abstract:The transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is a complex congenital heart disease which usually presents as cyanosis in neonates with limited mixing between the systemic and pulmonary circulatory systems. A delayed diagnosis of TGA can lead to ventricular failure. We report a six-week-old infant who was admitted to the paediatric Intensive Care Unit of the Royal Hospital, Muscat, Oman, in 2016 for bronchiolitis. During admission, she was incidentally diagnosed with TGA and coarctation of the aorta. Postnatal screening, including the use of pulse oximetry, plays a significant role in avoiding a late diagnosis of TGA; however, this screening tool is not widely used in Oman. Moreover, the common practice of applying a pulse oximetry probe only to the foot may have been limited in the current case due to the reverse differential saturation between the upper and lower limbs caused by this particular combination of lesions.

Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) refers to the use of techniques to deliver artificial respiration to the lungs without the need for endotracheal intubation. As NIV has proven beneficial in comparison to invasive mechanical ventilation, it has become the optimal modality for initial respiratory support among children in respiratory distress. High-flow nasal cannulae (HFNC) therapy is a relatively new NIV modality and is used for similar indications. This review discusses the usefulness and applications of conventional NIV in comparison to HFNC.Keywords: Noninvasive Ventilation; Nasal Cannulae; Endotracheal Intubation; Mechanical Ventilation; Children.

Subjects: Children aged <13 years presenting to the emergency departments and diagnosed with laboratory-confirmed pertussis by polymerase chain reaction between January 2013 and December 2018. Measurements and main results: In total, 157 patients were diagnosed with pertussis, of which 12% (n = 19) had critical pertussis. Patients with critical pertussis had a higher white blood cell count (WBCC) [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.05; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-1.08; P = 0.003], absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) (aOR 1.08; 95% CI 1.03-1.15; P = 0.004) and absolute neutrophil count (ANC) (aOR 1.05; 95% CI 1.01-1.10; P = 0.032) than patients with non-critical pertussis, even after multi-variate adjustment. The area under the curve for discriminatory accuracy of laboratory variables was 0.75 (95% CI 0.65-0.85), 0.74 (95% CI 0.64-0.84) and 0.72 (95% CI 0.60-0.83) for maximum WBCC, ALC and ANC, respectively, with Youden's cut-off values of 31.5 Â 10 9 /L, 19.9 Â 10 9 /L and 5.0 Â 10 9 /L, respectively. Conclusions: In children, higher WBCC, ALC and ANC were significant predictors of critical pertussis. A cut-off level of 31.5 Â 10 9 /L for WBCC was associated with critical pertussis.

Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) and high-flow nasal cannulae therapy (HFNCT) are first-line methods of treatment for children presenting with acute respiratory distress, with paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) providing an ideal environment for subsequent treatment monitoring. However, the availability of step-down units, where NIV and HFNCT can be safely utilised, has reduced the need for such patients to be admitted to PICUs, thereby leading to the better overall utilisation of critical care resources. In addition, NIV and HFNCT can also be used during transport instead of invasive ventilation, thus avoiding the complications associated with the latter approach. This review article examines the safety and applicability of these respiratory support approaches outside of paediatric intensive care as well as various factors associated with treatment success or failure.Keywords: Critical Care; Children; Pediatric Intensive Care Units; Noninvasive Ventilation; Nasal Cannulae; Transportation of Patients.

Objectives: A modified Blalock-Taussig (mBT) shunt procedure is a common palliative surgery used to treat infants and children with cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD). This study aimed to report the outcomes of infants and children undergoing mBT shunt procedures in Oman. In addition, risk factors associated with early mortality, inter-stage mortality and reintervention were assessed. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted from January 2016 to December 2018 at the National Heart Centre, Muscat, Oman. All paediatric patients with CCHD undergoing mBT shunt procedures as a primary palliative procedure during this period were included. Data were retrieved from electronic hospital records. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to describe overall survival. Results: A total of 50 infants and children were included in the study. The in-hospital mortality and inter-stage mortality rates were 10% and 6.7%, respectively. Preoperative mechanical ventilation (odds ratio [OR]: 3.00, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.98–4.76; P = 0.007) and cardiopulmonary bypass (OR: 4.09, 95% CI: 2.44–6.85; P = 0.002) were significant risk factors for early mortality. In-hospital and interval surgical reintervention rates were 12% and 13.3%, respectively. Following the primary shunt procedure, the median time to second-stage surgery was 15.5 months (range: 5.0–34.0 months). Conclusion: The findings of this study support those reported in international research regarding the risks associated with mBT shunt surgeries. In particular, preoperative mechanical ventilation and cardiopulmonary bypass were significant risk factors for early mortality. Keywords: Pediatrics; Heart Diseases, congenital; Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures; Modified Blalock-Taussig Procedure; Patient Outcome Assessment; Hospital Mortality; Risk Factors; Oman.

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