'Sepsis' and multi-organ failure: predictors of poor outcome after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in children.

Prognostic scores, such as the PRISM and APACHE II, have been established, predicting with reasonable accuracy the outcome of patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU). In keeping with previous reports, we found, however, that these scores failed to perform in a series of 28 recipients of hematopoietic auto- or allografts (BMT) who required ICU admission for reasons including respiratory (82%) and multi-organ (36%) failure. We therefore retrospectively analyzed the charts of these patients, evaluating predisposing factors and prognostic variables which might confound the validity of these ICU tools which in other clinical scenarios have proven so valuable.

Introduction of the oncological pediatric risk of mortality score (O-PRISM) for ICU support following stem cell transplantation in children.

Prognostic scoring systems based on physiological parameters have been established in order to predict the outcome of ICU patients. It has been demonstrated that the predictive value of these scores is limited in patients following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Therefore, we evaluated patients from the Düsseldorf pediatric stem cell transplantation center with regard to predisposing factors and prognostic variables for ICU treatment and outcome.

[Partial tracheal rupture in a newborn infant. A rare traumatic birth complication or intubation sequela?].

The neonate was born with the help of vacuum extraction because of difficult delivery of the shoulders. After birth respiratory distress developed and endotracheal intubation and artificial ventilation became necessary. When the tube was changed in the intensive care unit the infant's clinical status suddenly deteriorated.

Efficiency of heparin in the treatment of newborn infants with respiratory distress syndrome and disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Forty newborns with severe shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation were randomized for treatment with heparin or placebo. Mortality was equal in both groups. The heparin group required significantly shorter periods of artificial ventilation.