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Biomedical subjects

P Lequien

Publications and source records attributed to P Lequien.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Respiratory mechanics in mechanically ventilated newborns: a comparison between passive inflation and occlusion methods.

A passive inflation method was described for measuring total respiratory elastance and resistance during mechanical ventilation in adult patients (Rossi et al., J Appl Physiol 58:1849, 1985). We applied this method to preterm and full-term mechanically ventilated newborn infants and we compared the results with those obtained by the occlusion method. We performed 37 tests in 16 newborn infants (B.W. 880-4,500 g; G.A. 28-42 weeks), between 1 and 45 days of postnatal age, ventilated with a Servo Ventilator 900C, set in controlled-volume mode. Flow was measured through a pneumotachograph inserted between the endotracheal tube (ETT) and the breathing circuit, tidal volume by integration of flow and airway pressure directly at the airway opening. Flow, volume, and pressure were recorded on an X/Y plotter to obtain pressure-volume (P/V), flow-volume (V/V) loops, and pressure-time curves. Occlusion was performed by using the end-inspiratory and the end-expiratory pause buttons of the ventilator. Analysis of P/V and V/V loops provided respiratory system compliance (Crs, infl.), resistance (Rrs, infl.), and "intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure" (PEEPi, infl.). These values were compared with Crs, occl., Rrs, occl., and PEEPi, occl. measured by the occlusion method. The measurements were well correlated (Crs, infl./Crs, occl.: r = 0.90; Rrs, infl./Rrs, occl.: r = 0.91; PEEPi, infl./PEEPi, occl.: r = 0.91). Rrs, infl./Rrs, occl. and PEEPi, infl./PEEPi, occl. did not differ significantly. However, Crs, occl. was 15% higher than Crs, infl. (P less than 0.01). The passive inflation method is simple to use and well tolerated in preterm and full-term ventilated newborn infants, it provides accurate results, and can be a good alternative to occlusion methods. It requires, however, a constant inflation flow and adaptation to the ventilator.

Airway Resistance

Pharmacokinetic study of piperacillin in newborns relating to gestational and postnatal age.

The pharmacokinetics of piperacillin after a single 75-mg/kg intravenous injection as analyzed in 28 neonates with gestational ages of 29 to 40 weeks (A = 29 to 31 weeks, B = 33 to 35 weeks, C = 38 to 42 weeks) and birth weights of 860 to 3900 g during 35 courses. Serum concentrations of piperacillin were determined by high pressure liquid chromatography. A one compartment open model characterized the disposition of piperacillin. Twenty courses were given between Day 3 and Day 5 of life. The elimination half-life and total body clearance were related to gestational age. Differences were significant between Groups A and B and Group C for half-life (4.3 +/- 1.9 and 3.35 +/- 0.75 vs. 2.47 +/- 0.72 hours) and for clearance (1.68 +/- 0.6 and 1.8 +/- 0.4 vs. 2.46 +/- 0.36 ml/min/kg). Volumes of distribution were similar in the 3 groups, from 516 +/- 108 to 633 +/- 226 ml/kg. Fourteen courses were given from Day 9 to Day 11 of life. The same differences were observed between Groups A and B and Group C. Elimination half-life was significantly reduced with simultaneous increase of the total body clearance. In clinical practice, 75-mg/kg intravenous injections every 12 hours during the first week of life and every 8 hours in the second week provide appropriate concentrations in infants of less than 36 weeks gestational age. In full term newborns the 75-mg dosage is appropriate but the number of injections must be increased to 3/24 h for the first week and 4 times daily thereafter.

Bacterial Infections

[Severe form of neonatal hemolytic disease by anti-Vel allo-immunization].

BACKGROUND: Routine detection of maternal sensitization during pregnancy sometimes reveals alloimmunization by exceptional antigens. CASE REPORT: A first pregnancy was complicated by a severe post-partum anemia in the mother, that required a blood transfusion. Irregular agglutinins were detected during the first trimester of a second pregnancy, for which the father was different from the first. The specific antibody was not identified at that time. The newborn, born at a gestational age of 39 weeks, developed severe jaundice at 3 hours of life, with hemolytic disease, anemia and hepatomegaly. Therapy included two transfusions of packed, washed red cells obtained from the mother on days 7 and 25. Immunologic tests showed that the hemolytic disease of this newborn was due to an anti-Vel alloimmunization. CONCLUSION: Antibodies detected during the pregnancy must be identified in order to manage properly any perinatal problems due to rare antibodies.

Anemia, Hemolytic

[Surgical treatment of ulcerative-necrotizing enterocolitis in premature infants. Indications and results; apropos of 50 cases].

From 1984 to 1991, 50 premature infants needed surgery for necrotizing enterocolitis. In 36 cases, surgery was necessary in emergency (weight 700 to 3,000 g, mean term: 29 weeks). Surgical treatment consisted either in intestinal resection associated with enterostomy (n = 26, or enterostomy alone (n = 10). The results were as follows: 5 early deaths, 4 late deaths (3 due to extra-digestive causes), 22 good results with nutritional recovery after closure of enterostomy. At the present time, 5 children need parenteral nutrition or are waiting for closure of enterostomy. 14 infants needed a surgical treatment for late intestinal stricture (3 to 6 weeks) by resection with enterostomy (n = 7) or with immediate anastomosis (n = 7). 13 are alive without digestive sequelae and 1 died of neurological disease. According to our experience, early surgical treatment consists in enterostomy associated whenever possible with resection of necrotic intestine. Late strictures are at best managed by resection with immediate anastomosis.

Emergencies

[Meconium aspiration syndrome in the region of Nord-Pas-de-Calais. Development of a training program for neonatal resuscitation].

In the French region Nord-Pas-de-Calais a Public Health action was undertaken in order to set up a training program for neonatal resuscitation for the maternity-hospitals personnel. The incidence and severity of meconium aspiration among the population of children admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Lille University Hospital during two 15 month-periods of time, before and after the training, were compared. The number of neonates who presented with meconium aspiration decreased from 54 during the first period to 9 during the second, i.e. from 7.2 to 1.3% with respect to the total number of hospitalized patients (p less than 0.001). On the contrary, the number of deaths did not decrease significantly. This regression of the meconium aspiration gives evidence for an improved quality of care at birth. Even if training is not the only factor, this evolution gives argument in favour of the efficacy of such actions.

Education, Nursing

[Acute bacterial and fungal neonatal meningitis].

Neonatal meningitis has two closely related features: the mechanism of infection and the nature of the pathogen. When transmitted from mother to foetus, the infection is mainly caused by one of three microorganisms: Streptococcus group B, Escherichia coli or Listeria monocytogenes. It may occur before birth, in which case meningitis is of early onset and has a rather poor prognosis. When it occurs later, the infection is a pathological consequence of physiological bacterial colonization, and its symptoms and prognosis are those of post-natal meningitis. Post-natal infections are facilitated by a pre-existing pathology or by prematurity. The responsible organisms (Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacteria, or yeasts) are often multiresistant. Advances in biology provide increasingly clearer explanation of the cerebral complications that determine the medium- and long-term prognosis. The variety of organisms and their frequent resistance to antibacterials make it necessary to use antibiotics that possess an exceptionally broad spectrum.

Acute Disease

Trisomy 16q23----qter arising from a maternal t(13;16)(p12;q23): case report and evidence of the reciprocal balanced maternal rearrangement by the Ag-NOR technique.

We describe a female new-born with partial trisomy of the long arm of chromosome 16. The chromosome anomaly was the result of an unbalanced segregation of a maternal translocation t(13;16)(p12;q23). Dynamic (RBG, GBG) banding and the Ag-NOR technique ascertained the reciprocal balanced maternal translocation between the 16q23----qter and 13q12----pter segments because nucleolar organizers were present on the tip of long arms of the derivative 16 maternal chromosome. As monosomy 13p has little or no deleterious effect we consider our case as exhibiting the phenotype of trisomy 16q23----qter free from any monosomic feature. Clinical effects are of less consequence as compared with previously published cases of partial trisomy 16q.

Chromosome Banding

Neonatal hypertension and thrombosis of the ductus arteriosus.

In a case of neonatal hypertension, radiographic findings showed multiple thromboembolism from the ductus arteriosis diverticulum. Hypertension was well controlled by captopril during the neonatal period. The long-term follow-up of 8 years with normal cardiovascular and renal function indicates a good prognosis for acquired renovascular neonatal hypertension.

Acebutolol

[Long-term outcome of congenital diaphragmatic hernia. A study of 17 patients].

In order to better define the outcome of patients with neonatal congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), 17 patients between 3 and 19 years of age, among 34 survivors from 100 CDH have been re-examined clinically. All had a lung radiography, lung function studies, and radionuclide (Technetium 99m, Xenon 133) lung scans. Three patients suffered from asthma, 2 had recurrent bronchitis, 4 poor tolerance to effort, 3 gastrooesophageal regurgitation leading to endobrachyoesophagus and oesophagitis in one, 3 had scoliosis. Lung scans demonstrated hypoperfusion of the herniated side (less than 40%) in 6 patients. Chest films showed hypovascularisation on the herniated side. Lung function studies, performed in 4 of these 6 patients, showed a restrictive syndrome in 1 patient. Our results confirm those in the literature: perfusion is more altered than ventilation. Chest films at one year of age, completed if necessary by radionuclide lung scans, allow identification of children who have important pulmonary hypoplasia. These children need a regular follow-up: respiratory, digestive and orthopedic complications must be treated in order to preserve the respiratory function in adulthood.

Adolescent

Risk factors for fatal pulmonary interstitial emphysema in neonates.

Among 315 infants treated for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) over a 2 year period, 32 prematures were studied retrospectively with the diagnosis of pulmonary interstitial emphysema (PIE). Eighteen died. In this group, birth weight below 1600 g, need for oxygen above 0.6 on the 1st day and appearance of bilateral pulmonary interstitial emphysema within the first 48 h of life were significant risk factors, with a mortality rate of 94%. In order to recognize one or more early criteria predictive of fatal PIE, we compared ventilation parameters on day 1 between neonates with fatal PIE and those with the same birth weight and initial severity of RDS but without PIE treated during the same period. High positive inspiratory pressure on day 1 was found to be the most significant parameter associated with further appearance of fatal pulmonary interstitial emphysema. A cut-off level of 26 cm H2O was found to be discriminant. These criteria may be useful in selecting those neonates who might best benefit from a new therapy such as high frequency ventilation, before irreversible lesions appear.

Birth Weight

[Influence of pedagogy on vigilance in school age children].

The relationship between vigilance and pedagogy was studied in 3 middle classes of primary school (children aged between 8 and 9 yrs). Three different types of pedagogy, belonging to 3 major pedagogic currents were evaluated: the pedagogy of Maria Montessori, the traditional one and the so-called "open" pedagogy. The vigilance of children was tested with the psychometric test of Zazzo. The rate of performance of the test was significantly different according to the nature of pedagogy after adjustment of the only 2 confusing factors between the 3 schools: the age of the children and the degree of the mother. This difference was in favor of the pedagogy of Maria Montessori compared with the 2 others. It was observed on the results to the tests but also on learning.

Age Factors

[Efficacy of percutaneous caffeine in the treatment of apnea in the premature infant].

In 18 prematures (gestational age less than 32 weeks), an aqueous monohydrated caffeine colloidal gel was administered topically. High plasma levels were rapidly obtained with a loading dose divided in 4 applications by massaging, 1 ml of gel per kg body weight, at 12 hour intervals (18 mg caffeine base/kg). Maintenance was then instituted with a dose of 0.5 ml/kg/day. Treatment was initiated before 8 days of life, in children under assisted ventilation but without severe pulmonary involvement, during the period of weaning from the respirator. A good local and general tolerance was invariably observed and remarkable therapeutic efficacy was obtained.

Administration, Cutaneous

[Contribution to the definition of high-risk groups of low birth weight infants].

Follow-up studies of low birth weight infants concern usually infants selected on the basis of either the birthweight--inferior or equal to 1500 g--or the gestational age: the upper limit is 31 or 32 weeks. To determine the most pertinent criterium, mortality and neurodevelopmental outcome at two years were compared in 3 groups, selected on the above criteria from a cohort of 369 infants with a birthweight below 2,000 grams admitted in 1983 in the neonatal unit of the University hospital of Lille. Under 1501 grams the rate of small for gestational age infants is high: it could be a part of the explanation for the high rate of minor sequelae. When cohorts are selected on the basis of gestational age, it appears that mortality is low at 32 weeks but the rate of major and moderate sequelae is still high: that fact must be considered when premature induced delivery comes in discussion. Because these criteria select different high risk populations, mortality and neurodevelopmental follow-up studies should include all infants with gestational age inferior or equal to 32 weeks and/or birthweight inferior or equal to 1,500 grams.

Child Development