Eltrombopag in pediatric chronic and refractory ITP: data from a retrospective multicenter study from Lebanon.

About 20% to 30% of pediatric patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) develop chronic or refractory disease lasting 12 months or more that can be challenging to treat. Eltrombopag is being used after failure of previous lines of therapy with good results at tertiary healthcare centers in Lebanon, a developing country with available multidisciplinary treatment modalities. This is a retrospective multicenter observational study that analyzed data on pediatric patients with chronic or refractory ITP who were given eltrombopag as second- or third-line therapy in 6 large referral hospitals in Beirut (country capital located in mid Lebanon), South, North, and Mount Lebanon between October 2016 and May 2020.

Newborn's first bath: any preferred timing? A pilot study from Lebanon.

Objective: To try to find the most appropriate time for the newborn's first bath. This prospective randomized study was conducted in one hospital (July-September 2017).

Results: A higher percentage of newborns who had a skin-to-skin contact with their mothers had their bath at 24 h vs 2 h after birth (65.

Comparative study between Fenton and intergrowth 21 charts in a sample of Lebanese premature babies.

Background: Different charts are used to assess premature growth. The Fenton chart, based on prenatal growth, has been used in the neonates' intensive care unit (NICU) of the Notre Dame des Secours University Hospital to assess premature newborns' development. Intergrowth21 is a new multidisciplinary, multiethnic growth chart better adapted to premature growth.

Bioimpedance-measured volume overload predicts longer duration of mechanical ventilation in intensive care unit patients.

Purpose: Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a technology that provides a rapid, non-invasive measurement of volume in body compartments and may aid the physician in the assessment of volume status. We sought to investigate the effect of BIA-measured volume status on duration of mechanical ventilation, 28-day mortality, and acute kidney injury requiring renal replacement therapy in a population of medical/surgical patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods: Prospective observational study of adult patients who required mechanical ventilation within 24 hr of admission to ICU.

Extracorporeal treatment for barbiturate poisoning: recommendations from the EXTRIP Workgroup.

The EXTRIP (Extracorporeal Treatments in Poisoning) Workgroup conducted a systematic review of barbiturate poisoning using a standardized evidence-based process to provide recommendations on the use of extracorporeal treatment (ECTR) in patients with barbiturate poisoning. The authors reviewed all articles, extracted data, summarized key findings, and proposed structured voting statements following a predetermined format. A 2-round modified Delphi method was used to reach a consensus on voting statements, and the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method was used to quantify disagreement.

Aluminum transfer during dialysis: a systematic review.

Purpose: Dialysis-dependent patients are particularly susceptible to the toxic effects of aluminum (Al) because of their impaired ability to eliminate it. Al contamination of dialysis fluid remains a threat in this population. The mechanism for Al diffusion across dialysis membranes is not well established.

Case reports of extracorporeal treatments in poisoning: historical trends.

There are currently limited data on the trends in case reporting of poisoned patients undergoing enhanced elimination with an extracorporeal treatment (ECTR). The present manuscript specifically reviews the longitudinal trends of reports according to technique, poison, and country of publication. To identify case reports of ECTR use in the management of poisoning, multiple databases were searched.

Treatment of chronic pulmonary blastomycosis with caspofungin.

Current practice guidelines recommend that pulmonary blastomycosis be treated with antifungal agents such as amphotericin B and itraconazole. Echinocandins are not recommended because of poor in vitro activity against Blastomyces dermatitidis and lack of supporting clinical data. We report a case of chronic pulmonary blastomycosis treated successfully with caspofungin.