Chulananda Goonasekera

Factors affecting circuit life during continuous renal replacement therapy in children with liver failure.

Despite abnormal clotting, circuits clot during continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) in children with acute liver failure (ALF). We report our experience. All children with ALF needing CRRT were studied over 2 years. Patient and circuit factors associated with circuit use were evaluated. Thirty‐one children in liver failure (median age 7.4 years) underwent CRRT, of which 17 (54.8%) died. A total of 98 filtration episodes were used. The smallest access catheter was 6.5 Fr, while the largest was 13.5 Fr. The most common filter used was HFO7 (63%). Mean duration (SD) of circuit use was 33.13(30.83) hours. Of the 98 filtration episodes, circuits blocked in 25, whereas the access catheter blocked in 25. Fifty‐two circuits were changed electively for a variety of reasons. Prostacyclin was the anticoagulant in 62 filtration episodes. The remaining filtration episodes had either no anticoagulation or heparin. The mean (SD) “downtime” was 5.13 (9.15) hours. We found a significant association between fresh frozen plasma (FFP) use with circuit blockade. Neither the duration of CRRT nor the “downtime” influenced mortality. The CRRT circuits blocked in children despite deranged clotting in liver disease. Circuits are changed for a variety of reasons other than clotting. The use of FFP reduces circuit life.

Validity of pediatric index of mortality 2 (PIM2) score in pediatric acute liver failure

No abstract

Mortality following congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair: the role of anesthesia.

Mortality following surgical repair of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) remains high. The volume and type of perioperative intravenous fluid administered, baro‐trauma, oxygen toxicity, and the duration of anesthesia are thought to affect outcome in surgical populations.

The Ayre's T-piece turns 80: A 21st century review

Ayres T‐piece, first introduced 80 years ago, continues to be widely used in pediatric anesthesia despite colossal advances in equipment and technology. We present a review of its history, advantages, and disadvantages, and place in modern‐day clinical practice.

Oxygen delivery and oxygen consumption in pediatric fluid refractory septic shock during the first 42 hours of therapy and their relationship to 28-day outcome

Background: In septic shock, both oxygen delivery (DO2) and oxygen consumption (VO2) are dysfunctional. The current therapeutic regimens are geared to normalize global oxygen delivery (DO2) to tissues via goal directed therapies but mortality remains high at 10–20%. Methods: We studied cardiac index (CI), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2), central venous pressure (CVP), peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), mean blood pressure (MBP), body temperature, blood lactate, base excess and hemoglobin concentration (Hb) in a cohort of children admitted in “fluid-refractory” severe septic shock to pediatric intensive care, over 4.5-years. We calculated their 6 h global oxygen delivery (DO2) and global oxygen consumption (VO2) over the first 42 h and looked at factors associated with VO2/DO2 ratio (i.e., global oxygen extraction, gO2ER) and 28-day mortality. Results: Sixty-two children mean age (SD) 7.19 (5.44) years were studied. Fifty-seven (93%) children were sedated and mechanically ventilated and all received adrenaline or noradrenaline or both and added milrinone in 6 (9.6%). At 28 days, 9 (14.5%) were dead. The global oxygen extraction ratio (gO2ER) was consistently lower amongst the survivors and independently predicted mortality (ROC AUC = 0.75). A lactate level of 4 mmol/l or above, when associated with a concurrent metabolic acidosis predicted mortality with a sensitivity of 100% (95% CI 90.5–100) and a specificity of 67.7% (95% CI 62.2–72.9). A gO2ER of 0.48 or above on admission to the PICU was associated with death with a 66.7% sensitivity (95%CI 29.9–92.5) and 90.5% specificity (95%CI 79.3–96.8). A global O2ER of >0.48 combined with a concurrent blood lactate >4.0 mmol/l at any time within the first 42 h of therapy predicted death with a sensitivity of 63.9% (95% CI, 46.2–79.1) and specificity of 97.8% (95% CI, 95.7–99.0). A radar plot identified MBP-CVP difference, and CI as additional goals of therapy that may offer a survival benefit. Conclusions: Global O2ER of >0.48 with a concurrent blood lactate >4.0 mmol/l in children with metabolic acidosis was an independent factor associated with death in fluid resistant septic shock. Trends of gO2ER seem useful to recognize survivors and non-survivors early in the illness.

Emergency anesthesia for evacuating a traumatic acute subdural hemorrhage in a child overdosed with hypertonic saline

A previously healthy 1-year-old child with a traumatic acute subdural hemorrhage received 10 times higher dose of hypertonic saline inadvertently immediately before surgery. This case report describes deviations in fluid management needed to alleviate salt toxicity and its adverse effects during surgery under anesthesia perioperatively. The child made an uneventful recovery with no evident residual damage at follow-up.