La Pediatria medica e chirurgica : Medical and surgical pediatrics
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Twenty-eight patients operated with success for isolated coarctation of the aorta (i.e. with normal blood pressure and upper/lower limb gradient < or = 20 mmHg at rest) underwent exercise testing to evaluate blood pressure and upper/lower limb pressure gradient during exercise. At maximum effort: 57% (16/28) of the patients were hypertensive and 43% (12/28) of patients increased upper/lower limb gradient over 35 mmHg. No significant correlation was found between the age at surgery (before or after 3 years of age) and maximal systolic blood pressure on exercise and maximal pressure gradient on exercise. ⋯ Some studies in the literature have shown that many patients with normal blood pressure and no or little residual upper/lower limb pressure gradient at rest, may develop an anomalous blood pressure response e and/or a high upper/lower limb pressure gradient during exercise. We have studied by exercise test a group of patients successfully operated on for isolated coarctation of the aorta to evaluate the behaviour of the systolic blood pressure and the upper/lower limb pressure gradient during exercise. The aim was to recognize the patients who, inspite of very good operative result, remain at cardiovascular risk in the long-term follow-up.
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The febrile child, previously healthy, represents a frequent diagnosis and management problem for pediatricians who work in private offices and those in hospital emergency departments. We are specifically interested in the identification, for the febrile child with septic risk, of severity parameters permitting to assess the likelihood of a serious bacterial infection. ⋯ A significant correlation resulted for levels of temperature over 39 degrees C, toxic-appearing child and very positive C-RP values. We have defined this condition as a "threatening" fever requiring an immediate hospitalization in order to administer appropriate blood tests and cultures, and also, according to our rationale, to start an early antibiotic plus corticosteroid therapy (within 6-12 hours from the disease onset).