Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition
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J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr. · Sep 1988
Case ReportsAscites complicating ventriculoperitoneal shunts.
Ventriculoperitoneal shunts are currently a standard therapy for obstructive hydrocephalus. These shunts are associated with a variety of abdominal complications, one of which is the development of ascites. We report an 11-year-old girl with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt in whom a low-grade peritoneal infection presented with ascites. This case demonstrates the importance of diagnostic paracenteses, appropriate antibiotic therapy and the potential need to establish an alternative route for cerebrospinal fluid diversion in patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunts and ascites.
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J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr. · Sep 1988
Hypernatremic diarrheal dehydration treated with oral glucose-electrolyte solution containing 90 or 75 mEq/L of sodium.
Of 33 infants with hypernatremic dehydration (serum Na+ of greater than or equal to 150 mEq/L) 7 were excluded, 6 because severe alteration of the level of consciousness or shock precluded oral rehydration and 1 because he was given glucose-electrolyte solution plus water. We studied the remaining 27 infants. Twenty (group A) were treated with the World Health Organization-recommended oral rehydration solution (90 mEq/L Na+) and seven (group B) were treated with Pedialyte-RS (Abbott Laboratories Ltd.; 75 mEq/L Na+). ⋯ This patient had high stool output and failed to become rehydrated after 24 h of unsuccessful oral rehydration. None of the patients had seizures or persistent CNS dysfunction. We conclude that the slow administration of oral rehydration solutions containing either 90 or 75 mEq/L Na+ is a safe and effective treatment of hypernatremic dehydration.