Lung ultrasound has been shown to be a valuable diagnostic tool. It has become the main way to get to the diagnosis of pleural effusion with much more specificity and sensibility than the x-ray. The diagnosis of pleural effusion with ultrasound is easily obtained after the visualization of hypoechoic fluid surrounding the lung.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe cardiorenal syndrome has been defined as a situation in which therapy to relieve congestive symptoms of heart failure is limited by a decreased renal function. The resistance to conventional diuretic treatment makes difficult managing these patients. Tolvaptan, a selective vasopressin-2 receptor antagonist, has been used successfully in adults with this pathology but the experience with children is very limited.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe cases of two 6 and 9-year-old sisters with lethal poisoning by inhalation of aluminium phosphide, after its inadequate use in a rural environment, are described. The clinical symptoms consisted of sudden vomiting, cardiac arrhythmias, shock, dyspnea, pulmonary edema/acute respiratory distress, metabolic acidosis and hepatic dysfunction, and the patients died in spite of advanced life support. Although an early diagnosis might theoretically improve the poisoning outcome, its high lethality rate and the absence of a specific antidote, efforts must be directed towards prevention and restricting its use as pesticide and being aware of its toxicity.
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