Use of propofol in pediatric intensive care units: a national survey in Germany.

Objective: Propofol is not licensed for sedation in pediatric intensive care medicine mainly due to the risk of propofol infusion syndrome. Nevertheless, it is applied by many pediatric intensive care units. The aim of this national survey was to asses the current use of propofol in pediatric intensive care units in Germany.

Dilated cardiomyopathy in children with ventricular preexcitation: the location of the accessory pathway is predictive of this association.

Background: Ventricular preexcitation may be associated with dilated cardiomyopathy, even in the absence of recurrent and incessant tachycardia.

Methods: This report describes the clinical and electrophysiologic characteristics of 10 consecutive children (6 males), with median age of 8 years (range, 1-17 years), who presented with dilated cardiomyopathy and overt ventricular preexcitation on the 12-lead electrocardiogram. Incessant tachycardia as the cause of dilated cardiomyopathy could be excluded.