No abstract

Drowning is still one of the most important causes of the preventable mortality worldwide. Some patients should be treated with noninvasive ventilation immediately in the emergency department (ED). The practice of noninvasive ventilation has been increased recently in the paediatric ED. We present here three nonfatal drowning patients with pulmonary oedema and hypoxia who were successfully treated with noninvasive ventilation in the paediatric emergency department. All of the patients had aspirated sea water during swimming. In addition, two of the patients had aspirated water during snorkeling. Noninvasive ventilation was applied to the patients immediately in paediatric emergency service. All of the patient's clinical and radiological findings recovered rapidly. There are limited reports about use of noninvasive ventilation in nonfatal drowning cases in the paediatric emergency department. We emphasize that the early application of noninvasive ventilation should be a preventive method for reducing the morbidity of nonfatal drowning cases. (Hong Kong j.emerg.med. 2016;23:42-46)

Baclofen is a derivative of gamma-aminobutyric acid, used mainly for the treatment of muscle spasticity. Baclofen overdose can result in severe respiratory depression, autonomic disturbances, seizures and coma. Here we report a 15-year-old girl who was found unresponsive, intubated and admitted to the PICU. On initial presentation, her Glasgow Coma Score was 3, with fixed dilated pupils. EEG revealed cerebral bioelectric activity and ground amplitudes significantly lower than normal. Supportive treatments were administered. On the 2nd PICU day, she regained consciousness and was able to follow commands. She was extubated and discharged on hospital day 3. Conclusively emergency physicians should consider baclofen overdose in children presenting with acute loss of consciousness, flaccidity, and hyporeflexia.

Background Several factors affect the long‐term outcome of Fontan procedure, but a high pulmonary artery pressure is still one of the most important limitation for proceeding to a Fontan circulation. Herein, we present our experience in Fontan patients with high preoperative pulmonary artery pressures. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed to evaluate Fontan patients with a preoperative pulmonary artery pressure >15 mmHg between 2009 and 2020. Sixteen patients were operated on with a mean preoperative pulmonary artery pressure of 17.5 ± 2.1 mmHg. Results Mean age at the time of Fontan procedure was 7.8 ± 5.6 years. All the patients had stage 2 cavopulmonary anastomosis before Fontan completion, with a mean interstage period of 4 ± 2.6 years. Fontan completion was achieved with a polytetrafluorethylene tubular conduit, two of which were intra‐extracardiac. Fenestration was performed in five (31%) cases. Postoperative pulmonary artery pressures and arterial oxygen saturation levels were 11.2 ± 2.8 and 97.8 ± 2 mmHg, respectively. Mean duration of pleural drainage was 3.9 ± 5.3 days. Any morbidity and mortality were not encountered during a mean follow‐up period of 4.8 ± 7.7 years. Conclusions The midterm results of stage 3 Fontan completion in patients with pulmonary artery >15 mmHg are encouraging. Not only the mean pulmonary artery pressure but also the pulmonary vascular resistance may be helpful in order to identify the high risk patients before Fontan completion.

Congenital myasthenic syndromes are a genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous group of hereditary disorders affecting neuromuscular junction. Mutations in the gene encoding choline acetyltransferase cause presynaptic defects. The missense mutation I336T has been identified in Turkish population, and most of the cases carrying this mutation present with exercise-induced fatigability and ptosis. Although apneic attacks occur in these cases during febrile illness in childhood, the number of reported respiratory distress episodes during infancy is scarce. Another important feature of these cases is that response to esterase inhibitors is satisfactory. We present a case of congenital myasthenic syndrome with I336T choline acetyltransferase mutation who presented with numerous attacks of respiratory distress in the infancy period. Interestingly, the patient had myopathic findings on electromyography and diazepam decreased severity of apneic attacks. There was also no improvement with esterase inhibitors.

ÖZAmaç: Bu çalışmada trakeostomi uygulanan pediyatrik kardiyak yoğun bakım ünitesindeki hastalara ilişkin veriler analiz edildi.Ça lış m a pla nı: Ocak 2010 -Ocak 2015 tarihleri arasında tek bir merkezde pediyatrik kardiyak yoğun bakım ünitesinde yatan ve hastanede yatış döneminde trakeostomi uygulanan toplam 18 hasta (10 kız, 8 erkek; ort. yaş 9.4±10.5 ay; dağılım 2-42 ay) retrospektif olarak incelendi.Bul gu lar: Başlangıçta üç hastada genetik bozukluk saptandı. Kardiyak cerrahi uygulanan 1450 hastanın 10'una total düzeltme ve sekizine palyasyon yapıldı. Trakeostomi uygulanmadan geçen ortalama entübasyon süresi 41.0±12.9 gün ve ekstübasyon girişimi sayısı 4.2±0.8 idi. İki hastada nörolojik hasar vardı. Trakeostomi sonrası hastaların hiçbirinde pnömomediastinum, pnömotoraks, yara yeri enfeksiyonu ya da mediastinit gelişmedi. Bir hastada kanama nedeniyle trakeostomi revizyonu yapıldı. Hastaların hiçbirinde takip döneminde trakeal darlık gibi geç dönem trakeostomi komplikasyonları gözlenmedi. On sekiz trakeostomi hastasının altısı pediyatrik kardiyak yoğun bakım ünitesinde ve biri ise taburculuk sonrasında evde kaybedildi (mortalite %38.8). Taburcu edilen 12 trakeostomi hastasının sekizine dekanülasyon yapıldı. Üç hasta halen ev tipi ventilatör ile evde takip edilmektedir. So nuç:Trakeostomi işlemleri kardiyak cerrahi sonrası entübasyon süresi uzamış olan hastalarda düşük komplikasyon oranı ile uygulanabilir. Ancak, bu karmaşık süreçte rol oynayan çeşitli faktörler nedeniyle, morbidite ve mortalite oranı bu hasta popülasyonunda halen yüksek seyretmektedir.Anah tar söz cük ler: Kardiyak cerrahi; çocuk, pediyatrik kardiyak yoğun bakım ünitesi; uzamış entübasyon; trakeostomi. ABSTRACT Background:In this study, we analyzed the data related to pediatric cardiac intensive care unit patients undergoing tracheostomy.

Background: Several factors affect the long-term outcome of Fontan procedure, but a high pulmonary artery pressure is still one of the most important limitation for proceeding to a Fontan circulation. Herein, we present our experience in Fontan patients with high preoperative pulmonary artery pressures. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed in order to evaluate Fontan patients with a preoperative pulmonary artery pressure > 15 mmHg between 2009 and 2020. Sixteen patients were operated on with a mean preoperative pulmonary artery pressure of 17.5 ± 2.1 mmHg. Results: Mean age at the time of Fontan procedure was 7.8 ± 5.6 years. All of the patients had stage II cavopulmonary anastomosis prior to Fontan completion, with a mean interstage period of 4 ± 2.6 years. Fontan completion was achieved with a polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) tubular conduit, two of which were intra-extracardiac. Fenestration was performed in 4 (25%) cases. Postoperative pulmonary artery pressures and arterial oxygen saturation levels were 11.2 ± 2.8 mmHg and 97.8 ± 2, respectively. Mean duration of pleural drainage was 3.9 ± 5.3 days. Any morbidity and mortality were not encountered during a mean follow up period of 4.8 ± 7.7 years. Conclusions: The mid-term results of stage III Fontan completion in patients with pulmonary artery >15 mmHg are encouraging. Pulmonary vascular resistance, not only pulmonary artery pressure may help to identify high risk patients before Fontan completion.

Pediatric patients using AEDs, particularly VPA, should be monitored for subclinical hypothyroidism. VPA, CBZ, and PB have no effect on vitamin D levels.