented, inluding also the main drugs to be used.CONCLUSIONS: In the situations of stress in the emergency room we should not underestimate the clinical situations that cause pain and anxiety.

Inhaled nitric oxide and high concentrations of oxygen in pediatrics patients with congenital cardiopathy and pulmonary hypertension: report of five cases.

Five patients with ages ranging from 6 months to 3 years were analyzed. All received inhaled nitric oxide (NO--20 parts per million (ppm)) and oxygen (O2--at a concentration of 90-95%) by means of an oxygen hood. Mean Pulmonary Artery Pressure (MPAP), Mean Aortic Pressure (MAoP), Pulmonary Vascular Resistance (PVR) and Systemic Vascular Resistance (SVR) were measured and the calculation of their relationship to pulmonary/systemic flow (Qp/Qs) was performed by the catheterization of the femoral artery vein. Three patients presented reduction in PVR and increase in Qp/Qs. There were no systemic alterations or any side effect from using NO.

Evolution of the nutritional support pattern in pediatric intensive care.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate patterns of usage and monitoring of nutritional support in a Pediatric ICU of a teaching hospital and the role of an education program in nutritional support given throughout the resident physician training. DESIGN: In a historical cohort study, records from children who received nutritional support during the year 1992 were analyzed. Thereafter a continuing education program in Nutritional Support was conveyed to the residents. In a second phase of the study, the same parameters were reevaluated in children who received nutritional support throughout the year 1995. SETTING: Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of Department of Pediatrics, Escola Paulista de Medicina. PATIENTS: All the children who were given nutritional support during a period of five days or more. Based on this criteria 37 children were selected for the first phase of this study, and 35 for the second one. INTERVENTION: The education program included theoretical lectures about basic themes of nutritional support and journal article reading sessions. It was given to successive groups of residents on a weekly schedule. MEASUREMENTS: Daily records of fluid, protein, caloric and micronutrient supply, nutritional assessment and metabolic monitoring. RESULTS: In the first phase of the study, an exclusively parenteral route was utilized for 80.5%, and a digestive route 19.5% of the time period. Nutritional assessment was performed on 3 children; no patient had the nutritional goals set. The nitrogen to nonprotein calories ratio and the vitamin supply were inadequate, whilst the supply of trace elements was adequate except for zinc. Nutritional monitoring was performed on almost all patients but without uniformity. In the second phase, the exclusive parenteral route was used for 69.7% and the digestive route for 30.3% of the time period; no significant increase in the use of the digestive route was detected. The nonprotein calories to nitrogen ratio and micronutrient supply were adequate. The frequency of nutritional assessment increased, but deficiency in nutritional monitoring and infrequent enteral feeding were still detected. CONCLUSION: There were deficiencies in the implementation of nutritional support, which were partially corrected in the second phase of the study by the training of the residents. Reinforcement of the education program, which should be applied to the whole medical staff, and the organization of a multidisciplinary team in charge of coordinating the provision of nutritional support are suggested.