Biomedical subjects

Richard J Brilli

Publications and source records attributed to Richard J Brilli.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Coagulation dysfunction in sepsis and multiple organ system failure.

In patients diagnosed with sepsis, severe sepsis or septic shock, cytokine-mediated endothelial injury, and TF activation initiate a cascade of events that culminate in the development of coagulation dysfunction characterized as procoagulant and antifibrinolytic. This abnormal state predisposes the patient to develop microvascular thrombosis, tissue ischemia, and organ hypoperfusion. Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome may be a product of this pertubation in coagulation regulation. Treatments aimed at correcting this coagulation dysfunction have met with mixed success. Current data suggest that AT III replacement therapy has limited efficacy in adults with severe sepsis. In contrast, adult patients diagnosed with severe sepsis and organ failure and treated with aPC (drotrecogin alfa activate) have a significantly reduced risk of death when compared with placebo-treated patients. A phase III trial examining the efficacy of protein C replacement therapy in pediatric patients with severe sepsis and organ failure is underway.

Antithrombin III↗

PubMed2003

Cardiopulmonary compromise associated with milk and molasses enema use in children.

OBJECTIVE: Constipation is a common childhood problem that frequently confronts pediatric practitioners. When enema treatment is indicated to treat constipation, milk and molasses enemas are sometimes used. Side effects and adverse outcomes have been described with many types of enemas, but not with milk and molasses. The purpose of this study is to describe five children who acutely decompensated after receiving milk and molasses enemas. METHODS: Retrospective review of the medical records of children with constipation who received milk and molasses enema with subsequent PICU admission at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center between 1994 and 2000. RESULTS: Five children developed significant hemodynamic deterioration after receiving milk and molasses enemas. One of these children died and the others recovered after aggressive resuscitation. CONCLUSIONS: Milk and molasses enema administration can be associated with significant hemodynamic compromise. These risks appear similar to those risk observed with the use of other enema preparations.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Erythropoietin therapy in children with bronchiolitis and anemia.

OBJECTIVE: Critically ill children with bronchiolitis often require red blood cell transfusions. Anemia normally results in increased circulating erythropoietin concentrations; however, critical illness has been associated with a blunted erythropoietin response. Treatment with erythropoietin decreases the need for red blood cell transfusion in several disease states. We hypothesized that critically ill children with bronchiolitis and anemia would have a circulating erythropoietin deficiency and that treatment with exogenous erythropoietin would increase reticulocyte count and hematocrit and reduce red blood cell transfusion requirements. DESIGN: Randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trial. SETTING: Children's hospital. PATIENTS: Critically ill children with bronchiolitis, anemia, and respiratory failure. Anemia was defined as a hematocrit >2 SD below normal for age. INTERVENTION: Patients were randomized to one of two groups. In the erythropoietin group, patients received daily intravenous erythropoietin. In the control group, patients received daily intravenous placebo. Both groups were treated with elemental iron. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Blood for complete blood count, reticulocyte count, and ferritin and erythropoietin concentration was obtained at admission and discharge. Red blood cell transfusions were administered to patients with a persistent oxygen requirement and a hematocrit of <25%. Outcome variables included number of red blood cell transfusions, change in reticulocyte count, ferritin values, and circulating erythropoietin values between groups. Forty-four patients completed the study (mean 3.1 +/- 0.6 months), with a baseline hematocrit of 27.6 +/- 0.5%, ventilator days of 8.2 +/- 0.6, and pediatric intensive care unit length of stay of 9.8 +/- 0.6 days. There were no significant baseline demographic differences between the control and erythropoietin groups. Ten of 22 (45%) children in the erythropoietin group required red blood cell transfusion compared with 11 of 22 (50%) in the control group (p = nonsignificant). The increase in reticulocyte count was greater in the erythropoietin group compared with the control group (2.1 +/- 0.3% to 4.7 +/- 0.7%, p = .003 vs. 2.1 +/- 0.3% to 2.7 +/- 0.5%, p = nonsignificant). CONCLUSIONS: Despite a favorable reticulocyte and circulating erythropoietin response, red blood cell transfusion requirements were not significantly diminished by erythropoietin treatment in children with bronchiolitis and respiratory failure. Erythropoietin cannot be routinely recommended for this patient population.

Anemia↗

PubMed2002

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Critical Care↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Continuation of transpyloric feeding during weaning of mechanical ventilation and tracheal extubation in children: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Nutrition support is essential in the management of critically ill children. There is no current literature to support the common practice of discontinuing enteral nutrition delivered through a transpyloric feeding tube during the tracheal extubation process. We conducted a prospective, randomized controlled trial in mechanically ventilated children to examine the safety and efficacy of continuous transpyloric feeding compared with interrupted transpyloric feeding at the time of tracheal extubation. METHODS: Subjects were randomly assigned to receive transpyloric feeding throughout the tracheal extubation process (Continuous Group) or to have transpyloric feeding discontinued 4 hours before tracheal extubation and restarted 4 hours after tracheal extubation (Interrupted Group). Data consisting of patient demographics, admission pediatric risk of mortality (PRISM) score, diagnoses, adverse events (feeding intolerance, gastroesophageal reflux, and pulmonary aspiration), daily feeding volume, and caloric intake were recorded for the 3 days surrounding tracheal extubation. RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients completed the study (29 in Continuous Group, 30 in Interrupted Group). There was no episode of pulmonary aspiration in either group. The Continuous Group experienced 4 adverse events, whereas the Interrupted Group experienced 3 adverse events (p = not significant). The Continuous Group received 92 +/- 2.5% of their caloric goal on the day of weaning from the ventilator (day 1) and 93 +/- 3.2% on the day of tracheal extubation (day 2) compared with 76 +/- 4.2% and 43 +/- 4.3%, respectively, in the Interrupted Group (p < .004 and p < .0001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Continuous transpyloric feeding during weaning from the ventilator and tracheal extubation is safe and results in the delivery of more optimal nutrition.

Critical Illness↗