The evaluation, stabilization, and transport of the critically ill child.
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Adolescent↗
Biomedical subjects
L R Frankel
Publications and source records attributed to L R Frankel.
Immediate management of the asphyxiated infant: facilitating the cardiorespiratory transition from fetus to newborn.
The authors discuss the possible ways of managing the asphyxiated infant by considering the respiratory circumstances of the fetus and newborn. However, they conclude that further multicenter clinical trials are required to evaluate the efficacy of the various methods of management of delayed transition in cardiorespiratory function after birth.
Asphyxia Neonatorum↗
Nitroglycerin-responsive pulmonary hypertension in idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis.
Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis (IPH) is an uncommon disease found predominantly in pediatric patients. It can produce severe chronic pulmonary injury that results in chronic hypoxemia, pulmonary insufficiency, and progressive pulmonary fibrosis, leading to irreversible pulmonary hypertension and death. We studied the pulmonary hemodynamics in an 9-yr-old boy with IPH to determine if pulmonary hypertension contributed to exacerbations of this disease. Our results showed that this patient demonstrated pulmonary hypertension during acute exacerbations. Initially, the elevated pulmonary artery pressure responded both to oxygen and to a pulmonary vasodilator in the form of nitroglycerin. However, this improvement was not sustained. We conclude that pulmonary hypertension is probably a result of chronic hypoxemia experienced by patients with pulmonary hemosiderosis. Further investigation is warranted to assess whether or not intervention aimed at reducing pulmonary artery pressure in IPH improves outcome.
Child↗
Administration of ribavirin to neonatal and pediatric patients during mechanical ventilation.
We have modified the circuits of pressure-preset and volume-preset ventilators to permit the administration of ribavirin to mechanically ventilated infants suffering from respiratory syncytial virus. The modifications isolate the ventilator itself and permit continuous aerosolization for as long as seven days without ventilator malfunction from the effects of crystallized medication. Excessive spilling of ribavirin into the environment is also avoided. Each institution must devise its own experimental protocols and gain permission from its own committee on human experimentation and from the parent/guardian of the patient before administering such treatment.
California↗
The pharmacology of neonatal resuscitation and cardiopulmonary intensive care. Part II--Extended intensive care.
An optimal outcome for a distressed newborn infant can be achieved only if immediate resuscitation is followed by appropriate cardiopulmonary intensive care. In the preceding article in this series, we provided recommendations for drug therapy during the initial resuscitation. When an infant is stable enough for transfer to an intensive care nursery, extended cardiopulmonary intensive care should be initiated. If the infant remains distressed, this may require drug therapy to improve cardiac output, either by enhancing cardiac performance (dopamine, dobutamine or epinephrine) or by reducing afterload (nitroprusside). Drugs that alter the distribution of the circulation may be required for infants with persistent hypoxemia due to pulmonary hypertension or congenital heart disease (tolazoline, nitroprusside, prostaglandin E(1)), or with pulmonary congestion due to persistent patency of the ductus arteriosus (indomethacin). Infants with pulmonary disease may benefit from administration of agents that alter pulmonary function (furosemide, nitroprusside or neuromuscular blockers). Finally, treatment of the underlying disorder, with antibiotics or naloxone, for example, must not be neglected.
Alprostadil↗
The pharmacology of neonatal resuscitation and cardiopulmonary intensive care. Part I--Immediate resuscitation.
Resuscitation of a neonate requires both immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation and extended intensive care. Initial resuscitation of the neonate, as for adults, must include support of the airway, breathing and circulation. Because of the unique physiology of a newborn infant, some aspects of drug therapy differ significantly from their counterparts in the resuscitation of adults, and hypoglycemia and hypothermia pose special threats to a distressed neonate. Epinephrine and atropine can be administered via an endotracheal tube, but vascular access, which is most easily obtained by cannulating an umbilical vessel, is required for administering other drugs. Initial drug therapy, including glucose, oxygen and bicarbonate, is intended to restore metabolic homeostasis. Bicarbonate administration must be preceded by adequate alveolar ventilation. Drugs used to increase cardiac output early in resuscitation include those that increase heart rate, increase preload or improve myocardial function. Other drugs used in extended intensive care may also improve cardiac output, alter the distribution of the circulation or alter pulmonary function or gas exchange. These agents will be reviewed in a subsequent article.
Atropine↗
Predicting outcome in low birth weight infants.
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Humans↗
Use of the anterior cricoid split operation in infants with acquired subglottic stenosis.
Ten infants with acquired subglottic stenosis were treated successfully using the anterior cricoid split operation. Eight had been preterm infants who required endotracheal intubation and assisted ventilation for the respiratory distress syndrome. Two had been born at term; 1 required mechanical ventilation for aspiration of meconium and the other intubation for obstructive apnea. All had been extubated successfully in less than 2 wk and were discharged home with no signs of subglottic stenosis. These infants were referred at 2 to 13 months of age for evaluation of upper airway obstruction. By bronchoscopy, we confirmed severe subglottic stenosis in each of the infants. The anterior cricoid split procedure requires a single midline vertical incision through the anterior cartilaginous ring of the cricoid cartilage and the upper 2 tracheal rings. Our postoperative management included 7 to 10 days of endotracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation, neuromuscular blockade, sedation, and total parenteral nutrition. All were extubated at the end of this period without evidence of stridor or obstructive apnea. One patient developed a subglottic granuloma at the level of the cricoid cartilage 4 months after the operation; this was successfully excised with the carbon dioxide laser. The other 9 patients remain asymptomatic 1 month to 1 yr after the surgical repair.
Airway Obstruction↗
Clinical observations on mechanical ventilation for respiratory failure in bronchiolitis.
An unusually large number of infants (82) were admitted to Stanford University Hospital from November 1, 1983, through May 31, 1985, with a diagnosis of bronchiolitis requiring oxygen therapy. A larger percentage of these infants (17/82 = 21%) than generally expected required mechanical ventilation for respiratory failure. Fourteen infants had respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections, and three had parainfluenza virus infections. Ten patients had respiratory difficulties as neonates. The mechanical ventilation of the children requiring respiratory assistance was characterized by high minute ventilation with high tidal volumes (15 to 20 ml/kg) and slow respiratory rates (16 to 22 breaths/min). Peak inspiratory pressure averaged (mean +/- SD) 35 +/- 6 cm H2O in the RSV group and 34 +/- 6 cm H2O in the parainfluenza group. The mean number of days on the ventilator was 9.7 +/- 3.1 for the RSV group and 8.3 +/- 2.9 for the parainfluenza group. All were extubated within 17 days of presentation and discharged within 28 days. The complications encountered included pneumothorax and acute pulmonary hypertension.
Bronchiolitis, Viral↗
Rapid assessment of ventilation by measurement of carbon dioxide elimination during high-frequency ventilation of kittens.
Monitoring of the effectiveness of ventilation is a significant problem during high-frequency ventilation (HFV). The time necessary to achieve equilibrium of the arterial tension of carbon dioxide (Paco2) following step changes in ventilation is appreciable, because of large body stores of CO2. Waiting for Paco2 to reach equilibrium is not only time-consuming but a potentially dangerous means of monitoring ventilator adjustments during HFV. Five kittens of mean +/- SD 1,082 +/- 383 gm weight were studied during HFV, both with normal lungs and lungs injured by saline lavage-induced surfactant depletion. The transcutaneous tension of carbon dioxide (Ptcco2) was monitored continuously to determine the time required to achieve equilibrium of Paco2 following a step change in ventilation. The rate of pulmonary CO2 elimination (VECO2) was measured immediately before and immediately after (less than 12 sec) step changes in ventilation and was used to predict the change in Paco2 achieved once equilibrium was reestablished. With normal lungs, equilibration time following step changes in ventilation was found to be approximately 20 minutes. After step decreases in ventilation of the injured lung, achieving equilibrium state took significantly longer, approximately 30 minutes. The Paco2 predicted was significantly related to the change in Paco2 achieved at equilibrium for both normal and injured lung studies. We concluded that direct monitoring of VECO2 during HFV may be a useful clinical monitoring technique, allowing rapid and accurate assessment of the efficiency of ventilation following step changes in ventilation and potentially assisting in optimizing ventilator settings.
Animals↗
Hepatic failure following ingestion of multiple doses of acetaminophen in a young child.
A 7-month-old male developed hepatic failure following the mistaken administration of multiple excessive doses of acetaminophen. Hepatic toxicity following multiple dose ingestion has been reported infrequently. Risk factors for hepatic toxicity following multiple dose ingestion are discussed.
Acetaminophen↗
Respiratory and ventilatory management of critically ill children during transport.
As more and more pediatric intensive care units are established throughout the country, transport systems for critically ill children assume increasing importance. This article concerns the personnel, equipment, and other requirements for a transport system and reviews the respiratory and ventilatory management of pediatric patients during transport.
California↗