Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis in children: a review of the experience with paediatric patients in a university hospital.

BACKGROUND: Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are life-threatening drug reactions considered to be part of the spectrum of a single pathological process. OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of SJS/TEN in children attended at our hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of children diagnosed with SJS/TEN between 1999 and 2009 in a University Hospital provided with regional-level burn and paediatric intensive care units. RESULTS: We found 14 paediatric patients (eight SJS and six TEN). They presented an average of 60% of the body surface area affected and 31% of epidermal sloughing. The average of suspected drugs was 1.7 per patient, anticonvulsants (carbamazepine, phenytoin and lamotrigine) and antibiotics (penicillin and macrolides) being the most frequent ones. Silver sulfadiazine was the topical treatment most frequently used, 86% of patients received systemic steroids and 28.5% intravenous immunoglobulins. One patient died. CONCLUSIONS: The SJS/TEN complex is a true dermatological critical condition that also affects children. Any drug can be the causative agent, more frequently anticonvulsants and antibiotics. Depending on the extension of the affected body surface, patients should be rapidly admitted to a critical care area with experience in the care of burn patients. Discontinuation of the suspected offending drugs is mandatory. Optimal supportive care and management of denuded skin areas are still the mainstay of treatment. The use of specific therapies remains controversial. Compared with adults, the disease in children seems to be milder with lower mortality.

[Pneumococcal endocarditis in a previously healthy 17-month-old boy]. / Endocarditis neumocócica en niño de 17 meses previamente sano.

Invasive pneumococcal infection is a severe disease and its incidence may be increasing. Endocarditis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae is uncommon, particularly in children without risk factors. Etiologic diagnosis is difficult when cultures are negative. We report the case of a previously healthy, 17-month-old boy not vaccinated against pneumococcus who, during the course of pneumonia treated with beta-lactam antibiotics, developed cardiorespiratory deterioration and heart murmur. Mitral valve vegetation was identified by transthoracic echocardiography. Endocarditis was diagnosed and new antibiotics were given for 6 weeks (cefotaxime, gentamycin and vancomycin). Cultures were negative. Because of lack of improvement, prosthetic mitral replacement was indicated. S. pneumoniae was identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the pathological specimen. Outcome was favorable, and the patient remained symptom-free after 6 months of follow-up. The possibility of endocarditis as an invasive pneumococcal infection should be considered in children without risk factors. PCR is a useful technique to establish the etiology when cultures are negative.

[Initial pediatric trauma care and cardiopulmonary resuscitation]. / Asistencia inicial al traumatismo pediátrico y reanimación cardiopulmonar.

Accidents are a frequent cause of death in children older than 1 year. The most frequent causes of death by accident are traffic accidents, drowning, intentional injuries, burns, and falls. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is one component of the set of actions needed to obtain initial stabilization of a child with serious trauma. In the first few minutes after the accident, cardiorespiratory arrest can occur due to airway obstruction or inadequate ventilation, massive blood loss or severe brain damage; cardiorespiratory arrest in this setting has a dismal outcome. When arrest occurs hours after trauma, it is usually caused by hypoxia, hypovolemia, hypothermia, intracranial hypertension, or electrolyte disturbances. The first response to trauma should include three objectives: to protect (scenario assessment and implementation of safety measures), to alert (activation of the emergency medical system) and to help (initial trauma care). Initial trauma care includes primary and secondary surveys. The primary survey involves several consecutive steps: A. airway and cervical spine stabilization, B. breathing, C. circulation and hemorrhage control, D. neurological dysfunction, and E. exposure. The secondary survey consists of assessment of the victim by means of anamnesis, sequential physical examination (from head to limbs) and complementary investigations. During emergency trauma care, specific procedures such as extrication and mobilization maneuvers, cervical spine control by means of bimanual immobilization, and cervical collar placement or helmet removal. If a cardiorespiratory arrest occurs during initial trauma care, resuscitation maneuvers must be immediately started with the specific adaptations indicated in children with trauma.

[Cardiorespiratory arrest in children with trauma]. / Parada cardiorrespiratoria secundaria a traumatismos en niños. Características y evolución.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the characteristics and outcome of cardiorespiratory arrest secondary to trauma in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a secondary analysis of data from a prospective, multicenter study of cardiorespiratory arrest in children. Data were recorded according to the Utstein style. Twenty-eight children (age range: 7 days to 16 years) with cardiorespiratory arrest secondary to trauma were evaluated. The outcome variables were return of spontaneous circulation, sustained (more than 20 minutes) return of spontaneous circulation (initial survival), and survival at hospital discharge (final survival) in relation to the characteristics of the cardiorespiratory arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Neurological and general performance outcome was assessed by means of the Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category scale and the Pediatric Overall Performance Category scale. RESULTS: Return of spontaneous circulation was obtained in 18 patients (64.2 %), initial survival was achieved in 14 (50 %) and final survival was achieved in three (10.7 %) (two without neurological sequelae and one with vegetative status). Final survival was significantly higher in patients with respiratory arrest (33.3 %) than in those with cardiac arrest (4.5 %), p = 0.04. Final survival was also higher in patients with a duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation shorter than 20 minutes (27.2 %) than in the remaining patients (0 %), p =0.05. The two survivors without neurologic sequelae had respiratory arrest. CONCLUSIONS: Survival until hospital discharge in children with cardiorespiratory arrest secondary to trauma is lower than that in children with cardiorespiratory arrest. Patients with respiratory arrest when resuscitation is started and those with a duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation of less than 20 minutes showed better survival than the remaining patients.

[Severe burns related to steam inhalation therapy]. / Quemaduras graves relacionadas con la terapia inhalatoria con vahos.

INTRODUCTION: Despite lack of proven effectiveness and its potential to cause severe burns, steam inhalation therapy (SIT) is still used as a treatment for benign respiratory conditions. OBJECTIVE: To characterize cases of burns related to steam inhalation therapy (BRSIT) in order to formulate appropriate preventive criteria. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A review was conducted on cases of BRSIT admitted to a Burns Unit between 2006 and 2012, analysing epidemiological data, clinical aspects, severity and course. RESULTS: A total of 530 patients were admitted; 375 (70%) with scalds, and 15 with BRSIT (2.8% of burns; 4% of scalds). SIT was indicated in most cases for mild upper airway infections. The median age of patients was 7 years (2.5m-14 y). The burned area (BA) was ≥10% in 60% of cases (max. BA 22%). Injuries involved trunk, genital area, and extremities; only in one case was the face affected. The mean hospital length-of-stay was 14 days (3-30 d). Five patients (33%) were admitted to the PICU, most of them (60%) younger than 3 years. Eight patients (53%) underwent surgical treatment (skin grafting). In a 12-year-old patient whooping cough was diagnosed in the Burns Unit, and a 2.5-year-old patient developed staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome. No patient died. The final course was satisfactory in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: BRSIT can be severe and cause significant use of health resources. Professionals caring for children, particularly paediatricians, should seriously consider their prevention, avoiding treatments with SIT, and educating parents in order not to use it on their own.

[Characteristics and evolution of cardiopulmonary arrest in children in Spain: comparison between autonomous communities]. / Características y evolución de la parada cardiorrespiratoria infantil en España: comparación entre Comunidades Autónomas.

INTRODUCTION: In Spain there are many differences between autonomous regions in terms of geography, population distribution and health care organisation. We do not know if these differences could have influenced the characteristics and evolution of cardiopulmonary arrest in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A secondary analysis of data from a prospective, multicenter and previously published study, analysing cardiorespiratory arrest in children was made to compare the characteristics and evolution of cardiopulmonary arrest in children depending on the region where the arrest occurred. We studied 283 children aged between 7 days and 17 years who suffered respiratory or cardiopulmonary arrest. Data were recorded according to the international Utstein style recommendations. Patients were classified according to the autonomous region where the cardiac arrest occurred: Catalonia (94 cases), Andalusia (64 cases), Madrid (61 cases) and the rest of the regions (64 patients). A statistical analysis was performed to compare the characteristics of cardiac arrest, resuscitation, evolution and survival between the four groups. RESULTS: Sixty percent of patients initially survived the cardiac arrest episode and 33% (94 patients) were still alive one year later. No significant differences in the characteristics of arrest, resuscitation and evolution were found when the autonomous regions were compared. Even though the differences were not statistically significant, there was a tendency to less than expected survival in Andalusia and higher than expected survival in Catalonia. CONCLUSIONS: There are no important differences in the characteristics of pediatric cardiopulmonary arrest, resuscitation, evolution and survival between the autonomous regions in Spain. Additional studies are needed to analyze the hypothetical influence of health care organization and life support training on survival.

[Pediatric trauma life support and cardiopulmonary resuscitation]. / Asistencia inicial al trauma pediátrico y reanimación cardiopulmonar.

Accidents are the most frequent cause of mortality among children older than one year. Thus, the need to proceed to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) during the early phases of trauma life support (TLS) is always a possibility. Trauma is a special situation in CPR: expected problems (i.e., hemorrhage, pneumo-hemothorax, hypothermia, and difficult intubation and vascular access), specific therapeutic actions (i.e., helmet retrieval and cervical spine immobilization), and exceptions to standard CPR guidelines (i.e., contraindication for the head tilt-chin lift manoeuvre) can arise. Therefore, TLS and CPR interventions must be appropriately integrated. TLS is considered a method (much like CPR). It combines organization and leadership with competent, structured and timely actions. Appropriate intervention within the first few moments ("platinum half-hour" and " golden hour") and first day ("silver day") is essential. As in CPR, two modalities can be distinguished: basic TLS (on the scene, without technical resources) and advanced TLS (with resources). The acronym PAA summarizes basic TLS: Protect-Alert-Aid. The advanced TLS sequence includes the following: primary survey and initial stabilization, secondary survey, triage, transport, and definitive care. The main objective of the primary survey and initial stabilization phase is the identification and treatment of injuries with immediate potential to cause death. CPR in the context of TLS should be adapted to the special features of trauma. Particular attention should be paid to the cervical spine. While not specific for trauma care, the early and generous administration of oxygen should be emphasized.

[Cardiac tamponade in children as a complication of central venous catheterization. Report of four cases]. / Taponamiento cardiaco en niños como complicación de la cateterización venosa céntral. Presentación de cuatro casos.

Very few cases of children with cardiac tamponade from central venous catheterization have been reported. Four cases are described. In 3 patients the diagnosis was suspected, a pericardiocentesis was performed and they survived. The other patient died and, at autopsy, diagnosis was made. The available literature on cardiac tamponade from central venous catheters in children is reviewed, preventive measures are considered in detail and the need for a high index of suspicion is highlighted.