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Introduction: The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in children continues to increase nationally, including patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection. Survival of pediatric patients with MRSA sepsis has not improved over the last 20 years. We sought to review our institutional experience and outcomes of ECMO support among children with MRSA infection.Methods: Children aged 0-19 years who received ECMO support from October 2014 to June 2021 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients with laboratory confirmed MRSA infections were identified.Results: Out of 88 unique pediatric patients requiring ECMO support, eight patients had documented MRSA infections. The duration of mechanical ventilation prior to ECMO initiation was an average of seven days (range 0.7 to 21.8 days). The median ECMO duration was 648.1 h (range 15.5 to 1580.5 h). Five patients were successfully decannulated; however, only two patients survived to discharge. The two surviving patients were both cannulated via VV-ECMO. Mechanical ventilation prior to ECMO was 4.5 and 21.8 days in these cases with run durations of 18.9 and 29.9 days, respectively.Conclusions: Our institutional survival of patients with MRSA on ECMO is lower than what has been reported in recent database studies, but notably, 62.5% were successfully decannulated. While both surviving patients were supported with VV-ECMO, there was no other clear trend in factors that contributed to survival. MRSA continues to be a source of significant morbidity and mortality among pediatric patients. On-going investigation of outcomes and factors contributing to survival in patients with MRSA infection on ECMO is warranted.
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BACKGROUND: Kidney replacement therapy (KRT) is frequently used in critically ill children. The objective of this study is to investigate if the requirement for hemodialysis (HD) is an independent risk factor for mortality in mechanically ventilated children METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed the 2012 and 2016 Kids Inpatient Database and used a weighted sample to obtain a national outcome estimate. For our analysis, we included children aged one month to 17 years who were mechanically ventilated; we then compared the demographics, comorbidities, and mortality rates of those patients who had undergone HD with those who did not. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-squared test and regression models. The patients were matched 1:2 with a correlative propensity score using age, weekend admission, elective admission, gender, hospital region, income quartiles, race, presence of kidney failure, bone marrow transplantation (BMT), cardiac surgery, trauma, and All Patients Refined Diagnosis Related Groups (APR-DRG) severity score. The mortality rate was compared between the matched groups. RESULTS: Out of 100,289 mechanically ventilated children, 1393 (1.4%) underwent HD. The mortality rate was 32.5% in the HD group, compared with 8.8% in the control group (p < 0.05). Factors that were associated with higher mortality in HD patients included severe sepsis, BMT, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy (ECMO). After propensity score-matched analysis, HD was still significantly associated with a higher risk of mortality (31.9% vs. 22.0%, p < 0.05) CONCLUSIONS: The requirement for HD in mechanically ventilated children is associated with higher mortality.
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Diálise Renal , Respiração Artificial , Criança , Mortalidade Hospitalar , Humanos , Avaliação de Resultados em Cuidados de Saúde , Pontuação de Propensão , Diálise Renal/efeitos adversos , Estudos Retrospectivos , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
Rescuing patients with the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome and right heart failure after left ventricular assist device placement remains a challenge in patients with congenital heart disease. TandemLife Protek Duo (TandemLife, Pittsburg, PA) is a double-lumen cannula introduced via the internal jugular vein that can provide veno-venous extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation and right heart support. To our knowledge, we report the first case of successfully using the TandemLife Protek Duo cannula to provide veno-venous extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation and right ventricle support in an adolescent male with an existing right ventricle-pulmonary artery conduit and the melody pulmonary valve who developed severe acute respiratory distress syndrome after the placement of left ventricular assist device. The stability of the cannula enabled minimal recirculation-related hypoxia events, early mobilization, and ambulation. Our patient was discharged home after lung recovery and currently awaiting a heart transplant.
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Oxigenação por Membrana Extracorpórea , Coração Auxiliar , Síndrome do Desconforto Respiratório , Adolescente , Cânula , Ventrículos do Coração , Humanos , Masculino , Síndrome do Desconforto Respiratório/terapiaRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To explore the epidemiology and outcomes of takotsubo cardiomyopathy in children. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization 2012 and 2016 Kids' Inpatient Database was performed. Patients admitted with the diagnosis of takotsubo cardiomyopathy in the age group of 1 month-20 years were identified using International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9 code 429.83 and ICD-10 code I51.81. RESULTS: Among a total of 4,860,859 discharges, there were 153 with the diagnosis of takotsubo cardiomyopathy (3.1 per 100,000 discharges). Among patients with takotsubo cardiomyopathy, 55.0% were male, 62.4% were white, and 16.7% were black. Eighty-nine percent of patients were between 12 and 20 years. Psychiatric diagnosis was documented in 46% and substance use disorder in 36.2%. Sepsis was documented in 22.8% of patients. The median length of stay was 5 days (interquartile range: 2.7-15), and median total charges were $75,080 (interquartile range: 32,176-198,336). The overall mortality for takotsubo cardiomyopathy was 7%. On multivariable regression analysis, mortality was higher in the presence of anoxic injury (odds ratio = 34.42, 95% confidence interval: 4.85-320.11, p = 0.00). CONCLUSIONS: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is uncommon in children and carries a mortality rate of 7%. Most children with takotsubo cardiomyopathy are adolescent males, many of whom have psychiatric disorder or substance use disorder or both. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy should be considered in the differential diagnosis for patients who present with cardiac dysfunction and have underlying psychiatric disorders or drug abuse.
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Cardiomiopatia de Takotsubo , Adolescente , Criança , Feminino , Mortalidade Hospitalar , Hospitalização , Humanos , Masculino , Razão de Chances , Estudos Retrospectivos , Cardiomiopatia de Takotsubo/diagnóstico , Cardiomiopatia de Takotsubo/epidemiologiaRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of closed endotracheal tube suctioning on systemic oxygen saturation, cerebral regional oxygen saturation, and somatic regional (renal) oxygen saturation and hemodynamic variables in children. DESIGN: Prospective observational. SETTING: A tertiary care PICU. SUBJECTS: Children aged 0-18 years, requiring invasive mechanical ventilation and with an arterial line. INTERVENTIONS: Closed endotracheal suction. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The study included 19 sedated and intubated children, 0-18 years old. They were enrolled in an ongoing prospective observational study. We used near-infrared spectroscopy for cerebral regional oxygen saturation and somatic regional (renal) oxygen saturation. The timing of each closed endotracheal tube suctioning event was accurately identified from video recordings. We extracted systemic oxygen saturation, cerebral regional oxygen saturation, somatic regional (renal) oxygen saturation, heart rate, and systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure for 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after each event and used these data for analysis. One-minute average values of these variables were used for repeated-measures analysis. We analyzed 287 endotracheal tube suctioning episodes in 19 children. Saline was instilled into the endotracheal tube during 61 episodes. The mean heart rate (107.0 ± 18.7 vs 110.2 ± 10.4; p < 0.05), mean arterial blood pressure (81.5 ± 16.1 vs 83.0 ± 15.6 mm Hg; p < 0.05), and the mean cerebral regional oxygen saturation (64.8 ± 8.3 vs 65.8 ± 8.3; p < 0.05) were increased after suctioning. The mean systemic oxygen saturation (96.9 ± 2.7 vs 96.7 ± 2.7; p = 0.013) was decreased, whereas the mean somatic regional (renal) oxygen saturation was not significantly different after endotracheal tube suctioning. Repeated-measures analysis revealed transient increases in heart rate, respiratory rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure; a sustained increase in cerebral regional oxygen saturation; and transient decreases in systemic oxygen saturation and somatic regional (renal) oxygen saturation. Saline instillation did not affect oxygenation or hemodynamic variables. CONCLUSIONS: Closed endotracheal tube suctioning in sedated children is associated with transient but clinically insignificant changes in heart rate, blood pressure, cerebral regional oxygen saturation, systemic oxygen saturation, and somatic regional (renal) oxygen saturation. Saline instillation during endotracheal tube suctioning had no adverse effects on systemic or cerebral oxygenation.
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Circulação Cerebrovascular/fisiologia , Hemodinâmica/fisiologia , Intubação Intratraqueal/métodos , Oxigênio/sangue , Sucção/métodos , Adolescente , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Estado Terminal/terapia , Eletroencefalografia , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Unidades de Terapia Intensiva Pediátrica , Masculino , Estudos Prospectivos , Espectroscopia de Luz Próxima ao InfravermelhoRESUMO
Heart rate variability (HRV) has been used as prognostic tool in various disorders in pediatric and adult patients. In our study we aimed to evaluate heart rate variability indices and their association with neurological outcome in three children with anoxic brain injury following drowning. Three children included in the study were admitted following drowning and required mechanical ventilation and targeted temperature management. All physiologic data, including electrocardiography (ECG) and EEG were collected for a period of 3-5 days after enrollment. ECG signals were analyzed in both time and frequency domains. The spectral power of the low-frequency (LF) band (0.04-0.15 Hz) and that of the high-frequency (HF) band (0.15-0.4 Hz), the standard deviation of the average R to R ECG intervals (SDANN) were calculated. Mean low-frequency/high-frequency power ratios (LF/HF) were compared using a two-tailed t-test and ANOVA with Tukey-Kramer multiple comparisons. The power in the LF band, the LF/HF power ratio, and the SDANN, were lower in children who had a poor outcome, and during periods of isoelectric or burst suppression EEG patterns.
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OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the hemoglobin threshold for red cell transfusion in children admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). METHODS: Retrospective chart review study. Tertiary care PICU. Critically ill pediatric patients requiring blood transfusion. No intervention. RESULTS: We analyzed the charts of all children between 1 month and 21 years of age who received packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusions during a 2-year period. The target patients were identified from our blood bank database. For analysis, the patients were subdivided into four groups: acute blood loss (postsurgically, trauma, or acute gastrointestinal bleeding from other causes), hematologic (hematologic malignancies, bone marrow suppression, hemolytic anemia, or sickle cell disease), unstable (FiO2 > 0.6 and/or on inotropic support), and stable groups. We also compared the pre-transfusion hemoglobin threshold in all unstable patients with that of all stable patients. A total of 571 transfusion episodes in 284 patients were analyzed. 28% (n = 160) of transfusions were administered to patients in the acute blood loss group, 36% (n = 206) to hematologic patients, 17% (n = 99) to unstable patients, and 18% (n = 106) to stable patients. The mean pre-transfusion hemoglobin (± SD) in all children as well as in the acute blood loss, hematologic, unstable and stable groups was 7.3 ± 1.20, 7.83 ± 1.32, 6.97 ± 1.31, 7.96 ± 1.37, 7.31 ± 1.09 g/dl, respectively. The transfusion threshold for acute blood loss and unstable groups was higher compared to hematologic and stable groups (p < 0.001; ANOVA with multiple comparisons). The mean pre-transfusion hemoglobin threshold for stable and unstable patients among all groups was 7.3 ± 1.3 and 7.9 ± 1.3 (p < 0.0001), respectively. The observed mortality rate was higher among children who received transfusion compared to other children admitted to PICU. CONCLUSION: The hemoglobin threshold for transfusion varied according to clinical conditions. Overall, the hemoglobin threshold for transfusion was 7.3 ± 1.20 g/dl.
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OBJECTIVE: North America is home to 2 families of venomous snakes, Crotalinae (pit viper family) and Elapidae (coral snake family). Although there are several published reports describing and reviewing the management of pit viper snakebites in children, there are no recent similar publications detailing the clinical course and management of coral snake envenomation. METHODS: Our case series describes the hospital course of children with coral snake bites admitted to our regional pediatric intensive care. We also reviewed prior published case reports of coral snake bites in the United States. RESULTS: We identified 4 patients with either confirmed or suspected coral snake envenomation from our hospital's records. In 2 cases, the snakebite occurred after apparent provocation. Antivenom was administered to 3 patients. The regional venom response team was consulted for management advice and supplied the antivenom. One patient had a prolonged hospital course, which was complicated by respiratory failure, bulbar palsy, and ataxia. All survived to discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Admission to pediatric intensive care is warranted after all Eastern coral snake bites. A specialized regional or national venom response team can be a useful resource for management advice and as a source of antivenom.
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Antivenenos/uso terapêutico , Elapidae , Mordeduras de Serpentes/tratamento farmacológico , Adolescente , Animais , Criança , Feminino , Humanos , Unidades de Terapia Intensiva Pediátrica , Tempo de Internação , Masculino , Prognóstico , Estudos Retrospectivos , Mordeduras de Serpentes/complicações , Estados UnidosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Miscommunication during interfacility handoffs to a higher level of care can harm critically ill children. Adapting evidence-based handoff interventions to interfacility referral communication may prevent adverse events. The objective of this project was to develop and evaluate a standard electronic referral template (I-PASS-to-PICU) to improve communication for interfacility pediatric ICU (PICU) transfers. METHODS: I-PASS-to-PICU was iteratively developed in a single PICU. A core PICU stakeholder group collaboratively designed an electronic health record (EHR)-supported clinical note template by adapting elements from I-PASS, an evidence-based handoff program, to support information exchange between referring clinicians and receiving PICU physicians. I-PASS-to-PICU is a receiver-driven tool used by PICU physicians to guide verbal communication and electronic documentation during PICU transfer calls. The template underwent three cycles of iterative evaluation and redesign informed by individual and group interviews of multidisciplinary PICU staff, usability testing using simulated and actual referral calls, and debriefing with PICU physicians. RESULTS: Individual and group interviews with 21 PICU staff members revealed that relevant, accurate, and concise information was needed for adequate admission preparedness. Time constraints and secondhand information transmission were identified as barriers. Usability testing with six receiving PICU physicians using simulated and actual calls revealed good usability on the validated System Usability Scale (SUS), with a mean score of 77.5 (standard deviation 10.9). Fellows indicated that most fields were relevant and that the template was feasible to use. CONCLUSION: I-PASS-to-PICU was technically feasible, usable, and relevant. The authors plan to further evaluate its effectiveness in improving information exchange during real-time PICU practice.
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Registros Eletrônicos de Saúde , Unidades de Terapia Intensiva Pediátrica , Transferência da Responsabilidade pelo Paciente , Transferência de Pacientes , Encaminhamento e Consulta , Humanos , Unidades de Terapia Intensiva Pediátrica/organização & administração , Unidades de Terapia Intensiva Pediátrica/normas , Transferência de Pacientes/normas , Transferência de Pacientes/organização & administração , Encaminhamento e Consulta/organização & administração , Registros Eletrônicos de Saúde/organização & administração , Transferência da Responsabilidade pelo Paciente/normas , Transferência da Responsabilidade pelo Paciente/organização & administração , Comunicação , Melhoria de Qualidade/organização & administraçãoRESUMO
The Fontan procedure is the final palliative surgery in a series of staged surgeries to reroute the systemic venous blood flow directly to the lungs, with the ventricle(s) pumping oxygenated blood to the body. Advances in medical and surgical techniques have improved patients' overall survival after the Fontan procedure. However, Fontan-associated chronic comorbidities are common. In addition to chronic cardiac dysfunction and arrhythmias, complications involving other organs such as the liver, lungs, intestine, lymphatic system, brain, and blood frequently occur. This narrative review focuses on the immediate and late consequences in children, pregnant women, and other adults with Fontan circulation. In addition, we describe the technical advancements that might change the way single-ventricle patients are managed in future.
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Técnica de Fontan , Cardiopatias Congênitas , Criança , Adulto , Humanos , Feminino , Gravidez , Técnica de Fontan/efeitos adversos , Técnica de Fontan/métodos , Cardiopatias Congênitas/cirurgia , Ventrículos do Coração , Arritmias Cardíacas , Cuidados Paliativos/métodos , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
Histoplasma-mediated pericarditis is rare, and it occurs due to host-mediated inflammatory or immune response to adjacent mediastinal adenitis or pneumonitis. It is usually self-limited and rarely progresses to a disseminated infection in an immunocompetent individual. In rare instances, it can occur without pulmonary manifestations, making the diagnosis challenging given the broad list of differentials that can be considered as in our patient who initially presented with an isolated pericardial effusion with tamponade needing emergent pericardiocentesis.
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Tamponamento Cardíaco , Derrame Pericárdico , Pericardite , Humanos , Criança , Tamponamento Cardíaco/etiologia , Tamponamento Cardíaco/complicações , Histoplasma , Derrame Pericárdico/etiologia , Derrame Pericárdico/complicações , Pericardiocentese , Pericardite/complicações , Pericardite/diagnósticoRESUMO
Chronic cough can be a diagnostic challenge in the pediatric population. Foreign body aspiration without typical signs and symptoms can often be overlooked as a cause of chronic cough in children. Coin aspirations in the trachea typically have a sagittal orientation on an anteroposterior (AP) chest radiograph. We report a rare case of a previously healthy five-year-old girl presenting with a chronic cough for five months caused by a coin with a coronal orientation on an AP chest radiograph. The coin, initially presumed to be lodged in the esophagus, was actually lodged in the cervical trachea, leading to the development of a tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF). Her AP chest radiograph showed a coronal, circular radio-opaque shadow and the lateral view a tangential radio-opaque shadow, prompting an initial evaluation by esophagogastroduodenoscopy, which was normal. She then underwent rigid bronchoscopy, revealing a coin lodged in the trachea along with a TEF. Surgical removal was achieved through an external approach with a vertical tracheotomy and insertion of a tracheostomy tube. Five days later, a repeat rigid bronchoscopy showed a well-healed TEF, and she was successfully decannulated. She was ultimately discharged home on room air and oral feeds. TEF as a complication of a foreign body lodged in the trachea or esophagus is rare but life-threatening. Foreign body aspiration should always be considered in the differential diagnosis when evaluating younger children with chronic cough.
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Platelet mass index (PMI) as a prognostic indicator in pediatric sepsis has not been previously reported. In this retrospective observational study, we evaluated PMI's performance as a prognostic indicator in children aged younger than 18 years with sepsis and septic shock in relationship with survival. Over 5 years, we collected data from 122 children admitted to our pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). PMI accuracy was assessed with sensitivity and specificity and its discrimination was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Median PMI values on days 1 and 3 of PICU admission were lower among nonsurvivors. On day 1 of PICU admission, a cutoff PMI value of 1,450 fL/nL resulted in a sensitivity of 72% and a specificity of 69%, and the AUC was 0.70 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.55-0.86). Similarly, on day 3, a cutoff of 900 fL/nL resulted in a sensitivity of 71% and a specificity of 70%, and the AUC was 0.76 (95% CI: 0.59-0.92). Our exploratory study suggests that low PMI in children with septic shock is associated with increased mortality. Considering the PMI's fair performance, further studies should be performed to assess its clinical value.
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OBJECTIVE: Blood transfusion therapy (BTT) is widely used in trauma patients. However, the adverse effects of BTT in pediatric trauma patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) were poorly studied. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of BTT on mortality in children with severe TBI. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort analysis, we analyzed 2012 and 2016 Kids' Inpatient Databases and used a weighted sample to obtain national outcome estimates. We included children aged 1 month to 21 years with TBI who were mechanically ventilated, considered severe TBI; we then compared the demographics, comorbidities, and mortality rates of those patients who had undergone BTT to those who did not. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-squared test and regression models. In addition, in a correlative propensity score matched analysis, cases (BTT) were matched 1:1 with controls (non-BTT) based on age, gender, hospital region, income quartiles, race, and All Patients Refined Diagnosis Related Groups (APRDRG) severity of illness scores to minimize the effect of confounding variables between the groups. RESULTS: Out of 87,980 children with a diagnosis of TBI, 17,199 (19.5%) with severe TBI were included in the analysis. BTT was documented in 3184 (18.5%) children. Among BTT group, the mortality was higher compared to non-BTT group [31.6% (29.7-33.5%) vs. 14.4 (13.7-15.1%), (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.9-2.6; p<0.05)]. In the BTT group, infants and adolescents, white race, APRDRG severity of illness, cardiac arrest, platelet, and coagulation factor transfusions were associated with higher mortality. In a propensity-matched analysis, BTT associated with a higher risk of mortality (32.1% [30.1-34.2] vs. 17.4% [15.8-19.1], p<0.05; OR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.9-2.6). CONCLUSION: In children with severe TBI, blood transfusion therapy is associated with higher mortality.
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Lesões Encefálicas Traumáticas , Lactente , Adolescente , Humanos , Criança , Estudos Retrospectivos , Lesões Encefálicas Traumáticas/complicações , Transfusão de Sangue , Comorbidade , PlaquetasRESUMO
Objective: Bleeding is a common complication of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), leading to increased mortality. Since one of its main complications is bleeding, platelet transfusions are frequently prescribed for children on ECMO. However, there is currently very little information on the effect of platelet transfusions on the function of the ECMO oxygenator. Our objective was to describe the effect of platelet transfusions on oxygenator function. Methods: In this retrospective study, we included all children (<18 years) who received ECMO support in our pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) between January 2017 and December 2019. Oxygenator function, measured before and after platelet transfusion, was assessed by post-oxygenator P ECMO O2 and the gradient in pre- post-oxygenator pressures (Delta Pressure). Results: Over 3 years, we analyzed 235 platelet transfusions from 55 children who received ECMO support. Thirty-two (80%) of children were on veno-arterial ECMO and majority of them were peripherally cannulated. When looking at all transfusions, the post-transfusion change in delta-pressure was 0.1 mmHg (p = 0.69) and post-membrane P ECMO O2 was 6 mmHg (p = 0.49). However, in the subgroup with the lowest quartile of pre-transfusion oxygenator function, the post-transfusion change in delta-pressure was -5.2 ± 2.7 mmHg (p < 0.001) and the post-transfusion change in P ECMO O2 was -118 ± 49 (p < 0.001). The area under the ROC curve for the pre-transfusion delta-pressure and P ECMO O2 to predict a worsening of the oxygenator function were 0.72 (95%CI 0.63-0.81) and 0.71 (95%CI 0.64-0.78), respectively. Using regression models, pre-transfusion delta-pressure and P ECMO O2 were the only independent factors associated with oxygenator function worsening (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our study suggests that overall, platelet transfusions do not seem to impact the ECMO oxygenator's function. However, in the subgroup of patients with the lowest pre-transfusion oxygenator function, platelet transfusions were independently associated with a worsening function. Future studies should investigate if this warrants adjustments of the anticoagulation strategy around the platelet transfusion, especially among patients with lower oxygenator function.
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Transposition of great arteries (d-TGA) is often associated with various coronary artery (CA) patterns. These anomalous patterns can cause variable clinical symptoms of coronary ischemia including sudden death. CA pattern is one of the major determinants of outcome in TGA postoperatively. An advanced cardiac imaging and a multidisciplinary care approach are essential for a favorable outcome. Here, we describe a novel CA origin pattern in a neonate with d-TGA, who developed myocardial ischemia and required a coronary unroofing procedure for a full recovery.
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Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is often used in critically ill children with severe cardiopulmonary failure. Worldwide, about 3600 children are supported by ECMO each year, with an increase of 10% in cases per year. Although anticoagulation is necessary to prevent circuit thrombosis during ECMO support, bleeding and thrombosis are associated with significantly increased mortality risk. In addition, maintaining balanced hemostasis is a challenging task during ECMO support. While heparin is a standard anticoagulation therapy in ECMO, recently, newer anticoagulant agents are also in use. Currently, there is a wide variation in anticoagulation management and diagnostic monitoring in children receiving ECMO. This review intends to describe the pathophysiology of coagulation during ECMO support, review of literature on current and newer anticoagulant agents, and outline various diagnostic tests used for anticoagulation monitoring. We will also discuss knowledge gaps and future areas of research.
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Gigantism and acromegaly are most commonly caused by a growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary adenoma. Pediatric cases are diagnostically and therapeutically challenging due to their insidious nature. This article presents two adolescent females who were referred to the endocrinology clinic primarily for the evaluation of menstrual disorders rather than for concerns about GH excess. Patient one was a 16-year-old who presented with primary amenorrhea and tall stature, and patient two, a 15-year-old, presented with a history of irregular menstruation. Both patients were noted to have acromegalic features, and an extensive work-up confirmed GH-secreting pituitary adenomas. In addition, patient two had significant hyperprolactinemia. Transsphenoidal tumor resection was performed on both patients; patient one had a successful complete resection and achieved endocrine remission, while patient two underwent partial resection followed by a short clinical trial of pegvisomant without significant success. Improved clinical knowledge through case reports can assist with the early diagnosis and management of such rare pediatric conditions.
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Purpose: To determine the effects of non-ictal electroencephalogram (EEG) changes on cerebrovascular autoregulation (AR) using the cerebral oximetry index (COx). Materials and Methods: Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), cerebral tissue oxygenation (CrSO2), and EEG were acquired for 96 h. From all of the EEG recordings, 30 min recording segments were extracted using the endotracheal suction events as the guide. EEG recordings were classified as EEG normal and EEG abnormal groups. Each 30 min segment was further divided into six 5 min epochs. Continuous recordings of MAP and CrSO2 by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) were extracted. The COx value was defined as the concordance (R) value of the Pearson correlation between MAP and CrSO2 in a 5 min epoch. Then, an Independent-Samples Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze the number of epochs within the 30 min segments above various R cutoff values (0.2, 0.3, and 0.4) in normal and abnormal EEG groups. A p-value < 0.05 was considered significant, and all analyses were two-tailed. Results: Among 16 sedated, mechanically ventilated children, 382 EEG recordings of 30 min segments were analyzed. The proportions of epochs in each 30 min segment above the R cutoff values were similar between the EEG normal and EEG abnormal groups (p > 0.05). The median concordance values for CSrO2 and MAP in EEG normal and EEG abnormal groups were similar (0.26 (0.17−0.35) and 0.18 (0.12−0.31); p = 0.09). Conclusions: Abnormal EEG patterns without ictal changes do not affect cerebrovascular autoregulation in sedated and mechanically ventilated children.
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Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state (HHS) are serious complications associated with diabetes mellitus (DM). HHS is a common diagnosis in adults but rare in children. DKA is a usual presentation for new-onset type 1 DM, although HHS is rarely a manifestation of new-onset type 1 DM. Diagnosis and management of HHS are challenging in pediatric patients, especially if they present with a mixed picture of HHS and DKA. We report an adolescent female with a new onset of type 1 DM presented as mixed DKA and HHS. Treatment included meticulous management of fluids and continuous insulin drip with the resolution of acidosis within 24 hours and hyperosmolar state at 96 hours of admission. Early differentiation of these two entities and meticulous fluid management improves the outcome and decreases the risk of complications such as cerebral edema, renal failure, and thrombosis, among others.