Vólvulo intestinal en niños de edad escolar: reto diagnóstico en urgencias / Intestinal volvulus in school-age children: an emergency care challenge

El dolor abdominal supone uno de los motivos de consulta más frecuentes en los Servicios de Urgencias Pediátricas. El vólvulo intestinal es una entidad infrecuente pero que sin un diagnóstico y tratamiento quirúrgico precoces tiene consecuencias devastadoras, siendo una de las urgencias que todos los pediatras deben conocer. Los vólvulos suponen hasta el 14% de las causas de síndrome de intestino corto que pueden llegar a precisar trasplante intestinal. Requiere un alto índice de sospecha, ya que las pruebas complementarias pueden ser inespecíficas y su normalidad no descarta esta patología. Únicamente la intervención quirúrgica confirma el diagnóstico de vólvulo intestinal. Presentamos los casos de cuatro pacientes que acudieron al Servicio de Urgencias y fueron diagnosticados de vólvulo intestinal. (AU)

Abdominal pain is one of the most frequent reasons for visiting paediatric emergency departments. Intestinal volvulus is an infrequent condition, but without early diagnosis and surgical treatment it has devastating consequences, and it is one of the emergencies that paediatricians must be aware of. Intestinal volvulus accounts for up to 14% short bowel syndrome cases that may require bowel transplantation. A high level of suspicion must be maintained, as the results of diagnostic tests may be nonspecific and normal results do not rule it out. Surgical intervention is the only way to confirm the diagnosis of intestinal volvulus. We present the cases of 4 patients who attended the emergency department and received a diagnosis of volvulus. (AU)

PCR urgente de Bordetella en lactantes menores de 3 meses, una herramienta útil en el Servicio de Urgencias Pediátricas / Urgent Bordetella PCR in infants under 3 months, a useful tool in the Pediatric Emergency Department

Introducción: En pacientes menores de 3 meses con sospecha de tosferina se recomienda ingreso y tratamiento con azitromicina debido a su mayor morbimortalidad, por lo que muchos pacientes con tos sin otros signos de alarma ingresan con antibioterapia hasta obtener el resultado de la PCR de Bordetella. La realización de esta técnica de forma urgente proporciona el diagnóstico en pocas horas. Nuestro objetivo fue determinar si su introducción en los servicios de Urgencias mejoraba el manejo de estos pacientes. Métodos: Estudio de cohortes histórico de pacientes menores de 3 meses a los que se realizó en Urgencias la PCR de Bordetella de secreciones respiratorias desde marzo de 2011 hasta diciembre de 2017. A partir de diciembre de 2015 era procesada de forma urgente. Resultados: Se realizaron 158 PCR, 16 (10%) de las cuales resultaron positivas para B. pertussis. Los resultados negativos (142; 90%) se dividen en 2 grupos de estudio: PCR-convencional, con 74 casos, y PCR-urgente, con 68 casos. Los 2 grupos son homogéneos en cuanto a características clínicas y analíticas. En el grupo PCR-urgente se realizaron un 18% menos de radiografías de tórax (p=0,008) e ingresaron 33 pacientes (48,5%), frente a 49 (66,2%) en el grupo PCR-convencional (p=0,042). Recibió tratamiento antibiótico el 32% en el grupo PCR-urgente frente al 67% en el PCR-convencional (p=0,000047), sin aumento significativo de las reconsultas en Urgencias ni peor evolución. Conclusiones: La PCR urgente de Bordetella es una herramienta útil en los servicios de Urgencias para el manejo de los lactantes menores de 3 meses con sospecha de tosferina, ya que puede evitar ingresos, pruebas y tratamientos antibióticos innecesarios.(AU)

Introduction: Whooping cough in patients aged under 3 months has higher rates of morbimortality. Hospitalization and treatment with azithromycin is generally recommended. Many patients with cough without other signs of alarm, are admitted and started antibiotic therapy until a result of Bordetella-PCR is available. This technique, when performed urgently, can provide the diagnosis in a few hours. The objective of this study is to determine if its generalisation in the Emergency Department allows to improve patient management. Methods: Retrospective cohort study of patients aged under 3 months who underwent Bordetella-PCR testing from upper respiratory tract secretions since March 2011 to December 2017. From December 2015 the test was performed urgently. Results: One hundred and fifty-eight PCR were performed, 16 (10%) were positive for B. pertussis. Negative results (142; 90%) were divided in 2 cohorts: conventional-PCR, with 74 cases, and urgent-PCR, with 68 cases. The 2 groups were homogeneous in terms of clinical and analytical characteristics. In the urgent-PCR group there was 18% reduction in chest X-rays performed (P=.008). There were 33 (48.5%) patients admitted in the urgent-PCR group, compared to 49 (66.2%) in the conventional-PCR (P=.042). Antibiotic treatment was initiated in 32% of the patients in the urgent-PCR group compared to 67% in the conventional-PCR group (P=.000047), without observing any significant increase in the number of visits to the Emergency Department or worse clinical performance. Conclusions: The introduction of urgent PCR in the Emergency Department is a useful tool in the management of infants under 3 months of age with suspected pertussis, since it can avoid unnecessary admissions, diagnostic tests and antibiotic treatments.(AU)

Urgent Bordetella PCR in infants under 3 months, a useful tool in the Pediatric Emergency Department. / PCR urgente de Bordetella en lactantes menores de 3 meses, una herramienta útil en el Servicio de Urgencias Pediátricas.

INTRODUCTION: Whooping cough in patients aged under 3 months has higher rates of morbimortality. Hospitalization and treatment with azithromycin is generally recommended. Many patients with cough without other signs of alarm, are admitted and started antibiotic therapy until a result of Bordetella-PCR is available. This technique, when performed urgently, can provide the diagnosis in a few hours. The objective of this study is to determine if its generalisation in the Emergency Department allows to improve patient management. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of patients aged under 3 months who underwent Bordetella-PCR testing from upper respiratory tract secretions since March 2011 to December 2017. From December 2015 the test was performed urgently. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-eight PCR were performed, 16 (10%) were positive for B. pertussis. Negative results (142; 90%) were divided in 2 cohorts: conventional-PCR, with 74 cases, and urgent-PCR, with 68 cases. The 2 groups were homogeneous in terms of clinical and analytical characteristics. In the urgent-PCR group there was 18% reduction in chest X-rays performed (P=.008). There were 33 (48.5%) patients admitted in the urgent-PCR group, compared to 49 (66.2%) in the conventional-PCR (P=.042). Antibiotic treatment was initiated in 32% of the patients in the urgent-PCR group compared to 67% in the conventional-PCR group (P=.000047), without observing any significant increase in the number of visits to the Emergency Department or worse clinical performance. CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of urgent PCR in the Emergency Department is a useful tool in the management of infants under 3 months of age with suspected pertussis, since it can avoid unnecessary admissions, diagnostic tests and antibiotic treatments.