Effect of deep breathing exercises on post operative respiratory efficiency among children with open heart surgery

This study was conducted to identify the effect of deep breathing exercises on postoperative respiratory efficiency among children with open-heart surgery. It was carried out at the cardiology unit and open heart intensive care unit [ICU] in Cairo University Paediatric Hospital [CUPH]. A quazi - experimental design was utilized for it. A purposeful sample of 60 children with congenital heart disease and undergoing an open-heart surgery were recruited for the study. Data required for study were collected through the use of a questionnaire sheet and a respiratory assessment sheet, which were designed by the researcher based on reviewing the necessary literature. The first tool was a questionnaire sheet which consisted of three parts: related to the child and his/her parents and family; the child's disease and preparation for surgery; and finally childrenis view about the deep breathing exercises. The second tool was a respiratory assessment sheet. Data were collected through interviewing the mothers and children. No psychological preparation was available for both the study and control groups. Most of children in the study and control groups [86.7%] hadn't knowledge about deep breathing exercises. There was a statistically significant difference between the children in the study group and the control group in respiratory efficiency in relation to rate, depth, cough, O2 saturation, PaO2 and PaCO2.The study concluded that the majority of children were lacking knowledge about deep breathing exercises in relation to its technique, time and frequency of application, importance and effects. It was also concluded that the children in the study group had more efficient respiratory pattern postoperatively than the control group. It was recommended that deep breathing exercises must be given a high priority in the nursing care plan especially preoperatively for heart surgery, and Hospital physiotherapist, medical, and nursing students must have an active role in pre and post surgical preparations

Correlation between steroid response and splenectomy in children with immune thrombocytopenic purpura in Saudi Arabia

The study included thirteen patients suffering from chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura [ITP]. Their ages ranged from 1:13 Years [7 males and 6 females]. Seven of eight children [87.5%] with response to corticosteroids achieved a complete remission after splenectomy, whereas only one of five [20%] non-responders showed a benefit after splenectomy. Corticosteroid responsiveness was found to be a high reliable method of correctly indentifving those patients with chronic ITP who would benefit from splenectomy

Serum apolipoprotein B in childhood nephrotic syndrome

The study included fourteen patients suffering from nephrotic syndrome. They were 8 males [age range 3-13 ys] and 6 females [age range 3-5 ys] and 10 healthy controls. Serum total lipids for nephrotic patients was 1126.922 plus or minus 491.623 mg/d1 and that of the controls was 251.766 plus or minus 39.973 mg/d1. Such increase in patient group was statistically highly significant [p less than 0.0001]. Serum apoprotein B in nephrotic patients was 207.07 plus or minus 67.906 mg/d1 and that of controls was 100.1 plus or minus 15.934 mg/d1, this difference was statistically highly significant [P less than 0.001]. High level of apoprotein B is considered as a predictive factor and a good screening test for early detection of childhood atherosclerosis and ischemic heart disease

Incidence of bacteremia among febrile children with sickle cell anaemia in Saudi Arabia

The study included ninety patients with sickle cell anaemia. Their age ranged from 9 months to 13 years [55 males and 35 females]. All patients were febrile with a range of temp 38-40 C. Six patients with age of 24 months or younger were bacteraemic with streptococcus pneumonia except for one who had meningitis and haemophilus influenze type b was recovered from CSF culture. The mean of temperature of bacteraemic group was 39.8 C and WBC count 22.333/cumm while that of nonbacteraemic patients was 39.4 C and W. B. C 16.200/cumm. The difference was statistically significant, only for WBC [P less than

Serum catecholamines in rheumatic chorea

Serum dopamine [DA], norepinephrine [NE] and epinephrine [E] levels were determined in 20 patients with rheumatic chorea [age ranges 5- 13 years with female to male ratio 3: 2] as well as 10 healthy controls. Mean serum DA of the patients was found to be significantly elevated [5.862 +/- 1.654 ng/ ml vs 1.829 +/- 0.560 ng/ml in controls P less than 0.01]. Mean serum levels of NE and E in patients were 6.214 +/- 2.672 ng/ml and 17.189 +/- 7.448 ng/ml respectively and those of controls were 2.199 -+ 0.760 ng/ml and 9.595 -+ 3.232 ng. ml [P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.01 respectively]. Serum DA was positively related to the severity of involuntary movements while NE and E were not correlated. After one month of reserpine therapy there was no statistically significant difference between serum levels of DA, NE and E in choreic patients and controls

Poisoning in the pediatric age group with special reference to cases admitted in the intensive care unit

This work aimed to review the subject of acute poisoning in children. The work included clinical evaluation of fifty infants and children with acute poisoning. Analysis of the results obtained revealed that age ranged from one month to twelve years with a peak incidence below one year [42%].Male to female ratio was approximately equal. Poisoning with drugs was found to be the commonest [74%], followed by household products [12%], unknown poisons [8%] and lastly scorpion stings [6%].Seasonal variation seemed to play an important role in acute poisoning since72% of cases occurred in hot seasons.Most common presentingsymptomswereneurologicalmanifestations [78%],followedbyrespiratory[52%]andgastrointestinal manifestations [20%].The fate of the cases was mainly recovery in 80%, while 20% of cases died