The Journal of pediatrics
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The Journal of pediatrics · Nov 1983
Interaction of spontaneous respiration with artificial ventilation in preterm babies.
During a four-month period, all babies who received mechanical ventilation in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit were studied to determine the effects of artificial ventilation on spontaneous respiratory activity. The babies were either totally apneic or ventilator inflation stimulated one of four distinct spontaneous respiratory patterns: synchronous breathing, Hering-Breuer reflex, augmented inspiration, or active expiration against ventilator inflation. ⋯ Only one pattern, active expiration against ventilator inflation, was consistently recorded before the development of pneumothorax. Preliminary evidence indicates that immediate paralysis of the baby as soon as that pattern is demonstrated may prevent the occurrence of pneumothoraces.
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The Journal of pediatrics · Jul 1983
Comparative StudyCerebral perfusion pressure in central nervous system infections of infancy and childhood.
Central nervous system infections may be complicated by development of severe brain edema, which can be a significant factor in mortality and morbidity. Increased intracranial pressure can cause additional damage to the central nervous system by impairment of cerebral blood flow, which is dependent on cerebral perfusion pressure. A reduction of cerebral perfusion pressure, caused by elevation of intracranial pressure, may cause cerebral ischemia. ⋯ In survivors, cerebral perfusion pressure could be maintained adequately by reduction of intracranial pressure, but nonsurvivors developed noncompliance of brain tissue, and cerebral perfusion pressure could not be maintained at levels that ensure adequate cerebral blood flow, resulting in cerebral ischemia and death. Continuous monitoring of mean arterial blood pressure and intracranial pressure in children with severe central nervous system infections will enable rapid diagnosis and initiation of treatment when cerebral perfusion pressure is reduced to critical levels. Such treatment might improve the prognosis.