International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology
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Int. J. Pediatr. Otorhinolaryngol. · Jun 2012
Comparative StudyEffect of adenotonsillectomy on the use of respiratory medication.
Recurrent tonsillitis and upper respiratory tract obstruction due to adenotonsillar hypertrophy are the most common indications for (adeno)tonsillectomy ((A)TE). Symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection and obstruction can, however, be attributed to lower airway pathology and thus treated with respiratory medication - this is non-antimicrobial medication used for lower respiratory diseases like bronchitis, bronchiolitis, asthma and episodic wheezing. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of the current (A)TE practice in Belgium on the use of respiratory medication in subjects aged 0-15. ⋯ Compared with the year before surgery, the median use of respiratory medication in subjects aged 0-15 drastically reduces in the year after (A)TE. A possible reason for this reduction is that children with upper airway obstruction and infections are often wrongly diagnosed as having lower airway problems.
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Int. J. Pediatr. Otorhinolaryngol. · Jun 2012
Comparative StudyEffect of cuffed and uncuffed endotracheal tubes on the oropharyngeal oxygen and volatile anesthetic agent concentration in children.
Over the past 5 years, there has been a change in the clinical practice of pediatric anesthesiology with a transition to the use of cuffed instead of uncuffed endotracheal tubes (ETTs) in infants and children. As the trachea is sealed, one advantage is to eliminate the contamination of the oropharynx with oxygen which should be advantageous during adenotonsillectomy where there is a risk of airway fire. The current study prospectively assesses the oropharyngeal oxygen and volatile anesthetic agent concentration during adenotonsillectomy in infants and children. ⋯ With the use of an uncuffed ETT and the administration of 100% oxygen, there was significant contamination of the oropharynx noted during both PPV and SV. The oropharyngeal concentration of oxygen is high enough to support combustion in the majority of patients. The use of a cuffed ETT eliminates oropharyngeal contamination with oxygen during the administration of anesthesia and may be useful in limiting the incidence of an airway fire.
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Int. J. Pediatr. Otorhinolaryngol. · Jun 2012
Comparative StudyPredictors of bleeding disorders in children with epistaxis: value of preoperative tests and clinical screening.
To identify prevalence of previously undiagnosed bleeding disorders in children with severe epistaxis who failed medical therapy requiring intraoperative nasal cautery. ⋯ Children with recurrent epistaxis despite medical therapy are at higher risk of having a bleeding disorder. In this highly selected group of patients 10.6% (5/47) were found to have a bleeding disorder. Screening coagulation studies (PT, PTT) only revealed 20% (1/5) of patients with a bleeding disorder. Only a subsequent comprehensive hematology evaluation revealed the diagnosis in the majority of patients.
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Int. J. Pediatr. Otorhinolaryngol. · Jun 2012
Comparative StudySimilarities and differences in aspirated tracheobronchial foreign bodies in patients under the age of 3 years.
To investigate the clinical pathological features of aspirated tracheobronchial foreign body (FB) cases in children under the age of 3 years and to improve the level of diagnosis and treatment. ⋯ FBAs of animal-derived FBs (especially animal bones) are very common in infants in southern China. Children between the ages of 1 and 2 years are most likely to suffer from FBA. FBA in children under the age of 3 years carries significant hazards, including morbidity and mortality. Asphyxia and/or cardiopulmonary arrest is prone to occur shortly after FBA in infants, but these events can occur days later in older children after FBA because of delays in the diagnosis and/or treatment of this condition.
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Int. J. Pediatr. Otorhinolaryngol. · Jun 2012
Peri-operative complications after adenotonsillectomy in a UK pediatric tertiary referral centre.
Adenoidectomy and/or tonsillectomy are commonly performed in tertiary pediatric hospitals for the management of obstructive sleep apnea, often in children with significant comorbidities. This study examines the peri-operative course of a large series of complex patients undergoing such surgery at a major pediatric centre, reporting particularly cases of respiratory compromise requiring intensive care admission, both electively and unplanned. ⋯ The peri-operative course was largely uneventful for the majority of children undergoing surgery during this period, particularly given the high prevalence of sleep apnea and other risk factors in this cohort. Major complications were uncommon, with 2.4% of these selected, typically high risk cases requiring peri-operative intensive care admission. Importantly, only 1% of all admissions required unanticipated transfer to intensive care. This has informed changes in peri-operative management in this unit, with implications for other pediatric tertiary referral centres.