William S. Schechter

Recombinant Factor VIIa to Control Excessive Bleeding Following Surgery for Congenital Heart Disease in Pediatric Patients

The purpose of this article is to evaluate the efficacy of recombinant factor VII (rFVIIa) in the treatment of bleeding following cardiac surgery in a pediatric population. The study included a case series of postcardiac surgical patients with chest tube output of= 4 mL/kg/h for the initial 3 postoperative hours who received rFVIIa. Chest tube output for the 3 hours before and the 3 hours after rFVIIa was compared using a pairedt test. In addition, chest tube output for the initial 3 postoperative hours and the 3 hours following rFVIIa was compared to 8 control patients who did not require rFVIIa. Recombinant factor VIIa was administered to 9 children (age = 9 ± 4 years) following repair of tetralogy of Fallot (6), closure of ventricular septal defect (1), closure of sinus venosus atrial septal defect (1), and mitral valve repair (1). Chest tube output for the initial 3 postoperative hours prior to the administration of rFVIIa was 5.8 ± 2.8 mL/kg/h and decreased to 2.0 ± 1.3 mL/kg/h for the 3 hours following the administration of rFVIIa (P= .002). In the patients that did not receive rFVIIa, chest tube output for the first 3 postoperative hours was 1.6 ± 0.9 mL/kg/h and 1.2 ± 0.6 mL/kg/h for the next 3 hours (P= nonsignificant when compared to chest tube output for the 3 hours following rFVIIa in patients who received rFVIIa). No adverse effects were noted. Recombinant factor VIIa decreased chest tubing bleeding following cardiac surgery in children. Given its potential therapeutic impact, rFVIIa warrants further investigation in the pediatric cardiac population.

Perioperative Effects and Safety of Nesiritide Following Cardiac Surgery in Children

Nesiritide (Natrecor, Scios Inc), human B-type natriuretic peptide, has hemodynamic effects that may be beneficial in pediatric patients after cardiac surgery. Experience with nesiritide and pediatrics is limited. The purpose of this study was to evaluate perioperative effects and safety of nesiritide in pediatric cardiothoracic surgery. Seventeen patients with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiac surgery were given a loading dose (1 µg/kg) while on cardiopulmonary bypass (constant flow) followed by continuous infusion for 24 hours (0.01 µg/kg/min × 6 hours, then 0.02 µg/kg/min × 18 hours). A 7% decrease in mean blood pressure was seen following nesiritide loading dose on cardiopulmonary bypass. No patient required intervention for hypotension while receiving nesiritide load or infusion. Nesiritide load during surgery and continuous infusion after cardiac surgery in pediatric patients resulted in no significant hemodynamic compromise.

Assessing Resident Knowledge of Acute Pain Management in Hospitalized Children: A Pilot Study

This pilot study was undertaken to evaluate the hypotheses that there are differences in pediatric pain management (PPM) knowledge across resident specialties, that questions in the form of multiple-choice items could detect such differences, and that resident knowledge of analgesic-related adverse drug events (ADEs) would be greater than knowledge of PPM. Questions were based on two general categories of knowledge within acute pain management in hospitalized children: pediatric pain assessment and treatment, and identification of analgesic-related ADEs. As part of the pilot nature of this study, a convenience sample of 60 residents completed a 10-item PPM knowledge assessment prior to a PPM lecture. Twenty-six were pediatric residents (43%), 19 were orthopedic residents (32%), and 15 were anesthesiology residents (25%). All items had content validity. When controlling for resident year, performance by resident specialty was significantly different between anesthesia and orthopedics (P=0.006) and between anesthesia and pediatrics (P<0.001). Resident knowledge of analgesic-related ADEs was not greater than knowledge of PPM. The most difficult topics were opioid equianalgesia, assessment of the cognitively impaired child, and maximal acetaminophen doses. Repeated administration of the PPM knowledge assessment at multiple institutions will allow further evaluation of our initial findings, and with directed educational interventions, provide opportunity for measurement of improvement.

Qualitative Analysis of Consults by a Pediatric Advanced Care Team During its First Year of Service

Phenomenologic analysis of initial consults provided during the first year of a new Pediatric Advanced Care Team (PACT) program provides essential understanding of the experience and inform program direction and future clinical research. Parents bring to the consult a desire to remain experts in their children’s lives yet experience vulnerability as they seek assistance in making critical decisions often under conditions of disquieting uncertainty. Dynamic communication efforts involving the referring providers, PACT team members, and family are a key influence in facilitating consults’ stated goals and in establishing the integrated palliative paradigm in a tertiary care environment. Validation was provided for a new research infrastructure that will function concurrently with the PACT clinical program in this rapidly evolving field.

The Use of Oral Ketamine for Analgesia with Dressing Change in an Infant with Epidermolysis Bullosa: Report of a Case

Abstract:  Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) describes a spectrum of disease from occasional bullae and callus formation to a debilitating life‐threatening condition. In this study, we report the use of intravenous ketamine given orally to an infant with a phenotypically severe form of EB simplex, Dowling‐Meara subtype, to achieve analgesia during painful dressing changes.

Sciatic neuropathy after lower-extremity trauma: successful treatment of an uncommon pain and disability syndrome in an adolescent

Saroyan JM, Winfree CJ, Schechter WS, Roye D, Gold AP: Sciatic neuropathy after lower-extremity trauma: successful treatment of an uncommon pain and disability syndrome in an adolescent. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2007;86:597–600. Lower-extremity trauma is an uncommon but reported cause of sciatic nerve injury in children and adolescents. Failure to identify sciatic neuropathy after traumatic injury to the lower extremity may lead to the delayed institution of neuropathic pharmacotherapy, electrodiagnostic testing, physical therapy, and increased risk for the development of complex regional pain syndrome. This article presents a case of an adolescent male with neuropathic pain and weakness in the right lower extremity after traumatic injury. Spontaneous recovery of the injured nerve occurred with early institution of pharmacologic and physical therapies. Operative exploration and neurolysis were considered but were not ultimately necessary.

Severe hyperkalemia during cardiopulmonary bypass: etiology and effective therapy.

Hyperkalemia is considered a medical emergency as it can result in severe disturbances in cardiac rhythm and death. Although many causes of hyperkalemia exist, exogenous red blood cell transfusions are being recognized as the primary perioperative etiology. The authors report a case of severe intraoperative hyperkalemia associated with the use of allogeneic blood products (packed red blood cells), during a surgical mission to a developing country. The patient was undergoing repeat mitral valve replacement with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and developed significant hyperkalemia with a serum potassium value of 9.9 mEq/L. Successful intraoperative therapies were instituted with a gradual reduction in the serum potassium value to 4.8 mEq, which allowed the patient to be weaned from CPB. The authors review the etiology of hyperkalemia in children including its relationship with allogeneic red blood cell transfusions and treatment modalities including specific therapies which can be instituted during CPB.