[Successful recanulization of superior venous vessels: a new challenge for interventional pediatric cardiology]

The use of long-term central venous catheters is a routine in chronic pediatric diseases. Thrombotic complications progressively reduce the central venous capital and hamper the long-term management of these patients.

OBSERVATION

We report two cases of obstruction of the central upper venous system and discuss of the techniques used to repermeabilize venous axes before the placement of a new central line.

CONCLUSION

The control of the permeability of the central veins should be performed before any withdrawal of central catheters, repermeabilization of the venous axes being simpler when the central catheter is kept in place in the occluded vessel.

Bacterial aetiology of acute osteoarticular infections in children

AIM

To study the bacterial aetiology of acute osteoarticular infections in children and to analyse the efficiency of culture methods.

METHODS

Bacteriological data of 407 cases of clinically suspected osteoarticular infections affecting 406 children hospitalized in an orthopaedic surgery department between 1999 and 2002 were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

Bacterial cultures from clinical specimens were positive in 74 cases (18%): 38 cases of septic arthritis and 36 cases of bone infections (osteitis, osteomyelitis or osteoarthritis). The use of liquid medium bottles to grow bacteria from articular fluids increased the rate of positive cultures compared to the use of standard solid media (p = 0.0001). The most commonly recovered pathogen was Staphylococcus aureus (44%) followed by Kingella kingae (14%), Streptococcus pyogenes (10%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (10%). K. kingae was most frequently isolated among children under 36 mo of age (p = 0.0003), whereas S. aureus was most frequently isolated among children over 36 mo (p = 0.0015).

CONCLUSION

By improving our culture method, we observed a recrudescence of isolation of K. kingae, but S. aureus remains the main pathogen isolated from osteoarticular infections in children. This finding is useful for the adaptation of a probabilistic antibiotic treatment of these infections.

Percutaneous replacement of pulmonary valve in a right-ventricle to pulmonary-artery prosthetic conduit with valve dysfunction

BACKGROUND

Valved conduits from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery are frequently used in paediatric cardiac surgery. However, stenosis and insufficiency of the conduit usually occur in the follow-up and lead to reoperations. Conduit stenting can delay surgical replacement, but it aggravates pulmonary insufficiency. We developed an innovative system for percutaneous stent implantation combined with valve replacement.

METHODS

A 12-year-old boy with stenosis and insufficiency of a prosthetic conduit from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery underwent percutaneous implantation of a bovine jugular valve in the conduit.

FINDINGS

Angiography, haemodynamic assessment, and echocardiography after the procedure showed no insufficiency of the implanted valve, and partial relief of the conduit stenosis. There were no complications after 1 month of follow-up, and the patient is presently in good physical condition.

INTERPRETATION

We have shown that percutaneous valve replacement in the pulmonary position is possible. With further technical improvements, this new technique might also be used for valve replacement in other cardiac and non-cardiac positions.

Percutaneous replacement of pulmonary valve in a right-ventricle to pulmonary-artery prosthetic conduit with valve dysfunction

BACKGROUND

Valved conduits from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery are frequently used in paediatric cardiac surgery. However, stenosis and insufficiency of the conduit usually occur in the follow-up and lead to reoperations. Conduit stenting can delay surgical replacement, but it aggravates pulmonary insufficiency. We developed an innovative system for percutaneous stent implantation combined with valve replacement.

METHODS

A 12-year-old boy with stenosis and insufficiency of a prosthetic conduit from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery underwent percutaneous implantation of a bovine jugular valve in the conduit.

FINDINGS

Angiography, haemodynamic assessment, and echocardiography after the procedure showed no insufficiency of the implanted valve, and partial relief of the conduit stenosis. There were no complications after 1 month of follow-up, and the patient is presently in good physical condition.

INTERPRETATION

We have shown that percutaneous valve replacement in the pulmonary position is possible. With further technical improvements, this new technique might also be used for valve replacement in other cardiac and non-cardiac positions.

Central venous catheter-related infections in children on long-term home parenteral nutrition: incidence and risk factors

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

This study aimed to assess the incidence and etiology of central venous catheter (CVC) infections in children on home parenteral nutrition (HPN).

METHODS

207 CVC-years were studied retrospectively in 47 children on HPN, aged 8.1+/-5.0 years.

RESULTS

125 CVC were used (means: 2.6 CVC/patient and 21 months utilization/CVC). Half of the hospitalizations (162) were due to proven CVC-related infections. The mean infection incidence was 2. 1/1000 HPN days. The total population divided in two groups below and above this value: group one including 24 children, incidence < or = 2.1 per 1000 days (mean: 0.83) and group two including 23 children, incidence >2.1 per 1000 days (mean: 4.3). No differences were found between the two groups in terms of underlying disease, presence of ostomies, age at the time of HPN onset, or micro-organisms responsible. The only differences (p<0.05) were the mean duration of HPN (longer in group one) and the delay between HPN onset and the first infection (longer in group one).

CONCLUSIONS

This study does not highlight any risk factors for CVC infection. However, early CVC infections after HPN onset appear to predict a bad prognosis.

Nosocomial outbreak of Clostridium difficile diarrhea in a pediatric service

An outbreak of nosocomial diarrhea that occurred in a pediatric orthopedic service between 1 December 1993 and 15 April 1994 is reported. A total of 37 patients (mean age, 9.6 years; range, 2 months-19.3 years) were involved in the outbreak, including six patients with bacteriologically documented Clostridium difficile infection. A multivariate analysis identified lincomycin treatment for at least three days as the only significant risk factor. Stool samples from four asymptomatic patients were also positive for Clostridium difficile and its cytotoxins. Isolates from all patients belonged to serogroup C, were highly resistant to lincomycin, and exhibited the same restriction pattern by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The outbreak ended after treatment with lincomycin was discontinued and hygiene control measures were implemented.

The analgesic efficacy of an injectable prodrug of acetaminophen in children after orthopaedic surgery

The analgesic efficacy and safety of propacetamol, an injectable prodrug of acetaminophen, (paracetamol) were studied in 87 children (36 boys, 51 girls; age 6-13; mean age 9.5 years) immediately after limb surgery. Using a double-blind, randomized, parallel group design, the effects of a single IV infusion of 30 mg.kg-1 propacetamol (i.e. 15 mg.kg-1 acetaminophen) were compared with a single injection of placebo (PL). Efficacy was assessed on pain scores rated on a four-point verbal scale, a five-point visual scale (faces) and on a four-point relief verbal scale before administration (T0) and 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 h after administration. At the end the global efficacy was rated by the physician on a five-point verbal scale. Propacetamol was statistically superior to placebo on all assessment criteria. Seven side-effects were recorded: five in the propacetamol group and two in the placebo group. 30 mg.kg-1 propacetamol provided a significantly greater analgesic effect than placebo in children after orthopaedic surgery.

Autologous blood donation for elective surgery in children weighing 8-25 kg

To determine whether autologous blood donation can be used safely and efficiently in children weighing 8-25 kg, we studied children whose perioperative blood losses were expected to exceed 25% of total blood volume. Blood donations were performed in pediatric units, under the direction of an anesthesiologist and a blood bank physician experienced in paediatric care. Twenty-four children, median age 6 years (1-13), were included. They underwent surgery mainly for digestive or urological disorders, and for orthopedic defects. Forty blood collections were performed of the 46 prescribed. Phlebotomies could not be performed in 1 child because of the mother's apprehension, and in 5 cases because of venous access problems. All phlebotomies were hemodynamically well tolerated. Hemodilution was also performed in 17 children, and cell saver used in 2. Allogeneic blood transfusion was avoided in 21/24 children.

Chronic septic arthritis and osteomyelitis in a prosthetic knee joint due to Clostridium difficile

A case of chronic septic arthritis and osteomyelitis in a prosthetic knee joint due to Clostridium difficile is reported. A knee prosthesis was installed in a 16-year-old boy for surgical treatment of an osteosarcoma of the femur. Later, the patient suffered a traumatic closed fracture of his patella, and a sterile fluid was aspirated. One month later, the joint displayed inflammation. Culture of the articular fluid yielded a nontoxigenic Clostridium difficile strain. Despite several attempts using conservative medical treatment with penicillins and ornidazole, Clostridium difficile strains with the same antibiotic susceptibility pattern were repeatedly isolated from the joint over an eight-month period. The foreign material was then ablated, and finally, the patient's leg was amputated one year after Clostridium difficile was first isolated. The possible sources of contamination in our case and other reported cases of extraintestinal infection due to Clostridium difficile are discussed.

Effect of halothane anesthesia on glucose utilization and production in adolescents

BACKGROUND

It should be possible to avoid variations in plasma glucose concentration during anesthesia by adjusting glucose infusion rate to whole-body glucose uptake. To study this hypothesis, we measured glucose utilization and production, before and during halothane anesthesia.

METHODS

After an overnight fast, six adolescents between 12 and 17 yr of age were infused with tracer doses of [6,6-2H2]glucose for 2 h before undergoing anesthesia, and the infusion was continued after induction, until the beginning of surgery. Plasma glucose concentration was monitored throughout, and free fatty acids, lactate, insulin, and glucagon concentrations were measured before and during anesthesia.

RESULTS

Despite the use of a glucose-free maintenance solution, plasma glucose concentration increased slightly but significantly 5 min after induction (5.3 +/- 0.4 vs. 4.5 +/- 0.4 mmol.l-1, P < 0.05). This early increase corresponded to a significant increase in endogenous glucose production over basal conditions (4.1 +/- 0.4 vs. 3.6 +/- 0.2 mg.kg-1.min-1, P < 0.05), with no concomitant change in peripheral glucose utilization. Fifteen minutes after induction, both glucose utilization and production rates decreased steadily and were 20% less than basal values by 35 min after induction (2.9 +/- 0.3 vs. 3.6 +/- 0.2 mg.kg-1.min-1, P < 0.05). Similarly, glucose metabolic clearance rate decreased by 25% after 35 min. Despite the increase in blood glucose concentration, anesthesia resulted in a significant decrease in plasma insulin concentration.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that halothane anesthesia per se affects glucose metabolism. The decrease in peripheral glucose utilization and metabolic clearance rates and the blunted insulin release question the relevance of glucose infusion in these clinical settings.

Ethylene chlorohydrin determination in ethylene oxide sterilized polyvinyl chloride tubing

A convenient rapid gas-chromatographic method is described for the quantitative determination of ethylene chlorohydrin. The method reported herein extracts the ethylene chlorohydrin with water. The method is simple and offers advantages since no elaborate and expensive gas extraction apparatus is required. The ethylene chlorohydrin levels in five different sterilized polyvinyl chloride samples were found to vary between 5 and 25 ppm. The effect of resterilization with ethylene oxide was investigated and was found to produce less ethylene chlorohydrin.

[Spine deformity in Marfan's syndrome in childhood (author's transl)]

The authors have studied twenty cases of spine deformity in children suffering from Marfan's syndrome. They describe the main features of the disease and point out the difficulty of accurate diagnosis in children with minor involvement. The deformities are those of a dysplastic scoliosis as shown by the frequency of vertebral inversion on the lateral view: dorso-lumbar kyphosis, decreased lumbar lordosis. The treatment should be surgical because of the danger of a fatal outcome without treatment. The incidence of non-union is high and the authors recommend systematic revision of the fusion double curve scolioses with a moderate kyphosis. In cases of severe kyphosis, the addition of anterior grafting is recommended.