Use of propofol in pediatric intensive care units: a national survey in Germany.

OBJECTIVE: Propofol is not licensed for sedation in pediatric intensive care medicine mainly due to the risk of propofol infusion syndrome. Nevertheless, it is applied by many pediatric intensive care units. The aim of this national survey was to asses the current use of propofol in pediatric intensive care units in Germany. DESIGN: We performed a nationwide survey. The questionnaire assessed the intensive care unit type, patient numbers, dosing, duration, age and time limits, indications, side effects, and institutional protocols for propofol usage. SETTING: Pediatric intensive care units in Germany. SUBJECTS: Questionnaire about routine use of propofol sent to 214 pediatric departments. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: One hundred ninety-four questionnaires (90.7%) were returned, ten had to be censored. The final analysis comprised 184 questionnaires (134 pediatric/neonatal intensive care units, 28 pediatric intensive care units, 22 neonatal intensive care units). Seventy-nine percent of intensive care units (n = 145 of 184) used propofol in children under the age of 16 yrs. Of these, 98% were for bolus application (n = 142 of 145), 78% for infusion ≥3 hrs (n = 113 of 145), and 33% for infusion >3 hrs (n = 48 of 145). A lower age limit was applied by 52% (n = 75 of 145) and a dose limit by 51% (n = 74 of 145). The median dose limit was 4 mg/kg/hr; 48% (n = 70 of 145) used 3 mg/kg/hr or less. A time limit was applied by 98% (n = 46 of 47), 70% (n = 33 of 47) used it for ≤24 hrs, and 30% (n = 15 of 47) for >24 hrs. MAIN INDICATIONS FOR PROPOFOL APPLICATION WERE: difficult sedation (44%), postoperative ventilation (43%), and difficult extubation (30%). Seven cases of propofol infusion syndrome were reported by seven centers. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that propofol is used off-license by many pediatric intensive care units in Ge. The majority of users has adopted tightly controlled regimens for propofol sedation, and limits the dose to ≤3-4 mg/kg/hr and the maximum application time to 24-48 hrs.

Dilated cardiomyopathy in children with ventricular preexcitation: the location of the accessory pathway is predictive of this association.

BACKGROUND: Ventricular preexcitation may be associated with dilated cardiomyopathy, even in the absence of recurrent and incessant tachycardia. METHODS: This report describes the clinical and electrophysiologic characteristics of 10 consecutive children (6 males), with median age of 8 years (range, 1-17 years), who presented with dilated cardiomyopathy and overt ventricular preexcitation on the 12-lead electrocardiogram. Incessant tachycardia as the cause of dilated cardiomyopathy could be excluded. Coronary angiography, right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy (4/10 patients), and metabolic and microbiologic screening were nondiagnostic. RESULTS: The electrocardiograms suggested right-sided pathways in all patients. A right-sided accessory pathway was demonstrated in 8 patients during invasive electrophysiologic study (superoparaseptal, n = 5; septal, n = 2; fasciculoventricular, n = 1). All pathways were successfully ablated (radiofrequency ablation in 7, cryoablation in 1). Two patients had spontaneous loss of ventricular preexcitation during follow-up. Left ventricular (LV) function completely recovered after a loss of preexcitation in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Right-sided accessory pathways with overt ventricular preexcitation and LV dyssynchrony may cause dilated cardiomyopathy. An association between such pathways and dilated cardiomyopathy is suggested by the rapid normalization of ventricular function and reverse LV remodeling after a loss of ventricular preexcitation.

Reopening acutely occluded cavopulmonary connections in infants and children.

Little is known about the outcome of acute thrombotic occlusion of segments of the cavopulmonary connections (CPC) in infants and children with univentricular hearts. Early recognition and aggressive therapy may result in successful salvage of some of these patients. Five consecutive patients (age range 4-8 months) presenting with acute occlusion of a CPC segment underwent emergency cardiac catheterization. After angiographic confirmation, the occluded segment was crossed using an endhole catheter and guidewire combination. Serial balloon dilation and stent implantation (ten stents in total) were undertaken to recanalize the occlusion. The stents used were mounted on balloons ranging in diameter from 6 mm to 8 mm, depending on the size of the native vessel. The sites of occlusion were the left pulmonary artery (n=4), and the left-sided superior caval vein (n=3). All occlusions could be successfully recanalized. In three patients, early reocclusion necessitated either surgery or repeat catheterization and angioplasty. There were two early deaths, due to recurrent thrombotic obstruction confirmed either at autopsy or angiography. The remaining patients are alive and well; the majority of survivors have undergone completion of the Fontan operation. A high index of clinical suspicion combined with aggressive therapy can result in successful recanalization in some infants with acutely occluded CPC segments, with acceptable long-term outcome.