Decreased heart sound in a healthy newborn: Spontaneous multiseptated cystic pneumomediastinum with delayed respiratory distress / 소아과

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum in the absence of predisposing risk factors has been rarely observed in full-term neonates. A 3-day-old neonate, delivered vaginally at term without any perinatal complications or signs of respiratory difficulty, was referred to the Seoul National University Children's Hospital because of reduced heart sound detected during routine neonatal examination. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed air collection in the anterior mediastinum. The baby developed respiratory distress on the fourth day and required supplemental oxygen. On the seventh day, there was no sign of respiratory difficulty, and x-ray examination showed no demonstrable pneumomediastinum. Hence, careful neonatal physical examination is essential during the postnatal assessment of newborns, and spontaneous pneumomediastinum should be considered when a healthy newborn presents with reduced heart sound.

Assessment of Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness Using Chest Auscultation and Oxygen Saturation Measurement in Pre-school Children with a History of Wheezing / 소아과

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the efficacy and usefulness of chest auscultation and oxygen saturation measurement in the assessment of bronchial hyperresponsiveness to inhaled methacholine in pre-school wheezing children. METHODS: One hundred and four children with histories of wheezing underwent bronchial challenges with nebulized methacholine using chest auscultation and oxygen saturation measurement. The challenge was considered positive when PCW(provocation concentration at wheezing), PCSat(provocation concentration at 5% fall of oxygen saturation), or PCRR(provocation concentration at 50% increase in respiratory rate), was detected below 8 mg/mL of methacholine concentration. Patients were grouped according to their history of wheezing in the previous year:Group 1(children who had no episode, n=45), Group 2(children who wheezed one or two times, n=18), and Group 3(children who wheezed more than three times, n=41). Thirty-three children with no history of wheezing served as normal controls. RESULTS: The geometric means of PCW and PCSat of Group 2 and Group 3 were significantly lower than that of the control group(P<0.0001). There were decreasing tendencies of the geometric means of PCW and PCSat in the order of Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3. The PCRR of Group 3 was significantly lower than the other groups. The proportions of positive responses tend to increase in the order of control group, Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3(P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: We propose that chest auscultation and oxygen saturation measurement for the assessment of bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine in pre-school children are effective and useful for diagnosis of asthma.

Diagnostic Value of Bronchial Hyperreactivity Using Chest Auscultation and Oxygen Saturation Measurement in Preschool Children with a History of Wheezing / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the validity of chest auscultation and oxygen saturation measurement in the assessment of bronchial hyperreactivity to inhaled methacholine in preschool children who were thought to be asthmatic clinically. METHODS: Seventy-two children with a history of more than three wheezing episodes in the previous year were considered the asthma group and underwent methacholine bronchial challenges. Provocation concentration at wheezing (PCw), at 5% fall of oxygen saturation (PCSat), and at 50% increase in respiratory rate (PCRR) were determined in each subject. One hundred and eighteen children who have had less than two wheezing episodes in their life served as control group. RESULTS: The geometric means of PCw, PCSat, and PCRR of asthma group were significantly lower than those of the control group. The optimal cut-off level for PCw was 8 mg/mL, giving a sensitivity of 63% and a specificity of 78%. Corresponding values for PCSat and PCRR were 8 mg/mL (72%, 67%) and 16 mg/mL (49%, 86%), respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for PCw, PCSat, and PCRR were 0.80, 0.88, and 0.70 respectively. The discriminative capacity of PCSat as judged by ROC curve analysis exceed those of PCw and PCRR. CONCLUSION: These findings provide support for the use of chest auscultation and oxygen saturation measurement as a tool in the assessment of bronchial hyperreactivity. The cut-off level of 8 mg/mL for PCSat, owing to its highest discriminative capacity, may be useful for the diagnosis of asthma in preschool children.