Special Anaesthetic Considerations for Brain Tumour Surgery in Children.

Brain tumours are among the most common neoplasm in children. Therefore, paediatric anaesthesiologists face the challenge of neurosurgical interventions in all age groups. To minimize perioperative mortality and morbidity, a comprehensive understanding of age-dependent differences in anatomy and cerebrovascular physiology is a mandatory prerequisite. Advances in subspeciality training in paediatric neurosurgery and paediatric anaesthesia may improve clinical outcomes and advance communication between the teams.

Right Axillary Thoracotomy in Congenital Cardiac Surgery: Analysis of Percutaneous Cannulation.

BACKGROUND: Vertical right axillary minithoracotomy (VRAMT) represents a minimally invasive and cosmetically attractive alternative for selected congenital heart defects. We report our institutional experience with VRAMT, especially regarding the performance of percutaneous femoral venous access to establish extracorporeal circulation in this pediatric population. METHODS: A retrospective single-center analysis was made of children to 16 years of age who underwent corrective cardiac surgery using VRAMT over a period of 5 years. VRAMT involved a 4 cm to 5 cm vertical incision parallel to the anterior axillary fold and aortic/bicaval cannulation. Since 2016, the technique has been modified and the inferior vena cava was cannulated using femoral percutaneous venous access. The primary endpoints were all-cause mortality, with additional secondary endpoints of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events and conversion to median sternotomy. RESULTS: A total of 110 patients with biventricular congenital malformations were included. Age was 2.3 years (range, 0.2 to 16), and body weight was 11 kg (range, 3 to 47). Extracorporeal circulation time was 66 minutes (range, 24 to 167), cross-clamp time was 41 minutes (range, 9 to 95). Fast-track-management with on-table extubation was achieved in 34.5% (n = 38). For patients with percutaneous femoral venous cannulation (n = 38, 34.5%), thrombosis at the cannulation site was recorded in 5 cases (13.5%). There was no early or late mortality during the follow-up of 14.4 months (range, 0.8 to 47.19). No wound infection or thoracic deformities were observed. CONCLUSIONS: VRAMT can be considered as an alternative, minimally invasive, and cosmetically attractive access for the repair of frequent congenital heart defects in newborns and young children. Percutaneous femoral venous cannulation provides sufficient extracorporeal circulation flow and can be used even in infants with early postoperative heparin prophylaxis.

Effectiveness of Salted Ice Bag Versus Cryocompression on Decreasing Intramuscular and Skin Temperature.

CONTEXT: Rest, ice, compression, and elevation are commonly recommended immediately after injury. Traditionally, ice bag (IB) with elastic wrap compression has been utilized; however, recently intermittent cryocompression units are being used. Limited research has evaluated tissue temperature decreases with intermittent cryocompression units. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate magnitude of muscle and skin cooling. DESIGN: Repeated-measures counterbalanced study. SETTING: University research laboratory. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Twelve healthy college-aged participants (4 males and 8 females; age = 23.08 [1.93] y; height = 171.66 [9.47] cm; mass = 73.67 [13.46] kg; subcutaneous thickness = 0.90 [0.35] cm) without compromised circulation or injury. INTERVENTION(S): Salted IB, GameReady (GR), and PowerPlay-ice bag (PP-ice) were applied to the posterior aspect of the nondominant calf for 30 minutes; participants underwent each treatment in counterbalanced order. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Muscle temperature measured via 21-gauge catheter thermocouple; skin temperature measured via a surface thermocouple. Temperatures were recorded at baseline and during a 30-minute treatment. Correlations were evaluated between muscle and skin temperatures. RESULTS: Nonsignificant treatment × time interaction and nonsignificant main effect of treatment for intramuscular cooling. Mean Decrease From Baseline: IB, 6.4°C (±2.8); GR, 5.4°C (±1.1); PP-ice, 4.8°C (±2.8). Nonsignificant treatment × time interaction for skin cooling (F20,200 = 1.440, P = .65, ηp2=.346 , and observed ß = 0.773), but significant main effect for treatment (F10,100 = 5.279, P = .03, ηp2=.883 , and observed ß = 1.00). Mean Decrease From Baseline: IB, 17.0°C; GR, 16.4°C; PP-ice, 14.6°C. No significant correlation between intramuscular and skin temperatures in any condition at any time point. No significant correlation between adipose tissue thickness and maximum temperature decrease with any modality. CONCLUSIONS: Salted IB with elastic wrap compression, GR, and PP-ice produced equivalent intramuscular temperature decreases during the treatment period.

Vertical Right Axillary Mini-Thoracotomy for Correction of Ventricular Septal Defects and Complete Atrioventricular Septal Defects.

BACKGROUND: Vertical right axillary mini-thoracotomy (VRAMT) is the standard approach for correction of atrial septal defect and partial atrioventricular septal defect at our institution. This observational single-center study compares our initial results with the VRAMT approach for the repair of ventricular septal defect (VSD) and complete atrioventricular septal defect (CAVSD) in infants and children to an approach using standard median sternotomy (MS). METHODS: The perioperative courses of patients undergoing VSD and CAVSD correction through either a VRAMT or an MS were analyzed retrospectively. The surgical technique for the VRAMT involved a 4- to 5-cm vertical incision in the right axillary fold. RESULTS: Of 84 patients, 25 (VSD, n = 15; CAVSD, n = 10) underwent correction through a VRAMT approach, whereas 59 (VSD, n = 35; CAVSD, n = 24) had repair through MS. VSD and CAVSD groups were comparable with respect to age and weight. No significant differences were observed for aortic cross-clamp duration, intensive care unit stay, hospital stay, and echocardiographic follow-up. There was no need for any conversion from VRAMT to MS in any case. Neither wound infections nor thoracic deformities were observed in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: VRAMT can be considered as a safe and effective approach for the repair of VSD and CAVSD in selected patient groups, and the outcome data appear comparable to those of MS.

Examination of Intramuscular and Skin Temperature Decreases Produced by the PowerPlay Intermittent Compression Cryotherapy.

CONTEXT: Previous research has found ice bags are more effective at lowering intramuscular temperature than gel packs. Recent studies have evaluated intramuscular temperature cooling decreases with ice bag versus Game Ready and with the PowerPlay system wetted ice bag inserts; however, intramuscular temperature decreases elicited by PowerPlay with the standard frozen gel pack inserts have not been examined. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the rate and magnitude of cooling using PowerPlay with frozen gel pack (PP-gel) option, PowerPlay with wetted ice bag (PP-ice) option, and control (no treatment) on skin and intramuscular temperature (2 cm subadipose). DESIGN: Repeated-measures counterbalanced study. SETTING: University research laboratory. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Twelve healthy college-aged participants (4 men and 8 women; age = 23.08 (1.93) y, height = 171.66 (9.47) cm, mass = 73.67 (13.46) kg, and subcutaneous thickness = 0.90 (0.35) cm). INTERVENTION(S): PowerPlay (70 mm Hg) with either wetted ice bag or frozen gel pack was applied to posterior aspect of nondominant calf for 30 minutes; control lay prone for 30 minutes. Participants underwent each treatment in counterbalanced order (minimum 4 d, maximum 10 d between). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Muscle temperature was measured via 21-gauge catheter thermocouple (IT-21; Physitemp Instruments, Inc). Skin temperature was measured via surface thermocouple (SST-1; Physitemp Instruments, Inc). RESULTS: Significant treatment-by-time interaction for muscle cooling (F10,80 = 11.262, P = .01, [Formula: see text], observed ß = 0.905) was observed. PP-ice cooled faster than both PP-gel and control from minutes 12 to 30 (all Ps < .05); PP-gel cooled faster than control from minutes 18 to 30 (all Ps < .05). Mean decreases from baseline: PP-ice = 4.8°C (2.8°C), PP-gel = 2.3°C (0.8°C), and control = 1.1°C (0.4°C). Significant treatment-by-time interaction for skin cooling (F10,80 = 23.920, P = .001, [Formula: see text], observed ß = 0.998) was observed. PP-ice cooled faster than both PP-gel and control from minutes 6 to 30 (all Ps < .05); PP-gel cooled faster than control from minutes 12 to 30 (all Ps < .05). Mean decreases from baseline: PP-ice = 14.6°C (4.8°C), PP-gel = 4.0°C (0.9°C), and control = 1.0°C (1.0°C). CONCLUSIONS: PP-ice produces clinically and statistically greater muscle and skin cooling compared with PP-gel and control.

High-fat but not sucrose intake is essential for induction of dyslipidemia and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in guinea pigs.

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and dyslipidemia are closely related. Diet plays an important role in the progression of these diseases, but the role of specific dietary components is not completely understood. Therefore, we investigated the role of dietary sucrose and fat/cholesterol on the development of dyslipidemia and NAFLD. METHODS: Seventy female guinea pigs were block-randomized (based on weight) into five groups and fed a normal chow diet (control: 4 % fat), a very high-sucrose diet (vHS: 4 % fat, 25 % sucrose), a high-fat diet (HF: 20 % fat, 0.35 % cholesterol), a high-fat/high-sucrose diet (HFHS: 20 % fat, 15 % sucrose, 0.35 % cholesterol) or a high-fat/very high-sucrose diet (HFvHS: 20 % fat, 25 % sucrose, 0.35 % cholesterol) for 16 and 25 weeks. RESULTS: All three high-fat diets induced dyslipidemia with increased concentrations of plasma cholesterol (p < 0.0001), LDL-C (p < 0.0001) and VLDL-C (p < 0.05) compared to control and vHS. Contrary to this, plasma triglycerides were increased in control and vHS compared to high-fat fed animals (p < 0.01), while circulating levels of free fatty acids were even between groups. Histological evaluation of liver sections revealed non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with progressive inflammation and bridging fibrosis in high-fat fed animals. Accordingly, hepatic triglycerides (p < 0.05) and cholesterol (p < 0.0001) was increased alongside elevated levels of alanine and aspartate aminotransferase (p < 0.01) compared to control and vHS. CONCLUSION: Collectively, our results suggest that intake of fat and cholesterol, but not sucrose, are the main factors driving the development and progression of dyslipidemia and NAFLD/NASH.

[Nursing practices in the attention to a chronic condition (tuberculosis): analysis of secondary sources]. / Atuação da enfermagem na atenção a uma condição crônica (tuberculose): análise de fontes secundárias.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze nursing practiced in the treatment of tuberculosis, based on secondary data records. METHOD: Descriptive study of the retrospective survey kind, conducted in Ribeirão Preto, from August to December 2013. The data of 109 electronic and clinical medical records, and a TB reporting system in the state of São Paulo for residents in the municipality monitored in the reference clinics. Descriptive statistic techniques were used. RESULTS: The median of 46.0 (IQ: 17.0 to 96.0) calls throughout the treatment shows the patient's proximity to the health service and professionals, of which the primary persons responsible for follow-ups were nursing assistants (99.1%), which perform the House Visits (71.5%) for patients under a supervision regime (75.2%). CONCLUSION: The actions developed with the patients were mostly focused on the nursing staff, making the importance of this category to achieve the indicators related to the Millennium Development Goals for tuberculosis visible.

Atuação da enfermagem na atenção a uma condição crônica (tuberculose): análise de fontes secundárias / La práctica de enfermería en la atención a una condición crónica (tuberculosis): análisis de fuentes secundarias / Nursing practices in the attention to a chronic condition (tuberculosis): analysis of secondary sources

RESUMO Objetivo Analisar a atuação da enfermagem no tratamento da tuberculose a partir de registros de dados secundários. Método Estudo descritivo do tipo levantamento retrospectivo, realizado em Ribeirão Preto-SP, de agosto a dezembro de 2013. Utilizaram-se dados de 109 prontuários eletrônicos e clínicos e o sistema de notificação da tuberculose do Estado de São Paulo para residentes no município, acompanhados nos ambulatórios de referência. Utilizaram-se técnicas de estatística descritiva. Resultados A mediana de 46,0 (IQ: 17,0-96,0) atendimentos ao longo do tratamento mostra a proximidade do paciente com o serviço de saúde e os profissionais. Destes, os principais responsáveis pelo acompanhamento foram os auxiliares de enfermagem (99,1%) que realizam a Visita Domiciliar (71,5%) para doentes sob regime de supervisão (75,2%). Conclusão As ações desenvolvidas junto aos pacientes eram majoritariamente centradas na equipe de enfermagem, tornando perceptível a importância desta categoria para o alcance dos indicadores relacionados aos Objetivos do Milênio para tuberculose.

RESUMEN Objetivo Analizar la actuación del equipo de enfermería en el tratamiento de la tuberculosis (TB) por medio de los registros de datos secundarios. Método Estudio descriptivo del tipo levantamiento retrospectivo consumado en Ribeirão Preto-SP, agosto-diciembre 2013. Los 109 datos de los manuales electrónicos y clínicos y el sistema de notificación de la TB del Estado de São Paulo fueron usados para los residentes en el distrito municipal acompañados en los cuatro ambulatorios de referencia. Para el análisis fueron usadas las técnicas de estadísticas descriptivas. Resultados La mediana de 46,0 (CI: 17,0 – 96,0) citas a lo largo del tratamiento mostró la proximidad del paciente con el servicio de salud y los profesionales, de los cuales, los principales responsables por la asistencia eran los auxiliares de enfermería (99,1%), estos que hacían la visita domiciliaria (71,5 %) para los pacientes de TB bajo el régimen de supervisión (75,2 %). Conclusión Las acciones desarrolladas a los pacientes son centradas en su mayor parte en el equipo de enfermería, haciendo perceptible la importancia de esta categoría para el alcance de los indicadores relacionados con los Objetivos del Milenio para la TB.

ABSTRACT Objective To analyze nursing practiced in the treatment of tuberculosis, based on secondary data records. Method Descriptive study of the retrospective survey kind, conducted in Ribeirão Preto, from August to December 2013. The data of 109 electronic and clinical medical records, and a TB reporting system in the state of São Paulo for residents in the municipality monitored in the reference clinics. Descriptive statistic techniques were used. Results The median of 46.0 (IQ: 17.0 to 96.0) calls throughout the treatment shows the patient’s proximity to the health service and professionals, of which the primary persons responsible for follow-ups were nursing assistants (99.1%), which perform the House Visits (71.5%) for patients under a supervision regime (75.2%). Conclusion The actions developed with the patients were mostly focused on the nursing staff, making the importance of this category to achieve the indicators related to the Millennium Development Goals for tuberculosis visible.

Bilateral cystic pulmonary glial heterotopia and palatinal teratoma causing respiratory distress in an infant.

We report on a male infant with extensive, bilateral cystic and solid lung lesions who presented postnatally with respiratory distress caused by bilateral cystic lung lesions. Parenchyma-sparing resections were performed. Histology revealed the presence of neuroglial cell-lined cysts and glial nodules. In addition, a neural element containing palatinal teratoma was detected and excised. Based on previously published cases, the pathogenesis and clinical features of pulmonary neuroglial heterotopia are discussed.