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Biomedical subjects

P Helms

Publications and source records attributed to P Helms.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Effect of posture on regional ventilation in children.

Little information has been published concerning the pattern of regional ventilation in children, yet many differences in lung and chest wall mechanics in childhood, supported by clinical observation, have led to the hypothesis that the pattern of regional ventilation seen in children may not be the same as in adults. Forty-three children and 16 adult volunteers underwent Krypton (Kr) 81m radionuclide ventilation lung scans in the supine and right and left decubitus postures. In children aged 2-10 years mean fractional ventilation to the right lung (VfR) was 46.1%. This fell to 36% when dependent and rose to 56.1% in the uppermost position. Redistribution of ventilation away from the dependent towards the uppermost lung was seen in all children. In children aged 10-18 years VfR was 57.2% (supine), 48.0% (dependent), and 62.9% (uppermost). An identical pattern was seen in children with normal or abnormal pulmonary function tests (peak expiratory flow rate, and FEV1: FVC ratio). In subjects over 18 years of age a different pattern was seen: mean VfR was 52.4% (supine), rising to 53.4% (dependent), and falling to 48.9% (uppermost). Postural redistribution of ventilation, as assessed by Kr81m ventilation imaging, changes late in the second decade of life. This will have clinical consequences in the management of children with unilateral lung disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Technique and use of transbronchial biopsy in children and adolescents.

Since July 1988, a total of 92 transbronchial biopsies (TBB) have been performed in 18 patients (aged 3-16 years). Twelve patients (67%) were heart-lung transplant (HLT) recipients undergoing surveillance for pulmonary graft rejection and infection. The remainder included immunocompromised patients at risk of opportunistic infections (n = 4), patients with fibrosing alveolitis (n = 1) and a collagen vascular disorder with suspected lung involvement (n = 1). TBB was performed through either a fiberoptic (n = 50) or a rigid (n = 41) bronchoscope, all under general anesthesia. On one occasion a cardiac bioptome was used through an endotracheal stent. The sensitivity of TBB for diagnosing acute and chronic rejection in HLT patients was 88% and 60%, respectively (specificity, 91% and 100%). Definitive diagnoses were made in 4 (67%) of the non-HLT group. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed during each procedure for microbiological and cytological examination. Thirty-four pathogenic organisms including Pseudomonas aeruginosa (16/34), Staphylococcus aureus (8/34), and Candida albicans (5/34) were isolated from BAL culture. Complications included pneumothorax (8%), transient pyrexia (7%), and dyspnea (2%).

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1992

Lung involvement in Langerhans' cell histiocytosis: prevalence, clinical features, and outcome.

In Langerhans' cell histiocytosis, the prognostic significance of pulmonary disease is controversial. The clinical and radiological features and lung function tests of Langerhans' cell histiocytosis patients presenting to a single tertiary referral center between 1981 and 1987 were reviewed. Age at diagnosis ranged from 2 weeks to 16 years (median 1.7 years) and the male-female ratio was 2.4:1. No child presented with lung involvement alone. In 18 (40%) of 45 patients with multisystem disease there was clinical and/or radiological evidence of lung pathology. Another 6 children (13%) with normal chest roentgenograms had abnormal lung function tests, suggesting subclinical ("occult") involvement. Those with overt lung disease tended to present at a younger than average age (median 0.6 years). The most common functional disturbance was reduced lung or respiratory compliance with reduced lung volumes. Patients with and without lung involvement showed a similar pattern of involvement of other organs, with skin and bone most commonly affected. Of the 45 children with multisystem disease, 38 (84%) survived 2 to 7 years after diagnosis; there was a similar proportion of deaths in children with and without lung involvement. It is concluded that lung involvement occurs in nearly half of young children with multisystem Langerhans' cell histiocytosis but does not adversely affect outcome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Heart-lung transplantation for cystic fibrosis. 1: Assessment.

Forty five patients with cystic fibrosis (age 5-15 years) were assessed for heart-lung transplantation between September 1987 and March 1990. The two main conditions for acceptance were (i) life expectancy less than 2 years and (ii) a severely impaired quality of life. Patients were accepted onto an active waiting list (n = 26), a provisional waiting list (n = 15), or not accepted (n = 4). Selection was made on clinical grounds with objective measurements used as an aid in assessment. As expected, the mean values for objective measures were significantly different between patients on the active waiting list compared with the provisional waiting list/not accepted group for resting heart rate (118/minute v 101/minute), percentage of ideal weight (83.2% v 93.1%), forced expiratory volume at one second as percent of predicted normal (27.3% v 47.6%), Shwachman-Kulczycki score (33.6 v 52.5), Chrispin-Norman x ray score (25.8 v 22.1), 12 minute walk (540 m v 854 m), and minimal oxygen saturation (81.5% v 92%). Psychological evaluation demonstrated a 55% incidence of individual and a 50% incidence of family morbidity. Of the 26 patients accepted onto the active waiting list, 11 have been transplanted (mean waiting time 3.3 months), 10 have died within a mean of 3.7 months of acceptance, and five remain on the active list (mean 5.6 months).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Heart-lung transplantation for cystic fibrosis. 2: Outcome.

From March 1988 to March 1990, 11 children with cystic fibrosis (age 5-15 years) underwent combined heart-lung transplantation at our institutes. Maintenance immunosuppression consisted of cyclosporin and azathioprine with corticosteroids and antithymocyte globulin used perioperatively and during rejection episodes. Six patients (55%) survive from 1.5-23 months all of whom have improved life quality. Actuarial survival to 1 year was 55%. At six months after transplant, mean forced expiratory volume at one second was 73.5% of predicted normal, compared with 25% before transplant. There was one perioperative death, three later deaths associated with obliterative bronchiolitis at two, eight, and nine months, and one from mediastinitis at four months. Of the 15 children accepted for transplantation but not receiving grafts, 10 have died (eight within four months of being placed onto the transplant list). Early postoperative problems included acute reversible rejection (n = 10), meconium ileus equivalent (n = 3), and pancreatitis (n = 1). There was a high incidence of later pulmonary rejection with a mean of 5.7 episodes per patient in the first six months. Pulmonary infection occurred relatively infrequently, with Pseudomonas aeruginosa being the most common pathogen. Persistent diabetes mellitus requiring insulin occurred in four and systemic hypertension developed in one.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Heart and lung transplantation for terminal cystic fibrosis. A 4 1/2-year experience.

From among 112 patients with cystic fibrosis who were assessed for heart-lung transplantation, 83 were accepted. Twenty-six died while awaiting heart-lung transplantation and 32 had the operation. The management and the outcome of these 32 patients is reported. Survival, infection, and rejection rates among these patients were compared with those of 61 patients without cystic fibrosis who underwent heart-lung transplantation between 1984 and 1990. The cumulative survival rate was 72.29% +/- 94.91% at 1 year and 55.59% +/- 7.50% at 3 years. The mortality rate was slightly higher in the group with cystic fibrosis during the first year after the operation but it was lower at 3 years. The difference, however, could have been due to chance alone (p = 0.308). The same was true for the prevalence of rejection (up to 6 months: chi 2 = 1.8141, p = 0.17), and infection (up to 6 months: chi 2 = 2.20, p = 0.14), between the two groups. It is concluded that cystic fibrosis does not constitute an additional risk in terms of survival and morbidity after heart-lung transplantation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Diet and health. A survey of diet and health in women 40-50 years of age].

During the period 1980-1986, the Housekeeping Committees of the Danish Rural Institute carried out individual investigations of the diets of 513 women aged 23-50 years. Out of these, 124 were in the age group 40-50 years and this group was selected for health investigation. A Danish version of the Cornell Medical Index questionnaire with 138 enquiries about current and previous health conditions was sent to the 108 women who agreed to participate. All of these were visited in their homes by a doctor who reviewed the replies to the questionnaire and collected supplementary information for use in the diagnostic history. Only few cases of diseases of civilization were found and there were no cases of cancer. The current state of health was assessed summarily on the basis of the number of affirmative replies in the questionnaire. A statistical connection was found between the state of health and the combination of the fat-energy percentage and the vegetable roughage in the diet.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Intensive care management of children following heart and heart-lung transplantation.

We report the intensive care management of 23 children (age 3-15 years) following orthotopic heart (HT) and combined heart and lung transplantation (HLT) performed at our 2 institutes between February 1985 and August 1989. Cyclosporin A, azathioprine and steroids were given as routine immunosuppression, whilst anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) was used for the first 3 post-operative days. Mean ventilation time was 24.6 h (range 4-74 h). Cardiovascular support comprised isoprenaline infusions in all patients (mean period 65.7 h) whilst dopamine and other inotropic agents were used less frequently. Sequential atrioventricular pacing was required more often in the HT patients (n = 9) than in the HLT patients (n = 4). Fluid input was restricted to maintain a plasma osmolality of 290-300 mosm/kg. There were 2 perioperative deaths both due to acute right heart failure. Other post-operative complications included: bleeding (n = 3); acute graft rejection (n = 4); infection (n = 3); systemic hypertension (n = 6); neurological abnormalities (n = 2); renal dysfunction (n = 6) and hyperglycaemia (n = 6).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Long term follow up after inhalation of foreign bodies.

The long term results of treatment of inhalation of foreign bodies in a district children's hospital and in a tertiary referral centre were reviewed by clinical assessment, chest radiography, and standard four view 81mKr ventilation/99mTc macroaggregated albumin perfusion imaging (V/Q lung scan). The overall incidence in the population served by the district hospital was roughly one in 14,000/year. Of the 12 children reviewed there, three had abnormal chest radiographs and four had abnormal V/Q scans as a result of inhalation of the foreign bodies. Of 21 children treated and reviewed at the referral centre, eight had abnormal chest radiographs, and 14 had abnormal V/Q lung scans. Three factors were assessed for prognostic importance: site of impaction, initial radiographic appearance, and time before removal. A child who had inhaled a foreign body into the left lung and who had collapse/consolidation on the initial chest radiograph was at greatest risk of long term complications. These children merit close follow up.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1990

Pulmonary sequelae in survivors of congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Nineteen survivors of congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair were compared with age and sex matched control children six to 11 years after repair. All subjects were examined clinically and underwent lung function testing. The patients also had individual lung volumes assessed radiographically and had radionuclide (krypton-81 m, technetium-99 m macroaggregates) ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) lung scans. Four patients had pectus excavatum and two had mild scoliosis. Spirometric measurements were lower in the patients than in the control subjects but only the differences in peak expiratory flow and flow at 50% of expired vital capacity were significant. The radiographic left lung volumes in patients surviving left diaphragmatic repair were larger than expected at 49.3% (SD 2%), suggesting alveolar overdistension. V/Q scans showed a mismatch in the ipsilateral lung, mean Q (40% (7%] being significantly lower than mean V (47% (6%)). In seven patients who had required ventilation for four days or more perfusion to the ipsilateral lung was significantly lower (34% (6%)) than values for the 12 patients ventilated for less than four days (43% (6%)). Survivors of right diaphragmatic repair had a better outcome in terms of relative radiographic lung volumes and V/Q distribution. More severely affected children are now surviving repair of congenital diaphragmatic herniation, with residual pulmonary abnormalities that could produce functional impairment in adult life.

Child↗
PubMed1990

Transbronchial biopsies in children after heart-lung transplantation.

Sixty transbronchial biopsies have been performed in eight children after heart-lung transplantation. The selection of fiber-optic bronchoscope or a small (4 mm; 30 cm) rigid bronchoscope was made according to the size of endotracheal tube required at surgery. If the endotracheal tube was size 7.5 or greater, a fiber-optic bronchoscope was used, whereas if the endotracheal tube size was below 7, a rigid bronchoscope was used. For the diagnosis of lung rejection, the histology of biopsies revealed a sensitivity of 91% and specificity of 69% (similar to the result in adults). The histology also distinguished lung infection from rejection. Complications included three pneumothoraces and two clinically significant episodes of hemorrhage, one of which led to a cardiorespiratory arrest, which may have been caused by hypoxia. As a result, arterial oxygen saturation is now monitored during the procedure using a pulse oximeter.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Evaluation of two combined oxygen and carbon dioxide transcutaneous sensors.

Two combined oxygen and carbon dioxide electrodes were assessed in neonates, infants, and children up to 16 years. They were convenient to use and the measurement error for PtcCO2 was acceptable. In both models, however, the PtcO2 electrode had a reduced performance compared with a single electrode.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Early experience of heart-lung transplantation.

We report our experience of heart-lung transplantation for the treatment of children with terminal respiratory disease. Between May 1987 and October 1988 we performed heart-lung transplantation in five children under the age of 16 (age range 11-15). All the patients were severely disabled by dyspnoea and hypoxia. Two had primary pulmonary hypertension, two cystic fibrosis, and one had Eisenmenger's syndrome. All five children are alive and well five to 17 months after operation and have returned to activities normal for their age. Three of the five patients had episodes of infection after operation. These were staphylococcal pneumonia, herpes simplex pneumonitis and, in one of the patients with cystic fibrosis, persistent purulent sputum. The mean number of episodes of rejection per child was 2.7 per half year. Heart-lung transplantation is a practical treatment for children in these disease groups with terminal respiratory failure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Effects of posture on the distribution of pulmonary ventilation and perfusion in children and adults.

In the adult the distributions of ventilation and of perfusion show the same directional dependence on gravity. In children, however, the distribution of ventilation in response to gravity is the reverse of that seen in adults. The aim of the current study was to determine whether perfusion showed the same reversal in children or followed the adult pattern. Distribution of perfusion was measured with intravenous technetium-99m macroaggregated albumin and distribution of ventilation with inhaled krypton-81m. Eighteen children and seven adults were studied; they had been referred for lung scanning for various respiratory problems. The effect of gravity was examined by giving aliquots of macroaggregated albumin and 81mKr by inhalation to the subject in the supine and the lateral decubitus position. Counts in the dependent lung were compared with those in the upper lung. The dependent lung in the lateral decubitus position received more of the total perfusion than it did in the supine position in seven children with a normal chest radiograph (mean 7.0%, range 4.8-10.9% more) and in 11 children with an abnormal radiograph (mean 3.4%(0.1-10.0%)). Ventilation, however, changed in the opposite direction, falling by 7.1% (-3.2% to -12.8%) in five children with a normal chest radiograph and 11.2% (-2.8% to -19.3%) in eight children with an abnormal radiograph. Fractional V/fractional Q (an index of the ventilation:perfusion ratio) decreased in the dependent lung in the children when they moved from the supine to the decubitus position. The same directional change was recorded in adults, but it was significantly less than in the children, irrespective of whether the chest radiograph was abnormal. In children and adults with various respiratory problems the effect of posture on the distribution of perfusion is similar.

Adult↗