Nebulized tobramycin: prevention of pneumonias in patients with severe cerebral palsy.

Background And Methods: In patients with severe cerebral palsy, pneumonias are a frequent occurrence and can lead to excessive morbidity and mortality. Similar poor outcomes can occur in patients with cystic fibrosis. Nebulized tobramycin has been shown to be effective in preventing pneumonias, and in improving lung function in cystic fibrosis patients.

Survival rates of children with severe neurologic disabilities: a review.

Knowledge of accurate survival rates of children with neurologic disabilities is important for third-party insurance payers planning future medical expenses. This is of particular importance to pediatric skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) that depend on financial support from governmental sources. Eyman published survival rate results from California that were extremely pessimistic and not in keeping with our clinical impressions.

Comparing symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome in a community-based versus tertiary care sample.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating condition characterized by six or more months of prolonged or relapsing, unexplained fatigue of new or definite onset and at least four of eight associated somatic and cognitive symptoms. Almost all studies of samples with patients with CFS have relied on referrals from physicians or health facilities. Underserved minorities, who not only tend to manifest higher levels of chronic illness, but are also less likely to seek and receive adequate medical care, have not been adequately represented in these studies.

Pulmonary vest therapy in pediatric long-term care.

Objectives: Pulmonary infections are common in children with quadriplegic cerebral palsy. High frequency chest wall oscillation with the vest therapy (VT) is used to promote pulmonary clearance and to prevent pneumonias in cystic fibrosis patients. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the effectiveness of VT in patients with quadriplegic cerebral palsy who reside in pediatric skilled nursing facilities.