Electrical velocimetry for non-invasive monitoring of the closure of the ductus arteriosus in preterm infants.

Closure of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in preterm infants modifies cardiac output and induces adaptive changes in the hemodynamic situation. The present study aims to analyze those changes, through a non-invasive cardiac output monitor based on blood electrical velocimetry, in preterm babies. A prospective observational study of preterm infants with a gestational age of less than 28 weeks, and a hemodynamic significant PDA, requires intravenous ibuprofen or surgical closure. All patients were monitored with electrical velocimetry before treatment and through the following 72 h. Two groups were defined, ibuprofen and surgical closure. Variations of cardiac output were analyzed from the basal situation and at 1, 8, 24, 48, and 72 h on each group. During a 12-month period, 18 patients were studied. The median gestational age in the ibuprofen group (12/18) was 26+5 weeks (25+5-27+3) with a median birth weight of 875 (670-1010) g. The cardiac output index (CI) value was 0.29 l/kg/min (0.24-0.34). Among the patients with confirmed ductus closure (50%), a significant CI decrease was shown (0.24 vs 0.29 l/kg/min; P 0.03) after 72 h (three ibuprofen doses). A statistically significant decrease in systolic volume (SVI) was found: 1.62 vs 1.88 ml/kg, P 0.03 with a decrease in contractility (ICON), 85 vs 140, P 0.02. The gestational age in the surgical group (6/18) was 25+2 weeks (24-26+3) with a median weight of 745 (660-820) g. All patients in this group showed a decrease in the immediate postoperative CI (1 h after surgery) 0.24 vs 0.30 l/kg/min, P 0.05, and a significant decrease in contractility (ICON 77 vs 147, P 0.03). In addition, a no statistically significant decrease in SVI (1.54 vs 1.83 ml/kg, P 0.06), as well as an increase in systemic vascular resistance (10,615 vs 8797 dyn/cm2, P 0.08), were detected. This deterioration was transient without significant differences in the remaining periods of time evaluated. CONCLUSION: The surgical closure of the PDA in preterm infants causes a transient deterioration of cardiac function linked to a documented decrease in the left ventricular output. The hemodynamic changes detected after pharmacological PDA closure are similar but those patients present a better clinical tolerance to changes in the cardiac output. What is Known: • Surgical ductus closure generates acute hemodynamic changes in cardiac output and left ventricular function. What is New: • The hemodynamic changes detected after pharmacological ductus closure are similar to those found in the surgical closure. Electrical velocimetry can detect those changes.

Using very high frequencies with very low lung volumes during high-frequency oscillatory ventilation to protect the immature lung. A pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: High-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) has been described as a rescue therapy in severe respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) with a potential protective effect in immature lungs. In recent times, HFOV combined with the use of volume guarantee (VG) strategy has demonstrated an independent effect of the frequency on tidal volume to increase carbon-dioxide (CO2) elimination. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of using the lowest tidal volume on HFOV+VG to prevent lung damage, maintaining a constant CO2 elimination by increasing the frequency. STUDY DESIGN: Newborn infants with RDS on HFOV were prospectively included. After adequate and stable ventilation using a standard HFOV strategy, the tidal volume was fixed using VG and decreased while the frequency was increased to the highest possible to maintain a constant CO2 elimination. Pre- and post-PCO2, delta pressure and tidal volume obtained in each situation were compared. RESULT: Twenty-three newborn infants were included. It was possible to increase the frequency while decreasing the tidal volume in all patients, maintaining a similar CO2 elimination, with a tendency to a lower mean PCO2 after reaching the highest frequency. High-frequency tidal volume was significantly lower, 2.20 ml kg(-1) before vs 1.59 ml kg(-1) at the highest frequency. CONCLUSION: It is possible to use lower delivered tidal volumes during HFOV combined with VG and higher frequencies with adequate ventilation to allow minimizing lung injury.

Síndrome de apnea-hipopnea obstructiva del sueño asociado a malformación de Arnold-Chiari tipo II. Beneficios de la intervención neuroquirúrgica / Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome associated with type II arnold-chiari malformation. Benefits of neurosurgical intervention

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Piomiositis primaria en un niño: difícil diagnóstico inicial. A propósito de un caso y revisión de la bibliografía / Primary pyomyositis in a child: difficult initial diagnosis. Report of a case and a review of the literature

La piomiositis es una infección bacteriana profunda del músculo esquelético, que muestra predilección por los grandes grupos musculares. Esta entidad clínica, frecuente en países de clima tropical, en nuestro medio tiene escasa incidencia. La falta de conciencia de la enfermedad y la presentación insidiosa de los síntomas hacen que a menudo se demore su diagnóstico. Ante un niño con fiebre sin foco aparente, debe considerarsela piomiositis como posible causa, teniendo gran importancia antecedentes como la vacunación previa, debido a que la lesión muscular puede condicionar la infección local tras una bacteriemia. En estas páginas presentamos un caso de piomiositis de glúteo mayor en un paciente de 15 meses de edad que cursó con bacteriemia por Staphylococcus aureus y planteó dificultades en el diagnóstico inicial (AU)

Pyomyositis is a deep bacterial infection of skeletal muscle, which has a predilection for large muscle groups. This clinicalentity is frequently detected in tropical countries, but is not common in our region. Due to a lack of awareness of the disease and the insidious presentation of the clinical symptoms, the final diagnosis is often delayed. Pyomyositis should be considered in every febrile child with no apparent origin. It is very important to take into account the previous history of the patient, including vaccinations. A vaccine can be the origin of muscle injury, which could result in infection due to bacteremia. We present a case of pyomyositis of the gluteus maximus in a 15-month-old child with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia, and discuss the difficulties encountered in the initial diagnosis (AU)