ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To determine which factors contribute to early complications when intubated children show macroscopic lesions at extubation. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of 96 consecutive medical records of children aged 1 day to 15 years. Patients were divided into three groups depending on the extent of the subsequent treatment required: medical, reintubation, and surgical. METHODS: Age, sex, clinical history, and macroscopic features of the lesions were collected and data were compared in each group. RESULTS: Underlying noninfectious respiratory diseases and young age were found to be risk factors for higher incidence of complications, but not prolonged or multiple intubations. Edema, especially in the glottic area, was a risk factor for surgical treatment. Multiple lesions were risk factors for reintubation. CONCLUSIONS: History of intubation, its cause, and lesions discovered at extubation can provide the basis for definition of an "at risk" profile for intubated children.
Subject(s)
Intubation, Intratracheal/adverse effects , Laryngeal Diseases/etiology , Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Prognosis , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
This report reviews a consecutive series of 175 children suffering from unilateral hearing loss of 20 dB or more evaluated at the Clocheville Hospital between 1980-1991. We found no numerical preponderance of gender nor of side impairment. The mean age of diagnosis was 6.9 years. Based on speech frequency threshold averages, the loss was profound in 49.7%. 32.8% of the children experienced a deterioration of hearing of 10 dB or more. 40.4% of the children had repeated a grade during primary school (versus 16.3% in normal hearing population, p < 0.001). Monaural deafness especially when more than 40 dB, or delayed identification is significantly associated with a grade failure. A concerted effort aimed at early identification and management strategies in cases of unilateral hearing loss in children is warranted.
