Obstructive sleep apnea in obese adolescents referred for bariatric surgery: association with metabolic and cardiovascular variables.

Background: obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) is a well-described disease entity in adults, with a higher prevalence in severely obese individuals, while at the same time associated with several comorbidities independently of BMI. Literature regarding OSA in severely obese adolescents is qualitatively and quantitatively limited, possibly resulting in suboptimal diagnosis and treatment.

Methods: polysomnographic, demographic, anthropometric, and comorbidity-related data were prospectively collected in 56 adolescents with morbid obesity refractory to conservative treatment who presented for surgical therapy.

Influenza A-associated acute necrotising encephalopathy in a 10-year-old child.

We report an otherwise healthy 10-year-old boy who was brought to the emergency department with altered mental status, vomiting, diarrhoea and fever (39.5°C), without signs of meningitis. The CT scan revealed bilateral hypodensities of the thalamus and cerebellum, with diffuse oedema and slight compression of the brainstem and a triventricular hydrocephalus.

Risk factors for intensive care admission in children with severe acute asthma in the Netherlands: a prospective multicentre study.

Rationale: Severe acute asthma (SAA) can be fatal, but is often preventable. We previously observed in a retrospective cohort study, a three-fold increase in SAA paediatric intensive care (PICU) admissions between 2003 and 2013 in the Netherlands, with a significant increase during those years of numbers of children without treatment of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS).

Objectives: To determine whether steroid-naïve children are at higher risk of PICU admission among those hospitalised for SAA.

A comparison of four different models of acute respiratory distress syndrome in sheep.

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) can have various causes. The study objective was to investigate whether different pathophysiologic models of ARDS would show different respiratory, cardiovascular and inflammatory outcomes.

Methods: We performed a prospective, randomized study in 27 ventilated ewes inducing ARDS using three different techniques to mimic the pulmonary causes of ARDS (ARDSp): warm saline lavage (n = 6), intratracheal hydrochloric acid (HCl; n = 6), intratracheal albumin (n = 10), and one technique to mimic an extrapulmonary cause of ARDS (ARDSexp): intravenous lipopolysaccharide (LPS iv; n = 5).

24-Hour protein, arginine and citrulline metabolism in fed critically ill children - A stable isotope tracer study.

Background & Aims: The reference method to study protein and arginine metabolism in critically ill children is measuring plasma amino acid appearances with stable isotopes during a short (4-8 h) time period and extrapolate results to 24-h. However, 24-h measurements may be variable due to critical illness related factors and a circadian rhythm could be present. Since only short duration stable isotope studies in critically ill children have been conducted before, the aim of this study was to investigate 24-h appearance of specific amino acids representing protein and arginine metabolism, with stable isotope techniques in continuously fed critically ill children.

Arginine appearance and nitric oxide synthesis in critically ill infants can be increased with a protein-energy-enriched enteral formula.

Background: Arginine is considered an essential amino acid during critical illness in children, and supplementation of arginine has been proposed to improve arginine availability to facilitate nitric oxide (NO) synthesis. Protein-energy-enriched enteral formulas (PE-formulas) can improve nutrient intake and promote anabolism in critically ill infants. However, the effect of increased protein and energy intake on arginine metabolism is not known.

Mortality prediction models for pediatric intensive care: comparison of overall and subgroup specific performance.

Aim: To validate paediatric index of mortality (PIM) and pediatric risk of mortality (PRISM) models within the overall population as well as in specific subgroups in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs).

Methods: Variants of PIM and PRISM prediction models were compared with respect to calibration (agreement between predicted risks and observed mortality) and discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, AUC). We considered performance in the overall study population and in subgroups, defined by diagnoses, age and urgency at admission, and length of stay (LoS) at the PICU.

Preventing enterocyte damage by maintenance of mean arterial pressure during major nonabdominal surgery in children.

Loss of the gut barrier, which is related to hypotension and gastrointestinal hypoperfusion during surgery, has been implicated as a critical event in postoperative complications development. This study aims at preventing gut barrier loss by maintenance of mean arterial pressure (MAP) in patients undergoing major nonabdominal surgery. In 20 previously included children undergoing spinal fusion surgery, the critical MAP value, which should be maintained to prevent enterocyte damage, was determined.

Increased protein-energy intake promotes anabolism in critically ill infants with viral bronchiolitis: a double-blind randomised controlled trial.

Objective: The preservation of nutritional status and growth is an important aim in critically ill infants, but difficult to achieve due to the metabolic stress response and inadequate nutritional intake, leading to negative protein balance. This study investigated whether increasing protein and energy intakes can promote anabolism. The primary outcome was whole body protein balance, and the secondary outcome was first pass splanchnic phenylalanine extraction (SPE(Phe)).

Gut mucosal cell damage in meningococcal sepsis in children: relation with clinical outcome.

Objective: The pathophysiological sequelae of meningococcal sepsis are mainly caused by deregulated microvasculature function, leading to impaired tissue blood flow. Because mature enterocytes are known to be susceptible to altered perfusion, we aimed to investigate: (1) the development of enterocyte damage; and (2) the relation between enterocyte damage and severity of disease and outcome in children with meningococcal sepsis.

Design: Retrospective human study.

Critically ill infants benefit from early administration of protein and energy-enriched formula: a randomized controlled trial.

Background & Aims: Nutritional support improves outcome in critically ill infants but is impeded by fluid restriction, gastric intolerance and feeding interruptions. Protein and energy-enriched infant formulas may help to achieve nutritional targets earlier during admission and promote anabolism.

Methods: Randomized controlled design.

New Insight in Loss of Gut Barrier during Major Non-Abdominal Surgery.

Background: Gut barrier loss has been implicated as a critical event in the occurrence of postoperative complications. We aimed to study the development of gut barrier loss in patients undergoing major non-abdominal surgery.

Methodology/principal Findings: Twenty consecutive children undergoing spinal fusion surgery were included.

Plasma arginine and citrulline concentrations in critically ill children: strong relation with inflammation.

Background: The amino acid arginine plays a key role in many metabolic processes in health and disease. Low arginine concentrations are found in various illnesses in children.

Objective: The objective was to investigate the relation between plasma concentrations of arginine (and precursor amino acids) and severity of inflammation in critically ill children.

Hyperglycemia in children with meningococcal sepsis and septic shock: the relation between plasma levels of insulin and inflammatory mediators.

Context: Hyperglycemia and insulin resistance are common findings in critically ill adult patients and are associated with increased morbidity and mortality.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the hyperglycemic response to critical illness in children.

Design: The study was designed as an observational cohort study.

Assessment of whole body protein metabolism in critically ill children: can we use the [15N]glycine single oral dose method?

Background & Aims: Most stable-isotope methods to evaluate whole body protein metabolism in patients are invasive and difficult to use in children. In this study protein metabolism was evaluated with the non-invasive [15N]glycine single oral dose method in critically ill children and the value of the method is discussed.

Methods: [15N]glycine (100mg) was given orally to children (mean age 5.

Comparison of interhospital pediatric intensive care transport accompanied by a referring specialist or a specialist retrieval team.

Objective: Interhospital transfers of critically ill pediatric patients in The Netherlands are accompanied by referring specialists or by specialist retrieval teams. We compared the interventions before and directly after transports and the complications and the equipment available during transports in the two groups.

Design And Setting: Prospective observational clinical study in pediatric intensive care units of Dutch university hospitals.

Interhospital paediatric intensive care transport: a novel transport unit based on a standard ambulance trolley.

A recent development in providing intensive care for children is that it is more and more centralized in tertiary centres. The centralization of intensive care facilities for children in tertiary centres demands a safe and well-organized transport system. The transfer of critically ill children from a referring general hospital to a tertiary paediatric intensive care centre should be performed by a specially trained and fully equipped transport team.