Ray J. Nichols

Reduction in Mortality in Pediatric Patients with Inhalation Injury with Aerosolized Heparin/acetylcystine Therapy

Smoke-inhalation injury causes a destruction of the ciliated epithelium that lines the tracheobronchial tree. Casts produced from these cells, polymorphonuclear leukocytes and mucus, can cause upper-airway obstruction, contributing to pulmonary failure. We have reported that a combination of aerosolized heparin and a mucolytic agent, N-acetylcystine [corrected], can ameliorate cast formation and reduce pulmonary failure secondary to smoke inhalation. In this study, 90 consecutive pediatric patients between 1985 and 1995 who had bronchoscopically diagnosed inhalation injury requiring ventilatory support were studied. Forty-three children admitted between 1985 and 1989 acted as controls. Forty-seven children admitted between 1990 and 1994 received 5000 units of heparin and 3 ml of a 20% solution of N-acetylcystine [corrected] aerosolized every 4 hours the first 7 days after the injury. All patients were extubated when they were able to maintain spontaneously a PaO2/FIO2 ratio of more than 400. The number of patients requiring reintubation for successive pulmonary failure was recorded, as was mortality. The results indicate a significant decrease in reintubation rates, in incidence of atelectasis, and in mortality for patients treated with the regimen of heparin and N-acetylcystine [corrected] when compared with controls. Heparin/N-acetylcystine [corrected] nebulization in children with massive burn injury and smoke-inhalation injury results in a significant decrease in incidence of reintubation for progressive pulmonary failure and a reduction in mortality.

Early burn wound excision significantly reduces blood loss.

The hypothesis that near-total early excision of large burns in children can be performed safely with a reduction in blood loss was tested. Of 1662 acutely burned patients admitted to this institution between 1982 and 1989, 594 underwent near-total excision of cutaneous flame or scald burn injuries in a single procedure. Operations took less than 3 hours and there were no operative deaths. Blood losses in burns of more than 30% total body surface area (TBSA) were significantly less at 0.40 +/- 0.06 mL/cm2 and 0.49 +/- 0.49 mL/cm2 excised when surgery was performed within the first 24 hours or after the 16th day after burn, respectively, when compared to 0.75 +/- 0.02 mL/cm2 for those excised between 2 and 16 days after burn (p less than 0.05). Blood loss for burns of less than 30% TBSA was of 1.19 +/- 0.13 mL/cm2. Early excision did not increase mortality rate when compared to later excision times. We suggest that near-total excision of large burns within the first 24 hours reduces blood requirements and morbidity without adversely altering hemodynamic stability or increasing mortality risks.

Acetaminophen in the management of background pain in children post-burn

This retrospective review evaluated the pain management of 395 acutely burned pediatric patients who were treated by a pain management protocol emphasizing acetaminophen as the initial medication to control background pain. Pain was assessed by using standardized instruments based on observations by patients, nurses, and parents. Morphine was added when scheduled acetaminophen (10-15 mg/kg/4 hr) did not control background pain. Fifty percent of the children received only acetaminophen to control background pain. Younger children and children with the smallest burns, regardless of age, were likely to be managed with acetaminophen alone. Most peak serum concentrations of acetaminophen were less than 10 micrograms/mL. When needed, children also received medication for painful procedures, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress symptoms. These additional medications were not more frequently given to children receiving only acetaminophen for background pain. These data suggest that acetaminophen is a safe, useful medication for the control of post-burn background pain in some children.

Does measurement of systolic blood pressure with a pulse oximeter correlate with conventional methods

The pulse oximeter is commonly used in the operating room. We evaluated the use of a pulse oximeter to monitor systolic blood pressure in 20 healthy volunteers and 42 anesthetized patients. We compared the pulse oximeter method of measuring systolic blood pressure with the cuff methods using Korotkoff sounds and Doppler ultrasound as well as with direct pressure measurement through an intraarterial cannula. Systolic blood pressure values obtained by pulse oximeter correlated well with values obtained by other conventional methods. The best correlation was found with Doppler ultrasound (r = 0.996) and the worst with arterial cannulation (r = 0.880). We conclude that this method can be used intraoperatively to measure systolic blood pressure.

Long-term airway sequelae in a pediatric burn population†‡

All admissions to the Shriners Burn Institute in Galveston over a 5‐year period were reviewed. One hundred of 1,092 patients admitted (92%) required airway support (endotracheal intubation or tracheostomy) for more than 24 hours. All clinical variables relating to general presentation and airway care were tabulated. Children who required open airway operations for resolution of acquired airway defects were analyzed separately. No predictive factors could be identified. Guidelines for optimal airway management in the burned child are reviewed.

DISSOCIATIVE ANESTHESIA WITH CI-581 IN BURNED CHILDREN

HE development of a compound 2-(0T chlorophenyl) -2(methyl amino) cyclohexanone hydrochloride, designated as CI581 (figure), a short-acting anesthetic, and the encouraging early reports from Corssen and Domino1 and others,z suggested to US that this compound might be extremely useful for anesthetic management of the severely burned child. Accordingly, the opening of the Shrine Institute for Burned Children at Galveston, in the spring of 1966, offered a unique opportunity to study the properties of this drug on two different groups of children.

Inhibition of thromboxane synthesis reduces endotoxin-induced right ventricular failure in sheep

Background and MethodsThere is a marked decrease of the right ventricular ejection fraction after the administration of a bolus of endotoxin to sheep. This hemodynamic response may be the result of thromboxane-mediated pulmonary hypertension. Right ventricular function was studied in an ovine model after the administration of endotoxin (1 μg/kg Escherichia coli) with and without pretreatment with OKY-046, a selective thromboxane synthetase inhibitor. ResultsOKY-046 attenuated the endotoxin-induced increase in pulmonary arterial pressure and prevented the early decreases in right ventricular ejection fraction and cardiac output. However, thromboxane synthetase inhibition failed to prevent endotoxin-induced hypoxemia. The marked increase in plasma thromboxane concentrations, which is usually seen after the administration of endotoxin, was prevented by pretreating the animals with OKY-046. On the other hand, increased plasma prostacyclin concentrations were observed in sheep treated with the thromboxane synthetase inhibitor. ConclusionThis series of experiments shows that the early endotoxin-induced decrease in right ventricular ejection fraction can be alleviated by the application of OKY-046.

Halof hane markedly reduces mesenteric blood flow but does not impair gut mucosal oxygenation in pigs

We investigated the effect of halothane on in mesenteric blood flow and gut mucosal oxygenation. Pittman-Moore mini-pigs (n = 6) were chronically instrumented with aortic, pulmonary arterial (Swan-Ganz), and mesenteric venous catheters and an intestinal tonometer. Blood flow in the superior mesenteric artery was measured with an ultrasonic flow probe. On the day of the experiment, data were obtained before and during halothane administration (1.5% end-tidal). Halothane caused a marked decrease in mesenteric blood flow, associated with an increase in mesenteric vascular resistance. Likewise mesenteric oxygen delivery and consumption were significantly decreased under halothane, while the oxygen extraction rate of the intestine was not significantly changed. There was no significant change in intramucosal gut pH after halothane administration, which indicates that an adequate mucosal tissue oxygenation was maintained. We conclude that the marked halothane-induced reduction in mesenteric blood flow did not seem to impair the oxygenation of the gut mucosa in our experimental model.

Monitoring patients during helicopter flight

In 11 patients being transported via helicopter we monitored heart rate, arterial oxygen saturation, and systolic blood pressure with a pulse oximeter. We were able to obtain vital signs in 10 of 11 patients. The pulse oximeter was a useful tool in monitoring vital signs intraflight.

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