Catherine A. Musemeche

Pediatric Falls from Heights

Injuries resulting from falls from heights still constitute a significant portion of urban trauma. At this pediatric trauma center, 70 children were admitted from 1985 to 1988 after sustaining a fall of 10 feet or greater or at least one story. The mean patient age was 5 years and 68% of the patients were boys. Seventy-eight percent of falls occurred from 2 stories or less and usually took place at or near the home. Most patients sustained a single major injury and all survived. The majority of injuries involved the head or skeleton and residual functional deficits were uncommon. The incidence of falls from heights has remained high in urban areas despite public education and building codes that require window guards and safety rails.

Comparative efects of ischemia, bacteria, and substrate on the pathogenesis of intestinal necrosis

This study was undertaken to evaluate the relative contribution of ischemia, bacteria, and luminal substrate, the pathogenetic components of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), to the development of intestinal necrosis. Sprague-Dawley rats, either germ-free (No. = 25) or conventionally colonized (No. = 20) underwent laparotomy. Isolated ileal segments were created, two per rat. Ischemia was produced in one segment by application of a microaneurysm clip; the other segment served as a control. Segments were injected with 1 mL of either normal saline, dilute Similac formula, or standard formula. Groups were as follows: Group I (germ-free), received saline; Group II (germ-free), dilute formula; Group III (germ-free), standard formula; Group IV (conventional), saline; Group V (conventional), dilute formula; Group VI (conventional), standard formula. At 48 hours, the rats were evaluated for survival, gross bowel integrity, histologic severity of necrosis (graded 0 to 4+), and bacteriology. Gross analysis of bowel integrity showed no lesions in the ischemic segments of the germ-free rats (Groups I, II, and III) and necrosis in 75% of conventionally colonized animals (Groups IV, V, and VI; P less than 0.001). Microscopic necrosis was more common (P less than 0.001) in ischemic segments of conventional rats than in ischemic segments of germ-free rats. There was no difference in necrosis attributable to ischemic time or to the presence of either standard or dilute formula. Of the three pathogenetic factors evaluated, the presence of bacteria was most crucial to the development of bowel necrosis in this model. Improved treatment and prevention of NEC may depend upon suppression and/or modification of the gut flora.

Selective management of pediatric pelvic fractures: A conservative approach

An analysis of clinical characteristics and pelvic fracture management in a recent 5-year period is presented. Ninety-eight percent of pelvic fractures were the result of a motor vehicle accident, which included 61% auto-pedestrian accidents. Seventy-nine percent of patients sustained one or more major injuries while 21% sustained an isolated pelvic fracture. Head injury was the most common concomitant injury (23% of patients). Forty-six percent of patients required blood transfusions (mean 15.8 mL/kg). Forty-one (72%) patients were treated with bedrest. The remainder were treated with traction (5), spica cast immobilization (5), open reduction and internal fixation (4), or anterior external fixation (2). Overall mortality was 14%. In comparing nonsurvivors with survivors there were significant differences in Modified Injury Severity Scores and Glasgow Coma Scores. The types of pelvic fractures that occur in children were found to be similar to those of adults. There was no significant difference in mortality among children with different types of pelvic fractures. In contrast to adults, pelvic fracture hemorrhage was not a major contributing cause of death in this series of patients. All eight deaths were secondary to severe closed head injury.

Enterostomy in necrotizing enterocolitis: An analysis of techniques and timing of closure

Resection and enterostomy are the standard operative procedures for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). In order to compare the results of two different methods of enterostomy, a study was carried out in 100 infants with NEC who underwent enterostomy formation and closure. A single surgeon at each of the two collaborating institutions conducted the majority of operations. Level of enterostomy was jejunum in 10, ileum in 75, and colon in 15. Type of enterostomy was separate stomas (usually brought out side by side) in 50, Mikulicz enterostomy in 39, single stoma with Hartmanns pouch in 10, and loop colostomy in 1. Complications of enterostomy formation occurred in 24 infants (24%). When infants with separate stomas were compared with those with the Mikulicz enterostomy, there was no difference in the rate of stomal or wound complications. The separate stomas had a higher rate of stricture formation in the distal bowel (36% v 18%), which may be accounted for by earlier reestablishment of intestinal continuity in the Mikulicz group. Both methods exteriorized the bowel ends close to one another, which was advantageous because subsequent closure was usually performed without a formal laparotomy. After enterostomy closure, 17 (17%) infants had complications. There was no difference in complication rate between early (before 3 months or under 2.5 kg) v late closure, or between closure of the Mikulicz enterostomy v separate stomas (although the Mikulicz enterostomy closure was accomplished more rapidly than closure of separate stomas). Morbidity was unrelated to level of enterostomy, type of enterostomy, maturing the stoma, bringing it through a separate incision, or age or weight of the infant at closure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Drainage of pediatric lung abscess by cough, catheter, or complete resection

We treated eight children, aged 7 weeks to 17 years, for lung abscess. Each abscess followed an episode of aspiration or a bacterial pneumonia. Associated conditions were leukemia, congenital immune deficiency, endocarditis, cerebral palsy, and prematurity. Seven of the 8 children had polymicrobial infections, usually containing both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. The success of medical treatment by antibiotics and chest physiotherapy was age related; 3 of the 8 children, aged 10 to 17 years, recovered on this regimen, whereas five children, aged 7 weeks to 7 years, required catheter drainage or resection for cure. Drainage by catheter pneumonostomy was performed for solitary peripheral bacterial abscesses. A large intercostal catheter was inserted into the cavity, either operatively or percutaneously. Wedge resection was performed for multiple, central, or fungal abscesses. Pneumonostomy was curative in 3 of 4 children. One chronic abscess recurred after pneumonostomy and required resection. Wedge resection was curative in the two children who came to thoracotomy; lobectomy was not necessary. Although all eight children recovered from their lung abscesses, three of them died within a year of sepsis. Lung abscess today occurs in immunocompromised children who are vulnerable to fatal infections. Chest physiotherapy is unlikely to achieve good drainage in children under 7 years of age. Medical failures can be identified within the first week of treatment. Early and aggressive surgical treatment is indicated in such children, and may be lifesaving.

Massive primary chylopericardium: a case report.

A large pericardial effusion was discovered in an asymptomatic 12-year-old boy admitted for an elective orthopedic procedure. On physical examination, heart rate was 96 and blood pressure was 130/70 without paradox. The neck veins were not distended, but heart tones were distant. Chest roentgenogram (CXR) showed an enlarged cardiac silhouette. Echocardiogram showed a massive pericardial effusion compressing the right atrium, with depressed ventricular contractility. Pericardiocentesis yielded 450 mL of chylous fluid. A percutaneous pericardial drain was placed and drained another 400 mL of chyle. Pericardial fluid reaccumulated even though the patient was on a low-fat diet, and 1 week after admission left thoracotomy was performed with partial pericardiectomy and pericardial window. There was 1 L of chyle in the pericardial sac; frozen section of the pericardium showed lymphangiectasia. Chest tube drainage diminished rapidly and the patient was discharged. Follow-up CXR at 1 week showed fluid in both pleural spaces requiring bilateral tube thoracostomies again draining chyle. Even with total parenteral nutrition (TPN), 500 mL/d of chyle drained from the pleural tubes. Right thoracotomy with ligation of the thoracic duct was performed after 1 week of TPN. Pleural drainage abruptly dropped, and there has been no reaccumulation in either the pleural spaces or pericardium at 6-month follow-up. This case dramatically supports early thoracic duct ligation and partial pericardiectomy as the treatment of choice for primary massive chylopericardium.

Necrotizing enterocolitis following intrauterine blood transfusion

Intravascular intrauterine transfusion allows a more sophisticated and exact approach to the management of severe Rh hemolytic disease. This technique involves direct manipulation of the fetal umbilical vessels; its hazards include umbilical cord trauma and thrombosis or emboli. The consequences of such events in utero are largely unknown. In this case necrotizing enterocolitis occurred in a full-term infant after three intrauterine intravascular transfusions.

Selective placement of the broviac catheter in the infant

Infants frequently require the placement of a Broviac or Hickman catheter for prolonged administration of total parenteral nutrition. Proper catheter care in these patients may be difficult. We have addressed this problem in selected patients by exiting their central venous catheters from their backs.