Tissue Doppler echocardiographic and color M-mode estimation of left atrial pressure in infants.

OBJECTIVES: Using recorded flow and tissue Doppler, we evaluated the relation of peak velocity of early transmitral Doppler filling (E)/early diastolic velocity of the lateral mitral annulus (Ea) ratio and of E/flow propagation velocity (Vp) ratio to mean left atrial pressure in infants after surgery for congenital heart disease. DESIGN: Experimental design. SETTING: Pediatric intensive care unit. PATIENTS: Thirty-seven infants aged 4 (3-8) months. INTERVENTIONS: Patients underwent postoperative invasive hemodynamic monitoring with simultaneously obtained Doppler measurements. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Values are expressed as median (25th-75th percentiles). Heart rate was 145 (135-157) beats/min. Left atrial pressure was 10 (8-12) mm Hg with E/Ea 16 (12-19) and E/Vp 1.9 (1.3-2.4). E/Ea and E/Vp ratios were higher in patients with left atrial pressure >10 mm Hg (n = 18), than in patients with left atrial pressure < or =10 mm Hg (n = 19) (E/Ea, 16 [15-25] vs. 12 [9-17], p = .01; E/Vp, 2.3 [1.9-2.8] vs. 1.4 [1-1.9]. respectively, p = .001). At a cutoff point of 15, E/Ea sensitivity for left atrial pressure >10 mm Hg was 17 of 18 (94%) with specificity 13 of 18 (72%). At a cutoff point of 2, E/Vp sensitivity for left atrial pressure >10 mm Hg was 15 of 18 (83%) with specificity 16 of 18 (89%). Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves were 0.76 (E/Ea) and 0.83 (E/Vp). CONCLUSIONS: Doppler ratios might be considered as promising noninvasive tools for left atrial pressure evaluation in infants after cardiac surgery.     

6月龄以下小婴儿危重型肺动脉瓣狭窄经皮球囊肺动脉瓣扩张成形术治疗的随访报告

目的 探讨经皮球囊肺动脉瓣扩张成形术(percutaneous balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty,PBPV)治疗新生儿和6月龄以下小婴儿危重型肺动脉瓣狭窄(critical pulmonary stenosis,CPS)的疗效以及早中期随访.方法 采用PBPV治疗34例日龄波动于13～175 d的新生儿以及小婴儿CPS,并进行了6个月～4年的临床随访.记录患儿PBPV前后右室收缩压(right ventricular systolic pressure,RVSP),肺动脉瓣跨瓣压差(transvalvular peak to peak systolic gradient,△P)以及PBPV术后采用心脏彩色多普勒动态监测的肺动脉瓣跨瓣压差的动态变化.结果 34例中32例(94%)完成PBPV术,1例术后2 h内死亡,2例心包积血,3例术中小球囊预扩张后换用合适球囊完成PBPV术,3例右室流出道痉挛,1例术后30 min右下肢股动脉搏动减弱.28例PBPV成功,RVSP由(96±28)mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa)下降至(49±20)mm Hg(下降49%,P＜0.01),△P由(89±25)mm Hg下降到(25±12)mm Hg(下降72%,P＜0.01),右室/主动脉收缩比值1.2±0.5下降到0.7±0.3(P＜0.01).随访6个月～4年,3例失访,5例(其中3例新生儿)因残余压超过40 mm Hg行第二次PBPV术,23例彩色多普勒心脏超声监测肺动脉瓣跨瓣压有进一步下降到(20±13)mm Hg,无明显的肺动脉瓣反流,无需进一步处理.结论 对于6个月以下小婴儿CPS,PBPV仍有效,安全的治疗方法并具有相对好的短中期疗效.

Abstract：

Objective To evaluate the effect and results of short and medium periods of follow-up of percutaneous balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty for critical pulmonary stenosis of neonates and infants under 6 months of age. Methods Between January 2002 and December 2008, 34 consecutive patients aged from 13to 175 days with critical pulmonary valvular stenosis underwent percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty. Patients records, catheterization data, angiograms and echocardiograms were reviewed. Patients were followed up for 6 months to 4 years ( mean 25.5 months ) by means of clinical examination and Doppler echocardiography.Results The pulmonary valvuloplasty was accomplished in 32 (94%) of 34 attempts. Immediately after dilation, right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) decreased from (96 ±28) mm Hg ( 1 mm Hg =0. 133kPa ) (49 ± 20 ) mm Hg ( P ＜ 0. 01 ), the transvalvular peak to peak systolic gradient (△P) decreased from (89±25) mm Hg to (25 ± 12) mm Hg (P ＜0.01 ), and the right ventricular/aortic systolic pressure ratio decreased from 1.2 ± 0. 5 to 0. 7 ± 0. 3 ( P ＜ 0. 01 ). One patient died because of cardiac tamponade following rupture of the pulmonary valve annulus, 2 patients developed pericardial effusion, 3 patients had infundibular spasm, 3 patients had a pre-dilation by small balloon and 1 patient had weakened femoral artery pollex. After a follow up period of 6 months to 4 years 3 of 31 patients lost to follow-up. Repeat valvuloplasty was performed in 5 patients (3 neonates), no patient required surgery, and the other 23 patients did not undergo further intervention, a mean peak systolic Doppler gradient of (20 ± 13) mm Hg was found and no significant pulmonary regurgitation was seen. Conclusions Percutaneous balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty was effective and safe for the treatment of critical pulmonary stenosis of neonates and infants under 6 months of age with good short and medium term results.     

Percutaneous transluminal balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty: immediate and medium-term results

Ten patients with pulmonary stenosis, (six males and four females) whose ages ranged between five and ten years (mean age 7 years) underwent cardiac catheterization and balloon valvuloplasty. Right ventricular systolic pressure before valvuloplasty ranged from 90 to 200 mm Hg (mean 133.5 +/- 33.3 mm Hg). It fell to 50-90 mm Hg (mean 64.5 +/- 13.8 mm Hg) immediately after the procedure. The peak systolic gradient across the pulmonary valve before valvuloplasty ranged from 70 to 180 mm Hg (mean 114.5 +/- 35.4 mm Hg) and decreased significantly to 30-70 mm Hg (mean 43.0 +/- 13.8 mm Hg) immediately after dilation. Doppler echo studies confirmed these results. At repeat cardiac catheterization in three patients, five to 15 months after valvuloplasty, restenosis was noted in one patient while there was no change in the others. All patients had been followed up by Doppler echocardiography. Patients with isolated valvular pulmonary stenosis can be adequately and safely treated with balloon valvuloplasty which results in excellent immediate and medium-term results.     

北京地区儿童及青少年血压分布特征

目的了解北京地区儿童青少年血压的现况。方法按分层整群随机抽样法在北京市4个城区和3个郊区县的3—18岁儿童和青少年中,用“美国高血压教育项目工作组”和“中国高血压防治指南”推荐的测量方法进行收缩压（SBP）和舒张压（DBP）测量。记录、整理、分析血压测量的结果。结果北京地区3—18岁儿童青少年血压调查的有效数据人数20780人,城区10582人（50．9％）,郊县10198人（49．1％）;男10398人（50．0％）,女10382人（50．0％）。男童血压高于女童[SBP：（106±12）mmHgVS（101±11）mmHg,u=27．14,P〈0．01;DBP：（67±9）mmHgvs（65±8）mmHg,u=14．14,P〈0．01]（1mmHg=0．133kPa）。男女童血压均随年龄增长有逐渐增高的趋势,且SBP上升幅度较DBP高。城区儿童SBP和DBP的平均水平低于郊县儿童[SBP：（103±12）mmHgVS（104±12）mmHg,u=2．55,P〈O．05;DBP：（66±8）mmHgVS（67±9）mmHg,u=6．73,P〈0．01]。血压与年龄、身高、体重及体块指数（BMI）均有显著的正相关（P〈0．001）,收缩压与各变量的相关程度均较舒张压高。依据1987年北京市6—18岁儿童青少年性别年龄别血压标准,本次调查6～18岁儿童青少年高血压检出率为8．1％。结论获得了北京地区儿童青少年血压的分布特征;血压值与儿童的性别、年龄、身高、体重和BMI相关。     

Predictive power of initial severity of pulmonary disease for subsequent development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Using retrospectively acquired data from 138 mechanically ventilated premature infants, logistic regression was used to determine the relationships between the risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and indices of initial respiratory disease severity [oxygen index (OI) and alveolar-arterial pO(2) difference (A-a DO(2))]. Indices were calculated from the first arterial blood gas analysis after initial surfactant administration. Infants were also classified as having mild [OI <4 cm H(2)O x mm Hg(-1), A-a DO(2) <150 mm Hg (20 kPa)] or severe [OI >or=10 cm H(2)O x mm Hg(-1), A-a DO(2) >or=300 mm Hg (40 kPa)] respiratory disease, and the ability of this classification to predict subsequent BPD risk was calculated. OI and A-a DO(2) were significantly higher in the BPD group. Logistic regression analysis showed that BPD risk increased linearly with both OI (9%/cm H(2)O x mm Hg(-1)) and A-a DO(2) [16%/50 mm Hg (16%/6.7 kPa)]. However, the predictive power (receiver-operator characteristic) of these models was modest. Unexpectedly, 29% of infants with mild initial disease developed BPD. These data suggest that, while BPD prediction in infants with severe disease is straightforward, the identification of those few infants with mild to moderate disease destined to develop BPD remains problematic.     

Predictors of unfavorable outcomes in enterovirus 71-related cardiopulmonary failure in children

BACKGROUND: Enterovirus 71 (EV71) can sometimes cause fatal or disabling diseases in children; therefore EV71-infected children with cardiopulmonary failure were investigated at Chang Gung Children's Hospital to discover the prognostic predictors. METHODS: We investigated 27 EV71-infected children with cardiopulmonary failure from May 2000 to September 2001 and analyzed their clinical data to find predictors associated with unfavorable outcomes of deaths or ventilator dependence. RESULTS: Of the 27 patients, 8 (30%) died and 10 (37%) were ventilator-dependent. Troponin I levels correlated most strongly with fatality, with 5 of the 6 children with troponin I levels >40 ng/ml dying (P = 0.001). Other factors correlated with fatality were cerebrospinal fluid white blood cell count > or =100/microL (P = 0.002) and initial systolic pressure < or =100 mm Hg (P = 0.05). Of the 19 survivors, 10 (53%) were left with central hypoventilation, dysphagia and/or limb weakness plus atrophy. The factors associated with ventilator dependence included higher inotrope equivalent (P < 0.001), duration of hypotension > or =40 hours, initial blood systolic pressure < or =100 mm Hg, positive EV71 isolation and age > or =12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Poor prognostic factors were related to cardiovascular and neurologic damage; therefore physicians may consider advanced cardiovascular support for EV71-infected children with cardiopulmonary failure.     

Exercise-induced electrocardiographic changes in children with congenital aortic stenosis.

The relationship of exercise-induced electrocardiographic changes to severity of obstruction in congenital aortic stenosis was studied in 44 children. Twelve subjects, with ST segment depression of 1 mm or more lasting 0.08 seconds after the J Point, had left ventricular-aortic peak systolic pressure differences (gradients) ranging from 54 to 112 mm Hg. The remaining 32 children had less than 1 mm or no ST segment depression. Thirty-one of these had gradients ranging from 10 to 48 mm Hg and one had a gradient of 52 mm Hg. Vectorcardiograms, electrocardiograms, and chest roentgenograms were not useful in the identification of the severity of the lesion. The study suggests that children with severe gradients develop electrocardiographic ST segment changes with exercise, thereby helping to select those patients who should have catheterization studies to delineate the severity of the lesion. In those with a normal exercise test, cardiac catheterization may be safely delayed, but the exercise test should be repeated to identify those who develop progressive obstruction.     

Feasibility of noninvasive continuous finger arterial blood pressure measurements in very young children, aged 0-4 years

Our goal was to study the feasibility of continuous noninvasive finger blood pressure (BP) monitoring in very young children, aged 0-4 y. To achieve this, we designed a set of small-sized finger cuffs based on the assessment of finger circumference. Finger arterial BP measured by a volume clamp device (Finapres technology) was compared with simultaneously measured intra-arterial BP in 15 very young children (median age, 5 mo; range, 0-48), admitted to the intensive care unit for vital monitoring. The finger cuff-derived BP waveforms showed good resemblance with the invasive arterial waveforms (mean root-mean-square error, 3 mm Hg). The correlation coefficient between both methods was 0.79 +/- 0.19 systolic and 0.74 +/- 0.24 diastolic. The correlation coefficient of beat-to-beat changes between both methods was 0.82 +/- 0.18 and 0.75 +/- 0.21, respectively. Three measurements were related to measurement errors (loose cuff application; wrong set-point). Excluding these erroneous measurements resulted in clinically acceptable measurement bias (-3.8 mm Hg) and 95% limits of agreement (-10.4 to + 2.8 mm Hg) of mean BP values. We conclude that continuous finger BP measurement is feasible in very young children. However, cuff application is critical, and the current set-point algorithm needs to be revised in very young children.     

Intracranial hypertension in Africans with cerebral malaria

The causes of death and neurological sequelae in African children with cerebral malaria are obscure. Intracranial pressure (ICP) was monitored and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) calculated in 23 Kenyan children with cerebral malaria. Four children had severe intracranial hypertension (ICP > 40 mm Hg, CPP < 40 mm Hg): two died, one with an ICP of 158 mm Hg and signs of transtentorial herniation, the other one with an ICP of 42 mm Hg and cardiorespiratory arrest. The other two survived with severe neurological sequelae. Nine had intermediate intracranial hypertension (ICP > 20 mm Hg, CPP < 50 mm Hg) and 10 had mild intracranial hypertension (maximum ICP 10-20 mm Hg); all survived without severe sequelae. Mannitol controlled the ICP in children with intermediate intracranial hypertension, but it did not prevent the development of intractable intracranial hypertension in children with severe intracranial hypertension. Intracranial hypertension is a feature of Kenyan children with cerebral malaria and severe intracranial hypertension is associated with a poor outcome.     

No evidence for leptin as an independent associate of blood pressure in childhood and juvenile obesity

We studied whether leptin is an independent associate of blood pressure in obese children and adolescence. 102 obese children (48 girls, age: 11.6 +/- 2.22 yr; body mass index [BMI]: 27.45 +/- 4.4; blood pressure: 122.5 +/- 11.1/64.7 +/- 10.6 mm Hg and 54 boys, age: 11.5 +/- 2.4 yr; BMI: 27.6 +/- 4.4; blood pressure: 122.5 +/- 13.2/60.9 +/- 8.1 mm Hg [mean +/- SD]) were investigated. Serum leptin and insulin were measured by RIA; glucose was determined enzymatically. Fat mass (FM) was calculated by bioelectrical impedance. Leptin was higher in girls than in boys (p=0.018) but no significant gender differences were found with respect to indices of adiposity and systolic blood pressure (SBP). Children were divided into three groups, according to pubertal stage (Group 1: prepubertal, 32 boys/13 girls; Group 2: pubertal, 17 boys/25 girls; Group 3: late/postpubertal, 5 boys/10 girls). SBP and DBP correlated with body weight in the whole group (r=0.49, p<0.0001, and r=0.27, p=0.004). In Group 1, BMI showed the highest correlation to SBP; in Group 3 no indices of adiposity were related to SBP. In no case was leptin significantly associated with SBP after adjustment for adiposity. In Group 2, glucose was significantly associated with SBP after adjustment for body weight. In Group 3, however, no correlations were found between SBP, DBP and metabolic characteristics, perhaps due to small sample size. Stepwise multiple regression revealed that body weight and glucose contributed to the variation in SBP in the whole group (R2=0.31, p<0.0001). Insulin accounted for almost 8% of the variation in DBP (R2=0.08, p=0.0034). Body weight contributed significantly to SBP in boys (R2=0.39, p<0.0001) and girls (R2=0.24, p< 0.001). The results imply that body weight contributes independently to the variation in blood pressure. Glucose and insulin contribute to mean blood pressure to some extent, but our data do not support the assumption that leptin per se serves as an independent predictor of blood pressure in obese children and adolescents.     

Short- and long-term cardiovascular effects of mixed amphetamine salts extended release in children

OBJECTIVE: To assess the short- and long-term cardiovascular effects of once-daily treatment with a mixed amphetamine salts extended-release formulation (MAS XR; Adderall XR(R)) in children age 6 to 12 years with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). STUDY DESIGN: Short-term cardiovascular effects were assessed during a 4-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, forced-dose-titration study of once-daily 10, 20, and 30 mg MAS XR (n = 580). Long-term cardiovascular effects were assessed in 568 subjects during a 2-year, open-label extension study of MAS XR (10 to 30 mg/day). Resting sitting blood pressure and pulse were measured at baseline and weekly during the short-term study, then monthly during long-term treatment. RESULTS: Changes in blood pressure, pulse, and QT interval corrected by Bazett's formula (QTcB) in children receiving MAS XR were not statistically significantly different than those changes seen in children receiving placebo during short-term treatment. Mean increases in blood pressure after 2 years of MAS XR treatment (systolic, 3.5 mm Hg; diastolic, 2.6 mm Hg) and pulse (3.4 bpm) were clinically insignificant, and there was no apparent dose-response relationship. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiovascular effects of short- and long-term MAS XR were minimal during short- and long-term MAS XR treatment at doses of 相似文献   

Increased pulmonary arterial pressure in children with nephrotic syndrome.

AIMS: To evaluate the pulmonary arterial pressure in children with nephrotic syndrome (NS). METHODS: Doppler echocardiography was performed in 40 children with NS (aged 1.5-13 years) at NS onset (n = 28) or relapse (n = 12), and 40 normal controls. Pulmonary pressure was estimated by: (1) measuring the systolic transtricuspid gradient from tricuspid regurgitation; and (2) measuring the time to peak velocity of pulmonary flow. RESULTS: Thirty five of the 40 patients with NS had measurable tricuspid regurgitation with a pulmonary systolic pressure ranging from 21 to 48 mm Hg. Pulmonary systolic pressure was >40 mm Hg in seven patients. The pulmonary time to peak velocity was shortened and the ratio of time to peak velocity and right ventricular ejection time decreased compared with controls. The patients with increased pulmonary pressure had a longer time since onset of NS. One patient developed thrombus in the inferior vena cava during hospitalisation. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary arterial pressure was increased in children with NS. Further work is needed to evaluate the aetiology and clinical implications of this abnormality.     

Accuracy of central venous pressure measurement from the abdominal inferior vena cava.

Central venous pressure measurements in the abdominal inferior vena cava were compared with measurements in the right atrium in 10 infants and 10 children during cardiac catheterization. At end expiration, the mean pressures at these two sites were within 1 mm Hg of each other in all 20 patients, with a mean difference of 0.0 +/- 0.36 mm Hg. The abdominal inferior vena cava is a safe and convenient site for measurement of central venous pressure, and our study confirms that such measurements are accurate.     

Cheatham-Platinum支架置入术治疗儿童先天性心脏病血管狭窄的疗效评价

目的 评价NuMED Cheatham-Platinum(CP)支架置入术治疗儿童先天性心脏病(CHD)血管狭窄的即刻和早中期疗效.方法 2005年8月至2007年5月,采用CP支架置入治疗5例CHD血管狭窄(先天性主动脉缩窄1例,肺动脉狭窄4例).男3例,女2例,年龄4～15岁(中位年龄12岁),体重20～51 kg(中位体重24 kg).根据数字减影血管造影结果选择CP支架和NuMED双球囊,支架准确定位后先后充盈内外球囊扩张支架.结果 5例CHD血管狭窄进行了6次支架置入操作,共置入8只支架,均为8-zig CP支架,支架长度22～39 mm.除1例右肺动脉狭窄支架置入术中移位而于术后11个月重新置入第2只CP支架外,余4例6只支架即刻置入成功.跨狭窄段收缩压差由术前(43.43±25.61)mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa)降至术后(3.29±3.09)mm Hg(t=4.320,P<0.01),最窄处血管直径由术前(6.86±2.04)mm增加至术后(13.44±4.02)mm(t=-4.508,P<0.01).2例单侧肺动脉分支狭窄术后狭窄侧肺血流量占全肺血流量百分比分别由11.0%和13.0%增加至47.5%和52.2%,2例双侧肺动脉分支狭窄的右心室/主动脉收缩压比分别由术前62.3%和72.2%降至术后27.0%和33.3%.1例主动脉缩窄术后上肢血压由206/133 mm Hg降至156/95mm Hg.随访13～34个月(中位时间20个月),2只CP支架于术后6个月发生支架内再狭窄,余结果稳定无并发症发生.结论 CP支架置入术治疗儿童CHD血管狭窄安全可行,即刻和早中期疗效较好,但远期疗效有待进一步随访和更多病例的研究.     

Life-threatening status asthmaticus treated with inhaled nitric oxide

Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) was administered to 5 consecutive children with life-threatening status asthmaticus who required mechanical ventilation and did not respond to maximal medical management. Four showed a >20% decrease in baseline PaCO(2) (median PaCO(2) = 154 mm Hg, range = 95 to 229 mm Hg) occurring rapidly after the administration of inhaled NO. Three children, in addition to the index case, received continuous inhaled NO therapy, ranging from 5.5 to 21.5 hours. Systemic hypotension was not observed, and the maximum methemoglobin level was 1.9%. Four children survived to hospital discharge. Although the precise mechanism of action is not known, it appears that inhaled NO merits further study and may represent a life-saving therapy in this select patient population.     

复杂性先天性心脏病的介入治疗

目的探讨先天性心脏病(简称先心病)介入治疗在复杂性先心病中的应用.方法应用Rashkind球囊导管对59例复杂性先心病患儿行球囊房隔造口术(BAS);对2例右室发育不良综合征患儿进行静态球囊房隔扩张造口术;对1例在大动脉转位术后出现肺动脉吻合口狭窄的完全性大动脉转位(TGA)的患儿,采用球囊扩张导管进行扩张;对15例法洛四联症(TOF)患儿进行经皮球囊肺动脉瓣成形术(PBPV)、球囊血管成形术;对18例合并主动脉至肺动脉侧支血管的患儿以及5例B-T分流术的患儿在外科根治术前采用弹簧圈进行侧支血管和分流管道的堵塞术;对1例Fontan手术后的先心病患儿采用Amplatzer房间隔缺损(简称房缺)堵塞装置进行窗孔堵塞术.结果46例TGA患儿BAS后动脉血氧饱和度(SaO2)由0.57±0.17上升至0.76±0.13(t=14.58, P<0.01),左右心房压差﹤2 mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa),术后房缺5～20 mm;10例肺动脉闭锁伴室间隔完整的患儿BAS后SaO2变化不大(t=1.57, P﹥0.05),左右心房压差﹤2 mmHg;TOF患儿经PBPV及球囊血管成形术后SaO2平均上升15%,肺动脉瓣狭窄解除;18例主动脉至肺动脉侧支血管堵塞术,14例效果良好被完全堵塞;5例B-T分流管道堵塞术,全部封堵成功;1例Fontan手术后窗孔堵塞术,获完全封堵.结论复杂性先心病应用介入治疗和外科手术相配合,可获得更好的疗效.     

Detection of hyperoxaemia in neonates: data from three new pulse oximeters

Aim: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of three newly developed pulse oximeters in the detection of hyperoxaemia, defined as an arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO(2)) of > 80 mm Hg. METHODS: SpO(2) readings from three oximeters (Agilent Viridia (AgV), Masimo SET (MaS), Nellcor Oxismart (NeO)) were documented in 56 infants (median gestational age at birth 35.5 weeks, range 24-41) whenever an arterial blood gas was taken for clinical purposes. Blood samples were analysed within one minute in a Radiometer ABL 505 blood gas analyser and OSM3 co-oximeter. RESULTS: Between 280 and 291 blood gases were analysed for each instrument; 105-112 showed a PaO(2) > 80 mm Hg. At an upper alarm limit of 95%, the three instruments detected hyperoxaemia with 93-95% sensitivity. Specificity at this alarm level ranged from 26 to 45%. The mean (SD) difference between arterial oxygen saturation and SpO(2) (bias) was -0.25 (2.5)% for AgV, -0.06 (2.5)% for MaS, and -0.91 (2.6)% for NeO (p < 0.01, NeO v AgV and MaS). CONCLUSION: These instruments detected hyperoxaemia with sufficient sensitivity at an upper alarm limit of 95%, but showed differences in their specificity, which was probably related to differences in measurement bias.     

Long-term follow-up of bronchopulmonary dysplasia

We observed 10 children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, evaluated initially by cardiac catheterization (mean age 18 months), for an average of 4.4 years. Age at last evaluation averaged 5.8 years; subjects reside in and around Albuquerque, N.M. (altitude 5000 ft). At initial cardiac catheterization, mean pulmonary artery pressure was 40 mm Hg, pulmonary vascular resistance index 8.9 units, and intrapulmonary shunt fraction was high; pulmonary wedge angiograms were normal. Over the period of follow-up the group has done poorly. Four of the 10 continue to receive home oxygen therapy, but none requires inotropic or diuretic therapy; four children have marked developmental or motor delays. Nine of 10 patients have abnormalities of respiratory function on spirometric testing. Four patients underwent recatheterization because of clinical indications; two had large atrial level left-to-right shunts not found on initial study. Reductions in pulmonary artery pressure (55 to 37 mm Hg) and pulmonary vascular resistance (11.9 to 7.8 units) occurred between the two studies in these four patients (average study interval 4.0 years); the still elevated levels of pressure and resistance fell further in response to 40% O2 administration. Pulmonary wedge angiograms were abnormal in each restudied patient. Although not uniformly bleak, the long-term outlook for children with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia is diverse and guarded.     

Hepatic hemangioendothelioma: hemodynamic observations and treatment.

The clinical course of five infants with heptic hemangioendothelioma is reviewed. Hemodynamic abnormalities observed at cardiac catheterization included an increased cardiac output (range, 9.2 to 10.5 liters/min/sq m) with over 50% of this output being shunted through the arteriovenous malformation, an elevated right and left end diastolic pressure (8 to 10 mm Hg and 9 to 15 mm Hg respectively), a small systolic pressure gradient across the pulmonary outflow tract (4 to 6 mm Hg), and mild elevation of pulmonary artery pressure (range, 35/16 to 37/12 mm Hg). All four patients treated with prednisone improved while on therapy; three are well one to three years after cessation of therapy. One patient died from unrecognized congestive heart failure following discontinuation of prednisone and another before prednisone was started. We conclude that prednisone in high doses (2 to 4 mg/kg/day) with the addition of digitalis and diuretics for control of congestive heart failure is an effective treatment regimen for infants with hepatic hemangioendothelioma.