Pediatr Crit Care Me
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Jan 2010
ReviewStress ulcer, gastritis, and gastrointestinal bleeding prophylaxis in critically ill pediatric patients: a systematic review.
To identify and evaluate the quality of evidence supporting prophylactic use of treatments for stress ulcers and upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Stress ulcers, erosions of the stomach and duodenum, and upper gastrointestinal bleeding are well-known complications of critical illness in children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit. ⋯ Although pooled data of two studies suggested that critically ill pediatric patients may benefit from receiving prophylactic treatment to prevent upper gastrointestinal bleeding, we found that high-quality evidence to guide clinical practice is still limited.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Jan 2010
Case Reports Multicenter StudyPediatric cardiac arrest refractory to advanced life support: is there a role for terlipressin?
Pediatric cardiac arrest unresponsive to advanced life support and several adrenaline doses has a very poor prognosis. Alternative vasopressors could improve the results of resuscitation in such cases. We report our experience with the compassionate administration of terlipressin in children who suffered in-pediatric intensive care unit cardiac arrest and did not respond to immediate advanced life support and at least three epinephrine doses. ⋯ Terlipressin might contribute to obtain sustained return of spontaneous circulation in children with refractory in-hospital cardiac arrest. A randomized controlled clinical trial should be conducted to investigate the optimal drug treatment in pediatric cardiac arrest.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Jan 2010
Defining acute lung disease in children with the oxygenation saturation index.
To evaluate whether a formula could be derived using oxygen saturation (Spo2) to replace Pao2 that would allow identification of children with acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Definitions of acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome require arterial blood gases to determine the Pao2/Fio2 ratio of 300 (acute lung injury) and 200 (acute respiratory distress syndrome). ⋯ Noninvasive methods of assessing oxygenation may be utilized with reasonable sensitivity and specificity to define acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome, and, with prospective validation, have the potential to increase the number of children enrolled into clinical trials.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Jan 2010
ReviewPediatric infectious diseases: 2009 update for the Rogers' Textbook of Pediatric Intensive Care.
To review important articles in the field of infectious diseases that pertain to the care of children in pediatric critical care units, published subsequent to the fourth edition of the Rogers' Textbook of Pediatric Intensive Care. ⋯ Significant advances continue to be made in our understanding of specific diseases as well as the approach to treatment. There are significant variations in outcome from specific infectious diseases in developing countries compared with the developed world. The looming problem of antimicrobial resistance and relative lack of new anti-infective agents in development is an issue that will be faced by pediatric intensive care units throughout the world in the near future. Updated evidence-based guidelines have appeared for early treatment of septic shock in children, and on prevention and treatment of opportunistic infections in adults and adolescents with human immunodeficiency virus. In patients with measles, use of oral co-trimoxazole or amoxicillin reduces the risk of secondary bacterial infections of respiratory tract; however, the same may not be true for other systemic viral infections, such as influenza. In patients with acute bacterial meningitis, maintenance fluids-instead of restricted fluids-and use of glycerol may improve the outcomes; however, the role of dexamethasone in prevention of adverse outcome needs reevaluation. Intravenous use of botulism immune globulin decreases the length of hospital stay and mechanical ventilation. Pediatric patients with aspergillosis have radiologic findings distinct from those of adults and present more often with nodules, and only rarely with cavitation; early focal surgical resection may improve the survival of these patients.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Jan 2010
Randomized Controlled TrialEarly life events, sex, and arterial blood pressure in critically ill infants.
To determine whether photo-protecting total parenteral nutrition in preterm infants influences arterial blood pressure differently according to gender. Blood pressure is influenced by complex mechanisms of vasomodulation. Oxidants are mediators and effectors in such reactions. Shielding total parenteral nutrition from light contributes to decrease the generation of peroxides. Girls may be better protected against an oxidant load than boys. We questioned whether shielding total parenteral nutrition may have cardiovascular effects that are influenced by gender. ⋯ Failure to shield total parenteral nutrition from light results in higher blood pressure in a selected population of critically ill female infants. This information adds to our understanding of the multiple determinants involved in optimizing arterial blood pressure in a critical care environment.