Cánula nasal de alto flujo en lactantes: experiencia en una unidad de paciente crítico / High flow nasal cannula in infants: Experience in a critical patient unit

Introducción: La cánula nasal de alto flujo (CNAF) es un método de soporte respiratorio cada vez más utilizado en pediatría por sus resultados y seguridad. Objetivo: Determinar la efectividad de la CNAF, evaluar factores asociados a fracaso y complicaciones relacionadas con su uso en lactantes. Pacientes y método: Se analizaron los datos demográficos, clínicos, gasométricos, radiológicos y complicaciones de los pacientes conectados a CNAF en una unidad crítica entre junio de 2012 y septiembre de 2014. Se compararon los pacientes que fracasaron con los respondedores a CNAF, considerándose fracaso la necesidad de un mayor soporte respiratorio durante las primeras 48 h de conexión. Se utilizó test de Kolmogorov Smirnov, U de Mann-Whitney, Chi cuadrado, test exacto de Fisher, correlaciones y Modelo de regresión logística binaria para p ≤ 0,05. Resultados: Un total de 109 pacientes. Mediana de edad y peso: 1 mes (0,2-20 meses) y 3,7 kg (2-10 kg); percentil 95: 3,7 meses y 5,7 kg respectivamente. El diagnóstico y patrón radiológico más frecuente fue bronquiolitis (53,2%) e infiltrado intersticial (56%). Un 70,6% respondió. Hubo diferencia significativa entre fracaso y respuesta en el diagnóstico (p = 0,013), radiografía (p = 0,018), contexto de conexión (p < 0,0001), pCO2 (mediana 40,7 mm Hg [15,4-67 mm Hg] versus 47,3 mm Hg [28,6-71,3 mm Hg], p = 0,004) y horas de CNAF (mediana 60,75 h [5-621,5 h] versus 10,5 h [1-29 h], p < 0,0001). El OR de PCO2 ≥ 55 mm Hg para fracaso fue 2,97 (IC 95%: 1,08-8,17; p = 0,035). Ningún paciente falleció ni registró complicaciones. Conclusión: El porcentaje de éxito observado fue similar a lo publicado. En esta muestra el fracaso de CNAF solo se asoció a una pCO2 inicial ≥ 55 mm Hg. Su uso se consideró seguro al no reportarse complicaciones relacionadas a su utilización. Se requiere de un estudio multicéntrico, aleatorizado y controlado para contrastar estos resultados.

Introduction: The high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is a method of respiratory support that is increasingly being used in paediatrics due to its results and safety. Objective: To determine the efficacy of HFNC, as well as to evaluate the factors related to its failure and complications associated with its use in infants. Patients and method: An analysis was performed on the demographic, clinical, blood gas, and radiological data, as well as the complications of patients connected to a HFNC in a critical care unit between June 2012 and September 2014. A comparison was made between the patients who failed and those who responded to HFNC. A failure was considered as the need for further respiratory support during the first 48 hours of connection. The Kolmogorov Smirnov, Mann-Whitney U, chi squared and the Exact Fisher test were used, as well as correlations and a binary logistic regression model for P ≤ .05. Results: The study included 109 patients, with a median age and weight: 1 month (0.2-20 months) and 3.7 kg (2-10 kg); 95 percentile: 3.7 months and 5.7 kg, respectively. The most frequent diagnosis and radiological pattern was bronchiolitis (53.2%) and interstitial infiltration (56%). Around 70.6% responded. There was a significant difference between failure and response in the diagnosis (P = .013), radiography (P = 018), connection context (P < .0001), pCO2 (median 40.7 mmHg [15.4-67 mmHg] versus 47.3 mmHg [28.6-71.3 mmHg], P = .004) and hours on HFNC (median 60.75 hrs [5-621.5 hrs] versus 10.5 hrs [1-29 hrs], P < .0001). The OR of the PCO2 ≥ 55 mmHg for failure was 2.97 (95% CI; 1.08-8.17; P = .035). No patient died and no complications were recorded. Conclusion: The percentage success observed was similar to that published. In this sample, the failure of HFNC was only associated with an initial pCO2 ≥ 55 mmHg. On there being no complications reported as regards it use, it is considered safe, although a randomised, controlled, multicentre study is required to compare and contrast these results.

Traumatismo encefalocraneano en pediatría / Traumatic brain injury in pediatrics

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is an important Public Health issue in Chile and the world. It represents a frequent cause of consultation, constituting a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the population under 45 years of age. Accidents are the main reason for TBI among the pediatric population, but child abuse is an important cause in children below 2 y.o. A proper evaluation is essential to develop timely and efficient treatment that avoids or decreases brain damage and eventual complications. For this purpose, it is essential that brain physiology and physiopathological changes triggered by TBI are clear and well known. Current concepts are presented in this paper, emphasizing brain hemodynamics, metabolism, and brain self-regulation.

El traumatismo encefalocraneano (TEC) es un importante problema de salud pública tanto en Chile como en el mundo. Representa un motivo de consulta frecuente constituyendo una de las mayores causas de morbi-mortalidad en la población menor de 45 años. Los accidentes son la principal causa de TEC en la población pediátrica, pero el maltrato infantil es una causa etiológica importante a considerar en los menores de 2 años. Realizar una correcta evaluación al paciente con TEC es fundamental para instaurar un tratamiento oportuno y eficiente con el fin de evitar y/o disminuir el daño cerebral y así prevenir eventuales complicaciones. Para ello es imprescindible el conocimiento de la fisiología cerebral y los cambios fisiopatológicos que se desencadenan posterior al TEC, conceptos que son revisados en este artículo con énfasis en la hemodinamia cerebral, metabolismo y autorregulación cerebral.

Enfermedad injerto contra huésped asociada a transfusión / Graft versus hot disease associated to transfusion

Background: Transfusion-associated graft versus host disease (AT-GVDH) is produced by an aggressive host inmune response secondary to the incorporation and proliferation of T lymphocytes in blood products. AT-GVDH affects immunocompromised patients with cellular immune dysfunction, but also immunocompetent persons with certain genetic characteristics. It presents as an acute syndrome that involves skin, gastrointestinal tract, liver and bone marrow. The use of irradiated blood products represents the only therapeutic choice. Objective: To describe a severe and rarely diagnosed pathological condition associated to frequent clinical practice. Case-report: A 6 months-old child with a severe combined immunodeficiency (pathology with high risk of AT-GVDH) who developed this disease after a filtered red blood cell transfusion. Conclusions: The AT-GVDH is an uncommon iatrogenic and highly lethal complication related to the use of blood products. It implies high degree of clinical suspicion because underlying pathologies of risk may be unknown. The therapy is poor, being prevention the only available alternative. It is fundamental to know the risks and complications in using blood products, in order to determine correctly their indications.

Introducción: La Enfermedad Injerto Contra Huésped asociada a Transfusiones (EICH-AT) se produce por una respuesta inadecuada y autodestructiva del organismo frente a la incorporación y proliferación de linfocitos T presentes en los hemoderivados. Afecta fundamentalmente a pacientes inmunosuprimidos de predominio celular, aunque también a inmunocompetentes con determinadas características genéticas. Se manifiesta como un síndrome agudo que compromete piel, hígado, tracto gastrointestinal y médula ósea, confundible al inicio con enfermedades banales frecuentes. Actualmente la prevención, mediante el uso de hemoderivados irradiados representa la única medida terapéutica demostrada. Objetivo: Presentar una entidad patológica grave y poco reconocida asociada a una práctica clínica habitual. Caso clínico: Lactante de 6!4 meses portadora de una Inmunodeficiencia Combinada Severa que posterior a una transfusión de glóbulos rojos filtrados desarrolló esta enfermedad. Conclusiones: La EICH-AT es una complicación iatrogénica infrecuente, altamente letal y potencialmente prevenible relacionada a la administración de hemoderivados. Requiere un alto grado de sospecha clínica, mas aun en menores de 1 año en quienes pueden desconocerse patologías de riesgo subyacentes.

Albúmina en el paciente crítico: ¿mito o realidad terapéutica?: [revisión] / Albumin in the critically ill patient: myth or real therapeutics?: [review]

Under normal conditions, the plasmatic oncotic pressure is determined mainly by albumin. Numerous trials in critically ill patients have showed that hypoalbuminemia is associated to poor outcome. So, the administration of exogenous albumin is an attractive therapeutic strategy, widely spread in different clinical scenes. Nevertheless, its use has been questioned in the last period and up to date there is no clear evidence of the real effectiveness and/or utility. This article reviews the physiological and pathophysiological concepts that would justify the use of synthetic albumin. According to current literature, discussion about the rationality of its use in different pathological situations exists, trying to outline those clinical conditions that could or could not benefit with its administration. Certainly, clinical guidelines with recommendations about the benefits and indications of this therapy are required. Hypoalbuminemia in the critically ill patient is produced principally by redistribution, secondary to changes in capillary permeability: "transcapillary leakage". The crucial interrelation between osmotic plasmatic pressure and albumin concentration in healthy individuals is lost in several critical conditions. Agreements on indications for use of albumin have not been achieved, since in different clinical context (resuscitation, sepsis, post-surgical, burns, nephrotic syndrome, ARDS) there are no significant advantages in morbidity and mortality of critically ill patients, compared to other cristalloids or synthetic colloids used. It is extremely important to develop clinical guidelines with recommendations on benefits and indications for the use of albumin in critically ill patients.

La albúmina es la principal determinante de la presión oncótica plasmática. La reducción de sus niveles séricos se asociaría a malos resultados clínicos, fundamentalmente, en la población de pacientes críticos, por lo cual su administración exógena resulta una estrategia terapéutica atractiva y ampliamente difundida. Su uso, sin embargo, ha sido cuestionado en el último tiempo, no existiendo a la fecha una clara evidencia de su real eficacia y/o utilidad. Objetivo: Revisar los conceptos fisiológicos y fisiopatológicos que subyacen al uso de albúmina sintética y evaluar la racionalidad de su utilización en distintas situaciones patológicas, intentando perfilar las condiciones clínicas que pudieran o no beneficiarse de su administración. La hipoalbuminemia en el paciente crítico está dada principalmente por un fenómeno de redistribución, secundario a cambios en la permeabilidad capilar (escape transcapilar), y la correlación entre presión osmótica plasmática y concentración de albúmina en individuos sanos, se pierde en condiciones críticas. A pesar de la literatura existente, no se han logrado acuerdos sobre las indicaciones para el uso de albúmina, ya que en los distintos contextos clínicos revisados, (resucitación, sepsis, post quirúrgicos, quemados, síndrome nefrótico, SDRA), no aparecen ventajas significativas en la morbimortalidad al compararla con el uso de cristaloides u otros coloides sintéticos, sin dejar de mencionar además el costo económico que representa su uso. Se requieren guías clínicas de consenso, basadas en la evidencia, que establezcan recomendaciones acerca de los beneficios e indicaciones de esta herramienta terapéutica, que por ahora aparece con indicaciones muy limitadas en los pacientes críticos.

Derrame pleural y empiema complicado en niños: evolución y factores pronósticos / Prognostic factors in complicated pleural empyema in children

Background: Complicated pleural empyema has a torpid and longer clinical evolution, requiring in some patients surgical management. The predictive factors for surgical treatment are not well known. Aim: To search for clinical, laboratory or radiological predictors for the requirement of surgical treatment in pediatric patients with empyema. Patients and methods: A retrospective review of the charts of 108 patients hospitalized for pneumonia plus pleural effusion at the Pediatric Service of the Catholic University Hospital between January 1985 and July 2000. Results: Eighty one patients had complete radiological evaluation and pleural fluid biochemical analysis. Forty nine (60 percent) fulfilled the criteria for empyema and 32 (40 percent) for an exudate. Thirteen patients with empyema required surgery and 36 were treated medically. The mean age was 3 years (range 9 months-6 years) for the surgically treated and 4 years (range 12 months-14 years) for the non-surgical group. The male/female ratio was 5:1 in the surgical group and 1:1 for the non-surgical group. Pleural fluid cultures were positive in 21 of 79 patients. Streptococcus pneumonia was the most frequently isolated agent. No significant differences were found between groups for the average days of fever prior to the diagnosis or total days of fever, days of hospital stay, pleural fluid pH (6.8 and 7.0 respectively) and glucose (21 and 31 mg/dl respectively). No differences were either observed for pleural fluid risk factors (pH < 7 and glucose <20mgdl), the presence of extensive pleural effusions, pleural loculations or bands on pleural ultrasonography and positive Gram stain or cultures in the pleural fluid. Surgical patients required oxygen for more days than medical patients (7.7 and 5.1 days; p=0.037). Conclusions: This study failed to find predictive clinical, radiological or pleural fluid parameters, for the requirement of surgical treatment of empyema