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T Rajka

Publications and source records attributed to T Rajka.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Computed tomography versus bronchography in the diagnosis and management of tracheobronchomalacia in ventilator dependent infants.

AIM: To assess the relative accuracy of dynamic spiral computed tomography (CT) compared with tracheobronchography, in a population of ventilator dependent infants with suspected tracheobroncho-malacia (TBM). SETTING: Paediatric intensive care unit in a tertiary teaching hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Infants referred for investigation and management of ventilator dependence and suspected of having TBM were recruited into the study. Tracheobronchography and CT were performed during the same admission by different investigators who were blinded to the results of the other investigation. The study was approved by the hospital research ethics committee, and signed parental consent was obtained. RESULTS: Sixteen infants were recruited into the study. Fifteen had been born prematurely, and five had cardiovascular malformations. In 10 patients there was good or partial correlation between the two investigations, but in six patients there was poor or no correlation. Bronchography consistently showed more dynamic abnormalities, although CT picked up an unsuspected double aortic arch. Radiation doses were 0.27-2.47 mSv with bronchography and 0.86-10.67 mSv with CT. CONCLUSIONS: Bronchography was a better investigation for diagnosing TBM and in determining opening pressures. Spiral CT is unreliable in the assessment of TBM in ventilator dependent infants. In addition, radiation doses were considerably higher with CT.

Bronchial Diseases↗

[Guidelines for resuscitation of newborn infants].

This article presents the new guidelines for resuscitation of the newborn from the European Resuscitation Council. It is estimated that, potentially, 800,000 newborns can be saved each year by simple airways manoeuvres. Personnel trained in basic resuscitation should be present at all deliveries and personnel trained in advanced resuscitation at deliveries with known risk factors. Attention to ventilation is of primary importance. Ventilation should be assisted if stimulation does not achieve a prompt onset of spontaneous respiration and/or the heart rate is less than 100 per minute. Chest compressions--1/3 of the anteroposterior diameter of the chest--should be provided if the heart rate is absent or remains < below 60 per minute despite adequate assisted ventilation for 30 seconds. Chest compressions should be coordinated with ventilation at a ratio of 3:1 and a rate of 120 "events" per minute to achieve approximately 90 compressions and 30 rescue breaths per minute. Adrenalin should be given if the heart rate remains below 60 per minute despite 30 seconds of effective ventilation and chest compression.

Apgar Score↗

[Guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of children].

In this article the European Resuscitation Council's guidelines for basic and advanced resuscitation of children are presented. There are some changes from the previous guidelines. Children are divided in three age categories (in addition to the newly born): children up to one year old, one to eight years old, and more than eight years old. In Norway, but not in the rest of Europe, evaluation of the circulation by pulse check has been eliminated in basic, but not in advanced resuscitation. This is due to reports that pulse checks by lay rescuers require much time with poor specificity and sensitivity. In evaluating the patient's own ventilation, the differentiation between agonal gasps and regular breaths is stressed. ECG monitoring provides the link between paediatric basic life support and advanced life support. The algorithm for the latter closely resembles that proposed for adults. While there were previously three separate algorithms for ventricular fibrillation/ventricular tachycardia, asystole and electromechanical dissociation, there is now only one algorithm. Ventilation and chest compressions should be performed for one-minute periods with ventricular fibrillation/ventricular tachycardia, for three-minute periods with other rhythms.

Adult↗