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Biomedical subjects

J López-Herce

Publications and source records attributed to J López-Herce.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Life-threatening effects of discontinuing inhaled nitric oxide in children.

We treated 40 children, aged between 15 d and 17 y, diagnosed with acute respiratory distress syndrome and/or pulmonary hypertension, with inhaled nitric oxide. The most frequent underlying diagnosis associated with ARDS were bronchopneumonia (eight), cardiac surgery (five), and sepsis (three). Pulmonary hypertension was secondary to cardiomyopathy in 2 patients and occurred in the postoperative period of cardiac surgery in 17 patients--the most frequent were ventricular septal defect (5), transposition of great arteries (4), and atrioventricular septal defect (3). In 11 patients, sudden discontinuation of nitric oxide induced a decrease in oxygenation associated in some of the patients with an increase in pulmonary artery pressure. In two patients discontinuation of nitric oxide induced severe pulmonary hypertension, extreme bradycardia and hypoxaemia, which required cardiopulmonary resuscitation. When exogenous nitric oxide is abruptly interrupted, hypoxaemia and pulmonary hypertension are found in some patients, due to a decrease in the nitric oxide concentration in the pulmonary circulation. This may be caused by the exogenous nitric oxide administration that may have inhibited endogenous production. We recommend making a progressive withdrawal of inhaled nitric oxide to avoid the side effects observed in the sudden discontinuation.

Administration, Inhalation↗

Pediatric basic and advanced life support courses: first experience in Spain.

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the efficiency of the first experience in pediatric basic and advanced life support courses in Spain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: we have given two pediatric basic life support (PBLS) courses of 8 h each to 52 school teachers and ambulance drivers, and 10 30-h pediatric advanced life support (PALS) courses to 276 health professionals, 62 nurses and 214 physicians (80 pediatricians, 57 pediatric, anesthesiology and intensive care medicine residents, 10 general physicians and 52 emergency physicians). We developed the courses according to the guidelines for pediatric life support from the European Resuscitation Council. We performed an initial and final theoretical written test, continuous practical evaluation and a written survey about the quality of the course. RESULTS: on PBLS courses, only 12% of practitioners answered at least 80% of the questions in the initial theory test correctly, compared with 77% in the final test (P < 0.001). All the students acquired skills in basic pediatric resuscitation. In the PALS courses, only 30% of practitioners answered at least 75% of the questions in the initial test correctly (35% of physicians and 12% of nurses, P < 0.01); this percentage increased to 95.6% in the final test (96% of physicians and 93.5% of nurses, P < 0.05). Of students, 95% acquired skills in advanced pediatric resuscitation. All students and teachers considered the theoretical and practical formation received adequate. CONCLUSIONS: basic and advanced pediatric life support courses are a useful educational method for the general population, health professionals, physicians and nurses in theoretical and practical pediatric resuscitation.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation↗

Frequency and prophylaxis of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in critically ill children: a prospective study comparing the efficacy of almagate, ranitidine, and sucralfate. The Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage Study Group.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the occurrence of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in critically ill children, and the efficacy of prophylaxis with almagate (antacid), ranitidine, and sucralfate. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled trial. SETTING: Pediatric ICU of a tertiary care pediatric hospital. PATIENTS: During a 2-yr study period, 165 patients with one or more upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage risk factors were randomized into one of four groups. Twenty-five patients were excluded because of protocol violations. A total of 140 patients completed the study, with 35 patients in each group. INTERVENTIONS: Patients received no treatment in the control group. The antacid group received almagate 0.25 to 0.5 mL/kg every 2 hrs by nasogastric tube. The ranitidine group received 1.5 mg/kg every 6 hrs iv. The sucralfate group received 0.5 to 1 g every 6 hrs by nasogastric tube. METHODS: Gastric pH and macroscopic bleeding were determined every 2 hrs in all patients until the end of the study. Macroscopic bleeding was classified as nonhemorrhage, slight, or important. Microscopic gastric bleeding was researched with guaiac testing in 72 patients (680 samples). The severity of illness was evaluated by using the Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System, Physiologic Stability Index, and the Multiorgan System Failure scores. The risk of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage was evaluated by the Zinner and Tryba indices, and was modified for children. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The occurrence rate of important upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage was higher (by 20%) in the control group than in the rest of the groups (5.7%), p less than .01. There were no differences between the other groups (almagate 5.7%, ranitidine 8.5%, and sucralfate 2.8%). There was a statistically significant correlation between the occurrence rate of important upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage, the scores of severity of illness indices (Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System, Physiologic Stability Index, and the Multiorgan System Failure scoring system), the risk of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage indices (Zinner and Tryba), and mortality rate. The Zinner index better classified the patients in relation to the onset of important upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage (sensitivity 76.9%, specificity 85.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage is an important complication in critically ill children. Prophylaxis with almagate, ranitidine, or sucralfate reduces the occurrence rate of clinically important gastrointestinal hemorrhage.

Aluminum Hydroxide↗

[Acute hepatitis in childhood. Study of 96 cases and 1-year follow-up].

Authors studied 96 children, 56 boys and 40 girls, aged 1 to 16 years, with acute viral hepatitis. 53 patients were diagnosed of hepatitis a virus (HAV) detecting antibodies to HAV of the IgM class; 11 patients were diagnosed of hepatitis B virus (HBV) detecting serologic markers; 32 patients were diagnosed of non A-non B hepatitis. There were no serologic evidence of infection with cytomegalovirus and Epstein-barr virus. They report an analytical and clinical comparative study of acute viral hepatitis, and their evolution during a year, not finding any significative statistic difference. Two patients with HBV remained chronically infected.

Acute Disease↗

[GM1 gangliosidosis, type I, Landing's disease. Presentation of a case and review of the literature].

A case of type 1 GM1 gangliosidosis, also called Norman-Landing disease is reported. The patient' was a nine months old boy who presented psychomotor retardation since birth, coarse facies, hepatomegaly and macular cherry red spot. Roentgenographic findings were those of dysostosis multiplex. Bone marrow smear showed type 1 Gasser's cells, as it occurs in the storage diseases. The infant presented a severe B-galactosidase deficiency and died at the age of ten months. Recent advances in pathogenesis, diagnosis and future therapy are discussed.

G(M1) Ganglioside↗

Continuous venovenous renal replacement therapy using a conventional infusion pump.

To evaluate continuous venovenous hemofiltration and hemodiafiltration with a conventional infusion pump in a pediatric sized animal model. Fourteen Maryland pigs weighing 8 to 13 kg were used. A conventional infusion pump (IVAC 571), with a flow of 900 ml/h and a pediatric hemofilter of 0.22 m2 were used. Ringer's solution was used for both the dialysate and the replacement fluid. Each experiment included 1 hour of hemofiltration and 1 hour of hemodiafiltration. Heart rate, arterial blood pressure, pH, Na, K, Cl, and hematocrit were measured every 30 minutes. Mean ultrafiltrate flow was 249.7 +/- 100.3 ml/hr, 240.5 +/- 109.5 ml/hr with hemofiltration and 271 +/- 101.1 ml/hr with hemodiafiltration, the differences not being significant. No significant changes were seen in heart rate, blood pressure, hematocrit, electrolytes, or pH. Pressure in the circuit rose from 107.7 +/- 70.3 mm Hg at the beginning of the experiment to 234.2 +/- 118.1 mm Hg after 2 hours (p < 0.05). The technique was well tolerated by all the pigs. Continuous venovenous hemofiltration and hemodiafiltration with a conventional infusion pump is a possible alternative to conventional methods of extrarenal replacement therapy in neonates and infants.

Animals↗