Pediatr Crit Care Me
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Sep 2011
Multicenter StudyReal-time free cortisol quantification among critically ill children.
Ascertainment of adrenal function assessing free rather that total cortisol may be beneficial for the diagnosis of critical illness-related cortisol insufficiency. We hypothesized that centrifugal ultrafiltration would provide timely free cortisol data that highly correlated with the gold standard, but logistically cumbersome, equilibrium dialysis technique when the free cortisol fractions were identically quantified by chemiluminescence immunoassay. We also hypothesized that free cortisol would correlate with illness severity in a large cohort of critically ill children. ⋯ Determination of centrifugal ultrafiltration fractionated free cortisol was fast and results correlated highly with equilibrium dialysis fractionated free cortisol. Many children exhibited free cortisol <2 and <0.8 μg/dL but did not demonstrate clinical evidence of critical illness-related cortisol insufficiency. This study ascertains that real-time free cortisol quantification is feasible to potentially help guide clinical decision-making for cortisol replacement therapy in the pediatric intensive care unit.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Sep 2011
Randomized Controlled TrialA trial of methadone tapering schedules in pediatric intensive care unit patients exposed to prolonged sedative infusions.
To compare the efficacy of a low-dose methadone tapering schedule to a high-dose methadone tapering schedule in pediatric intensive care unit patients exposed to infusions of fentanyl, with or without infusions of midazolam, for ≥ 5 days. ⋯ Patients who received infusions of fentanyl for at least 5 days were just as likely to complete a low-dose methadone taper as a high-dose methadone taper. Because of the risks of both withdrawal and oversedation with any fixed methadone schedule, the methadone dose must be adjusted according to each patient's response.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Sep 2011
U.S. attitudes and perceived practice for noninvasive ventilation in pediatric acute respiratory failure.
Few pediatric studies exist regarding the use of noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation for acute respiratory failure; however, those that do suggest a role. This study seeks to describe attitudes and perceived practices of pediatric intensivists regarding the use of noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation in children with acute respiratory failure. ⋯ Noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation is widely used and most frequently utilized in patients with acute lower airway disease. Factors such as severe defects in oxygenation and ventilation, disease progression, and patient tolerability decreased the likelihood of use. These findings may help direct further studies of noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation in children with acute respiratory failure.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Sep 2011
Case ReportsForeign body aspiration in a child with unilateral lung aplasia.
To present a case of foreign body aspiration in a child with unilateral lung aplasia and successful removal of the foreign body by bedside flexible bronchoscopy. ⋯ Because foreign body aspiration in a child with a unilateral lung can result in abrupt respiratory compromise and death, a high index of suspicion is necessary when these children present with acute respiratory symptoms. Although rigid bronchoscopy is the procedure of choice for the removal of foreign bodies, flexible bronchoscopy may be necessary for patients with abnormal airway anatomy.