Evaluation of Cerebrovascular Events Followed in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

AIM: To evaluate the effect of intensive care follow-up and treatment methods on the prognosis of 28 patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) due to stroke. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The data of patients aged between 28 days and 18 years followed up between 2011 and 2021 were recorded retrospectively. RESULTS: Thirteen (48.1%) patients were diagnosed with hemorrhagic stroke (HS), 11 (40.7%) patients were diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), and three (11.1%) patients were diagnosed with cerebral sinus vein thrombosis. One patient was followed up for non-ruptured arteriovenous malformation (AVM) and was excluded from the HS group. The HS group consisted of eight patients with ruptured AVMs and five patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms. The patients had male predominance, and seizures and headache were the most common complaints on admission. The rate of admissions due to seizures was higher in the AIS group. In the HS group, there was more involvement of the right side of the brain. Middle cerebral artery (MCA) involvement was higher in the AIS group. The AIS group had longer PICU hospitalization days and mechanical ventilator days. While unfractionated heparin was preferred for the treatment in the AIS group, endovascular embolization was preferred in the HS group. Decompressive surgery was performed in five patients. The overall mortality rate was 7.1%. CONCLUSION: Although cerebrovascular events are rare in the pediatric population, achieving low mortality and morbidity is possible with the correct diagnostic and treatment methods.

Immunoadsorption therapy for a meningococcemia patient with myocarditis, adrenal hemorrhage, and purpura fulminans: a case report

Abstract Neisseria meningitidis, also known as meningococcus, is a relatively uncommon cause of invasive infection, but when it occurs, it is frequently severe and potentially life-threatening. A ten-year-old female patient developed a purpuric rash with fever. Upon arrival to the pediatric intensive care department, she was unconscious and in a poor general condition. We combined treatment with antibiotics, volume resuscitation, hydrocortisone, and CytoSorb® therapy resulted in a stabilization of hemodynamics, as well as control of hyperinflammation. We observed a significant decrease in vasopressor dosage in this patient.

Therapeutic plasma exchange in pediatric patients with acute demyelinating syndromes of the central nervous system: A single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is an extracorporeal treatment that can be used in adult and pediatric patients with acute demyelinating syndromes of the central nervous system. In this study, the efficacy and safety of TPE was evaluated in 10 pediatric patients who underwent TPE that were unresponsive to corticosteroid treatment. METHODS: Records of 10 pediatric patients who underwent TPE in our pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) between May 2017 and June 2020 were used. Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Gait Scale (GS), and Visual Outcome Scale (VOS) were applied to the patients before and after TPE. RESULTS: Of the 10 patients who underwent TPE, five were diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), three with transverse myelitis (TM), and two with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). The median age of the patients was 13.3 years (IQR 8-15), and the median day from symptom onset to onset of TPE was 12.5 days (IQR 7-28). A total of 104 TPE sessions were performed successfully. While no complications were encountered in three patients during the sessions, the most common complication was hypofibrinogenemia. The decrease in EDSS and GS scores was found to be consistent with the clinical response of the patients. There was no statistically significant decrease in the VOS. CONCLUSIONS: With this study, we can say that TPE is a feasible, effective, and safe treatment modality in children with acute demyelinating syndromes of the central nervous system.

Immunoadsorption therapy for a meningococcemia patient with myocarditis, adrenal hemorrhage, and purpura fulminans: a case report.

Neisseria meningitidis, also known as meningococcus, is a relatively uncommon cause of invasive infection, but when it occurs, it is frequently severe and potentially life-threatening. A ten-year-old female patient developed a purpuric rash with fever. Upon arrival to the pediatric intensive care department, she was unconscious and in a poor general condition. We combined treatment with antibiotics, volume resuscitation, hydrocortisone, and CytoSorb.½ therapy resulted in a stabilization of hemodynamics, as well as control of hyperinflammation. We observed a significant decrease in vasopressor dosage in this patient.

Tetanus; a forgotten infection disease: a report of two cases.

BACKGROUND: Tetanus is an infectious disease that can be seen in all age groups in underdeveloped and developing countries, where vaccination programs are inadequate. In developed countries, it is reported more frequently in the adult age group, where the protection of vaccination is diminished and the doses are delayed. CASE: In this report, we present generalized tetanus, which was observed in two male patients aged 12 and 6 years, admitted at different times, together with clinical course and treatment approaches. Both patients belong to different nationalities, who immigrated a couple of months before their application to our hospital. They applied with similar histories and complaints and were not vaccinated during infancy. CONCLUSION: With the development of vaccination programs, this disease with high morbidity and mortality can be prevented.

Hemolytic uremic syndrome with dual caution in an infant: cobalamin C defect and complement dysregulation successfully treated with eculizumab.

BACKGROUND: Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a clinical syndrome characterized by hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute kidney injury. Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a devastating disease with significant mortality and high risk of progression to end-stage kidney disease. It is mostly caused by dysregulation of the alternative complement pathway. Cobalamin C (Cbl C) defect is a genetic disorder of cobalamin metabolism and is a rare cause of HUS. CASE-DIAGNOSIS/TREATMENT: We present a 6-month-old male infant who was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) due to restlessness, severe hypertension, anemia, respiratory distress, and acute kidney injury. Metabolic screening revealed elevated plasma homocysteine levels, low methionine levels, and methylmalonic aciduria, and the patient was diagnosed as having HUS secondary to Cbl C defect. Additionally, complement factor H (CFH) and complement C3 levels were decreased. The infant was treated with betaine, hydroxycobalamin, and folic acid. After treatment, the homocysteine and methylmalonic acid levels were normalized but hemolysis and acute kidney failure persisted. He required continued renal replacement treatment (CRRT) and plasma exchange due to thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). Therefore, we considered a second mechanism in the pathogenesis as complement dysregulation and gave eculizumab to the patient. After eculizumab treatment, the renal and hematologic indices improved and he was free of dialysis. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, our patient is the first to have Cbl C defect-HUS accompanied by complement dysregulation, who responded well to eculizumab therapy.