Oxigenoterapia de alto flujo en cánulas nasales: empleo en una planta de hospitalización / High-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy: employment in ward

Objetivo: La oxigenoterapia de alto flujo (OAF) es un soporte respiratorio normalmente empleado en las unidades de cuidados intensivos. En nuestro hospital lo llevamos utilizando en planta (lactantes y escolares) desde abril de 2009. El objetivo de este estudio es comprobar los resultados clínicos y su seguridad, así como valorar la aceptación de su uso por parte de enfermería. Pacientes y métodos: Se ha revisado el empleo de OAF en la insuficiencia respiratoria aguda (IRA) durante 2011, estableciendo tres grupos: G1, bronquiolitis; G2, menores de 2 años con episodios previos, y G3, mayores de 2 años con episodios previos. Prospectivamente, hemos valorado la gravedad de la IRA y comparado más tarde su mejoría, considerando el paso de grave a moderado a las 6 y 12 horas de su inicio. Asimismo, se ha realizado una encuesta al personal de enfermería sobre su percepción de la OAF (montaje y mantenimiento, interferencia con medicaciones, alimentación, efectos secundarios, tolerancia...). Resultados: Han recibido OAF 33 pacientes. En conjunto, mejoran todos (p <0,001), sin diferencias significativas entre ellos. Separadamente, hay mejoría en los tres grupos: G1 (p <0,001), G2 (p= 0,003) y G3 (p= 0,006). La percepción del personal de enfermería es que se trata de un sistema de fácil aplicación, y de forma generalizada se tiene una impresión positiva de este soporte respiratorio. Conclusiones: La OAF supone un soporte respiratorio de evidente beneficio clínico, de fácil aplicación y bien asumido por la enfermería. Creemos que es aplicable en una planta de hospitalización, pero sin olvidarnos de que se aplica a pacientes graves que requieren la máxima vigilancia y que no todos responderán favorablemente (AU)

Objective: The high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) oxygen therapy is a respiratory support usually used in intensive care units. In our hospital we used it in the pediatric ward (infants and children) since April 2009. Our aim is to test the clinical out­comes, security, and assess the acceptance of its use by the nursing service. Patients and methods: We reviewed the use of HFNC in acute respiratory failure (ARF) during 2011, establishing three groups: G1, bronchiolitis; G2, children under 2 years with previous episodes, and G3, children over 2 years with previous episodes. Prospectively, we assessed the severity of the ARF, comparing the improvement of the patients, considering the transition of severe distress to moderate distress at 6 respectively 12 hours of the clinical onset. We also realized a survey to all the paediatric ward nurses about their perception of the HFNC (installation and maintenance, interference with medications, diet, side effects, tolerance...). Results: In our study, 33 patients received HNCF. We saw an improvement in all three groups (p <0.001), without significant differences between them. Taking separately, we found an improvement in each one of them, G1 (p <0.001), G2 (p= 0.003) and G3 (p= 0.006). The perception of nursing about the HFNC is that it's easy to apply, so generally, they had a positive impression about this respiratory support. Conclusions: The HFNC it's a respiratory support with obvious clinical benefits, easy to use, well accepted by nurses and, as we think, applicable in a hospital ward. Anyway, we mustn't forget that are critically patients requiring maximum vigilance and that not all of them respond favorably (AU)

Crisis epilépticas generalizadas asociadas a intoxicación pasiva por cocaína en un lactante / Generalized epileptic seizures in an infant due to passive exposure to cocaine

Fundamento. Las crisis convulsivas sin fiebre en lactantesimplican un diagnóstico diferencial amplio.Caso clínico. Lactante mujer de 7 meses que presenta,estando afebril, dos crisis generalizadas tónico-clónicasbreves en 23 horas. Su desarrollo psicomotor y estaturo-ponderal seguía un curso normal. Se obtuvo analíticade sangre, ecografía cerebral y electroencefalograma,normales. Debido a una situación sociofamiliar desfavorable,se realizaron tóxicos en orina, positivos paracocaína en dos muestras sucesivas; se negativizaronen 48 horas. Estuvo en contacto con humo ambientalhoras previas al inicio de las crisis. Sin crisis en lossiguientes 6 meses, con desarrollo normal, sigue bajovigilancia por asistencia social.Discusión. La inhalación pasiva de humo de cocaína seasocia a crisis convulsivas en lactantes. Este riesgo escasi desconocido en nuestro país, a pesar del aumentodel consumo de crack. Ante una primera crisis epilépticaafebril en cualquier edad, se debe incluir de formarutinaria la detección de tóxicos en orina(AU)

Background. The differential diagnosis of afebrile seizuresin the first year of life is extensive.Case report. A 7-month old infant presented two afebrilegeneralized tonic-clonic seizures in 23 hours; her psychomotorand growth development followed a normalcourse. Laboratory analysis, cerebral echography andelectroencephalogram were normal. Urine toxicologywas positive for cocaine on two occasions. A negativeurine sample was obtained 48 hours later. The parentsdenied drug abuse but explained a recent exposure tosmoke some hours before the episode. The patient hadno seizures in the following six months, with normal psychomotordevelopment.Discussion. Passive inhalation of cocaine is associatedwith seizures in infants. There is no perception ofthe risk of passive exposure to cocaine in our country,despite the increasing consumption of crack in youngadults. Urine toxicology should be systematicallyincluded in the study of a first afebrile seizure in aninfant(AU)

[Paraneoplastic opsoclonus myoclonus ataxia syndrome]. / Síndrome opsoclono-mioclono-atáxico paraneoplásico.

Opsoclonus myoclonus ataxia syndrome (OMAS) is a very infrequent paraneoplastic or postinfectious movement disorder, which may occur at any age, most commonly between 6 and 36 months of age. In four days, a previously healthy 30-month-old girl progressively developed gait instability, intention tremor, dysarthric speech, irritability and altered sleep. Physical and neurological examination did not reveal additional deficits. She had had a transient exanthema without fever three weeks before. Basic blood analysis, serologies, cultures, urine toxin detection, EEG and cerebral CT were normal. Lumbar puncture showed minimal lymphocytosis. On the fifth day following the onset of symptoms, the ataxia worsened, precluding sitting, and the tremor was aggravated by intentional myoclonus. Chaotic saccadic, large amplitude multidirectional but conjugated eye movements appeared. An opsoclonus was suspected and a chest X-ray and CT revealed a paravertebral thoracic mass. Surgery confirmed a localized ganglioneuroblastoma. Blood neuron-specific enolase and urine catecholamine levels were normal. Opsoclonus disappeared with high doses of prednisone and following surgery. Ataxia improved but the patient still required low daily doses of steroids for one year.

Síndrome opsoclono-mioclono-atáxico paraneoplásico / Paraneoplastic opsoclonus myoclonus ataxia syndrome

El síndrome opsoclono-mioclono-atáxico (SOMA)es un trastorno del movimiento muy infrecuente, de origenautoinmune y de aparición a cualquier edad, másprobable entre los 6-36 meses.Se presenta el caso de una niña de 30 meses, previamentesana, que desarrolló progresivamente en cuatrodías marcha inestable, temblor intencional, habla escandida,irritabilidad y trastorno del sueño. El resto de laexploración física y neurológica era normal. Presentóexantema leve tres semanas antes. Al ingreso, la analíticageneral, cultivos, tóxicos en orina, serologías, electroencefalogramay tomografía cerebral (TC) fueron normales.La punción lumbar mostró linforraquia leve. Al quintodía desde el inicio, la ataxia impedía la sedestación y eltemblor era generalizado agravado probablemente pormioclonias intencionales. Aparecieron entonces movimientosoculares rápidos, sacádicos, multidireccionales,aunque conjugados. Ante el diagnóstico de opsoclono,se solicitó radiografía de tórax observando una masa torácicaparavertebral, corroborada en la TC torácica. Lacirugía confirmó un ganglioneuroblastoma localizado. Laenolasa neuronal específica en sangre y catecolaminasen orina fueron normales. El opsoclono desapareció conprednisona oral a altas dosis y tras cirugía. Un año despuésprecisaba dosis mínima de corticoide por apariciónde leve inestabilidad de la marcha e irritabilidad al suspenderla medicación(AU)

Opsoclonus myoclonus ataxia syndrome (OMAS)is a very infrequent paraneoplastic or postinfectiousmovement disorder, which may occur at any age, mostcommonly between 6 and 36 months of age.In four days, a previously healthy 30-month-oldgirl progressively developed gait instability, intentiontremor, dysarthric speech, irritability and altered sleep.Physical and neurological examination did not revealadditional deficits. She had had a transient exanthemawithout fever three weeks before. Basic blood analysis,serologies, cultures, urine toxin detection, EEG and cerebralCT were normal. Lumbar puncture showed minimallymphocytosis. On the fifth day following the onsetof symptoms, the ataxia worsened, precluding sitting,and the tremor was aggravated by intentional myoclonus.Chaotic saccadic, large amplitude multidirectionalbut conjugated eye movements appeared. An opsoclonuswas suspected and a chest X-ray and CT revealeda paravertebral thoracic mass. Surgery confirmed alocalized ganglioneuroblastoma. Blood neuron-specificenolase and urine catecholamine levels were normal.Opsoclonus disappeared with high doses of prednisoneand following surgery. Ataxia improved but the patientstill required low daily doses of steroids for one year(AU)

[Generalized epileptic seizures in an infant due to passive exposure to cocaine]. / Crisis epilépticas generalizadas asociadas a intoxicación pasiva por cocaína en un lactante.

BACKGROUND: The differential diagnosis of afebrile seizures in the first year of life is extensive. CASE REPORT: A 7-month old infant presented two afebrile generalized tonic-clonic seizures in 23 hours; her psychomotor and growth development followed a normal course. Laboratory analysis, cerebral echography and electroencephalogram were normal. Urine toxicology was positive for cocaine on two occasions. A negative urine sample was obtained 48 hours later. The parents denied drug abuse but explained a recent exposure to smoke some hours before the episode. The patient had no seizures in the following six months, with normal psychomotor development. DISCUSSION: Passive inhalation of cocaine is associated with seizures in infants. There is no perception of the risk of passive exposure to cocaine in our country, despite the increasing consumption of crack in young adults. Urine toxicology should be systematically included in the study of a first afebrile seizure in an infant.