Implementation feasibility of animal-assisted therapy in a pediatric intensive care unit: effectiveness on reduction of pain, fear, and anxiety.

Animal-assisted therapies are an innovative strategy within health care humanization initiatives, and they could play a role in the reduction of pain or anxiety. The main objective of this work was to evaluate the feasibility of implementing animal-assisted therapy in a pediatric intensive care unit and its effectiveness for the reduction of pain, fear, and anxiety. A prospective, quasi-experimental study of animal-assisted therapy was designed in the pediatric intensive care unit of the Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre of Madrid, from January 2019 to December 2019. The study sample included patients who had been admitted to the unit and were over 3 years old. Satisfaction surveys were collected from the patients, family, and health personnel involved. Physiological variables and the level of pain (visual analog scale or Wong-Baker scale), fear (Child Medical Fear Scale), and anxiety (modified Yale Preoperatory Anxiety Scale) were evaluated before and after each session. Any existence of adverse events was recorded. A total of 74 therapy sessions were performed on 61 patients. All sessions were completed without any adverse effects. A total of 164 surveys were collected, providing an overall project rating of 9.69 out of a possible 10. The survey comments were found to be positive in most cases. No differences were found in the physiological variables measured before and after each session. There was a statistically significant decrease in pain, fear, and anxiety levels (p < 0.01).   Conclusion: The implementation of an animal-assisted therapy project in a pediatric intensive care unit is feasible and safe and has a high degree of acceptance among both participants and healthcare staff. Animal-assisted therapy is effective for the reduction of pain, fear, and anxiety, and therefore, it could be considered an adjunct to non-pharmacological therapy. What is Known: • Animal assisted therapies (AAT) are an innovative strategy that could be beneficial to help pediatrics patients cope with admission difficulties and could even play a role in reducing pain, anxiety and/or delirium. • To date there are not studies to analyze the effectiveness of AAT in the field of Pediatric Intesive Care. What is New: • Our study confirms the feasibility and effectiveness of the implementation of an AAT in the field of Pediatric Intensive Care with a high degree of acceptance by participants, caregivers and healthcare personnel. • AAT demonstrated a reduction in pain, fear and anxiety in pediatrics patients admitted to Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Description of a Swine Infant Model of Volume-Controlled Hemorrhagic Shock.

Hemorrhagic shock is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in pediatric patients. Interpretation of the clinical indicators validated in adults to guide resuscitation and comparison between different therapies is difficult in children due to the inherent heterogeneity of this population. As a result, compared to adults, appropriate management of pediatric hemorrhagic shock is still not well established. In addition, the scarcity of pediatric patients with hemorrhagic shock precludes the development of clinically relevant studies. For this reason, an experimental pediatric animal model is necessary to study the effects of hemorrhage in children as well as their response to different therapies. We present an infant animal model of volume-controlled hemorrhagic shock in anesthetized young pigs. Hemorrhage is induced by withdrawing a previously calculated blood volume, and the pig is subsequently monitored and resuscitated with different therapies. Here, we describe a precise and highly reproducible model of hemorrhagic shock in immature swine. The model yields hemodynamic data that characterizes compensatory mechanisms that are activated in response to severe hemorrhage.

Volumetric capnography and return of spontaneous circulation in an experimental model of pediatric asphyxial cardiac arrest.

A secondary analysis of a randomized study was performed to study the relationship between volumetric capnography (VCAP) and arterial CO2 partial pressure (PCO2) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and to analyze the ability of these parameters to predict the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in a pediatric animal model of asphyxial cardiac arrest (CA). Asphyxial CA was induced by sedation, muscle relaxation and extubation. CPR was started 2 min after CA occurred. Airway management was performed with early endotracheal intubation or bag-mask ventilation, according to randomization group. CPR was continued until ROSC or 24 min of resuscitation. End-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2), CO2 production (VCO2), and EtCO2/VCO2/kg ratio were continuously recorded. Seventy-nine piglets were included, 26 (32.9%) of whom achieved ROSC. EtCO2 was the best predictor of ROSC (AUC 0.72, p < 0.01 and optimal cutoff point of 21.6 mmHg). No statistical differences were obtained regarding VCO2, VCO2/kg and EtCO2/VCO2/kg ratios. VCO2 and VCO2/kg showed an inverse correlation with PCO2, with a higher correlation coefficient as resuscitation progressed. EtCO2 also had an inverse correlation with PCO2 from minute 18 to 24 of resuscitation. Our findings suggest that EtCO2 is the best VCAP-derived parameter for predicting ROSC. EtCO2 and VCO2 showed an inverse correlation with PCO2. Therefore, these parameters are not adequate to measure ventilation during CPR.

Angioplastia con balón de venas pulmonares por estenosis tras ablación percutánea de fibrilación auricular / Balloon angioplasty of pulmonary vein stenosis after percutaneous ablation of atrial fibrillation

Resumen Se presenta el caso de un hombre de 31 años, con historia de fibrilación auricular paroxística, a quien se realizó exitosamente una ablación por radiofrecuencia de venas pulmonares guiada por un sistema de mapeo tridimensional EnSite™. Tres meses después del procedimiento presentó hemoptisis y dolor torácico de características pleuríticas, motivo por el cual se le realizó una angiotomografía computarizada coronaria que evidenció una estenosis grave de la vena pulmonar superior izquierda y una estenosis moderada de la vena inferior izquierda. El paciente fue sometido a angioplastia con balón, con la cual se normalizó la perfusión pulmonar.

Abstract We report the case of a 31-year-old male patient with a history of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, who underwent a successful radiofrequency pulmonary vein ablation using EnSite™ three-dimensional mapping system. Three months after the procedure, patient presented with hemoptysis and pleuritic chest pain. A coronary computed tomography angiography was performed, which showed a severe left superior pulmonary vein stenosis and a moderate left inferior pulmonary vein stenosis. A balloon angioplasty was performed with subsequent restoration of pulmonary perfusion.

Fallo hepático agudo por gripe A: manifestación poco común de un problema frecuente / Acute liver failure by Influenza A: rare manifestation of a common problem

El fallo hepático agudo es un cuadro grave y poco frecuente en Pediatría. Precisa un manejo multidisplinar. Aunque en la mitad de los casos no se llega a un diagnóstico etiológico definitivo, conviene conocer sus causas según los grupos de edad, debido a su implicación pronóstica y terapéutica. Se reconocen principalmente causas infecciosas, tóxicas, metabólicas y autoinmunes. Dentro de las causas infecciosas, destacan los virus de la familia herpes y los virus hepatotropos; sin embargo, también se ha relacionado con virus respiratorios y en concreto con el virus de la gripe, en cuyo caso, el pronóstico es bueno. Presentamos el caso de una niña de cuatro años que debutó con cuadro de fallo hepático agudo secundario a infección por virus influenza A con una evolución muy favorable

Acute liver failure is a severe disease uncommon in children, that needs a multidisciplinar approach. In over a half of the patients the etiology is unknown. Nevertheless, remains very important for the management and prognosis to understand the main etiologies upon the group of ages. The causes may be divided in infec­tious, toxin/drug, metabolic, and autoinmune. Over the infectious etiologies the herpes virus and other hepatotropic viruses are the most frequent. However, respiratory viruses, and particularly Virus Influenza have been identified as potential cause of acute liver failure, in which the prognosis is significantly better. We report on a four-year-old girl who developed acute liver failure due to an influenza A infection with very good outcome

Características del líquido sinovial en pacientes con artritis idiopática juvenil / Characteristics of synovial fluid in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Introducción: El análisis del líquido sinovial (LS) es una herramienta importante en el diagnóstico de pacientes con artritis idiopática juvenil (AIJ). Pacientes y métodos: Análisis retrospectivo de las características citológicas del LS obtenido de pacientes con AIJ en el periodo 2008-2016. Resultados: Se analizaron 102 LS de 59 pacientes. El 66% fueron mujeres y la forma clínica más frecuente fue la AIJ oligoarticular persistente (52,5%). La mediana de edad al inicio fue de 5 años (RIC 2,4-11,8). El LS generalmente era de características inflamatorias (mediana leucocitos 11.757/mm3; RIC 4.543-18.800) con predominio de polimorfonucleares (PMN, 61%; RIC 30-75). Ocho pacientes (14%) presentaron recuentos inferiores a 2.000 cél/mm3, con predominio de mononucleares (80%), mientras que 3 pacientes (5%) presentaron recuentos superiores a 50.000cél/mm3, con predominio de PMN (90%). No se encontraron diferencias en los recuentos celulares entre las distintas formas de AIJ. La mediana del recuento de leucocitos de pacientes positivos para ANA fue un 20% inferior a la de niños negativos para ANA (9.340 vs. 11.600/mm3; p = 0,23). La proporción de PMN en LS tendía a aumentar conforme se incrementaba la VSG (p < 0,001) y/o la PCR (p = 0,03). No existe correlación del índice JADAS-10 con el recuento en LS (p = 0,4). El LS en artrocentesis simultáneas de diferentes articulaciones mostró una correlación significativa (p = 0,001). Conclusiones: El LS de pacientes con AIJ generalmente tiene características inflamatorias, aunque un 19% presentó recuentos inferiores a 2.000 o superiores a 50.000cél/mm3. Los recuentos en pacientes positivos para ANA tendían a ser menores que en los negativos para ANA (no significativo). La proporción de PMN aumentaba con los reactantes

Introduction: Synovial fluid (SF) analysis is an important tool for the diagnosis of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Patients and methods: A retrospective analysis was carried out of cytological features of SF samples obtained from patients with JIA during the period 2008-2016. Results: A total of 102 SF samples from 59 patients were analysed. JIA was more common in females (66%). The most frequent form was persistent oligoarticular JIA (52.5%). The median age at onset was 5 years (IQR 2.4-11.8). SF usually showed an inflammatory pattern (median white blood cells count 11,757/ mm3; IQR 4,543-18,800), with a predominance of polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells (61%; IQR 30-75). Eight patients (14%) had white blood cells counts of less than 2,000 cells/mm3, with predominance of mononuclear cells (80%), whereas 3 patients (5%) had white blood cells counts higher than 50,000 cells/mm3, with a predominance of PMN cells (90%). Synovial white blood cells count did not show significant differences among the different forms of JIA. The median synovial white blood cells count in ANA-positive patients was 20% lower than in ANA-negative (9,340 vs. 11,600/mm3; P = .23). The proportion of PMN increased with increasing levels of ESR (P < .001) and/or CRP (P = .03). No significant correlation was found between JADAS-10 and synovial white blood cells count (P = .4). SF obtained from different joints in simultaneous arthrocentesis showed a significant correlation P = .001). Conclusion: SF from JIA patients usually had inflammatory characteristics, although 19% of the patients showed white blood cells counts below 2,000cells/mm3 or higher than 50,000 cells/mm3. SF cell count was non-significantly lower in ANA-positive patients, and the proportion of PMN increased with increasing levels of ESR/CRP

[Characteristics of synovial fluid in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis]. / Características del líquido sinovial en pacientes con artritis idiopática juvenil.

INTRODUCTION: Synovial fluid (SF) analysis is an important tool for the diagnosis of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was carried out of cytological features of SF samples obtained from patients with JIA during the period 2008-2016. RESULTS: A total of 102 SF samples from 59 patients were analysed. JIA was more common in females (66%). The most frequent form was persistent oligoarticular JIA (52.5%). The median age at onset was 5 years (IQR 2.4-11.8). SF usually showed an inflammatory pattern (median white blood cells count 11,757/mm3; IQR 4,543-18,800), with a predominance of polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells (61%; IQR 30-75). Eight patients (14%) had white blood cells counts of less than 2,000 cells/mm3, with predominance of mononuclear cells (80%), whereas 3 patients (5%) had white blood cells counts higher than 50,000 cells/mm3, with a predominance of PMN cells (90%). Synovial white blood cells count did not show significant differences among the different forms of JIA. The median synovial white blood cells count in ANA-positive patients was 20% lower than in ANA-negative (9,340 vs. 11,600/mm3; P=.23). The proportion of PMN increased with increasing levels of ESR (P<.001) and/or CRP (P=.03). No significant correlation was found between JADAS-10 and synovial white blood cells count (P=.4). SF obtained from different joints in simultaneous arthrocentesis showed a significant correlation P=.001). CONCLUSION: SF from JIA patients usually had inflammatory characteristics, although 19% of the patients showed white blood cells counts below 2,000cells/mm3 or higher than 50,000cells/mm3. SF cell count was non-significantly lower in ANA-positive patients, and the proportion of PMN increased with increasing levels of ESR/CRP.

Effect of posterior gingival smile on the perception of smile esthetics

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate and compare the influence of posterior gummy smile on the perception of smile esthetics by orthodontists, general-dentists and laypersons. Study DESIGN: A frontal photograph of a smile with normal gum exposure was chosen and manipulated digitally using Adobe Photoshop C3 to generate three further images with posterior gum exposure of 4, 6 and 8 mm. These four images were assessed by the three evaluator groups: orthodontists (n = 40), general-dentists (n=40) and lay-persons (n=40). Both orthodontists and dentists had at least ten years professional experience and lay-persons were aged between 40-50 years. The proportion of men to women was 20:20 in each group. Evaluators awarded a score to the smile esthetics of each image: 1=acceptable, 2=moderately acceptable, 3=unacceptable. Afterwards, each evaluator placed the four images in order of esthetic preference. RESULTS: No significant differences (p > 0.05) were detected between the three evaluator groups for the photo with-out posterior gummy smile. The perception of smile esthetics for a the 4mm posterior gummy smile (median for orthodontists=2, general-dentists= 1, lay-persons=1), the 6mm (median for orthodontists=2, general-dentists=1, laypersons=1) and the 8mm (median for orthodontists=3, general-dentists=2, laypersons=2) was significantly dif-ferent between orthodontists and the other two evaluator groups (p < 0.0017).The three evaluator groups coincided in placing the image with the 6mm gum exposure in first place in order of esthetic preference. CONCLUSIONS: Posterior gummy smile influences the perception of smile esthetics more negatively among ortho-dontists than the rest of the groups

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Effect of posterior gingival smile on the perception of smile esthetics.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate and compare the influence of posterior gummy smile on the perception of smile esthetics by orthodontists, general-dentists and laypersons. STUDY DESIGN: A frontal photograph of a smile with normal gum exposure was chosen and manipulated digitally using Adobe Photoshop C3 to generate three further images with posterior gum exposure of 4, 6 and 8mm. These four images were assessed by the three evaluator groups: orthodontists (n=40), general-dentists (n=40) and laypersons (n=40). Both orthodontists and dentists had at least ten years professional experience and laypersons were aged between 40-50 years. The proportion of men to women was 20:20 in each group. Evaluators awarded a score to the smile esthetics of each image: 1=acceptable, 2=moderately acceptable, 3=unacceptable. Afterwards, each evaluator placed the four images in order of esthetic preference. RESULTS: No significant differences (p>0.05) were detected between the three evaluator groups for the photo without posterior gummy smile. The perception of smile esthetics for a the 4mm posterior gummy smile (median for orthodontists=2, general-dentists= 1, laypersons=1), the 6mm (median for orthodontists=2, general-dentists=1, laypersons=1) and the 8mm (median for orthodontists=3, general-dentists=2, laypersons=2) was significantly different between orthodontists and the other two evaluator groups (p<0.0017). The three evaluator groups coincided in placing the image with the 6mm gum exposure in first place in order of esthetic preference. CONCLUSIONS: Posterior gummy smile influences the perception of smile esthetics more negatively among orthodontists than the rest of the groups.