Pediatr Crit Care Me
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · May 2005
Case ReportsPosttraumatic cholothorax in a child: case report and review of the literature.
Thoracobiliary fistula, subsequent to a combined thoracic and hepatic blunt trauma, is a rare complication, which calls for a high index of suspicion during diagnostic workup. Due to its uncommon nature, especially in children, and hence the paucity of reports in literature, no consensus has been reached on its optimal management. ⋯ The recent tendency to observe rather than explore abdominal trauma and the absence of a definitive diagnostic test for diaphragmatic injury may contribute to a delayed diagnosis of the components that may result in the development of a fistula. Literature review substantiates endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography as the imaging modality of choice, because it has the potential of therapeutic intervention by sphincterotomy or stent placement. A nonoperative approach was successful in this case.
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In 2004, a consensus meeting of critical care and infectious disease experts was organized to review and make recommendations on current definitions of infections, sepsis, and organ failure for neonates and children and for the predisposing conditions leading to these diseases. Among the infections leading to sepsis, meningococcemia is so distinguishable that a separate article on its diagnosis and management was thought to be warranted. ⋯ Early recognition and treatment of likely meningococcal sepsis has led to decreased mortality. Since the start of vaccination against serogroup C, the prevalence of this disease has decreased. Not only the possible presence of a meningococcal sepsis is important, but also the assessment of the shock state and the severity of disease and the possible presence of meningoencephalitis. There are also a number of genetic predispositions determining the severity of disease. The only three randomized trials in this disease have led to the conclusion that mortality is not a stable end point. Improvement in organ function, morbidity (including amputations), and functional outcome are better outcome measures.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · May 2005
ReviewConcept of PIRO as a new conceptual framework to understand sepsis.
To define and introduce the PIRO model for categorizing sepsis in infants and children. ⋯ The PIRO model is a conceptual framework for understanding sepsis that has many favorable attributes. The PIRO model should be directly tested in both the research laboratory and in clinical trial designs to determine the practical value and clinical relevance of this new classification scheme for sepsis.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · May 2005
Multicenter StudyEvolution of the medical practices and modes of death on pediatric intensive care units in southern Brazil.
To study the possible change on mode of deaths, medical decision practices, and family participation on decisions for limiting life-sustaining treatments (L-LST) over a period of 13 yrs in three pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) located in southern Brazil. ⋯ We observed that the modes of deaths in southern Brazilian PICUs changed over the last 13 yrs, with an increment in L-LST. However, this change was not uniform among the studied PICUs and did not reach the levels described in countries of the Northern Hemisphere. Family participation in the L-LST decision-making process has increased over time, but it is still far behind what is observed in other parts of the world.