A Personalized Approach to Determining the Caloric Needs of Children with Prader-Willi Syndrome Treated with Growth Hormone.

Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is the most frequent cause of genetic obesity. Early reports indicate that children with PWS require 20-40% fewer calories than healthy children to maintain adequate growth. Growth hormone treatment for children with PWS, approved in 2000, affects the body composition and probably affects energy requirements. This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed the caloric intake in children with PWS aged from 6 months to 12 years old who underwent growth hormone treatment, comparing the patients' caloric intake calculated from parent-recorded dietary intake versus the recommended caloric intake for healthy children, taking into account the age, sex, height, weight, and physical activity. We analyzed the data from 25 patients (13 (52%) boys; mean age, 6.72 ± 2.81 y; median age at starting growth hormone treatment, 1.4 y (IQR: 0.78-2.29); 17 (68%) normal weight and 8 (32%) overweight or obese). The mean daily energy intake was 1208 ± 186 kcal/d, representing 96.83% ± 18.66 of the recommended caloric intake for healthy children. The caloric intake in children with PWS treated with growth hormone was very similar to that recommended for healthy children; thus, we should rethink the dietary recommendations for these children.

Pulsioximetría / Technical aspects of pulsimetry

La pulsioximetría es una técnica no invasiva de monitorización de la saturación de oxígeno de la hemoglobina en sangre arterial. Inicialmente fue utilizada por los anestesistas para el control de la oxigenación en pacientes sometidos a anestesia general y en el manejo del paciente crítico. Dada su eficacia para detectar de forma precoz situaciones de hipoxemia su uso se ha extendido rápidamente durante la década de los noventa a otros servicios con pacientes que precisen de una correcta valoración de la función respiratoria del paciente. Como toda técnica requiere conocer las condiciones óptimas de aplicación, principios técnicos y limitaciones del instrumento, así como aquellas circunstancias internas o externas que puedan interferir en los valores ofrecidos por el pulsioxímetro para evitar errores en la interpretación de los mismos (AU)

[Pulsimetry]. / Pulsioxímetría.

Pulsimetry is a non-invasive technique to monitor the saturation of oxygen in the hemoglobin of blood in arteries. Initially. This was used by anesthesiologists to control oxygen levels in patients undergoing general anesthesia and in the care of critically ill patients. Given its effectiveness to detect precociously situations of hypoxia, its use has rapidly expanded during the decade of the '90s to other units having patients who need a correct measure of their respiratory functions. As with any technique, it is necessary to understand the optimal conditions for its application, its technical principles and the limitations this instrument has, as well ass those internal or external circumstances which may interfere in the values offered by the pulsimeter in order to avoid errors while interpreting these measurements.