Early veno-venous Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation with prone positioning in the treatment of severe Acute Respiratory Distress syndrome in a pediatric patient: a case report

Aim of the study was to discuss effectiveness and outcome of Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) therapy with prone positioning while on ECMO in a child with severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Veno-venous ECMO (VV-ECMO) and prone position on ECMO are relatively newer modalities of treatment in severe ARDS in pediatric age group and to our experience very few cases has been reported in paediatric age group. A 5 year old male child presented with fever with respiratory distress. He deteriorated in next 48 hrs leading to severe hypoxemia with ARDS following which he was put on conventional ventilation. In view of worsening critical lung parameters, veno-venous ECMO was initiated. Child had persistent hypoxemia inspite on high positive end expiaratory pressure (PEEP), adequate flow and adequate Post oxygenator PO2. Recirculation and other possible causes were excluded. Prone positioning (PP) was done for 8 hrs a day with chest physiotherapy while on ECMO. Patient showed considerable improvement in next few days and ECMO was weaned on day 7 and child was discharged on day 16 with good lung recovery. Although studies on VV-ECMO with PP has proven effectiveness in severe ARDS in adult population, overall studies in paediatric ARDS are very limited. Prone positioning on ECMO may decrease duration of ECMO support. Prone positioning on VV ECMO is safe and can be considered in Persistent hypoxemia with poor respiratory compliance.

Effect of conventional ventilation and inhaled nitric oxide In Infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn / 中国小儿急救医学

Objective To evaluate the effects of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) therapy combined with conventional ventilation in the infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN).Methods NO inspiration was added for 22 infants with PPI-IN ventilated with FiO2≥0. 9,PIP≥30 cm H2O,PEEP≥3 cm H2O,RR≥50 bpm for 4～6 hours,with SpO2 still < 90% and PaO2 <55 mm Hg. The iNO concentration started at (10～20)×10-6 for 20 infants,and (20～40)×10-6 for 2 infants. The iNO would be stopped when the concentration reached 40×10 -6 without any sign of improvement. The SpO2 ,blood gas analyses,blood pressure, heart rate and NO: concentration were moraitored during therapy and the resulting data compared to readings before administration of int. Results Clinical situation were significantly improved in 20 (91%) of the infants with SpO2 gradually going up after 10 minutes of int. Before iNO,mean Fit2 was 0. 9±0. 1 ,SpO2 was(76. 3±13.3)% ,and Pat2 was (46. 4±10. 1 ) man Hg. From 1 to 6 hours after iNO,SpO2 increased to(95. 1±3.8)% ,Pat2 increased to(92. 8±24.7) mm Hg,FiO2 decreased to 0.6 s0. 1.The differences were significant (P < 0. 01 ). Eighteen of 22 (82%) infants surviving. Conclusion iNO is effective in alleviating PPHN in infants. There are no remarkable side effects. It is more beneficial to start the iNO concentration at (10～20)×10-6 while some infants may need NO concentration at up to (20～40)×10-6.

Ventilator-Induced Lung Injury / 대한주산의학회잡지

Positive pressure ventilation (PPV) is one of the most commonly used treatment modalities in the field of neonatology to achieve adequate gas exchange for infants with respiratory difficulties. However, mechanical ventilation may cause lung injury through various mechanisms, including high airway pressure and high tidal volume, leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia or multiple organ failure. To prevent these injuries, clinicians, especially neonatologists, treating premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome, should be familiar with ventilator-induced lung injury and its preventive strategies. In this review, the mechanisms of lung injury, the effects of mechanical ventilation on pulmonary microvascular endothelium, extracelluar matrix and alveolar epithelium, and lung protective strategies of conventional ventilation are introduced. Several forms of conventional ventilation for preterm infants are also described.

Comparison of Treatment Outcomes in Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of conventional strategy versus high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) and inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) for the treatment of full term neonates with persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN). METHODS: Full term infants admitted with diagnosis of PPHN to neonatal intensive care units of Asan Medical Center from a period of 1994 to 2001 were included. The major exclusion criteria included congenital anomalies and pulmonary hypoplasia caused by various etiologies. Demographic, therapeutic responses and outcomes were compared between two study phases depending upon treatment modalities used: phase 1 (January 1994-July 1997) using conventional strategy and phase II (July 1997-December 2001) using either conventional strategy or/with iNO or HFOV with iNO. RESULTS: A total of 16 patients and 32 patients were enrolled in phase I and phase II studies, respectively. The primary diagnosis for PPHN included idiopathic (n=12), hyaline membrane disease (n=16), meconium aspiration syndrome (n=11), and sepsis (n=10). Statistically significant improvements were noted in survival, oxygenation index and alveolar- arterial oxygen tension difference during phase II than phase I study period. 75% of those infants treated with iNO showed good responses. Improvements in duration of ventilator use, oxygen supplementation, hospitalization were noted during phase II study period, however, not statistically significant compared to phase I study period. The impairments in neurodevelopmental outcomes were noted in 1 and 2 patients during phase I and phase II study periods, respectively. CONCLUSION: We conclude that HFOV and iNO are more efficacious and safe rescue mode of treatment than conventional strategy for full term infants with PPHN.