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Congenital neuroblastoma mimicking early onset sepsis.

UNLABELLED: A newborn girl presented with symptoms of severe early onset sepsis but also with systemic hypertension (SH) at age 3 h. Plasma catecholamine (CAT) levels were extremely elevated, reflecting increased release of CAT from a congenital neuroblastoma (NB). Clinical symptoms at time of admission were: prolonged capillary refill (5 s), tachycardia, tachydyspnoea, metabolic acidosis (pH 7.17, lactate 11.8 mmol/l), fever (38.4 degrees C) and SH: 90/50/65 mmHg (systolic/diastolic/mean). The infant experienced organ failure (lung, heart, liver). A retroperitoneal dumbbell tumour was detected. Plasma CAT levels at age 15 h were: noradrenaline 219 nmol/l; adrenaline 13 nmol/l; and dopamine 65.3 nmol/l. SH responded to intermittent alpha-adrenergic blockage. CAT-related symptoms ceased within 1 week. The intraspinal NB was surgically removed when cord compression became symptomatic. The neurological and developmental state is normal at age 17 months. The abdominal NB regressed spontaneously. CONCLUSION: A neuroblastoma should be considered in newborn infants presenting with a shock-like condition together with systemic hypertension.

Blood Gas Analysis↗

Congenital misalignment of pulmonary veins with alveolar capillary dysplasia causing persistent neonatal pulmonary hypertension: report of two affected siblings.

Misalignment of pulmonary vessels with alveolar capillary dysplasia is a rare cause of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn. Most of the reported cases have been sporadic. We present two consecutive affected siblings with this disorder. This is the fifth reported family occurrence of this condition. In addition to the pulmonary abnormality, one of our cases had duodenal atresia.

Arteriovenous Malformations↗

Noninvasive diagnosis of persistent fetal circulation versus congenital cardiovascular defects.

Congenital cardiovascular anomalies associated with right-left atrial or ductal shunts must be excluded before a diagnosis of persistent fetal circulation (PFC) can be made. Despite the advent of 2-dimensional echocardiography (2-D echo), this differentiation can be difficult and may require cardiac catheterization with selective angiography. Fifteen consecutive cases were analyzed in which difficulty was encountered with this differential diagnosis, and experience with the use of cardiac auscultation, the 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), arterial blood gas determinations and 2-D echo, both alone and with injection of venous contrast material, is reviewed. Electrocardiographic abnormalities of ventricular axis, hypertrophy or dominance (p = 0.002) and suspicion of cardiovascular disease on 2-D echo (p = 0.011) were the most useful findings in differentiating patients with PFC from those with congenital cardiovascular abnormalities. The ECG was the most sensitive test (100% sensitivity, 90% specificity), while 2-D echo was the most specific (100% specificity, 75% sensitivity). Evidence of right-left shunting at atrial or ductal levels or both did not differentiate between the groups; both groups had evidence of such shunts. A decision tree was developed to facilitate this differential diagnosis, which uses the ECG and 2-D echo. If the ECG reveals no abnormalities of ventricular axis, dominance or hypertrophy, the 2-D echo shows no structural abnormalities, and total anomalous pulmonary venous return and coarctation/interruption of the aorta are specifically excluded, a congenital cardiovascular anomaly is effectively eliminated. We suggest that this approach can optimize the management of the cyanotic newborn with suspected PFC by eliminating the risks of cardiac catheterization and angiography without missing the diagnosis of a major structural cardiovascular anomaly.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

Fetal lamb pulmonary hypoplasia: pulmonary vascular and myocardial abnormalities.

Neonatal pulmonary hypoplasia resulting from a congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) produces hemodynamic changes and morphologic abnormalities of the pulmonary vasculature. To characterize the myocardial and pulmonary vascular status of the fetus with pulmonary hypoplasia, we studied four chronically instrumented, near-term fetal lambs with pulmonary hypoplasia, induced by producing a diaphragmatic hernia. We found an elevation in the pulmonary arterial pressure (control, 43.8 +/- 5.9 mmHg; CDH, 58.8 +/- 9.1 mmHg; p < 0.05), an elevation in the systemic arterial pressure (control, 43.8 +/- 0.48 mmHg; CDH, 58.6 +/- 6.7 mmHg; p < 0.05), and an elevation in the pulmonary vascular resistance (control, 0.47 +/- 0.11; CDH, 3.87 +/- 1.9; p < 0.05). In addition, though the total pulmonary blood flow was reduced (control, 83.5 +/- 32.9 mL/min; CDH, 22.2 +/- 17.6 mL/min; p < 0.05), the blood flow reduction was proportional to the reduction in the lung mass (control, 79.8 +/- 28.1 [in flow per 100-g lung weight]; CDH, 85.4 +/- 71.7). The increase in the pulmonary vascular resistance in relation to the unit lung mass (control, 0.55 +/- 0.33; CDH, 0.99 +/- 0.5) was not as pronounced as its increase in relation to the total pulmonary blood flow.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and congenital diaphragmatic hernia: should any infant be excluded?

Mortality in infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) remains high despite improvements in neonatal and surgical care because many infants develop persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) following repair. Since 1984, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been used as rescue therapy in all infants (n = 25) with PPHN following CDH repair when conventional management failed, with an overall survival of 60%. Repair was performed in this hospital on 12 infants and in other hospitals in 13 infants transferred for consideration of ECMO after repair. Mortality was the same in the group repaired here and those transferred for ECMO. Although complications were frequent in the surviving group, they were successfully managed with nonoperative or operative therapy. Selective use of ECMO has been advocated in CDH patients based on various predictors of high mortality such as "best" PO2 postrepair less than 100 mm Hg, oxygenation index greater than 40, and ventilation index greater than 1,000 with PCO2 greater than 40. Seven surviving infants following ECMO would have been classified as unsalvageable by at least one parameter if selection criteria based on these parameters had been used. We conclude from this series that current predictors of high mortality in CDH patients are unreliable when ECMO is used. Surgeons caring for infants with CDH should consider the use of ECMO in all infants.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation↗

Pulmonary hypertension in neonatal cystic lung disease: survival following lobectomy and ECMO in two cases.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an accepted form of therapy in the treatment of neonates with otherwise lethal persistent pulmonary hypertension related to meconium aspiration, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, and sepsis. This report concerns two neonates with congenital cystic lesions of the lung who developed severe pulmonary hypertension and were salvaged with lobectomy and ECMO. These cases present an additional group of patients in whom ECMO may be a life-saving measure.

Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation of Lung, Congenita↗

Persistent pulmonary hypertension complicating cystic adenomatoid malformation in neonates.

Neonates with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) are known to be susceptible to stress-induced persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN). Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformations (CCAMs) may also present as respiratory distress in the newborn. Intubation and mechanical ventilation cause clinical deterioration because of air trapping within cystic spaces; these patients require prompt lobectomy. PPHN has not been commonly associated with CCAM. Three patients with CCAM were encountered who developed PPHN postlobectomy. Three newborns, 36 to 38 weeks' gestation, presented with respiratory distress. Two had diagnosis of thoracic tumors on fetal ultrasound (22 and 33 weeks). Chest x-ray at birth confirmed cystic intrathoracic tumors in all and they underwent immediate thoracotomy and lobectomy (1 right upper, 1 left lower, 1 left upper). The patients were stable for 4 hours to 5 days postoperatively and then developed findings consistent with PPHN by cardiac echocardiography and required extracorporeal membrane oxygen (ECMO) support. ECMO was required for 66.5 to 120 hours. Each patient was successfully weaned to conventional ventilatory support. The clinical course of these patients was similar to those with CDH who undergo immediate surgery. The stress of surgical intervention combined with hypoxia and hypercarbia stimulates a hyperactive pulmonary vasculature and the development of PPHN. ECMO provides an effective adjunct to support patients with PPHN on the basis of congenital cystic adenomatoid malformations.

Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation of Lung, Congenita↗

Persistent pulmonary hypertension in high-risk congenital diaphragmatic hernia patients: incidence and vasodilator therapy.

Survival of congenital diaphragmatic hernia patients depends on the gravity of pulmonary hypoplasia and persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPH). Many vasoactive drugs have been used in the treatment of PPH, but often they also lower peripheral resistance, leading to a significant drop in arterial blood pressure. The incidence of PPH in 52 high-risk diaphragmatic hernia patients and the results of treatment with tolazoline and prostacyclin were evaluated in a study lasting 52 months and involving 52 patients. High-risk patients require ventilatory support within 6 hours after birth. Study parameters were alveolar-arterial oxygenation difference (AaDO2), oxygenation index (OI), and mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), measured at set times before and after administration of tolazoline or prostacyclin. Twenty-one patients had documented episodes of PPH (46%), and 18 of them died. Tolazoline did not lower AaDO2 and OI values, but MABP dropped significantly. Prostacyclin caused a significant decrease of AaDO2 and OI values without an effect on MABP. We concluded: (1) PPH presented in 46% of our patients, associated with a high mortality rate; (2) tolazoline is not an effective dilator of the pulmonary vascular bed and lowers MABP; and (3) prostacyclin is an effective pulmonary vasodilator as reflected by ventilation parameters without systemic side effects; it does not affect overall outcome but can used as a "bridge" to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Blood Pressure↗

Doppler echocardiographic assessment of pulmonary circulation in severe respiratory failure of the neonate: an aid for extracorporeal lung support indications.

Extracorporeal lung support (ECLS) for newborns with acute respiratory failure has achieved increased popularity over the last decade. However, precise criteria for its implementation remain controversial. The aim of this study was to assess the value of Doppler echocardiography (DE) in 31 neonates with PaO2 of < or = 50 mmHg, FIO2 of 1, and optimal ventilation. Treatment included mechanical ventilation, paralysis, volume loading, vasopressors, and tolazoline. Markers indicative of ECLS (failure of maximal medical therapy, assessed by AaDO2 of more than 610 mm Hg beyond 8 hours and/or an oxygenation index (OI = mean airway pressure x FIO2%/postductal PaO2) of more than 40 beyond 4 to 6 hours) were present in 23 (group 1) and absent in eight (group 2). Shunt direction and systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (sPAP) calculated from tricuspid insufficiency velocity were assessed using DE. At the time of admission, sPAP was significantly higher in group 1 (62.1 v 43.7 mm Hg). On day 1, group 1 differed from group 2 in maximum sPAP value (73.2 v 44.4 mm Hg), PaCO2 (56.1 v 40 mm Hg), right-to-left shunting (85% v 25% of the patients), and pulmonary-to-systemic-pressure systolic ratio (sPAP:sSAP) (1.29 v 0.75). Patients with an sPAP:sSAP ratio of more than 1 and patients with high sPAP associated with high PaCO2 on day 1, all later (average, 10 hours later) fulfilled ECLS criteria; this suggests that DE assessment of pulmonary circulation may yield early and predictive markers of impending ECLS indication. Further confirmation of these results would help avoid unnecessary delays in ECLS implementation in newborns with severe respiratory failure.

Echocardiography, Doppler↗

Usefulness of echocardiographic measurement of bilateral pulmonary artery dimensions in congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

In nine patients with left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) developing within 24 hours of birth, the authors measured the dimensions of the bilateral main pulmonary arteries by echocardiography, and investigated whether the left:right main pulmonary artery dimension ratio (PAD ratio) was a useful index for predicting pulmonary hypoplasia and persistent fetal circulation (PFC). Echocardiography was performed shortly after admission, the PAD ratio was calculated, and the clinical course of each patient was determined. When the PAD ratio was approximately 1.0, patients did not suffer from PFC and had little evidence of pulmonary hypoplasia. When the PAD ratio was low, the patients suffered from PFC and had pulmonary hypoplasia on the side of the hernia. Thus, the PAD ratio measured by echocardiography appears to be a useful index for predicting pulmonary hypoplasia and the risk of PFC in patients with CDH.

Echocardiography↗

Reversible tracheal obstruction in the fetal sheep: effects on tracheal fluid pressure and lung growth.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) continues to carry high morbidity and mortality. A number of treatment modalities including extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and in utero repair have improved the mortality rate only minimally. With this condition, there is often insufficient lung mass at birth and persistent pulmonary hypertension postnatally. Experimental fetal tracheal ligation has been shown to increase lung growth in utero and to reduce the hernial contents in CDH. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of reversible fetal tracheal occlusion on tracheal pressure and lung development. Nine fetal sheep were divided into two groups. Group 1 had intratracheal balloons placed, and the balloons were left inflated for 21 to 28 days. Group 2 consisted of littermates that served as controls. They either had uninflated balloons placed or were left unoperated. Tracheal pressure measurements were recorded periodically, and the amniotic fluid pressure served as a reference. The animals were killed near term, and the lungs, heart, and liver were weighed and corrected for body weight. Standard morphometry was used to compare the lungs further, and the lung DNA and protein content were measured. Tracheal damage from the balloon catheter also was assessed. The tracheal pressure was 3.85 (+/- .49 SE) mm Hg in experimental animals, and it averaged -0.27 (+/- .27 SE) mm Hg in controls (P < .0001). Tracheal occlusion increased lung weight and volume by two to three times (P < .0001 and P < .0006, respectively) while heart and liver weights remained similar to those of controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amniotic Fluid↗

Survival in neonatal congenital hernia without extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support.

The experience with high-risk congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) at an institution that does not offer extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was reviewed. Between January 1, 1983 and December 31, 1993, 38 children presented with Bochdalek-type CDH. Excluded were two infants with lethal cardiac anomalies and four presenting after 4 hours of age. Thus, the authors identified 32 high-risk patients. All had early respiratory distress and were intubated within 5 hours of birth. Sixteen were inborn; 16 were referred to the Izaak Walton Killam Children's Hospital (IWK) within 24 hours of birth. There were 19 males and 13 females. Three died before surgery could be attempted. Twenty-two survived, giving an overall survival rate of 69% (22 of 32). For 28 of the 32, the best preoperative postductal Pao2 (BPDPao2) was recorded. Fifteen of the 28 children had a BPDPao2 of greater than 100 mm Hg. Survival in this group was 14 of 15 (93%). Thirteen of the 28 patients had a BPDPao2 of less than 100 mm Hg. Survival in this group was 5 of 13 (38%). These survival rates are comparable to those of centers offering ECMO. BPDPao2 appears to be a useful discriminating variable.

Cause of Death↗