Experiencia de una unidad aerodigestiva pediátrica en Latinoamérica / Case management experience in a pediatric aerodigestive unit in Latin-America

Introducción: las unidades aerodigestivas proveen un cuidado complejo coordinado a pacientes pediátricos con condiciones congé-nitas o adquiridas de grados variables que afectan la vía respiratoria, el tracto gastrointestinal, la deglución y el crecimiento. La primera unidad aerodigestiva de Guatemala fue fundada en el año 2018 en un hospital privado, y por ser la única de su tipo en el país, no se tenían datos locales al respecto. Pacientes y métodos: se llevó a cabo un estudio retrospectivo cuantitativo; se analizó el total de casos reportados en la unidad aerodigestiva pediátrica desde el 1 de enero de 2018 hasta el 31 de mayo de 2019, se contó con un total de 69 casos. Resultados: el 79% de los pacientes presentaron más de una patología de diferente etiología. La indicación principal para realizar la triple endoscopia fue tos crónica. Los diagnósticos encontrados como comorbilidades con mayor frecuencia fueron bronquitis bacteriana recurrente y enfermedad por reflujo gastroesofágico. Conclusión: la triple endoscopia es útil tanto en el diagnóstico como en la toma de decisiones en el manejo de las patologías aerodigestivas pediátricas de alta complejidad. Es una herramienta útil que pone en evidencia que múltiples etiologías pueden contribuir a síntomas crónicos de la vía aérea, y que estas pueden pasarse por alto si se realiza un solo procedimiento.

Introduction: Aerodigestive programs provide coordinated interdisciplinary care to pediatric patients with complex congenital or ac-quired conditions affecting breathing, the gastrointestinal tract, swallowing, and growth. The first aerodigestive program in Guatemala was founded in the year 2018 in a private hospital and, since it's one of its kind in the country, there was no local data reported. Patients and methods: A total of 69 cases of children who were evaluated at the aerodigestive program from January 1st, 2018 to May 31st, 2019, were retrospectively analyzed in a quantitative study. Results:79% of patients presented more than one pathology from different etio-logy. Overall the main indication for the triple scope was chronic cough. The findings reported that recurrent bacterial bronchitis and gastroesophageal reflux were the most common comorbidities present in the same patient. Conclusion:The triple scope procedure is a useful investigative tool for patients with recalcitrant aero-digestive complaints. In particular, the triple scope can yield more than one specialty-specific diagnosis normally missed by one procedure.

Bronchoscopy in Children.

Bronchoscopy signifies the instrumentation of the airway with a bronchoscope to visualize the airway beyond the scope of a laryngoscope, for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Pediatric bronchoscopy includes two endoscopic techniques, flexible and rigid bronchoscopy. This article presents an overview of bronchoscopy in the pediatric population with respect to its indications, utility and contraindications.

Clinical Applications of Pediatric Bronchoscopy in Pediatric Pulmonary Diseases / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

PURPOSE: Pediatric bronchoscopy is becoming an essential tool for diagnosis and treatment of pediatric respiratory tract diseases. But there is no international standard for the indication, procedure and bronchoalveolar lavage. We experienced 110 cases over 1 year for pediatric bronchoscopy and reported datas for them. METHOD: We used Olympus 3C30 pediatric bronchoscope and Wolfs rigid bronchoscopes for the bronchoscopy. Atropine intravenous injections was given as an premedication before 30 minutes of the bronchoscopy procedure. Midazolam was used as a main sedative and fentanyl, and droperidol was used for reduction of pain during procedures. We recorded the findings using videotapes and discussed the findings later. BAL was done if it needed and made a cell count and cultured the BAL fluid for the identifying the causative organisms. RESULTS: 1) Among 110 cases, male were 78 (72%), female were 32 (28%). Age distributions were 42 (37%) in 3-6 year of age, 21 (19%) in 1-3 year of age and the median is 4 year of age. 2) Indications are followings; Chronic cough 42, acute severe pneumonia 26, chronic/recurrent infiltrate 10, pulmonary TB with abnormal radiograph 10, stridor 6, abnormal airway radiograph 6, abnormal voices 5, persistent wheezing 4, foreign body suspected 3, pulmonary toilet with debilitated patient 1, management of artificial airway 1. Primary bronchoscopic findings were as followings; normal findings 21, pus 40, laryngomalacia 19, tracheomalacia 9, mucosa abnormality 5, vocal cord abnormality 5, bronchomalacia, 3, edema 2, obstruction, 2, constriction 1, tracheal bronchus 1 case. 3) Complications of bronchoscopy were fever, hypoxia, laryngospasm and epistaxis. 4) Cell differential analysis of 49 cases, neutrophil predominance 33 (68%), lymphocyte predominance 6 (12%), macrophage predominance 8 (16%), eosinophil predominance 2 (4%). 5) Cultures for bacteriae were included as followings; Stenotrephomonas maltophilia 17, Streptococcus mitis 13, alpha-hemolytic-Streptococcus 6, Klebsiella pneumoniae 6 cases. But it seems to be contaminated. But some organisms, Moraxella species, H. influenza may be causative organisms of pulmonary infections. 6) Ten AFB smear positive cases were discovered. Among them only one case was TB-PCR positive and the other nine cases were TB-PCR negative and two cases were PCR positive for mycobacterium other than tuberculosis (MOTT). It suggests that MOTT infections may be a role for pediatric chronic cough. CONCLUSION: Pediatric bronchoscopy made us far advanced improvement in diagnosis and management of pediatric pulmonary diseases.