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Biomedical subjects

A Martinot

Publications and source records attributed to A Martinot.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Upper airway obstruction (foreign bodies excluded)].

Upper airway obstruction is a frequent cause of admission to the emergency department and the intensive care unit. Symptoms are mainly represented by dyspnea and stridor. Severity must be rapidly assessed to allow adapted treatment and avoid cardiac arrest and hypoxic encephalopathy. The possible etiologies are numerous, with acquired and congenital ones, but the majority is represented by laryngitis, lymphoid hypertrophy and laryngotracheomalacia. In case of respiratory failure, treatment must first establish airway patency with bag and mask ventilation, and then intubation. If vital prognosis is not threatened, biologic, radiologic or endoscopic examination can be performed to identify the cause of the obstruction and treat it.

Age Factors↗

Are there specific haemostatic abnormalities in children surviving septic shock with purpura and having skin necrosis or limb ischaemia that need skin grafts or limb amputations?

UNLABELLED: More than 10% of children surviving septic shock with purpura have skin necrosis or limb ischaemia (SNLI.). Among 44 children consecutively admitted to our pediatric intensive care unit, 35 (80%) survived, 6 of them (17%) developed SNLI (defined as the need of a surgical procedure). Two timed haemostasis measurements included the determination of coagulation factors, protein C (PC), protein S (PS), C4b binding protein (C4bBP), antithrombin (AT), and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1). Two severity scores and CRP levels were determined at admission. Children with SNLI and without SNLI were compared. On admission, severity scores, and AT, PC, PS, C4bBP levels were similar in both groups with and without SNLI. Prothrombin time (23% vs 34%; P < 0.01), factor VII+X (20% vs 31%; P = 0.05) and factor VII (0% vs 19%; P < 0.01) were lower in the group with SNLI. The 2nd sample showed no difference between the two groups. Kinetics of haemostatic abnormalities were no different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: In this series, the only difference between the two groups was lower factor VII levels in children with skin necrosis or limb ischaemia. This suggests the benefit of tissue factor pathway inhibitor administration as an adjunctive therapy to prevent skin necrosis or limb ischaemia. Further studies including more children are needed to determine the potential effects of treatments such as protein C, antithrombin, and plasminogen activator inhibitor antibody administration, and to advocate tissue factor pathway inhibitor in preventing skin necrosis or limb ischaemia.

Adolescent↗

[Impact of vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae on the incidence of invasive infections from Haemophilus influenzae type B in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region].

BACKGROUND: In industrialized countries where immunization against Haemophilus influenzae b (Hib) is largely used, the incidence of invasive Hib infections has dramatically decreased. The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of immunization against Hib on the incidence of invasive Hib infections in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais area in France. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective multicenter study enrolled 11 of the 18 hospitals in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais area, comparing two periods: 1991-1993 (before immunization), and 1994-1996 (during immunization). All children less than 60 months of age and having an invasive Hib infection were included. The Pasteur-Mérieux Company was asked to provide the number of vaccines sold in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais area during the study period. RESULTS: The number of vaccines sold in 1992 was 56,208; this reached 189,173 in 1996, corresponding to an immunization ratio higher than 90%. One hundred and two children representing 155 invasive Hib infections were studied. The annual incidence was 42 during the first period (meningitis: 18.6; septicemia: 14.6; epiglottitis: 5.6), and nine (meningitis: 5; septicemia: 2.6; epiglottitis: 0.3) during the second period, that is a 78% decrease. CONCLUSION: These results confirm previous data in the literature by demonstrating that immunization in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais area has dramatically decreased the incidence of invasive Hib infections.

Bacteremia↗

[Indications of bronchial endoscopy in suspected tracheo-bronchial foreign body in children].

The diagnosis and early extraction of a respiratory foreign body (FB) in a child requires a rapid bronchoscopy. Thus, the possibility of a foreign body requires an endoscopy even in the absence of clinical or radiological signs. While the sensitivity of "the foreign body syndrome" is important (79-85%) its specificity is low (21-46%) which results in numerous endoscopies which do not show FB. This justifies the promotion of flexible fibroscopy, under a simple local anaesthesia of the upper airways and some sedation, each time that the foreign body is not obvious. That is when there is an absence of a radio-opaque foreign body (2-20% of cases) or an absence of associated unilateral diminution in breath sounds or ipsilateral obstructive emphysema (a positive predicted value of 94%, 95% confidence interval: 71-100%). The complications of flexible fibroscopy are rare but still justify its performance in an environment where there is resuscitation equipment and the possibility of rapidly performing a rigid bronchoscopy. Rigid bronchoscopy, which requires a general anaesthesia, remains the best technique to remove a foreign body in a child. It is also indicated initially in cases of respiratory distress where there is a fear of a foreign body in the trachea. The extraction of the CE by flexible fibroscopy under general anaesthesia has been reported in children but it is more difficult and more risky.

Algorithms↗

Measurement of respiratory mechanics in paediatric intensive care: in vitro assessment of a pulmonary function device.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a recently developed and manufactured device for monitoring respiratory parameters in mechanically ventilated children. DESIGN: In vitro study using a lung model. SETTING: University paediatric intensive care unit. MATERIAL AND INTERVENTIONS: Evaluation of the accuracy of volume and pressure measurements, of the determination of respiratory system compliance (10 to 30 ml/cmH2O) and of resistance (20 and 50 cmH2O/l per s) by the inflation technique (volume- and pressure-controlled mode of ventilation); assessment of interobserver agreement for compliance (10, 15 ml/cmH2O) and resistance (20, 50 cmH2O/l per s) determinations (ANOVA, intraclass correlation coefficient). MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The accuracy of volume measurements (No.1 Fleisch pneumotachograph) was < or = 5 % of true volumes up to 11 (Flow: 30 l/min) even after the introduction of an endotracheal tube. The accuracy of pressure measurements up to 70 cmH2O was < or = 2.5% of the true values. Coefficients of variation of volume and pressure measurements were < 2%. The accuracy of compliance and resistance determinations was, respectively, < or = 17 and 25% of the true values. No significant observer effect was found on compliance and resistance determinations. Indeed, mean differences in compliance and resistance determinations by pairs of observers were < 1%. Intraclass correlation coefficients were > 0.98. CONCLUSIONS: The measuring error of volume, pressure, compliance and resistance determined using this monitoring system seems acceptable for monitoring purpose. Moreover, use of this system by members of the medical team can be recommended since results obtained by observers, even untrained ones, were similar. In vivo evaluation is now needed.

Airway Resistance↗

[Acute rhabdomyolysis in the child].

Rhabdomyolysis results from muscular fibre lysis with release of cellular contents (myoglobin, enzymes, electrolytes) into the plasma. Traumatic (crush syndrome) and non-traumatic rhabdomyolysis have been mostly reported in adults. Traumatic rhabdomyolysis are mostly due to ischemic and reperfusion injuries. Non-traumatic rhabdomyolysis include several factors: muscular compression (comas), cytotoxic injury (infections and poisonings), ischemia (shock, cardiorespiratory arrest) or excessive muscular activity (seizures, strenuous exercise). The main etiologies reported in children are: anoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (including sudden infant death and life threatening events); electrolyte disorders; severe hyperthermia; poisonings; hereditary myopathies. Non-traumatic rhabdomyolysis must be suspected in these circumstances, requiring blood creatinine phosphokinase measurements. Indeed, clinical signs are inconstant and non-specific, and functional signs are difficult to appreciate in children. During the initial phase, the main risk is arrhythmias secondary to hyperkalemia. The two main complications are the compartmental syndrome leading to irreversible vasculo-nervous injuries and acute renal failure. Treatment of traumatic and non-traumatic rhabdomyolysis includes correction of hyperkalemia, active fluid loading in order to prevent acute renal failure and alkalinisation. Prognosis of rhabdomyolysis relates to the aetiology and the presence of acute renal failure.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

No resuscitation orders and withdrawal of therapy in French paediatric intensive care units. Groupe Francophone de Réanimation et d'Urgences Pédiatriques.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of different modes of death in French paediatric intensive care units and to compare patients' characteristics, including a severity of illness score (Paediatric Risk of Mortality: PRISM score) and prior health status (Paediatric Overall Performance Category scale), according to the mode of death. DESIGN: A 4-month prospective cohort study. SETTING: Nine French multidisciplinary paediatric intensive care units. PATIENTS: All patients who died in PICUs, except premature babies. MAIN RESULTS: Among 712 admissions, 13% patients died. Brain death was declared in 20%, failure of cardiopulmonary resuscitation occurred in 26%, do-not-resuscitate status was identified in 27%, and withdrawal of supportive therapy was noted in 27%. The PRISM score and the baseline Paediatric Overall Performance Category were not different between the four groups. Brain-dead patients were older than those in whom a do-not-resuscitate order and withdrawal of therapy were made (median age 81 vs 7 and 4 months). CONCLUSIONS: Decisions to limit or to withdraw supportive care were made for a majority of patients dying in French paediatric intensive care units. Chronic health evaluation and severity of illness index are not sufficient to describe dead-patient populations.

Brain Death↗