We speculated that prophylactic ligation of the ductus arteriosus would reduce mortality and morbidity in very-low-birth-weight infants. To test this hypothesis, we randomly assigned 84 babies who weighed 1000 g or less at birth and required supplemental oxygen either to receive standard treatment (n = 44) or to undergo prophylactic surgical ligation of the ductus arteriosus on the day of birth (n = 40). The ductus was ligated in babies in the control group only if the shunt was hemodynamically important. All the babies were followed for one year. The incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis was reduced in the group that underwent prophylactic ligation (3 of 40 [8 percent]) as compared with the control group (13 of 44 [30 percent]; P = 0.002). The frequency of death, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, retinopathy of prematurity, and intraventricular hemorrhage was similar in both groups. Because early enteral feeding may have increased the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis, we analyzed separately the babies who were fed early. Among the infants who were fed within 14 days of birth, those who underwent prophylactic ligation had a lower incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (1 of 11 [9 percent]) than those who did not (13 of 24 [54 percent]; P = 0.001). Within the control group, the infants who were fed within 14 days of birth and whose ductus was ligated for medical reasons within 5 days of birth had a lower incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (2 of 10 [20 percent]) than those whose ductus was ligated later or not at all (11 of 14 [79 percent]; P = 0.004). We conclude that early surgical closure of the ductus arteriosus reduces the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis in infants of very low birth weight who require supplemental oxygen.
Recent studies show an association between the presence of Ureaplasma urealyticum in tracheal aspirates and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. We hypothesized that among infants with birth weights < or = 1,250 g and respiratory disease, those with U. urealyticum in their tracheal aspirates would have radiographic evidence of more-severe pulmonary disease more often than would those without this organism. A total of 292 low-birth-weight infants who had endotracheal aspirate cultured within 7 days of birth were enrolled. The radiographic outcome variables were pneumonia, early severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (precocious), and chronic lung disease. Microorganisms were isolated from 128 infants (44%); U. urealyticum was isolated from 44 (15%). Pneumonia was significantly more common in infants with than without U. urealyticum (30% vs. 16%, P = .03). U. urealyticum also was associated with precocious bronchopulmonary dysplasia independent of prematurity, race, and sex (odds ratio, 2.2; P< .05). Tracheal isolation of U. urealyticum within 7 days of birth is associated with pneumonia and precocious bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
Previous imaging studies in infants with globoid cell leukodystrophy (GLD) using computed tomography have demonstrated a reduction in cerebral white matter and increased density symmetrically in the regions of the thalami, periventricular white matter, and the internal capsules. Correlation of these findings with morphologic studies at necropsy has not been made. In particular, deposition of calcium has not been described. We have evaluated two children with GLD confirmed by the absence of leukocyte galactosylceramide beta-galactosidase activity using repeated magnetic resonance (MR) scans in each and correlated the imaging results with post-mortem analyses in one. Neuropathologic examination revealed abnormalities typical for GLD. In addition to the absence of normal myelination throughout cerebral and cerebellar white matter, MR images demonstrated the presence of a paramagnetic effect in the regions of the thalami, corona radiata, and centra semiovale. We have observed in histologic preparations from these areas a dense accumulation of globoid cells and some calcium, which we suggest may be responsible for producing the paramagnetic effect.
Fibrovascular polyp of the upper aerodigestive tract is an uncommon tumor that may present in pediatric patients with symptoms ranging from dysphagia to asphyxiation and death. We present a unique case of a pediatric patient with an asymptomatic fibrovascular polyp noted as an incidental finding on a cervical ultrasound evaluation. This lesion extended from the posterior tonsillar pillar and prolapsed freely into the nasopharynx and esophagus. The literature relevant to this case is reviewed, and the etiology, pathophysiology, and management principles are discussed.
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