Non-routine thrombectomy in pediatric arterial ischemic stroke.

PURPOSE: Unlike in adults, the indications and techniques for mechanical thrombectomy for arterial ischemic stroke (AIS) in children are not clearly established. The medical and interventional management of children with acute large vessel occlusion may entail the modification of the standardized management of this condition in adults. We present six cases of children who underwent non-routine thrombectomy for AIS. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of children diagnosed with AIS between 2015 and 2023 and evaluated patient characteristics, procedural technical data, and final clinical outcomes. Procedures deviating from the current definition and indications for AIS treatment in adults as well as previously reported pediatric thrombectomy cases were defined as non-routine thrombectomy. RESULTS: Seven non-routine thrombectomy procedures in six children were included in the study. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores on admission ranged from 4 to 35; no procedure-related mortality or major neurologic morbidity occurred. One child died of causes related to the initial severe heart failure and stroke; otherwise, all the children had a modified Rankin scale score of 0 to 1 at follow-up. Unique clinical and procedural features in our case series included presentation with acute stent occlusion (two children), bilateral simultaneous internal carotid artery occlusions associated with a unilateral tandem middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion (one child), MCA occlusion caused by thromboembolism of the atrial myxoma (one child), and very distal (one child) or delayed thrombectomy (two children). CONCLUSION: Modifications to the standard medical and interventional algorithms may be required for mechanical thrombectomy in children. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Referral centers specialized in pediatric neurology, pediatric anesthesia, and pediatric intervention are optimal for treating children using mechanical thrombectomy and for modifying the treatment, if required.

After the Türkiye Earthquake: The Experience of a Pediatric Emergency Department in a University Hospital Distant from the Disaster Area.

INTRODUCTION: Earthquakes rank among the most deadly natural disasters, and children are particularly affected due to their inherent vulnerability. Following an earthquake, there is a substantial increase in visits to emergency services. These visits stem not only from patients seeking care for physical traumas resulting from the earthquake and its subsequent complications, but also from individuals affected by the circumstances created by the disaster. STUDY OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine the characteristics and outcomes of children who presented to the pediatric emergency department (PED) after the earthquake and to evaluate children who had crush injuries at a referral tertiary university hospital away from the earthquake area. METHODS: The medical records of children who presented to the PED from the earthquake area from February 6 through March 7, 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. Children rescued from under rubble were categorized as Group 1, those affected by earthquake conditions as Group 2, and patients seeking medical attention due to the follow-up of chronic illnesses were considered as Group 3. Patient data, including sociodemographic characteristics, time period under rubble (TPR), laboratory findings, and details of medical and surgical procedures, developing acute kidney injury (AKI), and the requirement for hemodialysis were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 252 children were enrolled in the study, with 52 (20.6%) in Group 1, 180 (71.4%) in Group 2, and 16 (6.0%) in Group 3. The median age was six (IQR = 1.7-12.1) years. In the first group (n = 52), 46 (85.2%) children experienced crush injuries, 25 children (46.3%) developed crush syndrome, and 14 of them (14/25; 56.0%) required dialysis. In the second group, the most common diagnoses were upper respiratory tract infections (n = 69; 37.9%), acute gastroenteritis (n = 23; 12.6%), simple physical trauma (n = 16; 8.8%), and lower respiratory tract infections (n = 13; 7.1%). For children in the third group, pediatric neurology (n = 5; 33.3%), pediatric oncology (n = 4; 25.0%), and pediatric nephrology (n = 3; 18.8%) were the most frequently referred specialties. CONCLUSION: Crush injuries, crush syndrome, and AKI were the most common problems in the early days following the earthquake. Along with these patients, children who were affected by the environmental conditions caused by the earthquake, as well as children with chronic illnesses, also accounted for a significant portion of visits to the PED, even if they were distant from the disaster area.

Evaluation of vitamin D levels in children and adolescents after the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic: 1-year results of a secondary-level state hospital.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic caused a global public health problem with high morbidity and mortality rates. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) status of patients presenting to the Pediatrics Department of Gaziantep Maternity and Children's Hospital in the 1-year period after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic according to ethnicity, age, and gender. METHOD: This cross-sectional study included the data of 7640 patients whose 25(OH)D levels were assessed at our hospital between March 2021 and March 2022. Vitamin D levels, age, gender, and the ethnic origin of the patients were retrospectively scanned and recorded from the laboratory results system. Based on the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of vitamin D levels, patients were divided into three groups: <10 ng/mL = vitamin D deficiency; 10-19 ng/mL = vitamin D insufficiency, and 20 ng/mL and over = normal vitamin D status. RESULTS: The mean age of the 7640 patients who presented to the pediatrics department was 7.47 (±5.3) years. Of these patients, 48 % (3665) were male and 52 % (3975) were female. The mean vitamin D level of girls was 18.1 (±15.2) ng/mL, and of boys it was 20.2 (±15.4) ng/mL, with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001). In total, 21.2 % (1650) of patients had deficient, 43.3 % (3310) of patients had insufficient, and 35.5 % (2710) of patients had normal 25(OH)D levels. Overall, 21.8 % of the patients (1667) were immigrants, and in this group the deficiency was found to be statistically significantly higher at 27.4 % (n = 456; p < 0.001). There was a low negative correlation between the age of the patients and their 25(OH)D levels (r=-0.35; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D deficiency remains a serious public health problem. Since the most important production source is exposure to the sun, it must be kept in mind that vitamin D should be supported during lockdown pandemic processes.

A snapshot of pediatric inpatients and outpatients with COVID-19: a point prevalence study from Turkey.

This multi-center point prevalence study evaluated children who were diagnosed as having coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). On February 2nd, 2022, inpatients and outpatients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) were included in the study from 12 cities and 24 centers in Turkey. Of 8605 patients on February 2nd, 2022, in participating centers, 706 (8.2%) had COVID-19. The median age of the 706 patients was 92.50 months, 53.4% were female, and 76.7% were inpatients. The three most common symptoms of the patients with COVID-19 were fever (56.6%), cough (41.3%), and fatigue (27.5%). The three most common underlying chronic diseases (UCDs) were asthma (3.4%), neurologic disorders (3.3%), and obesity (2.6%). The SARS-CoV-2-related pneumoniae rate was 10.7%. The COVID-19 vaccination rate was 12.5% in all patients. Among patients aged over 12 years with access to the vaccine given by the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health, the vaccination rate was 38.7%. Patients with UCDs presented with dyspnea and pneumoniae more frequently than those without UCDs (p < 0.001 for both). The rates of fever, diarrhea, and pneumoniae were higher in patients without COVID-19 vaccinations (p = 0.001, p = 0.012, and p = 0.027).  Conclusion: To lessen the effects of the disease, all eligible children should receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The illness may specifically endanger children with UCDs. What is Known: • Children with COVID-19 mainly present with fever and cough, as in adults. • COVID-19 may specifically threaten children with underlying chronic diseases. What is New: • Children with obesity have a higher vaccination rate against COVID-19 than children without obesity. • Among unvaccinated children, fever and pneumoniae might be seen at a higher ratio than among vaccinated children.

Mortality risk factors among critically ill children with MIS-C in PICUs: a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated of clinical characteristics, outcomes, and mortality risk factors of a severe multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children admitted to a the pediatric intensive care unit. METHODS: A retrospective multicenter cohort study was conducted between March 2020 and April 2021 at 41 PICUs in Turkey. The study population comprised 322 children diagnosed with multisystem inflammatory syndrome. RESULTS: The organ systems most commonly involved were the cardiovascular and hematological systems. Intravenous immunoglobulin was used in 294 (91.3%) patients and corticosteroids in 266 (82.6%). Seventy-five (23.3%) children received therapeutic plasma exchange treatment. Patients with a longer duration of the PICU stay had more frequent respiratory, hematological, or renal involvement, and also had higher D-dimer, CK-MB, and procalcitonin levels. A total of 16 patients died, with mortality higher in patients with renal, respiratory, or neurological involvement, with severe cardiac impairment or shock. The non-surviving group also had higher leukocyte counts, lactate and ferritin levels, and a need for mechanical ventilation. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of MIS-C, high levels of D-dimer and CK-MB are associated with a longer duration of PICU stay. Non-survival correlates with elevated leukocyte counts and lactate and ferritin levels. We were unable to show any positive effect of therapeutic plasma exchange therapy on mortality. IMPACT: MIS-C is a life-threatening condition. Patients need to be followed up in the intensive care unit. Early detection of factors associated with mortality can improve outcomes. Determining the factors associated with mortality and length of stay will help clinicians in patient management. High D-dimer and CK-MB levels were associated with longer PICU stay, and higher leukocyte counts, ferritin and lactate levels, and mechanical ventilation were associated with mortality in MIS-C patients. We were unable to show any positive effect of therapeutic plasma exchange therapy on mortality.

Lung ultrasound findings in children with foreign body aspiration.

OBJECTIVES: Foreign body aspiration (FBA) has a wide clinical spectrum, patients may be asymptomatic or present with cardiopulmonary arrest. Radiological imaging methods are used in addition to history and physical examination findings for certain diagnosis. Lung ultrasonography (LUS), whose usage area is increasing year by year, can be included in these. This study aimed to investigate ultrasonography findings in FBA and hypothesized that LUS may have a standard place in FBA diagnosis. METHODS: Patients who administered to the pediatric emergency department between August 2019-August 2021, considered according to the clinical findings and physical examination possible FBA, and who undergone rigid bronchoscopy by pediatric surgery were included in the study. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were included in the study. According to the results of bronchoscopy, FBA was detected in 25 patients. The most common finding in radiography was hyperinflation on one side, while LUS findings were confluent-B lines in eight patients, barcode-sign in five patients, pleural line abnormalities in two patients, and pleural consolidation in two patients. CONCLUSION: This study is the first study aiming to evaluate LUS findings in FBA to the best of our knowledge. The B-lines, barcode sign, pleural line abnormalities and consolidation are seen findings in LUS of the patients with FBA. Although it is far from replacing chest radiography in these patients, it is possible to say that it has an equivalent value with chest radiography.

COVID-19 associated lower urinary tract symptoms in children.

INTRODUCTION: SARS-COV-2 is associated with unexpected symptoms. Several studies in adults reported urinary frequency with COVID-19. The aim of this study is to reveal lower urinary tract symptoms associated with COVID-19 (CALUTS) in children. PATIENTS-METHODS: All children diagnosed with COVID-19 and associated multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) between November 2020-June 2021 in our hospital were reviewed and asked for urinary symptoms at the time of or following their disease. The ones reporting symptoms were invited for further evaluation. Parents were inquired for their child's former bladder and bowel function, their symptoms after the diagnosis of COVID-19 or MIS-C, onset and duration of the symptoms, and their current state. They were questioned for the frequency of voiding as well as dysuria, odor, and the presence of incontinence as well as other symptoms of COVID-19. The patients who reported symptoms at the time of inquiry were followed for cessation of symptoms. The parameters age, sex, need for hospitalization and admission to ICU were also compared to the whole group to evaluate the main characteristics of patients with lower urinary tract symptoms. RESULTS: In total 20 patients (18/216 with acute disease and 2/36 with MIS-C) reported CALUTS (figure). Age and sex distribution were not significantly different from the patients without urinary symptoms (p = 0.777 and p = 0.141 respectively). All were otherwise healthy children with no concomitant chronic diseases other than overactive bladder in two. There were 13 girls and 7 boys. Mean age was 11 years (±5 years). Thirteen of the patients were older than 10 years; however, there were also 3 children under 5 years of age. All parents described a sudden onset of extremely increased urinary frequency and urgency lasting for weeks which disappeared gradually. Median bladder and bowel dysfunction questionnaire (BBDQ) score before COVID-19 was 2.5 (1-18) which increased to a median of 22 (15-29) at the time of the symptoms (p < 0.001). The timing of onset and duration of symptoms were variable and not associated with symptom severity (p = 0.306 and p = 0.450 respectively). Eight patients (40%) reported diarrhea. The duration of diarrhea was limited to less than one week in all. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed that SARS-COV-2 can be associated with lower urinary tract symptoms also in children both during the acute phase and MIS-C. Further studies are necessary to understand the etiopathogenesis and prevalence of this unexpected aspect of COVID-19.

COVID-19 associated multisystemic inflammatory syndrome in 614 children with and without overlap with Kawasaki disease-Turk MIS-C study group.

Multisystemic inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) diagnosis remains difficult because the clinical features overlap with Kawasaki disease (KD). The study aims to highlight the clinical and laboratory features and outcomes of patients with MISC whose clinical manifestations overlap with or without KD. This study is a retrospective analysis of a case series designed for patients aged 1 month to 18 years in 28 hospitals between November 1, 2020, and June 9, 2021. Patient demographics, complaints, laboratory results, echocardiographic results, system involvement, and outcomes were recorded. A total of 614 patients were enrolled; the median age was 7.4 years (interquartile range (IQR) 3.9-12 years). A total of 277 (45.1%) patients with MIS-C had manifestations that overlapped with KD, including 92 (33.3%) patients with complete KD and 185 (66.7%) with incomplete KD. Lymphocyte and platelet counts were significantly lower in patients with MISC, overlapped with KD (lymphocyte count 1080 vs. 1280 cells × µL, p = 0.028; platelet count 166 vs. 216 cells × 103/µL, p < 0.001). The median serum procalcitonin levels were statistically higher in patients overlapped with KD (3.18 vs. 1.68 µg/L, p = 0.001). Coronary artery dilatation was statistically significant in patients with overlap with KD (13.4% vs. 6.8%, p = 0.007), while myocarditis was significantly more common in patients without overlap with KD features (2.6% vs 7.4%, p = 0.009). The association between clinical and laboratory findings and overlap with KD was investigated. Age > 12 years reduced the risk of overlap with KD by 66% (p < 0.001, 95% CI 0.217-0.550), lethargy increased the risk of overlap with KD by 2.6-fold (p = 0.011, 95% CI 1.244-5.439), and each unit more albumin (g/dl) reduced the risk of overlap with KD by 60% (p < 0.001, 95% CI 0.298-0.559). CONCLUSION: Almost half of the patients with MISC had clinical features that overlapped with KD; in particular, incomplete KD was present. The median age was lower in patients with KD-like features. Lymphocyte and platelet counts were lower, and ferritin and procalcitonin levels were significantly higher in patients with overlap with KD. WHAT IS KNOWN: • In some cases of MIS-C, the clinical symptoms overlap with Kawasaki disease. • Compared to Kawasaki disease, lymphopenia was an independent predictor of MIS-C. WHAT IS NEW: • Half of the patients had clinical features that overlapped with Kawasaki disease. • In patients whose clinical features overlapped with KD, procalcitonin levels were almost 15 times higher than normal. • Lethargy increased the risk of overlap with KD by 2.6-fold in MIS-C patients. • Transient bradycardia was noted in approximately 10% of our patients after initiation of treatment.

Peer Education Model for Basic Life Support Training among High School Children: A Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to test the effectiveness of the peer education method on the learning and application of Basic Life Support (BLS) in high school students and to test the effectiveness of the peer education model on the BLS instructor training. METHODS: High school grade one students were included in the study. Students were divided in two groups (Group A and Group B). Peer instructors who were trained by health professionals trained students in Group A. Peer instructors who were trained by their peers trained students in Group B. Pre- and post-training awareness and knowledge tests were applied to measure the awareness and knowledge of all students. Students' success in applying BLS steps was evaluated by a practical exam that was coordinated by physicians using a checklist. RESULTS: Result of the pre-post training awareness questionnaire, pre-post training knowledge tests, and practical exam indicated that instructors trained by their peers were as effective as the instructors trained by medical physicians in terms of giving BLS training to high school students. In the 16-step BLS application competence evaluation, the students in Group A applied BLS with a success rate of 90.2% and in Group B with a success rate of 93.4%. CONCLUSION: In the current study, it was shown that the peer education model is effective in BLS training and BLS instructor training in high school students. This novel method of peer education gives an opportunity to overcome the stated shortage in the budget and in trained instructors.

Predictive factors of high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy failure in children with respiratory distress treated in a Pediatric Emergency Department.

BACKGROUND: High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is widely used as a feasible and tolerable respiratory support method. However, patients should be closely monitored, especially when used with moderate-severe respiratory distress indications. Because these patients can easily develop respiratory failure and escalated care may be required. The aim of this study is to determine the predictive factors in patients treated with HFNC who received escalated respiratory support for HFNC failure. METHODS: A retrospective study of patients admitted with respiratory distress and treated with HFNC therapy between January 2014 and December 2018 was carried out. The variables evaluated were age, gender, vital signs before and two hours post HFNC therapy, underlying disease, use of steroid, salbutamol and antibiotic therapy, blood gase analysis and lactate values, hospitalization in pediatric intensive care unit, respiratory viral panel and need for escalation of respiratory support. HFNC failure was identified requiring noninvasive or invasive respiratory support despite HFNC therapy. RESULTS: 243 patients receiving HFNC therapy were included in this study. The median age was 11 months [interquartile range(IQR) 5-27]. The diagnosis of 183 patients (75.3%) were acute bronchiolitis and 60 patients (24.7%) were pneumonia. Of 243 patients, 29 (%11.9) received escalated care. 22 invasive and 7 non-invasive respiratory supports were provided. The lower pH on admission was found in the non-responder group. Moreover, heart rate and respiratory rate did not decrease two hours after HFNC therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The careful monitoring of patients receiving HFNC therapy is critical. Because these patients are at risk for needing escalated care. We found that low pH values on admission and high pulse rate and respiratory rate observed at the second hour of follow-up period could be predictive factors for HFNC failure.

Use of computed tomography and diffusion weighted imaging in children with ventricular shunt.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the indications, number, and imaging results of brain computed tomography (CT) and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) in children with ventriculoperitoneal shunt, to estimate the radiation dose, and to evaluate the effectiveness of DWI. METHODS: This retrospectively study included 54 consecutive patients (boys/girls = 30/24, mean age, 3 ± 4.1 years) with shunt that were placed due to congenital abnormalities-hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy between January 2015 and March 2018. The presence of shunt-related complications (SRC) was assessed using clinical and neuroimaging findings, and the standard reference was accepted as the shunt revision. Size comparisons of ventricles were performed using Evans index and the frontal and occipital horn ratio, and each measurement made by the observers were compared using Bland-Altman analysis. A kappa coefficient and the intraclass correlation coefficient were calculated to assess the agreement between observers. RESULTS: The mean number of hospital admission, number of CT scans, and DWI were 5.8, 4.8, and 1.1, respectively per patient. A significant linear correlation was observed between hospital admission and CT scans (r = 0.288, p = 0.035). The number of CT scans and the cumulative effective dose per patient were higher in patients with SRC than in those without (p < 0.001). The mortality rate due to radiation-induced neoplasia has increased by 0.33% in the study period. The inter-observer agreement was perfect or substantial for the catheter visualization, assessment of the ventricular system on DWI, and for the image quality of DWI between observers (κ = 0.704-1, p ≤ 0.001). No significant difference was found between CT and DWI in the measurements of Evans index and the frontal and occipital horn ratio (p > 0.05). Inter-observer agreements between observers were almost perfect for the Evans index and the frontal and occipital horn ratio (ICC = 0.94-0.99, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: An awareness of the use of CT in children is still inadequate and difficulties in the diagnosis of SRC probably cause the overuse of CT. DWI should be preferred in the diagnosis of SRC and the follow-up of patients. Otherwise, the increase in the prevalence of several diseases, particularly neoplasia, may be inevitable because of the over use of CT.

Number of erythrocyte transfusions is more predictive than serum ferritin in estimation of cardiac iron loading in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Transfusions with packed erythrocytes is a common practice in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who are on chemotherapy. Since there is no physiological excretion mechanism for iron, the iron related to erythrocyte transfusions accumulates and may contribute to late cardiac, hepatic and endocrine complications in these patients. PROCEDURE: In order to evaluate the iron burden among pediatric patients with ALL and define the risk factors associated with higher iron loading, we evaluated 79 pediatric patients with ALL (36 were off-therapy). Cardiac and hepatic T2* were ordered to a total of 22 (28%) patients who were either transfused with erythrocytes ≥ 10 times (n=11; 50%), had serum ferritin (SF) ≥ 1000 ng/ml (n=2; 9.1%) or both (n=9; 40.9%). RESULTS: Half of the patients who were screened by T2* MRI had hepatic T2*<7 ms and six (27%) of the patients had cardiac T2*<20 ms, indicating iron loading. Patients who had serum ferritin <1000 vs ≥ 1000 ng/ml had median cardiac T2* values of 28.3 ms (15-40) vs 21 (7.9-36), (p=0.324); whereas hepatic T2* of 10.8 (5.32-27) vs 4.7 (2.2-36), (p=0.017). Patients who had erythrocyte transfusion <10 vs ≥ 10 times had median cardiac T2* values of 34 ms (28-38) vs 23 (7.93-40), (p=0.021); whereas hepatic T2* of 13.6 (6.6-36) vs 5.32 (2.2-27), (p=0.046). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that pediatric patients with ALL should be screened for transfusional iron load and the amount of erythrocyte transfusions seems to be a more reliable indication than serum ferritin levels to detect cardiac iron loading in these patients.