Cerebral infarction and antiphospholipid syndrome in children.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) in children with acute cerebral infarction.

Methods: The study was carried out in 10 consecutive patients during the first days of neurological symptoms. aPL detected as lupus anticoagulant or anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) and natural anticoagulant proteins C, S, and antithrombin III were determined in all patients.

[Treatment of acute poisoning caused by carbamazepine, digoxin, and acetylsalicylic acid, with repeated doses of activated charcoal].

Twelve pediatric patients with acute poisonings caused by carbamazepine, digoxin and acetylsalicylic acid were treated with multiple doses of activated charcoal combined with a saline cathartic (adsorption surface of activated charcoal nearly 950 m2/g). This procedure was effective to shorten the plasmatic levels of the drugs, besides the clinical improvement of the poisoned patients. The average initial and final levels of the drugs were: carbamazepine 21.

[Experience in the use of central venous catheterization via subclavian puncture in a pediatric hospital].

Objective: To assess the frequency and type of complications during central venous catheter installation by subclavian puncture, and during its use in children admitted to an ICU.

Patients And Methods: Patients from one month to 15 years of age, admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the Hospital de Pediatría Centro Médico Nacional, Siglo XXI, who underwent a percutaneous infraclavicular subclavian puncture for central venous catheter complications were included. Clinical features, diagnosis, complications and indications for the procedure were registered.

[The treatment of status epilepticus in children].

In children the status epilepticus (SE) constitutes a neurological emergency related to a high rate morbi-mortality. The prompt recognition and management are essentially to prevent irreversible neurologic damage. The frequency of SE in emergency rooms and pediatric intensive care units (PICU) is high because of several causes in the group of children less than five years old and particularly in the first year of life.

[Prognostic factors in a pediatric intensive care unit].

Objectives: To identify the mortality prognostic factors from a pediatric intensive care unit.

Study Design: Retrolective cohort study with an analysis of cases and controls (ambidirectional design). PLACE OF STUDY: The intensive care unit at a Pediatric Third Level Hospital.