Effects of regional differences on the outcome of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in children: How much different is Gaziantep from Izmir?

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to compare the demographic and clinical characteristics between pediatric cardiac arrest patients treated in Gaziantep at South-eastern Anatolian region and Izmir at Aegean Shore. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed sociodemographic characteristics, laboratory parameters, and clinical outcomes of pediatric patients that underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation due to prehospital cardiac arrest at two pediatric emergency departments in Izmir Hospital of Health Sciences University and Gaziantep Cengiz Gökçek Kadin Dogum ve Çocuk Hospital of Health Ministry between August 2017 and August 2018. RESULTS: The present study included 188 patients (112 patients from Gaziantep and 76 patients from Izmir). All patients arrived at the hospital through emergency medical services. The median age was lower (14 days vs. 15 months; P < 0.001), and the proportion of Syrian refugees was higher in patients from Gaziantep (78.6% vs. 7.9%; P < 0,001). In both centers, respiratory failure was the most common etiology. In patients from Gaziantep, pH levels were lower (median: 7.10 vs. 7.24), and lactate levels were higher (median: 6 mmol/L vs. 3.6 mmol/L; P < 0.001). The mortality rate was higher among patients from Gaziantep (27.7% vs. 7.9%; P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The rate of Syrian refugees among children who were brought to emergency department due to pre-hospital cardiac arrest was much higher in Gaziantep compared to Izmir. Syrian children were significantly younger and had more severe tissue hypoxia, resulting in a higher mortality rate.

Lung Ultrasound Findings and Bronchiolitis Ultrasound Score for Predicting Hospital Admission in Children With Acute Bronchiolitis.

OBJECTIVES: The purposes of this study were to determine the benefit of the bronchiolitis ultrasound score (BUS) in predicting hospital admission in children with acute bronchiolitis and to characterize lung sonography findings. METHODS: This prospective observational study was performed in an academic pediatric emergency department. Children younger than 24 months presenting to the emergency department, diagnosed with acute bronchiolitis by 2 independent pediatricians were included in the study. Lung ultrasound was performed by a single sonographer, who was blinded to as much clinical information as possible. In addition, the treating physicians were blinded to the lung ultrasound findings. Logistic regression analysis models were used to identify admission predictors. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to evaluate the predictive value for effects of the BUS and the modified Bronchiolitis Severity Score on admission. RESULTS: The median age of the 76 patients diagnosed with acute bronchiolitis was 6 months (interquartile range, 3.6-10 months). Forty-two (55.3%) of the 76 patients enrolled were admitted. Lung ultrasound was compatible with acute bronchiolitis in 74 patients (97%). A significant correlation was determined between modified Bronchiolitis Severity Score and BUS in children with acute bronchiolitis (r = 0.698, P < 0.001). The most effective parameter in determining admission on logistic regression analysis, independently of other variables, was BUS (P = 0.044; adjusted odds ratio, 1.859; 95% confidence interval, 1.016-3.404). Bronchiolitis ultrasound score values of 3 or greater exhibited 73.81% sensitivity and 73.53% specificity, whereas BUS values of 4 or greater exhibited 50% sensitivity and 91.18% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: Point-of-care lung ultrasound can accurately detect pulmonary anomalies in children with acute bronchiolitis, has a close correlation with clinical findings, and is a useful tool in predicting hospital admission.

Determination of cerebral edema with serial measurement of optic nerve sheath diameter during treatment in children with diabetic ketoacidosis: a longitudinal study.

Background Cerebral edema is a fatal complication that can occur in children with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Its clinical signs are generally not explicit, and subclinical cerebral edema can occur. This study is one of the few longitudinal studies conducted to identify cerebral edema in patients with DKA by measuring the optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD). The aim of this study was to investigate cerebral edema in children with DKA with serial measurement of ONSD, which is an early and reliable indicator of cerebral edema, and to monitor changes in ONSD during therapy. Methods The study was conducted by measuring ONSD ultrasonographically at baseline and during the course of therapy in patients with DKA. All participants were diagnosed and received therapy at our unit between May 2016 and June 2017. The study was registered with the Clinical Trials database, with a study number of NCT02937441. Measurements were obtained while the patients were in the supine position with their eyes closed, and axial transbulbar images of both eyes were obtained with a 6-15-MHz linear probe. Results The ONSD values of children with DKA changed during the treatment, reaching the highest values at 12-16 h of therapy, and the greatest ONSD was observed in children who had moderate and severe DKA. Conclusions During treatment of children with DKA, it is possible to predict cerebral edema by measuring ONSD, and this may contribute to clinical management, especially fluid treatment.

A Two-Month-Old Child with Vascular Ectasia: A Case Report Diagnosed by Molecular Karyotyping.

Gastrointestinal angiodysplasia can be encountered in cases with aortic stenosis, inflammatory gastrointestinal conditions, von Willebrand disease or vascular damage, and degenerative changes. Predisposing factors have been described in four adults with vascular ectasia located in the stomach, duodenum, and the distal esophagus. Here, we report a 2-month-old infant with vascular ectasia in the proximal esophagus and diagnosed by molecular karyotyping. This is the first case of vascular ectasia in the proximal esophagus in a pediatric patient.