Análisis de las traqueotomías en cuidados intensivos pediátricos durante el periodo 2003-2013 / Analysis of tracheostomies in a pediatric intensive care unit during the period 2003-2013

INTRODUCCIÓN: La traqueotomía es un procedimiento poco frecuente en la Unidad de cuidados intensivos pediátricos (UCIP). Analizamos las complicaciones derivadas de la técnica, la mortalidad atribuible a la misma y la mortalidad global de los pacientes traqueotomizados. PACIENTES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio retrospectivo descriptivo durante el periodo comprendido entre enero del 2003 y diciembre del 2013 de los pacientes ingresados en la UCIP a los que se realiza una traqueotomía a lo largo de su ingreso. RESULTADOS: Durante el periodo analizado se recoge a 25 pacientes. La media de edad es de 31,3 meses (rango 1-144, mediana 14 meses) y la media de estancia en UCIP es de 53 días (rango 1-338 días, mediana 37 días). En su mayoría (68%) son pacientes con comorbilidades previas a su ingreso, destacando en frecuencia las anomalías craneofaciales/síndromes polimalformativos (32%) y problemas asociados a la prematuridad (12%). Las patologías más frecuentes que motivaron la realización del procedimiento fueron la obstrucción congénita de la vía aérea y diversas causas de lesión medular, seguido de traqueobroncomalacia y estenosis subglótica. Se detectaron complicaciones en el 40% de los pacientes, siendo la más frecuente la decanulación accidental. Presentaron durante el curso evolutivo una decanulación accidental el 20% de los pacientes, principalmente en las primeras 24 h del postoperatorio, motivo por el que falleció uno de los pacientes. CONCLUSIONES: La realización de la traqueotomía es un procedimiento poco frecuente en la UCIP, aunque no exento de complicaciones, algunas de ellas de riesgo vital

INTRODUCTION: Tracheotomy in pediatric patients is a rare procedure. In this pediatric series, perioperative complications, mortality related to surgical procedure and overall mortality are analyzed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study conducted from January 2003 to December 2013. Data were retrieved from patients who were tracheotomized and admitted to our PICU in the postoperative period. RESULTS: Data were collected from 25 tracheotomized patients admitted during the study period. The mean age was 3.3 months (median 14 months, range 1-144 months), and PICU length of stay was 53 days (median 37 days, range 1-338 days). Most patients (68%) had comorbidities before their admission, with a higher prevalene of craniofacial anomalies/polymalformative syndromes (32%) and prematurity related disorders (12%) being obserevd. The most common etiologies related to the procedure were congenital airway obstruction (16%) and several types of spinal cord injury (16%), followed by tracheobronchomalacia (12%) and subglottic stenosis (12%). Some kind of complication was detected in 40% of patients, with accidental decannulation being the most frequent. Accidental or unexpected decannulation was present in a percentage as high as 20% of our patients, mainly in the first 24hours after surgery. One of the patients died as a result of this. CONCLUSIONS: The postoperative course of a tracheotomy is associated with a high rate of complications, some of them related to life-threatening events

[Analysis of tracheostomies in a pediatric intensive care unit during the period 2003-2013]. / Análisis de las traqueotomías en cuidados intensivos pediátricos durante el periodo 2003-2013.

INTRODUCTION: Tracheotomy in pediatric patients is a rare procedure. In this pediatric series, perioperative complications, mortality related to surgical procedure and overall mortality are analyzed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study conducted from January 2003 to December 2013. Data were retrieved from patients who were tracheotomized and admitted to our PICU in the postoperative period. RESULTS: Data were collected from 25 tracheotomized patients admitted during the study period. The mean age was 3.3 months (median 14 months, range 1-144 months), and PICU length of stay was 53 days (median 37 days, range 1-338 days). Most patients (68%) had comorbidities before their admission, with a higher prevalene of craniofacial anomalies/polymalformative syndromes (32%) and prematurity related disorders (12%) being obserevd. The most common etiologies related to the procedure were congenital airway obstruction (16%) and several types of spinal cord injury (16%), followed by tracheobronchomalacia (12%) and subglottic stenosis (12%). Some kind of complication was detected in 40% of patients, with accidental decannulation being the most frequent. Accidental or unexpected decannulation was present in a percentage as high as 20% of our patients, mainly in the first 24 hours after surgery. One of the patients died as a result of this. CONCLUSIONS: The postoperative course of a tracheotomy is associated with a high rate of complications, some of them related to life-threatening events.

Hipertensión intracraneal secundaria a neurocisticercosis / Intracranial hypertension secondary to neurocysticercosis

No disponible

Síndrome de disfunción autonómica secundario a meningitis tuberculosa / Autonomic dysfunction syndrome secondary to tuberculous meningitis

No disponible

[Idiopathic catastrophic epileptic encephalopathy: an untreatable convulsive malady in infancy]. / Encefalopatía epiléptica catastrófica idiopática: una forma intratable de estado de mal convulsivo en la infancia.

AIM: To present a case of catastrophic childhood epileptic syndrome with multifocal status epilepticus. CASE REPORT: A 4 years old boy with a multifocal status epilepticus of unknown origin which could only be controlled along some days with thiopentone enough to cause electrical suppression, and relapsed again after having stopped it. CONCLUSION: But for very high doses of barbiturates, any antiepileptic drug could control or improve the convulsions. MRI, initially normal, was followed by a progressive cerebral and cerebellar atrophy and the boy survived with heavy neurological secuelae.

Encefalopatía epiléptica catastrófica idiopática: una forma intratable de estado de mal convulsivo en la infancia / Idiopathic catastrophic epileptic encephalopathy: an untreatable convulsive malady in infancy

Objetivo. Presentar un caso de estado de mal intratable con crisis multifocales de origen desconocido. Caso clínico. Niño de 4 años de edad, sano y con buen desarrollo psicomotor, que desarrolla un estado de mal incontrolable, excepto cuando se logra silencio electroencefalográfico mediante coma barbitúrico, y que reinicia el estado convulsivo al disminuir la intensidad del mismo. Conclusión. Pese al correcto tratamiento utilizado, ningún fármaco es capaz de controlar el estado convulsivo. Aparece una atrofia cerebral progresiva a lo largo de los meses y el paciente queda con gravísimas secuelas psicofísicas. Este tipo de proceso se ha identificado recientemente en la bibliografía como encefalopatía epiléptica catastrófica idiopática (AU)

Aim. To present a case of catastrophic childhood epileptic syndrome whit multifocal status epilepticus. Case report. A 4 years old boy with a multifocal status epilepticus of unknown origin which could only be controlled along some days with thiopentone enough to cause electrical suppression, and relapsed again after having stopped it. Conclusion. But for very high doses of barbiturates, any antiepileptic drug could control or improve the convulsions. MRI, initially normal, was followed by a progressive cerebral and cerebellar atrophy and the boy survived with heavy neurological secuelae (AU)

[The treatment of postoperative junctional ectopic tachycardia]. / Tratamiento de la taquicardia ectópica de la unión tras la cirugía.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate treatment of junctional ectopic tachycardia after cardiac surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-seven patients (5.5 % of 488 patients who underwent surgery) were treated for junctional ectopic tachycardia between 1994 and 1998. There were 14 boys and 13 girls with a mean age of 11 11 months. Seven suffered from tetralogy of Fallot, seven from ventricular septal defect, six from atrioventricular septal defect, three from transposition of the great vessels and the remaining four had other complex heart diseases. The mean initial frequency was 186 27 beats/min. Crystalloid cardioplegia was applied in 274 patients (1994-1996) and 20 patients (7.4 %) showed junctional ectopic tachycardia. Hematic cardioplegia was performed in 214 patients (1997-1998) and seven patients (3.2 %) developed junctional ectopic tachycardia. Of the 33 patients who were treated during the surgical procedure with high mean doses of sympathomimetic catecholamine agents, 27 (81 %) developed tachycardia. Tachycardia developed 8.24 7 hours after surgery (range: 1-24 hours) in 25 patients and after 4 and 5 days in the remaining two patients. The mean duration of tachycardia was 4 days. RESULTS: In all patients rectal temperature was reduced to 32-34 C. Nineteen patients (70 %) showed a quick response (1-2 hours), although the technique was effective as an isolated procedure in only one patient. Sympathomimetic catecholamine level was reduced to 2-5 g/kg/min in 20 patients but this was effective in 14 (70 %). In 15 patients intravenous amiodarone was also administered and was effective in 11 patients (73 %). Finally, intravenous propafenone was administered to 5 patients. The most effective treatments were hypothermia with reduction of sympathomimetic catecholamine levels in 7 patients (100 %) or intravenous amiodarone in 4 (80 %). Tachycardia led to low cardiac output in 10 patients and only four recovered normal sinus rhythm. Eight patients died. Of these, hemorrhage in the junction area was confirmed in six patients. CONCLUSIONS: Junctional ectopic tachycardia is favored by high levels of sympathomimetic catecholamines after surgery. On the other hand, myocardial protection with hematic cardioplegia reduces tachycardia. Moderate hypothermia with reduction of sympathomimetic agents or intravenous amiodarone reverses ectopic tachycardia.

Sepsis por estreptococo del grupo G en un paciente con angiomatosis múltiple / Sepsis due to group G streptococcus in a patient with multiple angiomatosis

La septicemia como complicación de un hemangioma infectado es una situación infrecuente. Se presenta el caso de un niño de 3 años con hemangiomatosis múltiple que, en el contexto de una infección de su hemangioma, desarrolló una sepsis por estreptococo betahemolítico del grupo G (EBHGG). A pesar de la sensibilidad in vitro a la penicilina, no se obtuvo respuesta clínica y se precisaron otros antibióticos (AU)

Tratamiento de la taquicardia ectópica de la unión tras la cirugía / Management of postoperative junctional ectopic tachyca

Objetivo: Tratamiento de la taquicardia ectópica de la unión tras la cirugía. Material y métodos: Durante el período 1994-1998 se trataron 27 pacientes (5,5 % de los 488 intervenidos) con edad de 11 ± 11 meses, 14 varones y 13 mujeres. Siete tenían tetralogía de Fallot; 7, comunicación interventricular; 6, canal auriculoventricular complejo; 3, transposición de grandes vasos, y 4, cardiopatía compleja. La frecuencia media al inicio fue de 186 27 lat./min. En 274 (1994-1996) se aplicó cardioplejía de cristaloides, en 20 con taquicardia (7,4%), y en 214 (1997-1998) con cardioplejía hemática, 7 con taquicardia (3,2%). De los 33 pacientes que se trataron a la salida de extracorpórea con dosis media elevada de catecolaminas, 27 (81%) presentaron taquicardia. En 25 pacientes la taquicardia apareció a las 8,24 7 h de la intervención (límites, 1-24 h), en 1 a los 4 días y en otro a los 5 días. La duración máxima de la taquicardia fue de 4 días. Resultados: A todos los pacientes se le redujo la temperatura rectal a 32-34 °C con efecto precoz 1-2 h en 19 (70 por ciento) pero sólo efectiva como tratamiento aislado en 1 caso. A 20 se les redujeron las catecolaminas hasta 2-5 g/kg/min con efectividad en 14 (70%) y en 15 se asoció amiodarona por vía intravenosa efectiva en 11 (73%). Finalmente, a 5 pacientes se le añadió propafenona también por vía intravenosa. La asociación de hipotermia con reducción de catecolamina (7 [100%]) o de hipotermia con amiodarona (4 [80%]) fueron los tratamientos más efectivos. En 10 pacientes la taquicardia generó un bajo gasto con recuperación del ritmo sinusal sólo en cuatro. Fallecieron 8 pacientes, en seis de los cuales se confirmó la presencia de hemorragia en la zona de la unión. Conclusión: El nivel elevado de catecolaminas tras la extracorpórea favorece la aparición de la taquicardia. Por el contrario, la protección del miocardio con cardioplejía hemática la disminuye. La hipotermia moderada con reducción de catecolaminas o asociada a amiodarona intravenosa eliminan la taquicardia (AU)

[Multicenter prospective study on severe bacterial meningitis in children]. / Estudio prospectivo multicéntrico de la meningitis bacteriana grave pediátrica.

UNLABELLED: We prospectively studied the epidemiologic, clinic signs and outcome of bacterial meningitis in 125 children who were admitted into a PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit) of 11 hospitals of Spain and whose meningitis was diagnosed between May 1994 and April 1995. RESULTS: The median age of the children was 3.55 +/- 3.32 years (range 1 month to 16.5 yrs). Eighty-eight were bacterial meningitis, probably bacterial 30 and aseptic 7. The most frequently isolated organisms were N. meningitidis (52), H. influenza type b (17) and S. pneumoniae (8). Twenty-five percent of N. meningitidis had C serotype. Incidence rate of each germen was depending of age. All patients diagnosed of H. influenza type b meningitis were less than 3 years old. H. influenza type b and meningococcus had similar incidence rate during the first year of life (27% versus 31%). During the first three years of life H. influenza type b produced one third of bacterial meningitis. A mortality rate of 5.6% (seven patients: 3 S. pneumoniae, 1 N. meningitidis, 1 H. influenza type b and 2 unknown germen) was observed. Patients who die had lower Glasgow coma score (p = 0.034) and seizures (p = 0.001) at admission. At discharge of PICU, 9 survivors (7.2%) had sequelae: mental retardation in 7 patients and hearing loss in two. One third of patients needed hemodynamic support and a 15% of them ventilatory support. CONCLUSIONS: Age is an important epidemiological factor in the etiology of pediatric acute meningitis. H. influenza type b and N. meningitidis had similar incidence rate during the first year of life. S. pneumoniae had the highest mortality rate (37.5%). The presence of coma and seizures at admission were associated with mortality.

[Value of the esophagogram in the study of vascular rings]. / Valor del esofagograma en el estudio de los anillos vasculares.

The diagnostic value of esophagograms was studied in 67 patients with aortic arch abnormalities and tracheoesophageal compression. This group of patients included the following malformations: double aortic arch (11), retroesophageal subclavia (48), retroesophageal aorta (5), cervical arch with retroesophageal component (2) and anomalous left pulmonary artery (sling) (1). Three types of esophageal indentation were observed in the esophagogram: anterior, posterior and bilateral. Anterior indentation was caused by the left pulmonary artery, and posterior indentation, when isolated, was caused by the retroesophageal subclavia. Posterior indentation associated with bilateral indentation was present in cases of double aortic arch. The upper lateral indentation was always caused by the predominant arch. We conclude that esophagogram is an easy and valid method for the diagnosis of this type of pathology.