Cytotoxic lesion of the corpus callosum in pediatrics: A case report.

Cytotoxic lesions of the corpus callosum are considered a clinical-radiological syndrome that generates transitory damage to the corpus callosum; especially in the splenium, with a multicausal origin such as drugs, malignant neoplasms, infections, subarachnoid hemorrhage, metabolic disorders, and traumas. The clinical presentation varies in severity. Some patients have complete recovery in a few days, while others present a more serious clinical, requiring admission to pediatric intensive care. We present a case of a pediatric patient with cytotoxic lesions of the corpus callosum (CLOCCs) confirmed by brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The patient was admitted due to gastrointestinal symptoms, progressing to altered consciousness, postural instability, dysarthria, and paroxysmal events. A literature search of all reported cases of compromises of CLOCCs was carried out to identify the different terms used to describe this syndrome and consolidated a report of utility in the clinic of this pathology.

Malignant hypercalcemia as the debut of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a pediatric patient-a diagnostic and therapeutic approach: Case report.

Background: Hypercalcemia is a rare metabolic disorder in the pediatric population, with several differential diagnoses that resemble hematologic malignancies. In cases of severe hypercalcemia, therapeutic strategies other than hyperhydration, such as the use of bisphosphonates, have been described. Case presentation: We present the case of a previously healthy 12-year-old boy who was admitted to the emergency department due to fatigue, hypo-responsiveness, and progressively worsening poor appetite for the previous 19 days. Initial laboratory tests revealed severe hypercalcemia (total calcium: 19 mg/dl), hyperphosphatemia, elevated creatinine, and hyperuricemia. Management with hyperhydration and xanthine oxidase inhibitor (allopurinol) was provided. The patient was transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit where treatment with furosemide, systemic corticosteroid, and zoledronic acid was started. Metabolic, infectious, renal, and endocrinological causes were excluded. Follow-up paraclinical studies showed a progressive hematologic involvement with heterogeneous hypochromic microcytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and elevated lactic dehydrogenase. Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy were performed, which confirmed the diagnosis of B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Hypercalcemia was resolved 72 h after the application of bisphosphonates. Conclusion: Hypercalcemia as an oncological metabolic emergency in the onset of acute lymphoblastic leukemia is uncommon in children. The use of intravenous bisphosphonates is an effective therapy in the early resolution of the condition. We present the case of a 12-year-old patient with malignant hypercalcemia who responded favorably to the use of a single dose of bisphosphonates.

Estrategia ventilatoria para el aclaramiento de dióxido de carbono en un lactante con hipercapnia incontrolable / Ventilatory strategy for carbon dioxide clearance in an infant with persistent hypercapnia / Estratégia ventilatória para depuração de dióxido de carbono em uma criança com hipercapnia incontrolável

Resumen Se presenta la experiencia de combinar la ventilación convencional y una técnica modificada de insuflación de gas paratraqueal para evitar complicaciones de la insuflación traqueal directa en un lactante con hipercapnia refractaria, quien ingresó con falla respiratoria aguda secundaria a neumonía multilobar. Al iniciar la ventilación mecánica presentó neumotórax, fístulas broncopleurales y acidemia hipercápnica refractaria a tratamiento convencional. Se inició insuflación de gas paratraqueal en ventilación convencional en modo de presión control, con 10 L/min de aire humidificado con una presión control máxima sostenida de 20 cmH2O. Tres horas después se observó una mejoría de la gasometría arterial y pasadas 72 horas se logró retirar el dispositivo paratraqueal sin complicaciones, con adecuada evolución clínica. Al no incluir un catéter intratraqueal se evitaron complicaciones conservando los mecanismos que mejoran la oxigenación e hipercapnia. La técnica presentada es prometedora; sin embargo, se deben realizar estudios con un mayor número de individuos.

Abstract The experience of combining conventional ventilation and a modified paratracheal gas insufflation technique to avoid complications is presented. An infant with acute respiratory failure secondary to multilobar pneumonia who after start off mechanical ventilation developed pneumothorax, bronchopleural fistulas, and persistent hypercapnic acidemia refractory to conventional ventilatory strategies. It was decided to initiate paratracheal gas insufflation in conventional ventilation in pressure control mode, with 10 L/min of humidified air with a maximum sustained control pressure of 20 cmH2O. Three hours after an improvement in arterial blood gas was recorded and after 72 hours the paratracheal device was removed without complications, with adequate clinical evolution. By not incorporate an intratracheal catheter some complications are avoided, preserving the mechanisms that improve oxygenation and CO2 elimination. Paratracheal gas insufflation is a promising technique, although more studies are required with a greater number of individuals.

Resumo Apresenta-se a experiência de combinar ventilação convencional e técnica modificada de insuflação de gás paratraqueal para evitar complicações da insuflação traqueal direta em uma criança com hipercapnia refratária que foi admitido com insuficiência respiratória aguda secundária a pneumonia multilobar. Ao iniciar ventilação mecânica, apresentou pneumotórax, fístulas broncopleurais e acidemia hipercápnica refratária ao tratamento convencional. A insuflação de gás paratraqueal foi iniciada em ventilação convencional no modo de controle de pressão, com 10 L/min de ar umidificado com pressão de controle máxima sustentada de 20 cmH2O. Três horas após, observou-se melhora da gasometria arterial e após 72 horas o dispositivo paratraqueal foi retirado sem intercorrências, com evolução clínica adequada. Ao não incluir um cateter intratraqueal, as complicações foram evitadas, preservando os mecanismos que melhoram a oxigenação e a hipercapnia. A técnica apresentada é promissora, porém, estudos com um número maior de indivíduos devem ser realizados.

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.

Preschool Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit-Spanish (psCAM-ICU-S): Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation in Colombia.

Objective: The goal of the present study was to perform a cross-cultural adaptation and clinical validation of the Preschool Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit-Spanish (psCAM-ICU-S) for its clinical use in the Colombian Population. Methods: We designed a Cross-cultural adaptation study followed by a cross-sectional validation study at a Single-center Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at a University Hospital in Bogotá, Colombia. The study population was children aged from 6 months to 5 years and 11 months who had been treated in the PICU with a Richmond sedation-agitation scale score of-3 or higher. A three-phase study was carried out. The first phase comprised the application of psychometric tests on the tool. In the second phase, the psCAM-ICU-S was applied to the target population. Patients were evaluated by a nurse and a pediatric intensivist using the psCAM-ICU-S; additionally, a child psychiatrist evaluated each patient using the DSM-V criteria; the psychiatrist evaluation was chosen as the gold standard for the diagnosis of delirium. In the third phase, an evaluation of the tool's effectiveness was carried out by using sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and likelihood ratios. Interrater agreement was also assessed by using the Fleiss' kappa. Results: Psychometric tests established the instrument's reliability and consistency as well as the clarity of its items. A total of 31 patients were evaluated. On average, the instrument presented a sensitivity of 93.3%, specificity of 94.8%, PPV 78%, NPV 99%, a positive likelihood ratio of 19.93, and a negative ratio of 0.07. The prevalence of delirium was 16.1% by the child psychiatrist and 25.8% using de psCAM-ICU-S. We confirmed high Interrater agreement, Kappa index (0.672-0.902). Conclusions: The psCAM-ICU-S was a valid and reliable instrument for the diagnosis of delirium in critically ill pediatric patients.

Pancreatic VIPoma as a Differential Diagnosis in Chronic Pediatric Diarrhea: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Chronic diarrhea is a common chief complaint in the pediatric population with a wide range of diagnostic differentials; as such, whilst suspecting common causes, less prevalent conditions tend to be overlooked, such as neuroendocrine tumor pathologies. VIPomas are characterized by hypersecretion of the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), causing watery diarrhea, hypokalemia, and achlorhydria. Nonetheless, its low incidence rate in children makes it an easily unnoticed pathology. Herein, we report a case of a 14-year-old female patient and a review of relevant literature. The patient complained of 7-month history of watery diarrhea, multiple emetic episodes, and relevant past medical history of multiple hospitalizations. Chronic diarrheal disease work-up studies, including a high VIP scintigram, showed a lesion suggestive of a VIPoma-type neuroendocrine pancreatic tumor. A distal pancreatectomy was performed with a complete resolution of the symptoms. When faced with a pediatric patient presenting with chronic secretory diarrhea and whose work-up studies rule out the most common pathologies, the possible presence of a neuroendocrine tumor as VIPoma should be considered.

Case Report: Fatal Acute Liver Failure With Giant Cell Transformation in a Pediatric Patient Associated With MIS-C.

Background: We describe the first pediatric case of a 10-month-old boy with MIS-C who developed fulminant acute liver failure with associated giant cell transformation and a fatal outcome, after ruling out other infectious, metabolic, genetic, and autoimmune causes of liver failure following the usual algorithms for approaching the etiology. Although the patient received the main treatment strategies for liver failure, he had a fatal outcome. A clinical autopsy was considered as part of the diagnostic approach, which showed evidence of giant cell transformation.