Achieving normal pulmonary function following tracheoplasty in infancy.

Infant long-segment congenital tracheal stenosis (LTS) is rare and presents a challenging clinical scenario. We describe the management of a child who required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation following a respiratory arrest and underwent slide tracheoplasty in infancy for severe LTS and required repeated bronchoscopic reinterventions for recurrent tracheal granulations. At 9 years of age, the child has normal pulmonary function testing and a normal exercise tolerance.

Clinical Utility of Bronchoalveolar Lavage in Pediatric Oncology Patients.

Background: Lower airway sampling is important in the assessment of lower respiratory tract infection in children with cancer or posthematopoietic stem cell transplant and can be done via bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Clinicians can struggle with balancing the benefits of BAL against the risks. This study aimed to define the diagnostic and clinical utility of BAL in this population.

Investigating transmission of Mycobacterium abscessus amongst children in an Australian cystic fibrosis centre.

Background: Mycobacterium abscessus is an emerging pathogen in cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease. Hospital transmission of M. abscessus has been described.

Elimination of Australian epidemic strain (AES1) pseudomonas aeruginosa in a pediatric cystic fibrosis center.

Introduction: In this cohort study spanning an 18-year period, we evaluated the prevalence and associated mortality rate of epidemic strains of pseudomonas aeruginosa (PsA), especially Australian Epidemic Strain Type 1 (AES1), in a pediatric cystic fibrosis center practicing cohort segregation and early PsA eradication.

Methods: Cohort segregation was introduced in January 2000. PsA clonal strain was determined by pulse-field-gel-electrophoresis (PFGE) at the time of routine collection of airway specimens.

Practical approach to the gastrointestinal manifestations of cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common, life-shortening, genetic illness affecting children in Australia and New Zealand. The genetic abnormality results in abnormal anion transport across the apical membrane of epithelial cells in a number of organs, including the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, liver and genito-urinary tract. Thus, CF is a multi-system disorder that requires a multi-disciplinary approach.

Pulmonary sarcoidosis in a preschool patient.

Sarcoidosis is a rare disease, especially in the preschool age group where it usually presents with eye, joint, and skin involvement sparing the lungs. Multiple treatment regimes have been described with oral prednisolone being the usual first line treatment. We describe a case of a 4-year-old boy presenting with pulmonary sarcoidosis with no other organ involvement.

A modified Imhäuser osteotomy: an assessment of the addition of an open femoral neck osteoplasty.

The aim of this study was to determine whether an osteoplasty of the femoral neck performed at the same time as an intertrochanteric Imhäuser osteotomy led to an improved functional outcome or increased morbidity. A total of 20 hips in 19 patients (12 left, 8 right, 13 male, 6 female), who underwent an Imhäuser intertrochanteric osteotomy following a slipped capital femoral epiphysis were assessed over an eight-year period. A total of 13 hips in 13 patients had an osteoplasty of the femoral neck at the same time.

Geographical differences in first acquisition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis.

Rationale: Risk of infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis (CF) may be associated with environmental factors.

Objectives: To determine whether residential location is associated with risk of first acquisition of P. aeruginosa.

Lung function in preschool children with a history of wheezing measured by forced oscillation and plethysmographic specific airway resistance.

Rationale: Wheezing is common in preschool children, but objective evidence for airway obstruction and its reversibility are rarely available in clinical practice. We assessed whether abnormalities of lung function and bronchodilator response can be detected in preschool children using the forced oscillation technique and measurements of specific airway resistance.

Methods: Fifty-nine children with a history of wheeze and 24 healthy controls aged 3-6 years were recruited.

Identifying peroxidases and their oxidants in the early pathology of cystic fibrosis.

We aimed to determine whether myeloperoxidase (MPO) is the main peroxidase present in the airways of children with cystic fibrosis (CF) and to assess which oxidants it produces and whether they are associated with clinical features of CF. Children with CF (n=54) and without CF (n=16) underwent bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) for assessment of pulmonary infection and inflammation. BAL fluid was analyzed for MPO, halogenated tyrosines as markers of hypohalous acids, thiocyanate, and protein carbonyls.

South Australian school teachers' perceptions of occupational therapy reports.

Background/aim: The qualitative research reported here investigated the perceptions of primary school teachers regarding the usefulness of occupational therapy reports from the Flinders Medical Centre. The reports included either recommendations alone or in conjunction with written programs for the students.

Methods: This qualitative descriptive study employed in-depth semistructured interviews to gather the perspectives of four school teachers from primary schools in the southern suburbs of Adelaide.

"What do kids know": a survey of 420 Grade 5 students in Cambodia on their knowledge of burn prevention and first-aid treatment.

Introduction: Cambodia is a developing country of 13 million people where there are an estimated 20,000 burns and 2000 burn deaths annually. Two thirds of the burns occur to children under the age of 10 years. The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge of burn prevention and first aid for burns in Grade 5 Cambodian school children, as baseline information to design a burn prevention campaign.