Archives of disease in childhood
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A randomised controlled trial to assess the relative benefits of large volume spacers and nebulisers to treat acute asthma in hospital.
To compare the clinical effectiveness, acceptability, and cost benefit of administering beta2 agonists by means of a metered dose inhaler and large volume spacer with conventional nebulisers to children admitted to hospital with acute asthma. ⋯ Large volume spacers are an acceptable, cost effective alternative to nebulisers in treating children admitted with acute asthma, provided that the children can use the mouthpiece, and symptoms are not severe. Their use facilitates effective home treatment by parents, with subsequent reduction in morbidity and re-admission rates.
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To compare the modes of death and factors leading to withdrawal or limitation of life support in a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in a developing country. ⋯ Limitation of treatment is the most common mode of death in a developing country's PICU and active withdrawal is still not widely practised. Paediatricians in developing countries are becoming more proactive in managing death and dying but have to consider sociocultural and religious factors when making such decisions.
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To determine prospectively the efficacy of surfactant in acute respiratory distress syndrome. ⋯ Surfactant moderately improves oxygenation in some children with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to pulmonary or systemic disease.
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Capillary refill time is an important diagnostic adjunct in the acute resuscitation phase of the shocked child. This study assesses its relation to commonly measured haemodynamic parameters in the postresuscitation phase when the child has reached the intensive care unit, and compares this with core-peripheral temperature gap. ⋯ Among ventilated, general intensive care patients, capillary refill time is related weakly to blood lactate and SVI. A normal value for capillary refill time of < or = 2 seconds has little predictive value and might be too conservative for this population; septic shock.
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Case Reports
Mannitol and frusemide in the treatment of diuretic resistant oedema in nephrotic syndrome.
Three children (two girls aged 7 and 9 years, and one boy aged 4 years) with diuretic resistant oedema in steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome were treated with a combination of intravenous mannitol and frusemide. All three responded with loss of oedema of 10% to 30% of body weight over one week. ⋯ Mannitol-frusemide combination is a safe, inexpensive, and effective treatment for diuretic resistant oedema. Its use in other conditions and in developing countries (where the availability and purity of 20% albumin is limited) needs to be explored.