NTM incidence and prevalence have increased dramatically in our CF clinic, associated with a severe CF genotype and phenotype. M. abscessus, the most prevalent NTM, caused prolonged infection despite therapy. There has been some decrease in the prevalence of NTM lung disease since 2009.

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Objective The diagnosis of foreign body aspiration (FBA) is challenging. In a previous study, we developed a computerized scoring system (CSS) to support decision‐making. In the present study, we aimed to validate it on a further cohort. Study Design In this observational study, 100 children referred to the emergency department of a tertiary pediatric hospital for suspected FBA and treated according to standard protocol, were assigned a probability score using the CSS, between 0 and 1 (0, very low probability; 1, very high). The diagnosis of FBA was based on bronchoscopy, and if discharged without bronchoscopy, determined via telephone questionnaire, 4 to 6 months after discharge, supplemented by clinical re‐evaluation and bronchoscopy, if respiratory symptoms persisted. Results Thirty‐five out of 100 children (35%) underwent bronchoscopy with 12 of 35 (34%) positive for FBA. Sixty‐five patients were discharged without bronchoscopy and completed a telephone questionnaire. Seven patients required clinical re‐evaluation for persistent respiratory symptoms, in two out of them, additional bronchoscopies were performed and were negative. The CSS median probability score was 0.94 in patients with FBA, as compared to 0.73 in patients without FBA (P = .007). The CSS area under the receiver operating curve was 0.74. At a probability score threshold of 0.6, the sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 41%, respectively. Conclusion The present validation study suggests a high sensitivity of the CSS for the identification of FBA in children. We suggest that it might aid decision‐making with regard to the need for bronchoscopy in children presenting to the emergency room.

Background and objective Cryotherapy in interventional bronchoscopy is a new treatment modality, which has recently been made available for the paediatric airway. Lack of experience and safety concerns have led to hesitant adaptation. The aim of this study was to assess indications, success rates and complications of airway cryotherapy in children. Methods Bronchoscopists from medical centre performing cryotherapy in patients between 0 and 18 years were invited to participate in a prospective study based on an online questionnaire. Patient and participant data were collected between June 2020 and June 2021. Results A total of 69 cryotherapy procedures were performed in 57 patients a for three main indications: Biopsy (30), restoration of airway patency (23) and foreign body aspiration (16). The overall success rate was 93%, the remaining 7% were performed for foreign body removal and required a switch of technique. Restoration of airway patency was successfully applied in various pathologies, including mucus plugs, bronchial casts and post traumatic stenosis. The diagnostic yield of transbronchial biopsies was 96%. No severe complications were encountered; one pneumothorax following a cryobiopsy required a chest drain for 48 h. No child was admitted to intensive care or died from a procedural complication. Conclusion In this largest paediatric case collection to date, cryotherapy was safe and carried a high success rate. Cryobiopsy compares favourably to the widely used forceps biopsy and could replace it in the future. Paediatric bronchoscopists are encouraged to add cryotherapy to their armamentarium of airway interventions.

An increase in the frequency of diagnosing non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis in children is due to heightened awareness of the disease and the wider availability of high-resolution computed tomography. The most common underlying conditions leading to bronchiectasis include infections, immunodeficiency, aspiration and primary ciliary dyskinesia. Treatment centres on airway clearance with aggressive antibiotic regimens and physiotherapy; more specific approaches are available for some of the underlying conditions. A high index of suspicion that a child may have underlying bronchiectasis must be maintained in the presence of prolonged or recurrent "wet/productive" cough. The classic definition of bronchiectasis is of irreversible bronchial dilatation; however, at the milder end of the spectrum it appears that radiographic changes may be reversible. Untreated, in its severest form bronchiectasis can progress to end stage pulmonary failure in adult life. In this article, we review its pathogenesis and diagnosis and the evidence base for available treatments.

Growth hormone (GH) is licensed for treatment for Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) for improvement of body composition,1(-)3 height velocity, mobility, behaviour and quality of life.4 Recent case reports, however, have pointed out the occurrence of sudden death during initiation of GH, mainly during sleep and possibly related to severe obesity and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB).5(-)15 Concerns for an increased mortality in PWS children starting GH therapy led to a call for cessation of its use. Children with PWS are at risk of developing SDB secondary to both deficient autonomic sleep control and upper airway obstruction (UAO). It has been suggested that GH exacerbates pre-existing gas-exchange deficiencies in three ways: (a) by stimulation of adenotonsillar hypertrophy;16 17 (b) by a rise in basal metabolic rate with a resultant rise in oxygen demand;18 and (c) by normalisation of previously decreased hydration with augmentation of volume load.19 Are we withholding GH therapy, a treatment known to be of benefit in PWS, without adequate evidence to justify our actions? We consider it safe to treat severely obese children with GH once SDB is addressed using respiratory support such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP). In this paper, we evaluate the current evidence for the use of GH in PWS from a respiratory bias and propose a pathway for the identification and monitoring of these "at risk" patients.

BackgroundThere is evidence of early functional and structural changes in babies with cystic fibrosis (CF) diagnosed on newborn screening (NBS). The aim of the present study was to determine the yield of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) microbiology and cytology, and 24 hr pH monitoring in a group of CF infants diagnosed on NBS.MethodsInfants referred to a tertiary pediatric respiratory center between July 2007 and November 2009 underwent surveillance fiber‐optic bronchoscopy (FOB), BAL, and insertion of a 24 hr dual pH probe under a single general anesthetic.ResultsWe studied 33 infants, median age of 100 days (47–215 days) at the time of FOB. In 9 of 33 (27%) bacterial organisms were identified. Seven of the nine patients (78%) were asymptomatic and only one had had a positive cough swab prior to FOB. Neutrophilia was identified in 18/27 (67%) cases with a median of 11% (6–73%). 13/31 (42%) had an abnormal pH study with a pH index >12%.ConclusionsThe high yield of microbiology, cytology, and pH probe investigations in NBS infants justifies invasive surveillance. Longitudinal studies to determine if early aggressive treatment results in improved outcome are awaited. Pediatr. Pulmonol. 2011; 46:696–700. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

PCS markedly reduced CF birth rates with a shift towards milder mutations, but was often avoided for cultural reasons. As children regularly have significant disease at diagnosis, we suggest a balanced approach, utilizing both PCS and newborn screening.