Pediatr Crit Care Me
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Jan 2009
Feasibility of weaning and direct extubation from open lung high-frequency ventilation in preterm infants.
High-frequency ventilation (HFV) is increasingly used in preterm infants, but data on weaning and extubation are limited. We aimed to establish if weaning the continuous distending pressure (CDP) below 8 cm H2O and the Fio2 below 0.30 is feasible in preterm infants on open lung HFV and if these settings result in successful extubation. ⋯ This study shows that weaning the CDP below 8 cm H2O with an Fio2 below 0.30 is feasible during open lung HFV and extubation at these settings can be successful in preterm infants. In our series, a 90% success rate was observed. The value of this approach should be prospectively compared with conventional weaning and extubation strategies.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Jan 2009
Survey of pediatric resident experiences with resuscitation training and attendance at actual cardiopulmonary arrests.
The literature suggests pediatric residents are inadequately prepared to perform resuscitation maneuvers when a child suffers a cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA). Our objective was to characterize the resuscitation training and CPA resuscitation experience of residents, including hands on experience with discharging a defibrillator. ⋯ Almost every pediatric resident was involved in attempting to resuscitate a child suffering a CPA, yet many were inadequately trained to respond. Formal mechanisms are needed to guarantee adequate resuscitation training for pediatric residents, especially regarding participation in basic life support and hands on defibrillator training.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Jan 2009
Comparative StudyEchocardiography, not chest radiography, for evaluation of cannula placement during pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
Optimal cannula position is essential during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). We hypothesize that echocardiography is superior to chest radiography in diagnosing abnormal cannula position during ECMO. ⋯ Echocardiography appears to be superior to chest radiography for assessing ECMO cannula position in our institution. A prospective study, including cost analysis, comparing chest radiography and echocardiography, is needed to definitely determine the preferred diagnostic test or sequence of tests to establish ECMO cannula position.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Jan 2009
Flexible bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage in pediatric patients with lung disease.
The use of flexible bronchoscopy (FOB) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in investigating pediatric patient with airway abnormalities and pulmonary infiltrates are indispensable and are now a routine procedure in many centers. Immunocompromised and cancer patients, especially after bone marrow transplantation, and children who have undergone surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD) are at high risk for pulmonary disease. Our aim was to study the diagnostic rate, safety, and clinical yield of FOB in critically ill pediatric patients. ⋯ FOB and BAL have an important role in the evaluation of airway abnormality and pulmonary infiltrate in pediatric patients, in whom rapid and accurate diagnosis is crucial for survival. We suggest that FOB should be considered as an initial diagnostic tool in those critically ill patients.
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The extent of neuroendocrine dysfunction (NED) has not been well defined in critically ill children and likely varies significantly from that in adults. We sought to define the prevalence of neuroendocrine dysfunction in a group of children in a multidisciplinary pediatric intensive care unit and determine the relationship of neuroendocrine dysfunction with severity of illness and presence of sepsis. ⋯ NED is common in both septic and nonseptic critically ill children in a single pediatric intensive care unit. Larger scale studies are necessary to determine whether presence of NED, or specific combinations of neurohormonal dysfunction, is important in predicting outcomes or benefit of early hormonal replacement therapies in critically ill children.