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J C Santana

Publications and source records attributed to J C Santana.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

[Respiratory failure in the child]

OBJECTIVE: To describe the main physiopathologic mechanism of the respiratory failure in the child, as well as to discuss some aspects of the differential diagnosis and treatment. SOURCE OF DATA: The main national and international textbooks and articles about respiratory failure in the child were used as sources of data for this research. RESULTS: Respiratory failure is defined as the incapacity to maintain a paO(2) over 50 mmHg associated or not to a paCO(2) over 50 mmHg in children breathing ambient air at sea level. This failure may be classified as hypoxemic or hypercapnic, or even as acute or chronic. The main alterations may be hypoventilation, ventilation perfusion mismatch and diffusion defect. It may be secondary to a central origin, upper or lower airway compromise, parenchyma disease, or due to pleural or thorax wall affection. The hypoxemia evaluation may be done by hemoglobin saturation, alveolar capillary gradient of oxygen (D[A-a]O(2)) or by the paO(2) / FiO(2) index. COMMENTS: The knowledge of the physiopathologic mechanisms that cause respiratory failure in the child is important to define the more efficient therapeutic strategy for each cause.

Journal Article↗

Oral Cancer Case Finding Program (OCCFP).

The aim of the Oral Cancer Case Finding Program (OCCFP) is to reduce the morbidity and mortality rates of oral cancer in Cuba. This program is based on health education of the whole population and a thorough examination of the oral complex, by specially trained stomatologists, of patients attending every stomatological care centre. Between 1983 and 1990, 10,167,999 such patients were examined country-wide and a total of 30,478 were referred as presenting some sort of alteration; 8259 complied with their referral. In this group, 2367 leucoplakias and 853 other precancerous lesions were diagnosed and treated. These 3220 premalignancies should have some influence on the cancer morbidity rates. Five hundred and eighty-one epidermoid carcinomas and 127 other malignant neoplasms were also detected for a total of 708 malignancies. The effectiveness of this program can be evaluated by the increments in diagnoses of Stage I oral cancer from 22.8% to 48.2% on account of the most advanced stages (II, III and IV) which decreased from 77.2% to 51.8%. The object of this paper is to present the results of OCCFP up to 1990.

Cuba↗

Prevalence of oral leukoplakia in Havana City, Cuba.

A survey related to the detection of precancerous lesions of the oral cavity has been done in Cuba for the first time. The sample comprised 749 randomly selected workers from Havana City Province, taking into account the census records of the Cuban population up to 1979. Prevalence of lesions and their relation to age, sex and predisposing factors, such as smoking, alcohol habits and mechanical trauma were studied. 4.4% of leukoplakia and preleukoplakia considered together and 2.1% leukoplakia alone, and two cases of oral lichen planus and leukokeratosis nicotina palati (0.1% of each) were found. The former lesions were more frequently encountered in people above 50 years old, specially in males and specifically among those who had smoked for more than 10 years. Sites of location most frequently encountered were the buccal mucosa and the labial commissures.

Adult↗

[Randomized clinical trial of intravenous magnesium sulfate versus salbutamol in early management of severe acute asthma in children]

OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy of intravenous magnesium sulfate and intravenous salbutamol in the treatment of severe asthma in children. METHODS: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, including children above 2 years of age with severe acute asthma admitted to the observation ward of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of Hospital São Lucas. All patients received conventional treatment (oxygen, corticoids, beta-adrenergics) on admission, and later received one of the following solutions: a) IVMg (50 mg/kg); b) intravenous salbutamol (1 micro g/kg); c) saline solution. Clinical assessments, electrolyte concentration, and arterial blood gas analyses were recorded before intravenous infusion and one hour after that. RESULTS: Fifty patients participated in this study (of whom 53% were females, mean age = 4.5 years). There were no significant differences among the three groups. The group that received IVMg presented lower blood pressure during administration, which reached normal levels one hour afterwards, along with an increase in serum magnesium (P<0,001) and serum pH, and reduction of PaCO(2). The group that received intravenous salbutamol had lower respiratory rate (P=0.05) and higher blood pressure (P=0.01), and one hour after administration, these patients showed decreased respiratory rate (P=0.02); lower levels of serum potassium (P=0.009); higher pH, and reduced PaCO(2). This group required fewer nebulizations (P=0.009), fewer nebulizations per day (P<0.001) and less oxygen therapy than the IVMg and placebo groups. Acidosis was more persistent (P<0.01) in the placebo group. No difference as to the length of hospital stay was observed in any of the three groups. Artificial ventilation was necessary in 10% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The early intravenous administration of magnesium sulfate, especially salbutamol, achieved a rapid clinical response with excellent prognosis and no significant side effects.

Journal Article↗

[Factors related to severe acute asthma in childhood - epidemiologic and clinical aspects].

OBJECTIVE: To study the epidemiologic and clinical factors related to severe acute asthma in patients hospitalized in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). STUDY PROFILE: Prospective, epidemiologic. All admissions were observed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All children with severe asthma admitted to PICU-HSL-PUCRS between January, 1994, and December, 1994. Their parents were asked to answer a questionnaire about clinical history and precipitating factors of bronchospasm. Clinical evolution was observed in each patient. RESULTS: 31 children were admitted on 42 occasions to the PICU for the treatment of severe asthma (7.3% of all admissions). The male: female ratio was 1.2:1.0 and the age mean was 25 months. Respiratory viral infections were the main precipitating factor of asthma attacks (74%). Family history of asthma, atopy or tabagism were observed in 97% of the cases. A longer hospitalization period was associated with less than 1 year age (p=0.0005), family history of tabagism (OR= 2.3) and occurrence of pneumonitis (p= 0.03). The long stay in PICU was associated with previous PICU admission (p=0.03), family history of tabagism (OR=2.0) and occurrence of pneumonitis (p=0.02). The main complication observed, especially in patients under 1 year receiving public health care, was pneumonitis, that was diagnosed in 42% of these children. Patients assisted by a private doctor had a shorter hospitalization period and less pneumonitis complication. Mechanical ventilation was necessary in 10% of these patients. There was no death in our series. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of severe acute asthma, associated with long staying in PICU and hospitalization, is related to low age (under 1 year), previous hospitalization due to bronchospasm, family history of asthma, atopy or tabagism, and ineffective medical care. These factors seem related to frequent crises causing more hospitalization indications. These children frequently present pneumonitis during their clinical evolution. Early and aggressive management in general benefit the clinical course of severe acute asthma. The mortality ratio for children with acute asthma who need PICU admissions is small.

English Abstract↗

[Autonomic dysfunction in Guillain-Barré Syndrome: a 13 year experience in pediatric intensive care unit].

The acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (Guillain-Barré Syndrome) might have a severe presentation but a good prognosis in children. It is an immune-mediated and inflammatory disorder of the peripheral nervous system. This retrospective study observed that GBS is frequently complicated by hypertension and other autonomic disorders. Cardiovascular instability is due to the involvement of the autonomic nervous system and results in labile blood pressure, cardiac dysrhythmias and hypovolemia. During a 13-year period (1982-1995), 21 children were admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of São Lucas Hospital, Porto Alegre, south of Brazil. Eight patients were mechanically ventilated. Symptoms of autonomic disturbance were frequently seen, especially in patients with severe clinical evolution. Previous investigations of the mechanism of hypertension associated with GBS did not evaluate the etiology of these phenomena. With modern pediatric intensive care support the deaths are rare. There is no death in this studied group.

English Abstract↗

[Mixed papillary follicular carcinoma of the thyroid gland in childhood. Report of a case].

The authors have reported a case of childhood Thyroid Carcinoma at a Pediatric Service. This report has been justified since this is an uncommon pathology in children and a very unusual clinical picture for children. The etiology and diagnostic have been reviewed by the authors. The clinical investigation as well as the clinical course of the disease has been present. The literature for thyroid cancer in children has also been reviewed. The need for a careful investigation in children with unusual radiologic finding has been emphasized; being the thyroid carcinoma metastasis diagnosis one of the possibilities.

English Abstract↗

[Foliate papillae].

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Adult↗