Hemolysis and methemoglobinemia in a child with left ventricular assist Levitronix PediMag.

A 5-month-old male was treated with left ventricular assist device due to cardiac failure secondary to dilated cardiomyopathy. The patient developed acute severe intravascular hemolysis with methemoglobinemia and renal failure, related to a mechanical problem due to pump cylinder misalignment. Secondary severe methemoglobinemia has not been previously described in patients undergoing ventricular assist device. Early detection of the signs and symptoms of hemolysis is crucial to prevent further complications.

Nutrición en niños tratados con técnicas de depuración extrarrenal continua / Nutrition in children with continuous renal replacement therapy

INTRODUCCIÓN: El objetivo de este estudio ha sido analizar el estado de nutrición, la alimentación y las complicaciones digestivas de los niños que precisan técnicas de depuración extrarrenal continua (TDEC). MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio retrospectivo realizado sobre una base de datos prospectiva de los niños tratados con TDEC entre 2013 y 2017. Se analizaron las características de los pacientes, la técnica de depuración, el tipo de nutrición, el aporte calórico y proteico, las complicaciones digestivas y la evolución clínica. RESULTADOS: Sesenta y cinco niños (61,5% varones) fueron tratados con TDEC y 24 (37%) precisaron soporte con oxigenación con membrana extracorpórea. Un 27,7% tenían un peso inferior al percentil 3 y un 48,4% una talla inferior al percentil 3. Al inicio de la TDEC 31 niños (47,7%) recibían nutrición enteral y 52 (80%) al final de la misma. La nutrición enteral fue por sonda transpilórica en el 76% de los casos. La mediana de aporte calórico fue de 63 kcal/kg/día y la del aporte proteico de 1,6 g/kg/día. Cuarenta y ocho pacientes (73,8%) presentaron complicaciones digestivas: 29 (44,6%) distensión gástrica o restos gástricos excesivos, 22 (33,8%) estreñimiento, 8 (12,3%) vómitos y 4 (6,1%) diarrea. Un paciente con oxigenación con membrana extracorpórea presentó isquemia intestinal. En 3 pacientes (4,6%) se tuvo que suspender la nutrición enteral por complicaciones. No existió relación entre las complicaciones y el tipo de alimentación o la asistencia en oxigenación con membrana extracorpórea. CONCLUSIONES: Un elevado porcentaje de niños tratados con TDEC presentan malnutrición, pero la mayoría pueden ser alimentados con nutrición enteral. Aunque el porcentaje de complicaciones digestivas es elevado, en pocos pacientes se tiene que suspender la nutrición enteral

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to analyse the nutritional state, diet and gastrointestinal complications of children that require continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of a database, which included the information about patients who required CRRT between the years 2013 and 2017. Data were collected on the replacement technique, type of nutrition, calorie and protein intake, gastrointestinal complications, and clinical course. RESULTS: A total of 65 children (61.5% male) were treated with CRRT, and 24 patients (37%) also needed ECMO support. Just over one-quarter (27.7%) of patients had a weight less than P3, and 48.4% of them a height less than P3. At the beginning of the technique, 31 children (47.7%) received enteral nutrition, at the end, there were 52 patients receiving enteral nutrition (80%). The transpyloric tube was used to provide nutrition in 76% of the cases. The median caloric intake was 63kcal/kg/day, and the protein intake was 1.6g/kg/day. There were gastrointestinal difficulties during the process in 48 patients (73.8%), with 29 (44.6%) patients being diagnosed with gastric distension or excessive gastric remains, 22 (33.8%) with constipation, 8 (12.3%) with vomiting, and 4 (6.1%) diarrhoea. One patient treated with ECMO presented with intestinal ischaemia. Enteral nutrition was cancelled in 3 patients (4.6%) due to the complications. There was no relationship between complications and type of diet or ECMO assistance. CONCLUSIONS: A high percentage of children treated with CRRT showed undernutrition but they had adequate tolerance to the enteral nutrition. Although the gastrointestinal complications percentage was high in few subjects, these complications are the reason why enteral nutrition was stopped

[Nutrition in children with continuous renal replacement therapy]. / Nutrición en niños tratados con técnicas de depuración extrarrenal continua.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to analyse the nutritional state, diet and gastrointestinal complications of children that require continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of a database, which included the information about patients who required CRRT between the years 2013 and 2017. Data were collected on the replacement technique, type of nutrition, calorie and protein intake, gastrointestinal complications, and clinical course. RESULTS: A total of 65 children (61.5% male) were treated with CRRT, and 24 patients (37%) also needed ECMO support. Just over one-quarter (27.7%) of patients had a weight less than P3, and 48.4% of them a height less than P3. At the beginning of the technique, 31 children (47.7%) received enteral nutrition, at the end, there were 52 patients receiving enteral nutrition (80%). The transpyloric tube was used to provide nutrition in 76% of the cases. The median caloric intake was 63kcal/kg/day, and the protein intake was 1.6g/kg/day. There were gastrointestinal difficulties during the process in 48 patients (73.8%), with 29 (44.6%) patients being diagnosed with gastric distension or excessive gastric remains, 22 (33.8%) with constipation, 8 (12.3%) with vomiting, and 4 (6.1%) diarrhoea. One patient treated with ECMO presented with intestinal ischaemia. Enteral nutrition was cancelled in 3 patients (4.6%) due to the complications. There was no relationship between complications and type of diet or ECMO assistance. CONCLUSIONS: A high percentage of children treated with CRRT showed undernutrition but they had adequate tolerance to the enteral nutrition. Although the gastrointestinal complications percentage was high in few subjects, these complications are the reason why enteral nutrition was stopped.

Complicaciones infecciosas en niños tratados con oxigenación por membrana extracorpórea / Infectious complications in paediatric patients treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

INTRODUCCIÓN: El objetivo de este estudio es analizar la incidencia de infección en los niños tratados con ECMO, el tratamiento y su evolución. MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo basado en una base de datos prospectiva en el que se incluyeron los niños menores de 18 años asistidos con ECMO entre septiembre de 2006 y noviembre de 2015. Se recogieron las características de los pacientes, la ECMO, los cultivos y el tratamiento de la infección. RESULTADOS: Se estudiaron 100 pacientes de 11 meses de edad mediana. El diagnóstico fue de cardiopatía en 94 pacientes. Se sospechó una infección y se inició antibioterapia en 51 pacientes, aunque solo se confirmó microbiológicamente en 22. Las infecciones más frecuentes fueron la sepsis (49%), neumonía (35,3%) e infección urinaria (9,8%). No existieron diferencias en los parámetros hematológicos y reactantes de fase aguda entre los niños con infección y el resto. Los niños que fallecieron presentaron mayor incidencia, no estadísticamente significativa, de infección durante la ECMO (60,4%) que los supervivientes (40,3%) (p = 0,07). La duración de ingreso en la UCIP fue mayor, sin significación estadística, en los pacientes con infección que en el resto: 57 frente a 37 días (p = 0,067). CONCLUSIONES: La frecuencia de infección en niños con ECMO es elevada, pero menos de la mitad son confirmadas microbiológicamente, sin existir parámetros específicos de infección. No se ha encontrado relación estadísticamente significativa de la infección con la mortalidad y la duración de ingreso en la UCIP

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to analyse the incidence, treatment and evolution of infections in children treated with ECMO. METHODS: A retrospective study based on a prospective database was performed. Children under the age of 18 years treated with ECMO from September 2006 to November 2015 were included. The patients' clinical characteristics were collected, together with ECMO technique, cultures and treatment of infection. RESULTS: One hundred patients with a median age of 11 months were analysed. Heart disease was diagnosed in 94 patients. An infection was suspected and antibiotic treatment was initiated in 51 patients, although only 22 of them were microbiologically confirmed. The most common infection was sepsis (49%), followed by pneumonia (35.3%) and urinary tract infection (9.8%). There were no differences in haematological parameters and acute phase reactants between children with infection and those without. Children who died had a higher incidence of infection during ECMO (60.4%) than the survivors (40.3%), but the difference did not reach statistical significance (P = .07). The duration of admission in the PICU was 57 days in patients with infection vs 37 days in patients without infection but the difference was not statistically significant (P = .067). CONCLUSIONS: Infection in children with ECMO is common. There are no specific infection parameters and less than half of the clinical infections are confirmed microbiologically. There was no statistically significant correlation between infection and mortality or duration of PICU stay

Infectious complications in paediatric patients treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. / Complicaciones infecciosas en niños tratados con oxigenación por membrana extracorpórea.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to analyse the incidence, treatment and evolution of infections in children treated with ECMO. METHODS: A retrospective study based on a prospective database was performed. Children under the age of 18 years treated with ECMO from September 2006 to November 2015 were included. The patients' clinical characteristics were collected, together with ECMO technique, cultures and treatment of infection. RESULTS: One hundred patients with a median age of 11 months were analysed. Heart disease was diagnosed in 94 patients. An infection was suspected and antibiotic treatment was initiated in 51 patients, although only 22 of them were microbiologically confirmed. The most common infection was sepsis (49%), followed by pneumonia (35.3%) and urinary tract infection (9.8%). There were no differences in haematological parameters and acute phase reactants between children with infection and those without. Children who died had a higher incidence of infection during ECMO (60.4%) than the survivors (40.3%), but the difference did not reach statistical significance (P=.07). The duration of admission in the PICU was 57 days in patients with infection vs 37 days in patients without infection but the difference was not statistically significant (P=.067). CONCLUSIONS: Infection in children with ECMO is common. There are no specific infection parameters and less than half of the clinical infections are confirmed microbiologically. There was no statistically significant correlation between infection and mortality or duration of PICU stay.