Prediction of early outcome in resolving chronic lung disease of prematurity after discharge from hospital

Interview data from parents of 201 children under age 7 years with severe feeding and eating difficulties were analysed to describe features in the child's and parents' experiences that may have contributed to the development of the eating problem. Prematurity and low birth weight, distress during feeding in the first six months of life, and regular or frequent vomiting were common findings in the histories of the children. Aversive experiences during feeding may be the basis for early childhood eating difficulties.     

Testicular infarction secondary to acute inflammatory disease: demonstration by B-scan ultrasound

Acute epididymitis can lead to obstruction of the adjacent testicular blood supply, resulting in focal or diffuse infarction of the testis or epididymis in the absence of torsion. Four cases are presented to demonstrate the spectrum of B-scan ultrasound findings, ranging from focal necrosis of the epididymis and ischemic infarction of the testis to diffuse testicular infarction. Epididymal enlargement and skin thickening are consistently seen on ultrasound as well as swelling and decreased echogenicity of the testicle. The authors suggest a protocol for acute scrotal symptoms, incorporating clinical findings and (where appropriate) radionuclide scans.     

Waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio of Hong Kong Chinese children

Background  

Central body fat is a better predictor than overall body fat for cardiovascular (CV) risk factors in both adults and children. Waist circumference (WC) has been used as a proxy measure of central body fat. Children at high CV risk may be identified by WC measurements. Waist-to-height ratio (WHTR) has been proposed as an alternative, conveniently age-independent measure of CV risk although WHTR percentiles have not been reported. We aim to provide age- and sex-specific reference values for WC and WHTR in Hong Kong Chinese children.     

The potential benefits of the pediatric nonheartbeating organ donor

OBJECTIVE: To examine the population of the pediatric intensive care unit in a large children's hospital to determine the potential importance of pediatric nonheartbeating organ donors (NHBDs). STUDY DESIGN: We analyzed retrospectively the 6307 admissions to the pediatric intensive care unit at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia from January 1992 to July 1996 to identify all deaths. The hospital records of the children who had died were then reviewed to determine the mode of death, organ donation rate of heartbeating donors, and the number of potential NHBDs. Criteria for the NHBD included the decision to forgo life-sustaining therapy, death occurring within 2 hours of withdrawal of life support, and the absence of sepsis, HIV, hepatitis, or extracranial malignancy. RESULTS: Of 319 deaths, 102 (32.0%) died with resuscitation, 84 (26.3%) were brain-dead, 111 (34.8%) had withdrawal of life support, and 22 (6.9%) were on do-not-resuscitate orders. Of the 84 brain-dead children, 74 (88.1%) were medically suitable heartbeating donors, and 43 (58.1%) donated organs. Of the 111 patients who had life support withdrawn, 31 (27.9%) qualified for NHBDs. CONCLUSIONS: The routine use of the NHBD has the potential to increase organ donation at our institution by 42%. We discuss the ethical issues relating to NHBDs required to properly include these patients as potential organ donors.     

Volumetric control of continuous haemodialysis in multiple organ failure

A system for precise volumetric control of continuous haemodialysis and its use in providing renal replacement treatment in the intensive care unit to 10 children with multiple organ failure are described. The system, termed slow efficient dialysis, provided effective clearance of urea, creatinine, potassium, and phosphate. It provided precise control of the volume of ultrafiltrate removed in a prospective manner ('dial up' fluid balance) to reduce haemodynamic instability and fluid management problems. The ease of use of this system for intensive care nurses meant that the system ran without the assistance of a second intensive care or renal nurse.     

A prospective study evaluating the lowering of hemoglobin standards for blood donors

Strict regulations exist for the selection of blood donors. These include minimum hemoglobin (Hb) standards of 13.5 and 12.5 g/dL for males and females respectively. In Canada 2% of all blood donors, or approximately 25,000 individuals annually attempt to make a blood donation but are deferred because their Hb level does not meet these minimum accepted standards. In a previous study we provided a biostatistical approach to ascertain objectively the optimal minimum Hb standards for blood donors to best discriminate between iron deficient and non iron deficient individuals. The derived values were lower than the existing minimum Hb standards and because of concern that blood donors accepted using these lower Hb standards might have asymptomatic disease, the proposed new levels were not adopted. This present prospective study was undertaken to assess the impact on the blood donors of the new Hb standards. Over 26 months we evaluated 1,558 donors (695 males and 863 females). On entry into the study they were screened for a variety of medical conditions which could result in asymptomatic anemia and 6 months later they answered a health questionnaire. Blood donors were entered into 1 of 3 groups. Group I were donors accepted by the existing criteria. Group II were donors who did not meet the existing Hb criteria but satisfied the newly derived standards. Group III were donors deferred even by the new Hb standards.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

超声心动图评价小儿移植心脏的心房重建

目的应用超声心动图探讨小儿心脏移植术后,随移植后病程心房形态及大小发生变化的情况。方法心脏移植组:共36例,检查时均存活。按心脏移植后时间的长短分为移植组A:为移植术后6个月以内的患儿,共16例;移植组B:为移植术后6个月以上的患儿,共20例。对照组正常小儿共36例。测量所有受试者的左室舒张末期内径、右室前后径、左房及右房上下径及左右径、室间隔厚度、左室后壁厚度、左室质量、左室短轴缩短率。结果移植组A与对照组各数据比较差异均无显著性意义。但移植组B的左、右房长径较对照组大,差异有显著性意义。结论小儿心脏移植短期内结构的重建尚未完成。而小儿心脏移植6个月以后心房结构发生重建,左、右房的长径明显扩大。