Epidemiology of Lower Extremity Deep Venous Thrombosis in Critically Ill Adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the epidemiology of lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in critically ill adolescents, which currently is unclear. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a multicenter, prospective, cohort study. Adolescents aged 13-17 years who were admitted to 6 pediatric intensive care units and were anticipated to receive cardiopulmonary support for at least 48 hours were eligible, unless they were admitted with DVT or pulmonary embolism or were receiving or anticipated to receive therapeutic anticoagulation. While patients were in the unit, serial sonograms of the lower extremities were performed, then centrally adjudicated. Bayesian statistics were used to leverage the similarities between adults and adolescents. RESULTS: A total of 88 adolescents were enrolled, from whom 184 lower extremity sonograms were performed. Of these, 9 adolescents developed DVT, with 1 having bilateral DVT. The frequency of DVT was 12.4% (95% credible interval: 6.1%, 20.1%), which ranged from 6.3% to 19.8% with a variability of 41.0% across units. All cases of DVT occurred in adolescents who received invasive mechanical ventilation (frequency: 16.5%; 95% credible interval 8.1%, 26.6%). DVT was associated with femoral central venous catheterization (OR 15.44; 95% credible interval 1.62, 69.05) and severe illness (OR for every 0.1 increase in risk of mortality 3.11; 95% credible interval 1.19, 6.85). DVT appears to be associated with prolonged days on support. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the similarities and differences in the epidemiology of DVT between adults and adolescents. They support the conduct and inform the design of a trial of pharmacologic prophylaxis in critically ill adolescents.

Diagnostic accuracy of point-of-care ultrasound for catheter-related thrombosis in children.

BACKGROUND: Compared with consultative US performed by the radiology department, point-of-care US performed by non-radiology physicians can accurately diagnose deep venous thrombosis in adults. OBJECTIVE: In preparation for a multicenter randomized controlled trial, we determined the accuracy of point-of-care US in diagnosing central venous catheter-related thrombosis in critically ill children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Children <18 years old with a central venous catheter who were admitted to the intensive care unit were enrolled. Consultative and point-of-care compression ultrasounds with Doppler were done on the vein where the catheter was inserted within 24 h after insertion. Repeat US was obtained within 24 h of removal of the catheter. All images were centrally, blindly and independently adjudicated for thrombosis by a team of pediatric radiologists. Chance-corrected agreement between readings was calculated. RESULTS: From 84 children, 152 pairs of consultative and point-of-care ultrasounds were analyzed. A total of 38 (25.0%) consultative and 17 (11.2%) point-of-care ultrasounds were positive for thrombosis. The chance-corrected agreement between consultative and point-of-care ultrasounds was 0.17 (standard error: 0.07; P = 0.008). With consultative US as a reference, the sensitivity of point-of-care US was 28.1% (95% confidence interval: 13.7%-46.7%) with a specificity of 91.8% (95% confidence interval: 84.4%-96.4%). A catheter in the subclavian vein was associated with discordant readings (adjusted odds ratio: 4.00; 95% confidence interval: 1.45-13.94). CONCLUSION: Point-of-care US, when performed by non-radiology physicians and centrally adjudicated by pediatric radiologists in the setting of a multicenter randomized controlled trial, may not accurately diagnose catheter-related thrombosis in critically ill children.

Ultrasound-guided thoracoscopic dental extraction.

Recurrent pneumonias in children may be from an unrecognized aspirated foreign body. Our patient was a 10-year-old neurologically impaired child with an aspirated tooth in the right lower lobe segmental bronchus that was inaccessible to extraction using flexible bronchoscopy because of its extremely distal location. We used intraoperative ultrasound during thoracoscopy to locate the foreign body, a tooth, and to facilitate a wedge resection of the involved lung. This combined approach with ultrasound and thoracoscopy can be useful in managing an aspirated foreign body that cannot be extracted from the airway using conventional rigid or flexible bronchoscopy.

Gas-distended stomach masquerading as free air.

Free air can be an ominous sign of bowel perforation with the fear if resulting sepsis. Several radiological signs have been described to aid in interpretation including Rigler's sign. We present a case where a large amount of free air was felt to be present in a 5 year old post craniopharyngioma resection. Clinically free air was not expected. To try and acount for these discrepant findings, the nasogastric tube was examined and found to be clogged. Once the nasogastric tube functioned, it became evident that the large amount of air was in the stomach rather than free in the peritoneal cavity. This case demonstrates a potential mimic of free air but also highlights the need to correlate radiographic findings and interpretations to the clinical state of the patient.

Correlation of complex ascites with intestinal gangrene and perforation in neonates with necrotizing enterocolitis.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether a correlation exists between the finding of complex ascites on ultrasound (US) and the presence of intestinal perforation or gangrene in neonates with complicated necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). METHODS: Charts of neonates with NEC (n = 76) whose care involved consultations with the pediatric surgery service between 2005 and 2008 were reviewed. Twenty-three babies with NEC without free air had a bedside abdominal US. Neonates with pneumoperitoneum were excluded from the study because this was an absolute indication for surgical intervention. RESULTS: Twelve of the 23 neonates who had a bedside abdominal US were found to have ascites with debris or complex ascites. One of these 12 patients improved with medical management, and the ascites resolved. One infant with complex ascites had an initial laparotomy that revealed extensive bowel necrosis and gangrene that required intestinal resection and ostomy creation. This infant survived and is currently doing well. Ten patients were critically ill and were managed with bedside peritoneal drainage. Of those, 7 had drainage of intestinal contents after placement of the drain. Two of the babies who had a drain placed for complex ascites subsequently died of progressive disease. Five neonates with ascites with debris improved after peritoneal drainage and were subsequently subjected to laparotomy. All had gangrene with intestinal perforation. Three infants with complex ascites and intestinal contents were not observed during the initial peritoneal drainage. They improved after peritoneal drainage and had laparotomy. Free intestinal perforation was not demonstrated. The 3 infants in this group survived. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of complex ascites with debris correlated well with intestinal gangrene or perforation. This correlation may also be a predictor of mortality. Neonates with complicated NEC without clear indication for surgical intervention would benefit from bedside abdominal US evaluation.

Ultrasound of ovarian sex-cord tumor with annular tubules.

Sex-cord tumors with annular tubules (SCTAT) have been extensively reported in the literature with great emphasis on the cytologic and histologic appearance. The association of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) with bilateral benign, typically multifocal, small, and sometimes calcified SCTAT has also been reported. We present and describe the sonographic findings of bilateral SCTAT in a patient with PJS.

Multimodality imaging of an appendiceal intussusception.

Appendiceal intussusception is a rare entity. The majority of cases reported in the literature address surgical and colonoscopic approaches to treatment of the condition. The existing radiologic literature largely describes the sonographic and double-contrast enema findings of appendiceal intussusception. We present a case of appendiceal intussusception and describe the air-contrast enema, sonographic and CT findings.

MRI findings of rhabdomyolysis from streptococcal pharyngitis.

Rhabdomyolysis has been described as a rare sequela of severe infections by group A streptococcus related to toxic shock syndrome in adults. Streptococcal pharyngitis, on the other hand, has never been reported to cause rhabdomyolysis. We report a case of rhabdomyolysis in a child after an uncomplicated course of group A streptococcal pharyngitis. Although MRI of rhabdomyolysis from other causes has been described in a few case reports, this is a unique MRI description of its occurrence with streptococcal pharyngitis.

Diagnostic imaging in the follow-up of nonoperative management of splenic trauma in children.

The spleen is the most frequently injured organ in blunt abdominal trauma (BAT). Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) is approximately 95% sensitive and specific for detection of splenic injury. In children, nonoperative treatment is well-established. The basic tenet of such management is an obligatory period of rest to prevent recurrent bleeding and allow splenic healing. Splenic preservation prevents post-splenectomy sepsis. At our level I trauma center, pediatric patients (N=54) with BAT between 1993 and 1998 were retrospectively studied. Two (3.7%) died of associated injuries; 2 underwent splenectomy before transfer to our hospital. All had been diagnosed with splenic injury by CT. The mean age was 11.3 years. The mechanisms of injury were motor vehicle accidents (66%), bicycle accidents (26%), and falls (8%). All 50 remaining patients were followed by ultrasound (US) after the initial diagnosis by CT. The mean hospital stay was 6 days. One patient developed the rare complication of an arterio venous (AV) fistula within the damaged spleen; 47 (94%) had normal, homogeneous parenchymal echogenicity at healing (including the patient with the AV fistula). The remaining 3 demonstrated a visible echogenic scar. Imaging documentation of healing blunt splenic trauma should ideally minimize cost and relative risk. Our results add further evidence that US is well-suited to the task. No delayed complications with this approach were recorded in this series.

Gastric thumbprinting: diffuse gastric wall mucosal and submucosal thickening in infants with ductal-dependent cyanotic congenital heart disease maintained on long-term prostaglandin therapy.

Seven infants with ductal dependent cyanotic congenital heart disease are reported. All were on prostaglandin E1 therapy to maintain ductus patency. All showed chest radiographic evidence of multiple masses indenting the stomach lumen (gastric thumbprinting). Other than feeding intolerance in two patients, the findings were incidental and disappeared with cessation of PGE1 therapy. "Gastric thumbprinting" appears to be a more common consequence of PGE1 therapy than actual obstructing antral masses (antral foveolar hyperplasia).