Journal of pediatric surgery
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A persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is the most common anomaly of the major veins. However, an absent right superior vena cava and PLSVC is much less common; fewer than 100 cases have been reported in the world literature in patients with situs solitus. ⋯ Adequate venous cannulation was obtained through the anomalous vessel using a flexible catheter, allowing for an uneventful ECMO course. The epidemiology and embryology of this incidental anomaly are reviewed, and the methods used to circumvent the difficulties it presented in this case are described.
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The authors retrospectively review their experience in children with the latest addition to the postoperative analgesic armamentarium: interpleural analgesia (IPA). IPA was used in 14 children following thoracotomy. There were 9 boys and 5 girls. ⋯ Patients more than 10 years of age required significantly more (P < 0.05) intravenous narcotic supplementation than patients less than 10 years of age (1.60 +/- 0.50 v 0.14 +/- 0.11 mg meperidine/kg/d). No complications related to placement or subsequent use of IPA were identified in any of the patients. IPA provides effective postoperative analgesia following thoracotomy in children.
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Comparative Study
The efficacy of extracorporeal life support in premature and low birth weight newborns.
Based on data obtained early in the development of neonatal extracorporeal life support (ECLS), contraindications to the use of ECLS have included low estimated gestational age (EGA) and low birth weight (BW). However, multiple improvements in the technical and management aspects of neonatal ECLS have been implemented since those early data were evaluated. The purpose of this study, therefore, is to assess in the "modern era" the efficacy of prolonged extracorporeal support in premature and low birth weight newborns. ⋯ However, respectable survival rates in PREM patients with EGA > 32 weeks were documented. In addition, both survival and ICH in PREM patients have improved substantially when compared with past reports (Past: SURV = 25% and ICH = 100%; current: SURV = 63% and ICH = 37%; ICH P < .001; SURV P = .056). Survival was significantly decreased in LBW when compared to NBW neonates (65% v 83%, P < .05), but there was no significant difference in ICH.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Comparative Study
Decreased incidence of intracranial hemorrhage using cephalic jugular venous drainage during neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) remains one of the more common serious complications of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in neonates. In 1990 this center began routine use of cephalic jugular venous drainage during neonatal ECMO to augment blood return to the ECMO pump and potentially decrease the incidence of ICH by decreasing cerebral venous pressure. ⋯ No differences were found between the two groups in gestational age, birth weight, duration of ECMO, survival, platelet counts, activated clotting times, or incidence of other bleeding complications. Cephalic jugular venous drainage during neonatal ECMO appears to be safe and may decrease the incidence of ICH.
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A new Doppler probe inside a needle was evaluated in a group of infants and children to assess its suitability for subclavian venous access. While the efficient use of this device required learning a new technique, we found the device useful to accurately locate the subclavian vein and differentiate it from the artery in all patients weighing more than 3 kg. This device will be most helpful in cases of difficult access, eg, scar from previous access, obesity, or edema.