[Effects of caudal block in pediatric surgical patients: a randomized clinical trial]. / Efeitos do bloqueio peridural caudal em pacientes cirúrgicos pediátricos: estudo randomizado.

BACKGROUND: Surgery generates a neuroendocrine stress response, resulting in undesirable hemodynamic instability, alterations in metabolic response and malfunctioning of the immune system. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this research was to determine the effectiveness of caudal blocks in intra- and postoperative pain management and in reducing the stress response in children during the same periods. METHODS: This prospective, randomized clinical trial included 60 patients scheduled for elective herniorrhaphy. One group (n = 30) received general anesthesia and the other (n = 30) received general anesthesia with a caudal block. Hemodynamic parameters, drug consumption and pain intensity were measured. Blood samples for serum glucose and cortisol level were taken before anesthesia induction and after awakening the patient. RESULTS: Children who received a caudal block had significantly lower serum glucose (p < 0.01), cortisol concentrations (p < 0.01) and pain scores 3 hours (p = 0.002) and 6 hours (p = 0.003) after the operation, greater hemodynamic stability and lower drug consumption. Also, there were no side effects or complications identified in that group. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of caudal block with general anesthesia is a safe method that leads to less stress, greater hemodynamic stability, lower pain scores and lower consumption of medication.

Endothelial biomarkers in the light of new sepsis definition.

The aim of our study was to compare usefulness of endothelial biomarkers for severity and outcome prediction in patients with positive Sepsis-3 criteria with traditionally used biomarkers. A total of 150 patients were included in our study. Patients were divided into two groups: patients with sepsis and those with infectious systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Development of septic shock and 28-day mortality were assessed. Endocan and thrombomodulin showed better discriminative power than procalcitonin for the presence of sepsis. Endocan showed good discriminative power for septic shock prediction. Addition of endocan significantly contributed to sequential (sepsis-related) organ failure assessment score in logistic regression model. Conclusion: Endothelial biomarkers have a good diagnostic potential for sepsis. Endocan is useful as a predictor of the severity and fatality of sepsis.

Use of presepsin and procalcitonin for prediction of SeptiFast results in critically ill patients.

PURPOSE: There is a need for identification of marker that could lead physicians to take the right step towards laboratory techniques for documentation of infection. The aim of this study was to investigate whether presepsin and procalcitonin (PCT) levels in patients with suspected sepsis could predict blood culture (BC) and SeptiFast (SF) results. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 100 patients were included in our study. PCT, C-reactive protein (CRP), and presepsin levels were determined. Differences between groups of patients were assessed by Mann-Whitney U test. Categorical variables were compared using chi-square test. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to determine predictive values of biomarkers for prediction of positive SF results. RESULTS: PCT (70.9±106.36 vs. 16.35±26.79) and presepsin (4899.73±5207.81 vs. 1751.59±2830.62) were significantly higher in patients with positive SF in contrast to patients with negative SF. There was no significant difference between patients who had positive and negative BC for PCT and presepsin values. PCT and presepsin showed a similar performance in predicting positive SF results with AUC of 0.75 for PCT and 0.73 for presepsin. CONCLUSION: Presepsin can serve as good predictor of bacteremia detected by SF and it should be included with PCT in protocols for sepsis diagnosing.

Endogenous thrombin potential as marker of procoagulant response that can be useful in early stage of sepsis.

: Sepsis is associated with complex procoagulant and anticoagulant changes that modify inflammatory response. Identification of coagulation markers that can differentiate useful procoagulant response from adverse alteration of clotting mechanism in patient with sepsis. In total, 150 patients who fulfilled criteria for diagnosis of sepsis were included in this study. Patients were categorized in two groups according to sepsis severity in the first 24 h from intensive care unit admission: sepsis and septic shock. In total, 28-day mortality was assessed. Platelet count, activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, D-dimer, fibrinogen, protein C, protein S, antithrombin levels, and endogenous thrombin potential were determined within first 24 h from ICU admission. Differences between groups of septic patients were assessed by Mann-Whitney U test. Categorical variables were compared using χ test. Receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted to determine predictive values of variables for sepsis severity prediction. Activated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time were significantly prolonged with higher D-dimer, lower fibrinogen, and natural anticoagulant levels (protein C, protein S, and antithrombin) in patients with more severe form of the disease and worse outcome (P < 0.05). Endogenous thrombin potential [area under the curve (AUC) %] was significantly decreased in patients with more severe form of sepsis (66.01 ±â€Š41.51 vs. 83.21 ±â€Š28.83; AUC 0.76) and in patients with worse outcome (67.66 ±â€Š37.79 vs. 81.79 ±â€Š32.15; AUC 0.68; P < 0.05). Evaluation of initial thrombin generation is useful to distinguish between beneficial coagulation activation and hazardous haemostatic alteration, and to predict multiorgan dysfunction development and poor outcome in septic patients.

EFFICIENCY OF ULTRASOUND GUIDED LOWER LIMB PERIPHERAL NERVE BLOCKS IN PERIOPERATIVE PAIN MANAGEMENT FOR KNEE ARTHROSCOPY IN CHILDREN. A RANDOMIZED STUDY.

INTRODUCTION: Ultrasound guided lower limb peripheral nerve blocks are efficient for perioperative pain treatment in children. The aim was to see if lower limb peripheral nerve blocks reduced the amount of propofol and opioid analgesics used intraoperatively, as well as the level of pain and consumption of systemic analgesics postoperatively. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A randomized, prospective clinical trial was carried out. It included 60 children between 11 and 18 years of age scheduled for elective knee arthroscopy. The patients were divided into two groups. Group A received general anesthesia, group B received lower limb peripheral nerve blocks with sedation or general anesthesia. Postoperative level ofpain was assessed using visual analogue scale. RESULTS: Less propofol and fentanyl was used to induce and maintain anesthesia in group B (p < 0.001). The level of postoperative pain was significantly lower in group B (p < 0.001), as well as the postoperative consumption of analgesics (p < 0.001). As mahbny as 47% of the patients were discharged without receiving any analgesics postoperatively. The average duration of peripheral nerve blocks was 468 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound guided lower limb peripheral nerve blocks are an efficient technique of regional anesthesia in children. They reduce the amount of general anesthetics and opioid analgesics needed intraoperatively as well as the level of postoperative pain and consumption of analgesics postoperatively.

TRANEXAMIC ACID IN SURGICAL TREATMENT OF SCOLIOSIS IN CHILDREN: A CASE REPORT.

INTRODUCTION: Children who are subjected to surgical treatment for scoliosis usually end up receiving a lot of blood transfusions since they tend to lose one or more blood volumes during the surgery. Tranexamic acid is an antifibrinolytic agent, increasingly used in children to reduce perioperative blood loss in various settings, including corrective surgery of scoliosis. CASE REPORT: A 12-year-old girl, weighing 44 kg, was admitted to our hospital for scoliosis correction. She had congenital scoliosis caused by congenital malformation of vertebrae. The surgery was performed under balanced general anesthesia. Two central and one peripheral line were cannulated in case massive transfusion would be required. Invasive monitoring was used, as well as prevention of hypothermia. Since massive blood loss was expected, bolus of tranexamic acid had been administered prior to the surgery. Tranexamic acid was given continuously in an intravenous infusion during the surgery. Blood loss was only 10 ml/kg, and since the hemoglobin value was orderline (89 g/l) during the surgery, the patient received 10 ml/kg of packed red blood cells. The child was hemodynamically stable throughout the surgery. After the completion of surgery, which lasted for 5 hours, the patient was extubated in the operating room. Postoperatively, the patient was transferred to the surgical ward. Hemoglobin values were stable and there was no need for additional blood replacement. CONCLUSION: Extensive blood loss is common in pediatric scoliosis correction surgery, transfusion being unavoidable in the majority of cases. In our patient, tranexamic acid proved safe and effective in reducing perioperative blood loss and transfusion requirement.

Association between the SMN2 gene copy number and clinical characteristics of patients with spinal muscular atrophy with homozygous deletion of exon 7 of the SMN1 gene.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by degeneration of alpha motor neurons in the spinal cord and the medulla oblongata, causing progressive muscle weakness and atrophy. The aim of this study was to determine association between the SMN2 gene copy number and disease phenotype in Serbian patients with SMA with homozygous deletion of exon 7 of the SMN1 gene. METHODS: The patients were identified using regional Serbian hospital databases. Investigated clinical characteristics of the disease were: patients' gender, age at disease onset, achieved and current developmental milestones, disease duration, current age, and the presence of the spinal deformities and joint contractures. The number of SMN1 and SMN2 gene copies was determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS. Among 43 identified patients, 37 (86.0%) showed homozygous deletion of SMN1 exon 7. One (2.7%) of 37 patients had SMA type I with 3 SMN2 'copies, 11 (29.7%) patients had SMA type II with 3.1 +/- 0.7 copies, 17 (45.9%) patients had SMA type III with 3.7 +/- 0.9 copies, while 8 (21.6%) patients had SMA type IV with 4.2 +/- 0.9 copies. There was a progressive increase in the SMN2 gene copy number from type II towards type IV (p < 0.05). A higher SMN2 gene copy number was associated with better current motor performance (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In the Serbian patients with SMA, a higher SMN2 gene copy number correlated with less severe disease phenotype. A possible effect of other phenotype modifiers should not be neglected.

Psychological aspects of pediatric anesthesia.

Surgery and anesthesia cause a significant emotional stress in both parents and children. Since the consequences of this stress develop immediately after surgery and can last even when the hospital treatment is over, the role of the anesthesiologist is to ensure psychological as well as physiological well-being of the patient. In order to reduce emotional stress induced by anesthesia and operation, the anesthesiologist has to understand certain developmental phases that children go through and to identify situations which a child could potentially see as a danger or a threat. This can usually be achieved by careful preoperative assessment and by administering preoperative sedation. During the preoperative visit to the patient, the anesthesiologist can evaluate the levels of anxiety of both parents and children as well as assess the child's medical condition.

Prognostic value of hemostasis-related parameters for prediction of organ dysfunction and mortality in sepsis.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Clinical manifestations of sepsis are not caused directly by the invading pathogens, but rather mostly by systemic inflammation that leads to activation of the coagulation system. The aim of this study was to determine whether levels of hemostasis- related parameters measured in intensive care unit admissions are associated with mortality and severity in patients with sepsis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-five patients who fulfilled criteria for a diagnosis of sepsis were included in our study. Platelet count, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT), thrombin time, D-dimer, and fibrinogen levels were determined within the first 24 h from sepsis onset. Differences between groups of septic patients were assessed by Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test. Logistic regression analysis was performed to test the joint effect of different predictors. RESULTS: Prolonged aPTT and PT with higher D-dimer concentrations in patients with sepsis are associated with more severe forms of the disease, aPTT was prolonged in nonsurvivors, while platelet count and fibrinogen levels were higher in survivors. Platelet count and aPTT ratio are independent predictors of fatal outcome in our logistic regression model. CONCLUSION: Hemostasis-related parameters have a significant impact on severity and outcome in sepsis.

Thrombomodulin is a Strong Predictor of Multiorgan Dysfunction Syndrome in Patients With Sepsis.

BACKGROUND: Biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction are not recommended for routine laboratory investigation of the outcome prognosis and prediction of the course of sepsis. METHODS: A total of 60 patients who fulfilled the criteria for diagnosis of sepsis were included in our study. Development of multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in the first 48 hours was assessed. Differences between groups of patients with sepsis were assessed by Mann-Whitney U test and by Kruskal-Wallis test. Logistic regression analysis was performed to test the joint effect of different predictors. RESULTS: Level of thrombomodulin was significantly higher in group of patients with MODS than without MODS (P = .015). Levels of antithrombin (P = .026) and protein C (P = .035) were significantly lower in patients with MODS. Level of thrombomodulin was the strongest predictor in MODS development in first 48 hours (P = .028). CONCLUSION: The level of thrombomodulin not only was able to distinguish the severity of sepsis but also was a significant predictor of MODS development.

Preventive effect of ursodeoxycholic acid on parenteral nutrition-associated liver disease in infants.

INTRODUCTION: Parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis is well recognized phenomenon in the term and preterm infant receiving long-term parenteral nutrition. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) use on cholestasis in newborns on prolonged TPN. METHODS: A total of 56 infants were enrolled in this retrospective study: control group consisted of lower (1500 g) birth weight infants (n = 30), as well as the group of pediatric (n = 11) and surgical patients (n = 15) treated with UDCA. Blood chemistries were obtained two times weekly. RESULTS: All of 56 newborns developed cholestasis but duration of parenteral nutrition (PN) before onset of cholestasis was significantly longer in UDCA treated patients. Average duration of PN before the onset of cholestasis in control group of patients was 25 days in distinction from treated pediatric and surgical patients (39 and 34 days, respectively).The peak serum conjugated bilirubin (CB), AST, ALT and alkaline phosphatase (AP) levels were significantly lower in the treated groups.There was no significant difference among treated pediatric and surgical patients and between lower and higher birth weight infants considering the CB, ALT, AST and AP peak. Duration of cholestasis was significantly decreased in all treated groups.There was a significant difference in time needed to achieve complete enteral intake between pediatric and surgical patient group. CONCLUSION: Cholestasis developed significantly later in treated groups than in the controls. UDCA appears to be very successful in reducing the symptoms of cholestasis. The difference in efficacy of UDCA treatment between lower and higher birth weight infants could not be proven.

Infections associated with the central venous catheters.

Central venous catheters are of an essential importance to critically ill patients who require long-term venous access for various purposes. Their use made the treatment much easier, but still they are not harmless and are prone to numerous complications. Catheter infections represent the most significant complication in their use. The frequency of infections varies in different patient care settings, but their appearance mostly depends on the patient's health condition, catheter insertion time, localization of the catheter and type of the used catheter. Since they are one of the leading causes of nosocomial infections and related to significant number of morbidity and mortality in intensive care units, it is very important that maximal aseptic precautions are taken during the insertion and the maintenance period. Prevention of infection of the central venous catheters demands several measures that should be applied routinely.

Endocan is useful biomarker of survival and severity in sepsis.

INTRODUCTION: Coagulation abnormalities which occur as a consequence of endothelial changes are recognized as diagnostic criteria for sepsis, but significance of these changes in the outcome prognosis and prediction of the course of sepsis is still not accurately defined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 60 patients who fulfilled the criteria for diagnosis of sepsis were included in our study. Patients were categorized in two groups according to sepsis severity and organ failure and MODS development was assessed in the first 48 h from ICU admission. Prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and endothelial cell specific molecule-1(endocan) levels, as well as procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were determined within the first 24h of the onset of the disease. Predictive APACHE II (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II) and SOFA (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment) scores were calculated on the day of ICU admission. Data were used to determine an association between day 1 biomarker levels, organ dysfunction score values and the development of organ failure, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), and mortality during 28 days. These connections were determined by plotting of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Differences between groups were assessed by Mann-Whitney U test. Categorical variables were compared using chi-square test. RESULTS: Concentration of endocan was significantly higher in the group of patients with sepsis induced organ failure, MODS development and in the group of non- survivors in contrast to group with less severe form of the disease, without multiorgan failure, and in contrast to group of survivors (p<0.05). Values of areas under the ROC curves showed that endocan levels had good discriminative power for more severe course of sepsis, MODS development and possible discriminative power for mortality prediction (AUC: 0.81, 0.67, 0.71 retrospectively), better than PCT for fatality (AUC:053) and better than APACHE II (AUC:0.55) and SOFA (AUC: 0.57) scores for organ failure. CONCLUSIONS: Results of our study show that endocan can be used as strong and significant predictor of sepsis severity and outcome, perhaps even better than SOFA and APACHE II scores.

Stress indicators during general anesthesia with opioid analgesics in children.

BACKGROUND/AIM: To determine which of the applied opioid analgesics brings the most powerful blockade of the stress response with the fewest side effects in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective, observational clinical study. The study included 150 boys, aged 2-5 years, ASA I, who underwent herniectomy or orchidopexy in day case surgery. The introduction and maintenance of anesthesia was intravenous (propofol, rocuronium, and opioids); airway was maintained by laryngeal mask and ventilation by mixture of oxygen/air. Subjects were divided into 3 groups depending on the applied opioid analgesics (fentanyl, alfentanil, remifentanil). RESULTS: The fentanyl group had the highest blood glucose values (AS = 5.14; SD = 0.47) and the highest increase in cortisone level at the moment of incision and at awakening (AS = 536.09; SD = 198.56). The lowest increase in cortisone was recorded in the remifentanil group. A significant decrease in leptin was registered at awakening in the fentanyl group and at the moment of incision in the remifentanil group (P= 0.939). CONCLUSION: Remifentanil is the opioid analgesic with the highest suppressing effect on the stress response to surgical intervention in children.

[Ondansetron, alfentanil and nitrous oxide in the prevention of pain on injection of propofol].

INTRODUCTION: Propofol is a widely used intravenous anesthetic with a number of advantages over intravenous anesthetics used so far.The leading side effect is pain on injection. OBJECTIVE: Aim of the study was to determine the impact of ondansetron, nitrous oxide and alfentanil on reducing pain during propofol application. METHODS: The paper presents a prospective, randomized, single blind study. The study included 120 patients of ASA class I and II, who underwent elective surgery under general anesthesia using propofol for the induction of anesthesia. The patients were divided into four equal groups of 30 patients.The control group received a few milliliters of saline, N group the mixture of nitric oxide and oxygen, O group ondansetron and group A received alfentanil. In all patients, venous occlusion was performed for 60 seconds. Pain assessment was based on the criteria and the score by McCrirrick and Hunter. RESULTS: Pain after the application of propofol was present in 47 (39.2%) patients. The highest frequency of pain was recorded in the control group (18, 60%), and significantly lower (p = 0.009) in the patients who received ondansetron (8; 26.7%) and (p = 0.020), alfentanil (9; 30%).The statistical analysis proved that there was a significant relationship between the groups and the scale of pain (Chi2 = 13.849, p = 0.031). CONCLUSION: Based on the results of our study we can conclude that intravenous ondansetron and alfentanil with venous occlusion can effectively prevent pain during IV use of propofol.

Atypical intrauterine parvo b19 infection.

Human parvovirus B19 is a single-stranded DNA virus. During pregnancy, parvovirus B19 infection can be asymptomatic or cause a variety of signs of fetal damage, fetal anemia, nonimmune hydrops fetalis, spontaneous abortion and can result in fetal death. Recent improvements in diagnosing parvovirus infections and the availability of intrauterine transfusion have reduced the overall rate of fetal loss after maternal exposure. There is an approximately 30% risk of vertical transmission and 1% of hydrops. We report of the first case of vertical parvovirus B19 infection with atypical manifestations in our clinic. The neonate had pleural effusion associated with anaemia.

[Complications of mechanical ventilation].

Mechanical ventilation of the lungs, as an important therapeutic measure, cannot be avoided in critically ill patients. However, when machines take over some of vital functions there is always a risk of complications and accidents. Complications associated with mechanical ventilation can be divided into:1) airway-associated complications; 2) complications in the response of patients to mechanical ventilation; and 3) complications related to the patient's response to the device for mechanical ventilation. Complications of artificial airway may be related to intubation and extubation or the endotracheal tube. Complications of mechanical ventilation, which arise because of the patient's response to mechanical ventilation, may primarily cause significant side effects to the lungs. During the last two decades it was concluded that mechanical ventilation can worsen or cause acute lung injury. Mechanical ventilation may increase the alveolar/capillary permeability by overdistension of the lungs (volutrauma), it can exacerbate lung damage due to the recruitment/derecruitment of collapsed alveoli (atelectrauma) and may cause subtle damages due to the activation of inflammatory processes (biotrauma). Complications caused by mechanical ventilation, beside those involving the lungs, can also have significant effects on other organs and organic systems, and can be a significant factor contributing to the increase of morbidity and mortality in critically ill of mechanically ventilated patients. Complications are fortunately rare and do not occur in every patient, but due to their seriousness and severity they require extensive knowledge, experience and responsibility by healthcare workers.

Laryngeal mask airway as the only choice for primary airway control in newborn with tracheal stenosis.

Congenital tracheal stenosis is a rare disorder characterized by the presence of focal or diffuse complete tracheal cartilage rings, resulting in afixed tracheal narrowing. The prognosis for this disorder is currently assumed to be poor, with some sources stating that the natural outcome of this problem is inevitably fatal. Tracheal stenosis requires a tracheostomy at delivery for the infant to survive before the definitive reconstruction. The laryngeal mask airway is the most commonly used airway device in pediatric anaesthesia as well as the primary airway control during the resuscitation. We present a premature infant with congenital tracheal stenosis, in whom the airway could be controlled only by the laringeal mask. In this case the laryngeal mask airway was a life saving device for the airway control in the period before tracheostomy was done. Tracheostomy was made in first few hours after birth. In severe tracheal stenosis the laryngeal mask airway can be a device of choice for the initial control of the airway.