Mortality, length of stay, bloodstream and respiratory viral infections in a pediatric intensive care unit.

Objectives: We investigated whether diagnostic categories and presence of infections were associated with increased mortality or length of stay (LOS) in patients admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

Methods: A retrospective study of all PICU admissions between October 2002 and April 2016 was performed. Oncologic vs nononcologic, trauma/injuries vs nontraumatic, infectious (gram-positive, gram-negative, fungal bloodstream infections, common respiratory viruses) vs noninfectious diagnoses were evaluated for survival and LOS.

Outcome of Encephalitis in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Objective: To review pathogens, morbidity and mortality in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients with viral and infectious encephalitis.

Methods: Retrospective chart review of all patients with encephalitis admitted to the PICU between 2002 and 2014 was done.

Results: Encephalitis (n = 46) accounted for 2.

Radiologic, Neurologic and Cardiopulmonary Aspects of Submersion Injury.

Many indices and scores are used in critical care medicine to aid management and predict risk of mortality. We report 2 cases of submersion injury and discuss the usefulness and application of common respiratory and critical care indices. The respiratory indices help better understand the pulmonary pathophysiology and characterize the severity of lung injury and ventilation/perfusion mismatch.

Typical or atypical pneumonia and severe acute respiratory symptoms in PICU.

Background And Aims: Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) is a common childhood pathogen associated with atypical pneumonia (AP). It is often a mild disease and seldom results in paediatric intensive care (PICU) admission. In 2003, World Health Organization (WHO) coined the word SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) in patients with severe acute respiratory symptoms (sars) for an outbreak of AP in Hong Kong due to a novel coronavirus.

A baby with symmetrical hand injuries and rhabdomyolysis following nonfatal electrocution by an unusual mechanism.

Childhood electrical injuries are rare in the city of Hong Kong. We report the case of a 21-month boy with severe electrical injuries of both hands and explored underlying mechanism for the incident. Meticulous orthopedic repair and reconstruction ensures satisfactory cosmetic and functional outcomes.

Cardiopulmonary morbidity of streptococcal infections in a PICU.

Aim: The streptococci are important bacteria that cause serious childhood infections. We investigated cardiopulmonary morbidity associated with streptococcal infection and pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission.

Methods: A retrospective study between 2002 and 2013 of all children with a laboratory isolation of streptococcus.

Complications of bezoar in children: what is new?

A bezoar is a mass found trapped in the gastrointestinal system. The condition may be associated with pica, especially in developmentally retarded children. Clinical manifestations are usually nonspecific.

Prolonged non-survival in PICU: does a do-not-attempt-resuscitation order matter.

Background: Etiologies of pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) mortality are diverse. This study aimed to investigate the pattern of PICU mortality in a regional trauma center, and explore factors associated with prolonged non-survival.

Methods: Demographic data of all PICU deaths in a regional trauma center were analyzed.

Influenza and parainfluenza associated pediatric ICU morbidity.

Objectives: To investigate if morbidity in young children admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU with a laboratory proven diagnosis of influenza and parainfluenza infection) had increased.

Methods: Retrospective study from January 2003 through December 2009 was carried out. Every child in the PICU with a laboratory-confirmed influenza or parainfluenza infection was included.

Neonates investigated for influenza-like illness during the outbreak of pandemic H1N1 2009: trivial infections but major triage implications.

We report eight cases of neonates (from birth to 25 days) admitted to the neonatal service of a teaching hospital with influenza-like illness during the outbreak of pandemic H1N1 2009, and discuss their management and infection control issues. Empirical antibiotics were often promptly initiated and timely stopped when sepsis was ruled out. Also, there was no pandemic H1N1-09 but influenza A (H3N2, n = 1), parainfluenza (type 3, n = 3) and respiratory syncytial virus (n = 1) have been isolated.

Outcome of children with life-threatening asthma necessitating pediatric intensive care.

Objective: To report the outcome of children with life-threatening asthma (LTA) admitted to a university Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).

Methods: Retrospective study between October 2002 and May 2010 was carried out. Every child with LTA and bronchospasm was included.

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of herbal therapy for children with asthma.

Objectives: The purpose of this trial was to evaluate whether the herbal formula of CUF2 used as complementary therapy improves the clinical symptoms and biochemical markers in children with asthma using inhaled corticosteroids.

Patients And Methods: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled prospective trial, 85 children with asthma aged 7-15 years were randomly assigned to receive either a daily oral herbal formula of 0.619-g CUF2 capsule of dried aqueous extract with an equal weight of five herbs (Astragalus mongholius Bunge, Cordyceps sinensis Sacc.

Severe childhood injuries and poisoning in a densely populated city: where do they occur and what type?

Aim: The aim of this study was to review the patterns of severe childhood injuries and poisoning necessitating pediatric intensive care in a regional trauma center.

Methods: We reviewed discharge data of all children who were hospitalized for severe injuries and poisoning at the pediatric intensive care unit of a teaching hospital between October 2002 and December 2008.

Results: There were 86 patients (males/females, 2:1).

Spot diagnosis: An ominous rash in a newborn.

Purpura fulminans (PF) is an ominous cutaneous condition usually associated with meningococcemia. PF in the newborn is rarely reported. We report the case of a female preterm infant with extensive PF due to group B streptococcus (GBS) septicemia.

Big snake, small snake: which wound is worse when bitten?

Unlabelled: Snakebites in children and teenagers are relatively uncommon in the metropolitan city of Hong Kong. They are rarely fatal but may cause significant morbidity and fear. We report two cases of snakebites to illustrate that the spectrum of morbidity is independent of the size of the snakes.

Ingestion--associated adverse events necessitating pediatric ICU admissions.

Objective: To review the pattern of food-associated pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admissions.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted to analyse the pattern of food-associated PICU admissions at a teaching hospital between January 2004 and May 2007.

Results: Ten cases (7 boys and 3 girls, aged 9 month to 11.

Poisoning necessitating pediatric ICU admissions: size of pupils does matter.

Introduction: Childhood poisonings are common, but usually trivial, and infrequently necessitate intensive care unit (ICU) admissions.

Methods: A retrospective record review was conducted to analyze the pattern of severe poisoning-associated ICU admissions at a teaching hospital between May 2002 and December 2007.

Results: Six cases (4 boys and 2 girls, aged 2 months to 11 years) of drug poisoning-associated ICU admissions were identified.

Indoor versus outdoor childhood submersion injury in a densely populated city.

Aim: To review the outcome of childhood submersion injury (SI).

Methods: We reviewed discharge data of all children with SI who were hospitalized in a university teaching hospital between January 2002 and January 2008.

Results: There were 15 admissions (8 males and 7 females).

Premorbid factors and outcome associated with respiratory virus infections in a pediatric intensive care unit.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to report the clinical features and outcome of all children with a laboratory proven diagnosis of respiratory virus infection admitted to a university Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).

Methods: Retrospective study between January 2003 and April 2007 was carried out in the PICU. Every child with a laboratory-confirmed viral infection was included.

Critical airway obstruction, superior vena cava syndrome, and spontaneous cardiac arrest in a child with acute leukemia.

We report the unusual presentation of a previously healthy girl with sudden cardiopulmonary arrest caused by acute lymphoblastic leukemia and mediastinal involvement leading to acute tracheal and airway obstruction. Despite active resuscitation and mechanical ventilation, she developed severe cerebral edema as a result of cerebral asphyxia. She also had facial edema caused by superior vena cava obstruction, a high peripheral white cell count with blast differentials, and renal failure.

Hepatic failure in a child with anti-epileptic hypersensitivity syndrome.

An 11-year-old boy developed severe hypersensitivity reaction to phenobarbitone resulted in fulminant hepatic failure. During the course of illness, he developed clinical features compatible with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) that may have complicated the recovery of his underlying hypersensitivity reaction, which was subsequently controlled with intravenous immune globulin and corticosteroids.

A novel mutation (G233D) in the glycogen phosphorylase gene in a patient with hepatic glycogen storage disease and residual enzyme activity.

We identified a novel mutation in the glycogen phosphorylase gene (PGYL) in a Chinese patient with glycogen storage disease (GSD) type VI. The patient presented with gross hepatomegaly since the age of two without history of any hypoglycemic attack. Otherwise, he was largely asymptomatic.