Intralesional sclerotherapy for subcutaneous venous malformations in children

Background  Venous malformations (VMs) involve multiple anatomical spaces and encase critical neuromuscular structures, making surgical treatment difficult. Recently sclerotherapy has been suggested as the primary treatment for VMs instead of surgical intervention. This report represents eight cases of children with VMs treated with direct percutaneous injections of sclerosing agents, such as ethanol, polidocanol or ethanolamine oleate. Methods  All eight patients had large lesions (>3 cm) located on the head, foot, neck and face. Sclerotherapy was performed in an angiographic suite under general anesthesia. Prior to sclerotherapy, percutaneous phlebography was performed in order to visualize the dynamic situation inside the lesion and the draining flow into the adjacent venous vascular system. A 2–15 ml of sclerosing agent was injected into VM lesions under fluoroscopy. Results and conclusions  An evaluation by MRI examination showed that 6 out of 8 patients had remission, and alleviation of their symptoms without major complications, furthermore one of the lesions apparently disappeared. Intralesional sclerotherapy provides a simple, safe and effective treatment for VMs in the subcutaneous lesions in children.     

The use of Onyx for embolization of peripheral vascular malformations in pediatric patients

Purpose  

The management of congenital peripheral vascular malformations (VMs) can present a difficult therapeutic challenge. Endovascular transcatheter embolization of peripheral VMs is widely accepted as a first therapeutic option for many VMs. However, data describing the use of Onyx are limited in children with peripheral VMs. Our aim is to retrospectively evaluate the results of transcatheter arterial embolization with Onyx for peripheral VMs in children.     

Central venous catheters in pediatric patients

Central venous catheterizations are often used in pediatric intensive care units or for long-term intravenous treatment. It consists in positioning the catheter extremity in the venous cava-right atrium junction. Adapted material and techniques are necessary for young children because of particularities in anatomy and the size of the different venous trunks. The aim of this paper is to present the different material and techniques and to show the indications, complications and follow-up in central venous catheterization for young children.     

介入硬化治疗儿童纵隔淋巴管畸形

目的 探讨儿童纵隔淋巴管畸形介入硬化治疗的安全性及有效性.方法 回顾性分析2009年7月至2016年7月我院所收治的临床诊断为纵隔淋巴管畸形患儿23例的临床资料.其中,男13例,女10例;年龄1 d～7岁,平均(2.0±0.6)岁.单纯纵隔型3例,颈纵隔型20例;大囊型14例,微囊型4例,混合型5例.所有患儿术前均行CT/MR诊断,术中抽液进一步证实.全身麻醉后,影像(DSA/超声/CT)导引下选择合适人路穿刺病灶,抽出囊液,注入博来霉素行硬化治疗.囊腔巨大放置引流管者每日抽液并以博来霉素冲洗至无囊液抽出.治疗后随访0.6～6.0年,平均(2.3±0.6)年.随访项目包括临床表现、影像资料、治疗效果及并发症.结果 本组治疗1～6次/例,共63次,其中放置猪尾导管9例;治愈20例,缓解1例,有效率91.3％ (21/23).2例囊内反复出血压迫呼吸行外科手术.所有患儿均未出现神经损伤、乳糜胸及心肺意外等并发症.结论 介入硬化治疗对纵隔淋巴管畸形是一种安全、有效的治疗方法.     

Nadroparin therapy in pediatric patients with venous thromboembolic disease

Low-molecular-weight heparins are increasingly used for treatment of pediatric venous thromboembolic disease (VTE). Pediatric data about therapeutic doses of nadroparin are not available. To evaluate pharmacodynamics and safety of therapeutic doses of nadroparin, consecutive patients (age 0 to 18 y) with objectively diagnosed VTE and treated with nadroparin were included in this single center study over a 12-year period. All patients started with 85.5 IU/kg of nadroparin twice daily. The target therapeutic range (TTR) was set at 0.5 to 1.0 anti-Xa IU/mL 4 hours postdose. Safety end points were major bleeding and therapy-related death. A total of 84 patients were enrolled, of whom 8 patients did not undergo measurement of anti-Xa levels. Fifty-four (71%) of 76 patients achieved TTR. The maintenance dose (mean+/-SE) was 448+/-42 IU/kg/d in neonates (<2 mo, n=6), 253+/-22 IU/kg/d in infants (2 mo to 1 y, n=10), 214+/-8 IU/kg/d in children (2 to 11 y, n=13), and 183+/-5 IU/kg/d in adolescents (12 to 18 y, n=25). Neonates required significantly more dose adjustments and time to achieve TTR than adolescents. No major bleeding or therapy-related death occurred. In summary, an age-dependent response to nadroparin exists in pediatric patients. Nadroparin therapy seems to be safe for treatment of pediatric VTE.     

Risk of venous thromboembolism in pediatric patients with brain tumors

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common event in adults with malignant brain tumors approaching 24% throughout the course of the disease. The high morbidity and mortality of this complication yielded several protocols for prevention of the disease in adults undergoing neurosurgery for brain tumors and possible primary prevention afterwards. We investigated the incidence and complications of VTE in pediatric neuro-oncology patients. PROCEDURE: We analyzed, retrospectively, the files of all consecutive patients under the age of 18 years who were hospitalized for the treatment of brain tumors between the years 1990 and 2003 in two leading, closely related, Israeli neuro-oncology centers. RESULTS: A total of 462 children were analyzed. Three hundred eighty-four patients underwent surgery and 78 were treated medically. Only three (0.64%) of the patients developed clinical episodes of VTE that were treated conservatively. Two of these patients developed intracranial bleeding while on secondary prevention for the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Although this study has considerable limitations in terms of retrospective design, heterogeneous group of patients and diagnoses, the changing awareness for thrombosis over the last 14 years and the inclusion of symptomatic VTE events only, our surprising data suggest that, as opposed to adults, the risk of clinically significant VTE in children with brain tumors may be exceedingly low. These findings set the stage for future forthcoming evaluations in view of the prospective studies that were done in adults and the possible significant implications for the prevention and possible etiologies of the disease.     

Single- vs double-lumen central venous catheters in pediatric oncology patients

Double-lumen central venous catheters (CVCs) have been introduced recently for use in pediatric patients. The objective of our study was to determine if double-lumen CVC usage increased the possibility of infectious and mechanical complications compared with that of traditional single-lumen CVCs in a population at high risk for infection (oncology patients). Thirty pediatric patients (2.5 +/- 3.0 years old; mean +/- SD) who received single-lumen CVCs were compared with 31 patients (5.9 +/- 4.7 years old) who received double-lumen CVCs. The incidence of infectious complications was compared while controlling for potential confounding variables. Fifty-seven percent (17/30) of patients in the single-lumen group experienced bacteremia or cellulitis that required removal of six catheters compared with a rate of 52% (16/31) and nine catheter removals in the double-lumen group. Fewer manipulations occurred in the single-lumen group compared with the double-lumen group, but the incidence of mechanical complications tended to be greater. When managed carefully, double-lumen CVCs were not associated with a greater risk of infection than single-lumen CVCs.     

Intensive care experience with sclerotherapy for cervicofacial lymphatic malformations.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a cohort of patients needing intensive care support after sclerotherapy for cervicofacial lymphatic malformations. DESIGN: Retrospective review of case records of patients undergoing sclerotherapy between January 2004 and November 2006. SETTING: A tertiary, university-affiliated, pediatric teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Five patients needing admission to a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) following sclerotherapy with OK432. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Five patients needed a total of 13 PICU admissions. Ages ranged from 4 months to 19 months. All patients had extensive lesions that involved the airways, mediastinum, or floor of the mouth, documented by magnetic resonance imaging. Nine admissions involved elective intubation and ventilation following sclerotherapy due to the extent of lesions. There were four urgent admissions to the PICU with respiratory distress ranging from 3 to 18 days after sclerotherapy. The mean duration of admission was 7 days (total 93 days, range 2-22 days). Total ventilated hours were 1656 hrs with a range of 16.5-370 hrs per admission. Multiple procedures, such as drainage of cysts and further sclerotherapy procedures, were performed before extubation on the PICU. CONCLUSIONS: Children with extensive disease and airway involvement need multiple PICU admissions. The potential for life-threatening respiratory embarrassment is unpredictable following sclerotherapy. Consideration should be given to performing further sclerotherapy while the patients are intubated in the PICU. The PICU provides a safe and secure environment for such procedures.     

Central venous catheters in pediatric patients – subclavian venous approach as the first choice

BACKGROUND: It is critical to establish a safe and functional i.v. access in severely sick patients. We evaluated the frequency of application and complications of central venous catheters in a pediatric intensive care unit. METHODS: Pediatric patients in whom central venous catheters were inserted between March 1997 and May 1999 in the Pediatric Emergency Room and Intensive Care Unit were enrolled in this study. Patients were evaluated with respect to age, sex, weight, central venous catheter indication, site, duration of catheter stay and complications. RESULTS: During the study period a total of 156 central venous catheters were successfully inserted into 146 patients. Of the 156 central venous catheter attempts, 148 (94.9%) were placed into the subclavian vein, six were inserted into the femoral vein, and two into the jugular vein. In 156 attempts, arterial injuries occurred in 20 cases (12.8%). Pneumothorax developed in two patients on mechanical ventilation. Three catheters had to be removed due to catheter related infections. The mortality rate was 0%. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that subclavian central venous catheterization is a safe procedure with minimal complications in pediatric patients. Arterial injury was the most frequent complication. In experienced hands, the success rate was 100%. Subclavian central venous catheter insertion may be considered as the first approach in critically ill patients.     

Percutaneous treatment of osteoid osteoma by CT-guided drilling resection in pediatric patients

Background: Osteoid osteoma is a painful, benign, small osteogenic bone tumor. For a long time, surgery was the only treatment for these lesions. Different minimally invasive therapeutic techniques have been proposed. We report our experience in the treatment of osteoid osteoma by CT-guided drilling resection in pediatric patients. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of CT-guided percutaneous drilling resection as a minimally invasive therapy for osteoid osteoma in children. Materials and methods: Over a 5-year period, 18 patients (age range 6–17 years, mean age 11.6 years) with osteoid osteomas (femur, n=10; tibia, n=5; humerus, n=2; vertebral body, n=1) were treated with this technique. All procedures were performed under general anesthesia. Results: All procedures were technically successful. Clinical success was achieved in 94.5% of patients (17/18). Only one patient had recurrence of symptoms 8 months after percutaneous resection and was surgically retreated. There were no complications. Conclusion: CT-guided percutaneous drilling resection is a safe, simple and effective minimally invasive technique for the treatment of osteoid osteoma in pediatric patients.     

Spectrum of congenital CNS malformations in pediatric epilepsy

This study was conducted in a tertiary pediatric epilepsy clinic to ascertain the spectrum of development malformations in children, with seizures. Seventy Six Children (0-12 yr) with seizures and CNS malformations based on neuroimaging were included. Observed anomalies included dysgenetic corpus callosum (DCC), lissencephaly, focal cortical dysplasia (FCD), pachygyria, polymicrogyria, heterotopia, schizencephaly, holoprosencephaly, hemimegalencephaly, and phakomatoses like tuberous sclerosis, Sturge Weber syndrome and linear cutaneous nevus syndrome. Seizure semiology varied in all categories. Microcephaly, developmental delay and tone abnormalities were common clinical findings. 60.5 percent cases presented in infancy. The characteristic EEG features provided a clue to the diagnosis of anomalies like lissencephaly, agenesis of corpus callosum and alobar holoprosencephaly.     

Prophylaxis with urokinase in pediatric oncology patients with central venous catheters

This study evaluated the effects of urokinase in the prevention of central venous catheter (CVC)-related complications in children with malignancy. Fifteen patients with 16 CVCs (study group A) received an intraluminal application of urokinase (10,000 IU in each catheter lumen for 4 h) once a week. They were monitored prospectively with quantitative blood cultures and ultrasonography (color Doppler ultrasound of the great veins and echocardiography). The rate of complications was compared with that of 15 children with 19 CVCs without thromboprophylaxis, treated the previous year (control group B). The authors found a significantly lower incidence of CVC dysfunction (3/16 versus 13/19), no major thrombosis, fewer CVC-related bacteremias (2/16 versus 8/19), and a higher salvage of CVCs (1/16 versus 5/19 CVC removals due to persistent bacteremia) in the thromboprophylaxis group. Asymptomatic thrombosis rate was also lower (7/16 cases in group A versus 9/11 in group B when sonography was performed). No hemorrhagic complications were noted. Thromboprophylaxis with urokinase seems a safe and effective measure for reducing the rate of CVC-related complications.     

The current management of cervico-cephalic venous malformations

Venous malformations are often detected at birth and progressively increase in size if not treated. They can have severe aesthetic and functional consequences. Our purpose is to evaluate therapeutic results with Ethibloc. From 1982 to 1994, we have been using Ethibloc injections under fluoroscopic control in a group of 421 patients with malformations in cervicofacial veins. The diagnosis was made on the basis of clinical examinations as well as by using CT and MRI. In addition, 40 patients had a diagnostic angiogram. The therapeutic procedure consisted of direct puncture and opacification of venous the basis of lakes before injection of Ethibloc. Two hundred patients have been analyzed. In 139 patients treated with Ethibloc alone, the venous malformations were reduced significantly in size in 64%, while we obtained good results in 67% of the 61 patients treated with a combined procedure (Ethibloc followed by surgical excision). In those, Ethibloc effectively prevented extensive blood loss during surgery and delineated the malformations. Minor complications occurred such as fever or aseptic superficial abscesses. Ethibloc is safe, has no neurotoxicity, is efficient can be repeated many times and facilitates surgery. It must be used as the therapy of choice in venous malformations.     

Diagnostics and management of central venous line infections in pediatric cancer patients

Otherwise unexplained clinical signs of infection in patients with tunneled or totally implanted central venous access devices (CVAD) are highly suspicious of an underlying CVAD-associated infection. Diagnostic methods include catheter swabs, blood cultures and cultures of the catheter tip or port reservoir. In case of a suspected CVAD-related blood stream infection in pediatric cancer patients in situ treatment without prompt removal of the device can be tried. The removal of the CVAD should be considered, if bacteremia persists or relapses 72 hours or longer after the initiation of an (in vitro effective) antibacterial therapy administered through the line. The CVAD should be removed even earlier, if the patient suffers from hypotension or other signs of severe organ dysfunction related to the infection. If S. aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, multiresistant Acinetobacter baumannii or Candida spp.are isolated from blood cultures taken through a CVAD, patients are at a high risk for severe complications and immediate device removal is also recommended. Duration of therapy depends on the immunological recovery of the patient (neutrophils counts), the pathogen isolated and on the presence of related complications like thrombosis, pneumonia, endocarditis, osteomyelitis. Antibiotic-lock techniques in addition to systemic treatment are beneficial in Gram-positive infections. Although prospectively controlled studies are missing, the concomitant use of urokinase- or taurolidine seems to favour catheter salvage.