PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S L Bratton

Publications and source records attributed to S L Bratton.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Clearance of morphine in postoperative infants during intravenous infusion: the influence of age and surgery.

UNLABELLED: We analyzed morphine clearance values in infants receiving the drug by continuous i.v. infusion for analgesia after surgery, because we found lower steady-state morphine concentrations than we expected from our previous studies. Infants received morphine after a loading dose of 0.05 mg/kg and continuous infusion calculated to reach a steady-state concentration of 20 ng/mL. Blood was sampled twice on Postoperative Day 1 at times separated by at least 2 h, and morphine and morphine-6-glucuronide (M-6-G) concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Clearance of morphine was calculated as infusion rate divided by the steady-state morphine concentration. Morphine given to 26 infants by continuous i.v. infusion after major noncardiac surgery has rapidly increasing clearance values, from a median value of 9.2 mL x min(-1) x kg(-1) in infants 1-7 days old, 25.3 in infants 31-90 days old, and 31.0 in infants 91-180 days old to 48.9 in infants 180-380 days old. Adult clearance values are reached by 1 mo of age, more quickly than in infants of the same age previously studied who received morphine after cardiac surgeries. M-6-G was measured in all infants. The ratio of M-6-G to morphine concentrations was 1.9-2.1 in these infants, which is lower than ratios reported in older infants or adults by others, but higher than those reported in newborns. Infants with normal cardiovascular systems undergoing surgery clear morphine more efficiently than infants of the same age undergoing cardiac surgery. IMPLICATIONS: Morphine removal from the body is slow in newborns but increases to reach adult values in the first months of life. Calculating the clearance of morphine from blood samples drawn during continuous i.v. infusions after surgery shows that this maturation occurs more quickly in infants undergoing noncardiac surgery (by 1-3 mo of age) than in those receiving morphine after cardiac surgery (by 6-12 mo of age).

Age Factors↗

Use of pulse oximetry for blood pressure measurement after cardiac surgery.

Blood pressure measurement using pulse oximeter waveform change was compared with an oscillometric measurement and the gold standard, intra-arterial measurement, in children after cardiac surgery. Forty six patients were enrolled and divided into groups according to weight. Simultaneous blood pressure measurements were obtained from the arterial catheter, the oscillometric device, and the pulse oximeter. Pulse oximeter measurements were obtained with a blood pressure cuff proximal to the oximeter probe. The blood pressure measurements from the pulse oximeter method correlated better with intra-arterial measurements than those from the oscillometric device (0.77-0.96 v 0.42-0.83). The absolute differences between the pulse oximeter and intra-arterial measurements were significantly smaller than between the oscillometric and intra-arterial measurements in children less than 15.0 kg. The pulse oximeter waveform change is an accurate and reliable way to measure blood pressure in children non-invasively, and is superior to the oscillometric method for small patients.

Adolescent↗

Postdural puncture headache in pediatric oncology patients.

This prospective cohort study determined the incidence and risk factors for development of postdural puncture headache (PDPH) in children after lumbar puncture (LP). Eighty-six children were enrolled. LPs were performed with use of 22-gauge spinal needles with the bevel oriented parallel to the long axis of the spine. Follow-up telephone interviews and patients' diary of symptoms were collected. Headache brought on by sitting up and relieved by lying down was defined as PDPH. Of the 80 who completed the study, six (8%) developed PDPH. Two (3%) were less than 6 years old and four (5%) were 6 to 12 years of age. Children with a history of headache following a previous LP were nine times as likely to experience PDPH. PDPH occurs not infrequently in children. A prior history of headache is a predisposing factor.

Age Factors↗

Efficacy and complications of percutaneous pigtail catheters for thoracostomy in pediatric patients.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the efficacy of percutaneous pigtail catheters in evacuating pleural air or fluid in pediatric patients. DESIGN: A case series of children with percutaneous pigtail catheters placed in the pediatric ICU between January 1996 and August 1997. SETTING: Urban pediatric teaching hospital in Seattle, WA. METHODS: A retrospective chart review. RESULTS: Ninety-one children required 133 chest catheters. Most patients were infants with congenital heart disease (80%). One hundred thirteen of the catheters (85%) were placed for pleural effusion, with 20 tubes (15%) placed for pneumothorax. Efficacy of drainage of pleural fluid was significantly greater in serous (96%) and chylous (100%) effusions compared with empyema (0%) or hemothorax (81%). Evacuation of pneumothorax was achieved by a pigtail catheter in 75% of patients. Resolution of pleural air or pneumothorax was significantly greater in patients < 10 kg compared with larger children. Complications due to placement of the pigtail catheters included hemothorax (n=3, 2%), pneumothorax (n=3, 2%), and hepatic perforation (n= 1, 1%). There were also complications arising from the use of the catheters, including failure to drain, dislodgment, kinking, loss of liquid ventilation fluid, empyema, and disconnection in 27 of 133 catheters (20%). Significantly more complications during catheter use occurred in patients <5 kg than in larger children. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous pigtail catheters are highly effective in drainage of pleural serous and chylous effusions, somewhat less efficacious in drainage of hemothorax or pneumothorax, and least efficacious in drainage of empyema. Infants and smaller children had higher rates of resolution of pleural air and fluid from placement of a pigtail catheter than larger children. Complications from catheter placement were uncommon (5%) but serious, whereas complications associated with continued use of the catheters were more common (20%) but less grave. Strict attention to anatomic landmarks and close monitoring may reduce the number of complications.

Adolescent↗

Colloid volume expanders. Problems, pitfalls and possibilities.

Colloid solutions have been developed and used over the past 70 years as expanders of the intravascular space, based on an understanding of Starling's law. Increasing osmotic pressure with colloidal products has remained an attractive theoretical premise for volume resuscitation. Indeed, colloids have been shown to increase osmotic pressure in clinical practice; however, the effects are short-lived. Lower molecular weight colloids exert a larger initial osmotic effect, but are rapidly cleared from the circulation. Larger molecules exert a smaller osmotic pressure that is sustained longer. The main drawback to colloid therapy lies in pathological states with endothelial injury and capillary leak, precisely the clinical scenario where colloids are commonly given. The colloid solution may leak into the interstitium and remain there exerting an osmotic gradient, pulling additional water into the interstitium. There are 4 general types of colloid products available for clinical use. Albumin is the predominant plasma protein and remains the standard against which other colloids are compared. Albumin, pooled from human donors, is in short supply and remains expensive. Dextrans have been used to prevent deep venous thrombosis and to lower blood viscosity during surgery. Hetastarch has been widely used as a plasma volume expander. It provides equivalent plasma volume expansion to albumin, but has been shown to alter clotting parameters in studies (prolonging the activated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time). Although severe coagulopathies have been reported in sporadic cases, hetastarch has not been shown to increase postoperative bleeding compared with albumin therapy, even in large doses (3 L/day). Despite some theoretical advantages compared with crystalloid therapy, colloid administration has not been shown to decrease the risk of acute lung injury or to improve survival. Specific indications for colloid products include hypoproteinaemic or malnourished states, patients who require plasma volume expansion who are unable to tolerate larger amounts of fluid, orthopaedic and reconstructive procedures requiring prevention of thrombus formation and leukapheresis.

Colloids↗

Multi-institutional survey of graduates of pediatric anesthesia fellowship: assessment of training and current professional activities.

UNLABELLED: We surveyed all the graduates of four fellowship programs in pediatric anesthesia between 1985 and 1993 to assess their current professional activities, their evaluation of fellowship training, and their opinions on future directions of such training. One-hundred ninety-one (62%) of the graduates responded. Nearly all of the respondents had sought fellowship training for pediatric anesthesia and thought that the training was worthwhile. At the time of the survey, 40% worked in a children's hospital, 72% had university or affiliate positions, and 54% had a practice that was > 50% pediatric. Those with > or = 12 mo fellowship and/or board certification in pediatrics were the most likely to have a pediatric-dedicated practice. Seventy percent of the respondents thought that fellowship training should be for 12 mo, and the proportion of respondents who recommended inclusion of training in pain management and clinical research was greater than the number who had actually received such training. Fifty-eight percent of respondents supported restriction of fellowship positions in the future, but 83% did not support a mandatory 2-yr fellowship with research training. We conclude that fellowships in pediatric anesthesia seem to be successful in providing training that is not only satisfying to the trainees, but that is also followed by active involvement in the care of children and in the training of residents and fellows in anesthesia. Additional information should be gathered to assess the impact of this training on pediatric care, to formulate a standardized curriculum, and to justify support for such training in the future. IMPLICATIONS: We surveyed graduates of four fellowship programs in pediatric anesthesia (1985-1993) to assess current professional activities, fellowship training, and future directions of such training. Fellowships in pediatric anesthesia seem to provide training that is satisfying to trainees and that is followed by active involvement in the care of children.

Anesthesiology↗

High-frequency oscillatory ventilation with partial liquid ventilation in a model of acute respiratory failure.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there is an improvement in oxygenation when partial liquid ventilation and high-frequency oscillatory ventilation are combined in the treatment of acute lung injury, compared with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation alone. DESIGN: Controlled animal trial. SETTING: Research laboratory in a university setting. SUBJECTS: Ten 3-kg piglets. INTERVENTIONS: Anesthetized piglets underwent high-frequency oscillatory ventilation, with mean airway pressure of 20 cm H2O, before induction of acute lung injury with repeated saline lavage. When PaO2 values were < 100 torr (< 13.3 kPa), five animals were randomized to receive escalating doses (3, 15, and 30 mL/kg) of perflubron at 60-min intervals. The other five animals remained on high-frequency oscillatory ventilation only. Sham dosing was performed at 60-min intervals in these animals. Arterial blood gases were obtained in both groups at baseline, after injury, and after perflubron and sham doses. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Statistically significant improvements in oxygenation were demonstrated in animals that received 3 mL/kg of perflubron with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation compared with animals receiving high-frequency oscillatory ventilation alone (253 +/- 161 vs. 90 +/- 30 torr [33.65 +/- 21.46 vs. 12.0 +/- 4.0 kPa], p < .05). Improvements in oxygenation with additional administration of perflubron were not greater than the improvements seen in the high-frequency oscillatory ventilation-only group. PaCO2 and pH were similar in both groups at all times. No hemodynamic compromise occurred in either group of animals. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of low-dose perflubron with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation leads to more rapid improvement in arterial oxygenation than high-frequency oscillatory ventilation alone, in a piglet model of acute lung injury. Although the group receiving high-frequency oscillatory ventilation alone eventually achieved PaO2 values that were equivalent to the group receiving high-frequency ventilation and perflubron, the combination of perflubron with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation may permit effective oxygenation and ventilation at lower mean airway pressures by facilitating alveolar expansion and decreasing intrapulmonary shunt.

Analysis of Variance↗

Morphine pharmacokinetics during continuous infusion of morphine sulfate for infants receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

OBJECTIVES: To determine a) if serum morphine concentration changes during the first 3 hrs of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO); and b) if absorption of morphine onto the membrane oxygenator is responsible for these changes. Also, morphine clearance during the first 5 days of ECMO was studied. DESIGN: Prospective, open-label study with consecutive patient enrollment. SETTING: Neonatal intensive care unit at a university-affiliated, children's hospital. SUBJECTS: Eleven neonates with severe persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn receiving continuous intravenous infusions of morphine sulfate and requiring ECMO. INTERVENTIONS: Blood samples were obtained from the subjects and ECMO circuits at predetermined time intervals. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Serum morphine concentration was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. Morphine concentrations were no different from baseline at 5 mins, 1 hr, or 3 hrs after beginning ECMO. There was no significant difference in morphine concentration from samples taken immediately proximal and distal to the membrane oxygenator at 5 mins, 1 hr, and 3 hrs after the start of ECMO. Morphine clearance was calculated on days 1, 3, and 5 of ECMO. The mean value for morphine clearance was 11.7 +/- 9.3 (SD) ml/min/kg (range 2.6 to 34.5). CONCLUSIONS: The initiation of ECMO does not lead to a significant decrease in serum morphine concentration and there is no uptake of morphine onto the membrane oxygenator of the ECMO circuit. Morphine clearance for infants receiving ECMO is variable.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Thyroid function in infants following cardiac surgery: comparative effects of iodinated and noniodinated topical antiseptics.

OBJECTIVES: Cardiopulmonary bypass has profound effects on thyroid hormone metabolism. These effects may be exacerbated in infants because they are able to absorb large quantities of iodine transcutaneously. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that preoperative povidone-iodine contributes to postoperative thyroid depression in infants who undergo cardiac surgery. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled trial. SETTING: Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Seattle, WA. PATIENTS: Thirty-seven infants undergoing repair of congenital cardiac defects. INTERVENTIONS: Infants requiring cardiopulmonary bypass were divided into two groups: Group 1 received povidone-iodine; group 2 received chlorhexidine as a topical preoperative antiseptic. Group 3 did not require cardiopulmonary bypass for repair of cardiac defects and received povidone-iodine as a preoperative antiseptic. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Thyrotropin (TSH), total triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4) were measured at four intervals: a) before preparation for surgery; b) immediately after surgery; c) at 2 days after surgery; and d) at 5 to 8 days after surgery. There was a significant decrease in TSH concentrations immediately after surgery in the two bypass groups. This change was significantly greater than in the change in TSH concentration in the thoracotomy group. Total T3 and T4 concentrations decreased by postoperative day 2 in both groups 1 and 2, and the changes were significant compared with group 3. Total T3 and T4 concentrations increased significantly in all groups after postoperative day 2, with no significant difference between the three groups. CONCLUSION: Cardiopulmonary bypass has a more significant effect on thyroid hormone metabolism than does the preoperative antiseptic.

Anti-Infective Agents, Local↗

Acute lung injury in isolated traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of acute lung injury (ALI) in comatose patients after isolated traumatic brain injury, to determine whether specific brain lesions diagnosed by cranial computed tomographic scans are associated with ALI, and to determine the outcome of patients with head injuries who developed ALI. METHODS: Descriptive epidemiology and a case-control study using the Traumatic Coma Data Bank was performed to evaluate clinical features and brain lesions associated with ALI in patients with isolated head trauma. Patients with ALI were defined as those who demonstrated a ratio of partial pressure of arterial oxygen to fractional expired oxygen of 300 or less. RESULTS: Twenty of 100 comatose patients developed ALI. Patients with ALI were almost three times more likely to die or survive in a vegetative state (odds ratio, 2.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.6-4.9). Specific anatomic brain lesions diagnosed by cranial computed tomographic scans were not associated with ALI. However, patients with more severe injuries, i.e., large nonevacuated mass lesions, and those with midline shift demonstrated a 10- and 5-fold increased risk of ALI (odds ratio, 9.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-217.1; and odds ratio, 5.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-20.0). CONCLUSIONS: ALI was common in comatose victims with an isolated traumatic brain injury and was associated with an increased risk of death or a severe neurological morbidity. ALI was associated with the global severity of head injury but not with specific anatomic lesions diagnosed by cranial computed tomographic scans.

Adolescent↗

Severe paroxysmal sinus bradycardia associated with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of and risk factors for unexplained paroxysmal bradycardia in children treated with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV). DESIGN: A nested case-control study. SETTING: A university-affiliated children's hospital. SUBJECTS: All children treated with HFOV for at least 3 days during a 2-year period and a randomly chosen comparison group of 50 children treated with only conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) for at least 3 days during the same time period. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Unexplained paroxysmal sinus bradycardia occurred in six children (12%) receiving HFOV, and was significantly more common than in children treated with CMV (0%). The bradycardic events occurred after the lung disease started to improve, and the mean airway pressure (mPaw) at the time of the bradycardias was significantly decreased from the child's maximal mPaw. The bradycardic events were effectively treated acutely with manual ventilation or atropine sulfate, and resolved completely after the patient was changed to a regimen of CMV. CONCLUSION: Unexplained paroxysmal bradycardia associated with HFOV in children is not uncommon. It completely resolves with conversion to CMV and may be related to overdistention of alveoli as compliance improves.

Arrhythmia, Sinus↗

Serious and fatal air gun injuries: more than meets the eye.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiology of air gun injuries to children that required hospitalization. DESIGN: A consecutive series of children with air gun injuries. SETTING: Urban pediatric teaching hospitals in Cincinnati, OH; Kansas City, MO; and Seattle, WA. METHODS: A retrospective chart review. RESULTS: A total of 101 children were studied: 81% were male; 80% were white, 18% were black, and 2% were other races. The median age was 10.9 years (range, 0.5 to 18.8). Victims were most commonly shot by a friend (30%) or sibling (21%). A total of 34% occurred at the victim's home, and 36% occurred at the home of a friend or relative. Although 71% of shootings were unintentional, 5% were assaults, and 1% were suicides. The median hospital stay was 3 days (range, 1 to 17 days). Fifteen children (15%) required treatment in intensive care. A total of 56% required at least one surgical procedure. Forty-nine had injuries to the head, including 38 with injuries to the eye, 10 with intracranial injuries, and 1 with a skull injury. Fourteen children were shot in the neck; 15 were shot in the chest, with 2 patients sustaining lacerations of the pericardium and 1 having a right ventricular foreign body. Another child had a laceration of the innominate artery. Nineteen had abdominal injuries, including laceration of the stomach (N = 3), small bowel (N = 4), colon (N = 2), and liver (N = 3). Three of 10 children with intracranial injuries died. Two had long-term neurologic deficits. Of children with eye injuries, 25 (66%) had permanent visual loss and 15 (39%) of these were blind. CONCLUSION: Air guns are associated with serious and fatal injuries. Families should be counseled that air guns may cause serious injuries and even death. Furthermore, pediatric care givers should advocate for increased regulation of air guns and expansion of safety standards.

Abdominal Injuries↗

Survey of the use of peripherally inserted central venous catheters in children.

OBJECTIVE: Use of peripherally inserted central venous catheters (PICCs) to provide prolonged intravenous (IV) access in children is increasing. Our goal was to describe the children treated with PICCs in our institution, and to study catheter features such as catheter life, completion of therapy, and complications. Furthermore, we also evaluated PICC use in children completing therapy after discharge from our institution. METHODS: A prospective study of all PICCs inserted at the Children's Hospital and Medical Center (CHMC), a university-affiliated teaching institution, during a period of 18 months (January 1994 to July 1995). RESULTS: A total of 441 PICCs were inserted in 390 patients. Patient age ranged from 0 to 22 years with a mean of 5.4 +/- 6.0 years. No insertion complications occurred. Treatment of infectious disease (46%) was the most frequent reason for PICC insertion. All pediatric medical and surgical services used PICCs. Average catheter life was 13 +/- 12 days. Sixty-one percent of PICCs were used entirely at CHMC, while 39% were also used at home or at an outside hospital. Completion of therapy was achieved in 69% of PICCs. Among children who completed therapy outside our hospital, there was no difference in the rates of occlusion, accidental dislodgment, or infection. One hundred twenty-nine (29%) PICCs were removed for complications. Occlusion (7%), accidental displacement (8%), and suspicion of sepsis (8%) were the most common complications. Only 2% of PICCs had documented catheter-associated sepsis. CONCLUSIONS: PICCs provide reliable and safe access for prolonged IV therapy in neonates and children. The low incidence of complications with PICCs make them an attractive device for prolonged IV access. Similar complication rates with use in and out of hospital suggest that home IV therapy can be safely delivered with PICCs, avoiding expensive hospitalization.

Adolescent↗

Epidural and intravenous bolus morphine for postoperative analgesia in infants.

PURPOSE: To compare two doses of bolus epidural morphine with bolus iv morphine for postoperative pain after abdominal or genitourinary surgery in infants. METHODS: Eighteen infants were randomly assigned to bolus epidural morphine (0.025 mg.kg-1 or 0.050 mg.kg-1) or bolus iv morphine (0.050-0.150 mg.kg-1). Postoperative pain was assessed and analgesia provided, using a modified infant pain scale. Monitoring included continuous ECG, pulse oximetry, impedance and nasal thermistor pneumography. The CO2 response curves and serum morphine concentrations were measured postoperatively. RESULTS: Postoperative analgesia was provided within five minutes by all treatment methods. Epidural groups required fewer morphine doses (3.8 +/- 0.8 for low dose [LE], 3.5 +/- 0.8 for high dose epidural [HE] vs. 6.7 +/- 1.6 for iv, P < 0.05) and less total morphine (0.11 +/- 0.04 mg.kg-1 for LE, 0.16 +/- 0.04 for HE vs 0.67 +/- 0.34 for iv, P < 0.05) on POD1. Dose changes were necessary in all groups for satisfactory pain scores. Pruritus, apnoea, and haemoglobin desaturation occurred in all groups. CO2 response curve slopes, similar preoperatively (range 36-41 ml.min-1.mmHg ETCO2-1.kg-1) were generally depressed (range, 16-27 ml.min-1.mmHg ETCO2-1.kg-1) on POD1. Serum morphine concentrations, negligible in LE (< 2 ng.ml-1), were similar in the HE and iv groups (peak 8.5 +/- 12.5 and 8.6 +/- 2.4 ng.ml-1, respectively). CONCLUSION: Epidural and iv morphine provide infants effective postoperative analgesia, although side effects are common. Epidural morphine gives satisfactory analgesia with fewer doses (less total morphine); epidural morphine 0.025 mg.kg-1 is appropriate initially. Infants receiving epidural or iv morphine analgesia postoperatively need close observation in hospital with continuous pulse oximetry.

Analgesia, Epidural↗

Comparison of hetastarch with albumin for postoperative volume expansion in children after cardiopulmonary bypass.

OBJECTIVE: Hetastarch has been studied as a volume expander in adults after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and in recommended dosages has not altered coagulation studies or increased clinical bleeding. Hetastarch was compared with albumin in children after CPB to determine whether hetastarch use was associated with increased clinical bleeding or alteration of coagulation studies. DESIGN: Randomized double-blinded study. SETTING: University-affiliated children's hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-seven children age 1 year or greater (mean 72.8 months; range 12 months to 15.5 years) scheduled for repair of congenital heart disease with moderate hypothermia were randomized to receive hetastarch or albumin as a postoperative volume expander during the first 24 hours after surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Thirty-eight children required colloid replacement therapy. Blood pressure, central venous pressure, urine output, and chest tube drainage were used to determine colloid requirement. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Clinical bleeding and laboratory studies of coagulation were evaluated as were requirements for colloid, crystalloid, and blood products. Twenty children received 6% hetastarch, and 18 received 5% albumin. No differences were found in the amount of replacement fluids required, or in coagulation parameters in children receiving 20 mL/kg or less of either colloid replacement therapy. An increase in prothrombin time was demonstrated in children who received greater than 20 mL/kg of 6% hetastarch (p = 0.006); however, no difference in clinical bleeding or blood product requirement was demonstrated between the hetastarch or albumin groups receiving more than 20 mL/kg. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that 6% hetastarch is safe and an effective plasma volume expander in the postoperative management of children, using volumes up to 20 mL/kg. Close laboratory monitoring and careful evaluation of clinical bleeding are suggested when larger doses of hetastarch are administered because of prolongation of the prothrombin time with more than 20 mL/kg of hetastarch.

Adolescent↗

Recurrence risk of low birthweight deliveries among women with a prior very low birthweight delivery.

To estimate the risk of repeat low birthweight deliveries among women whose first child was very low birthweight (less than 1500 g), a retrospective cohort of women who had their first and second children in Washington state between 1984 and 1991 was studied. After adjustment for potential confounding factors, a woman whose first infant was very low birthweight experienced an 11.5-fold increased risk of delivering a low birthweight (less than 2500 g) second infant (relative risk 11.5, 95% confidence interval 5.4 to 24.4). Women with a very low birthweight first infant also had a significantly increased risk of repeat very low birthweight infant (p < 0.0001). Women with a previous very low birthweight delivery are at increased risk of repeat low and very low birthweight infants. This high-risk group may benefit from education regarding recurrence risk and modification of factors associated with low birthweight, as well as good prenatal care.

Adult↗

A prospective study of femoral catheter-related thrombosis in children.

OBJECTIVES: To establish the incidence and correlate clinical findings of femoral venous catheter-related thrombus formation in critically ill children. RESEARCH DESIGN: Observational prospective blinded study. SETTING: University-affiliated pediatric hospital intensive care unit. PATIENTS: Twenty children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit who had percutaneous femoral venous catheters placed while in the pediatric intensive care unit. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS: Duplex Doppler ultrasonography evaluation of femoral vein catheters at 1 to 2, 3 to 5, and 7 to 10 days after placement was used to detect the presence of thrombus formation and venous occlusion. Demographic patient data, pediatric risk of mortality scores, and clinical findings, including leg swelling and whether catheters would aspirate blood, were also recorded. Continuous data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U Test, and categorical data were compared with Fisher's Exact Test. Statistical significance was assigned at a P value of .05 or less. CONCLUSIONS: The overall incidence of catheter-related femoral vein thrombus formation was 35% (7/20). Ipsilateral leg swelling and the inability to aspirate blood from the catheter were significantly associated with thrombus formation. Patients who developed thrombi were younger and smaller than those who did not. In six of seven patients, thrombus formation was clinically occult when first demonstrated by ultrasonography.

Catheterization, Central Venous↗

Use of cardiopulmonary bypass during bronchoscopy following sand aspiration. A case report.

A 6-year-old boy with massive sand aspiration was effectively treated with femoral vein to femoral artery cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), saline bronchial lavage, and exogenous surfactant. The patient was discharged the 9th hospital day without apparent sequelae. CPB should be considered for cases of sand or gravel aspiration when gas exchange is compromised.

Bronchoscopy↗