Effect of increased opiate exposure on three years neurodevelopmental outcome in extremely preterm infants

BACKGROUND

International guidelines recommend the use of item based scales for the assessment of pain and sedation. In our previous study, the implementation of the Neonatal Pain Agitation and Sedation Scale (N-PASS), and the associated systematic assessment and treatment of pain and sedation reduced pain and over-sedation in our intervention group, but lead to a significant increase of individual opiate exposure. This increased opiate exposure was not associated with impaired motor and mental development at one year of age. As one-year follow-up is not necessarily representative for future outcomes, we retested our sample at three years of age.

METHODS

Fifty-three patients after (intervention group) and 61 before implementation (control group) of the N-PASS and the Vienna Protocol for the Management of Neonatal Pain and Sedation (VPNPS), were compared for motor, mental and behavioural development at three-years follow-up using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development.

RESULTS

Cumulative opiate exposure was not associated with mental (p = .31) and motor (p = .20) problems when controlling for other important medical conditions, but was associated to lower behavioural scores (p = .007). No statistically significant differences were found with regard to mental (p = .65), psychomotor (p = .12) and behavioural (p = .61) development before and after the implementation of the N-PASS and the VPNPS.

CONCLUSION

Implementing a neonatal pain and sedation protocol increased opiate exposure without affecting neurodevelopmental outcome at three-years of age.

Differences in attentional functioning between preterm and full-term children underline the importance of new neuropsychological detection techniques

AIM

The aim of this study was to investigate specific attentional components in preterm born children who had not yet started school.

METHODS

Between January and December 2011, we assessed 52 preterm and 52 full-term children aged between five years five months and six years two months, of comparable age and gender, at the Medical University of Vienna. Different attentional components were evaluated through selected subtests of the Test of Attentional Performance and the German version of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. Each child's behaviour was also evaluated using parental ratings and descriptive item-based evaluation during neuropsychological assessment.

RESULTS

Children born preterm showed poor attentional performance in sustained attention, focused attention and distractibility, as well as reductions in processing speed in divided attention and flexibility tasks. Children born preterm also showed decreased volitional attention compared with automatic attention. No problems were detected in alertness or inhibition. In addition, a higher rate of aborted tests, decreased motivation and poorer parental ratings were detected among the preterm population compared with full-term born children.

CONCLUSION

Our results highlighted differences in attentional functioning between preterm and full-term children, indicating the importance of new neuropsychological techniques for the detection of specific attentional disorders.

Crucial elements and technical implementation of intelligent monitoring networks

Growing complexity of water monitoring instrumentation leads to specialized solutions in respect to sensor integration across several measurement device suppliers. Despite efforts of standardization for data interfaces and protocols, problems regarding the combination of several devices to gain the complete picture in terms of water quality remain. This assessment, especially accomplished from the perspective of a catchment area, requires a transition from sole use of data collectors toward an implementation of intelligent measurement networks. Several challenges and bottlenecks concerning distributed data collection are discussed starting with data acquisition up to the user-scope of utilizing data processing software. Finally, experiences using automated data inspection and export tools are discussed and a brief overview of expectable long-term data availability is given.

Antastgenauigkeit von Orientierungspunkten bei navigierter Implantation von Knieendoprothesen

AIMS

Cinematic and pointing procedures are used for non-image based navigated implantation during total knee replacement. Pointing procedures require an exact knowledge of the landmarks. In this anatomical study, landmarks are defined and repeatedly referenced. Precision and reproducibility are evaluated by means of an inter- and an intra-observer study. The axes of the femur and tibia are calculated using the landmarks.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The specific landmarks of 30 femurs and 27 tibias were palpated by three surgeons and digitised by means of a photogrammetric system, as used intra-operatively. The recorded data were statistically evaluated.

RESULTS

The specific landmarks can be referenced with great precision. The vectors that influence the implant position show a mean femoral deviation of 0.9 mm and a mean tibial deviation of 1.0 mm. The repeating accuracy of every observer was 1.5 mm femoral and 1.0 mm tibial. The calculated long axes at the femur and tibia thus reach a precision of 0.1 degrees (min.-max.: 0-0.9 degrees) at the femur and 0.2 degrees (.0-1.1 degrees) at the tibia. The short axes at the distal femur and proximal tibia exhibit an average deviation of from 0.7 degrees to 1.9 degrees (0-11.3 degrees).

CONCLUSION

Long axes (mechanical axes) can be determined exactly but the precision of the short axes (rotational axes) is unsatisfactory, although palpation of landmarks was accurate. Therefore, palpation of more than one rotational axis at the femur and tibia is mandatory and should be visualized on the monitor during surgery.

[The quality of life of chronically ill and psychiatrically disturbed children. Initial experiences with an inventory for assessing quality of life in children and adolescents]

OBJECTIVES

The assessment of the quality of life in chronically ill children as well as in children with emotional and behavioural problems.

METHODS

A series of questionnaires (Inventar zur Erfassung der Lebensqualität bei Kindern und Jugendlichen, ILK, Mattejat et al.) were administered to 360 patients and 288 mothers at the Vienna University Children's Hospital.

RESULTS

The results clearly show that patients with diabetes rate themselves as the most emotionally burdened and impaired in nearly all aspects of life: a picture which is confirmed by their mothers. Children and adolescents with psychological problems judge the initial problem as well as their social environment as significantly more burdensome. The respective mothers of these psychologically ill children feel that their impairments are greater in more aspects of life than do mothers of children who are chronically ill. The children generally pinpoint most of their difficulties in the areas "ability to occupy myself" and "psychological health". Among adolescents the most negative ratings occur in the areas "school", "psychological health", and "initial problem".

CONCLUSIONS

The child's problems seem to weigh heavily upon the mothers. Interventions aimed at adolescents and mothers should be based on problem solving: supportive and anxiety-reducing approaches seem best suited for chronically ill children. Children with psychological problems primarily need problem-centred and practical support.

Zur Lebensqualität chronisch kranker und psychisch auffälliger Kinder

Zusammenfassung: Fragestellung: Erhebung der Lebensqualität chronisch kranker bzw. psychisch beeinträchtigter Kinder, Jugendlicher und ihrer Mütter. Methode: Das Inventar zur Erfassung der Lebensqualität bei Kindern und Jugendlichen (ILK) von Mattejat et al. wurde 360 Patienten der Universitätsklinik für Kinder- und Jugendheilkunde Wien und 288 Müttern vorgegeben. Ergebnisse: Aus den Ergebnissen geht hervor, dass - sich unter den chronisch kranken Kindern/Jugendlichen die diabetischen Patienten in nahezu allen Lebensbereichen als am meisten belastet beurteilen. Ein ähnliches Bild ergibt sich in der Stichprobe der Mütter. - Kinder und Jugendliche mit psychischen Auffälligkeiten signifikant erhöhte Beeinträchtigungen den Vorstellungsgrund und ihre sozialen Kontakte betreffend angeben. Ihre Mütter führen in mehreren Lebensbereichen stärkere Beeinträchtigungen der Lebensqualität des Kindes an als Mütter chronisch kranker Kinder. - dass Kinder in den Bereichen «Fähigkeit, sich allein zu beschäftigen» und «psychische Gesundheit» die meisten Probleme sehen. Chronisch kranke Kinder fühlen sich zusätzlich durch die Untersuchung/Behandlung, psychisch auffällige durch das Problem an sich belastet. Jugendliche geben in den Bereichen «Schule», «psychische Gesundheit» und «Problem» die negativsten Bewertungen ab. Mütter erleben sich durch das Problem des Kindes stark belastet. Schlussfolgerungen: Problemverarbeitende Interventionen sollten vorrangig für Jugendliche und Mütter, untersuchungsbegleitende, angstreduzierende Maßnahmen insbesondere für chronisch kranke Kinder vorgesehen sein. Psychisch auffällige Kinder bedürfen problemzentrierter, konkreter Hilfestellungen.

Outcome of very-low-birth-weight infants at 1 and 2 years of age. The importance of early identification of neurodevelopmental deficits

The developmental and neurologic outcome of very-low-birth-weight infants (n=76) at 1 and 2 years, corrected for postconceptional age, and variables predicting outcome were assessed. At 1 year 24% of tile children were neurologically normal and at 2 years 61%. Developmental status was evaluated by use of the Griffiths Developmental Scales. The rate of cognitively normal children remained constant (58% at 1 year and 59% at 2 years) indicating that developmental status at 1 year was predictive for the second year. This early period is important, therefore, for the identification of developmental deficits and for establishing early, adequate interventions.

Hyaluronidase additional to standard chemotherapy improves outcome for children with malignant brain tumors

Ex vivo experiments with vital brain tumor samples show that hyaluronidase enhances the permeation of carboplatin into tumor tissue with a matrix rich in hyaluronic acid. We achieved long-lasting second remissions for children with relapsed malignant brain tumors treated with carboplatin, etoposide and this enzyme. Thereafter, we initiated a pilot study where we added hyaluronidase to the first line standard therapy to prevent the deadly relapses right from the beginning. All 19 patients with malignant brain tumors admitted to our pediatric neurooncological center from 1992 to 1994 were included in the study. Kaplan-Meier estimation of event-free survival and overall survival after 3 years follow-up indicates a significantly better outcome for the hyaluronidase-treated group. The children receiving supportive hyaluronidase suffered significantly less relapses (P = 0.034) and had a significantly better chance for survival (P = 0.045) compared to the historical control of 21 children treated with the same standard regimen but without supportive hyaluronidase (product limit analysis and the log-rank test, P < 0.05). Children aged >3 years receiving hyaluronidase together with primary treatment seemed to gain the most benefit.