Serum Vitamin D Status and Outcome in Critically Ill Children.

Background: Vitamin D is a pleiotropic hormone essential for optimal health. Critical illness in children is a major cause of significant health-care utilization and mortality around the world. The association of Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) in critically ill adults has been well-studied, in comparison, the importance of Vitamin D in pediatric critical illness has been much less studied.

The prevalance of and factors associated with intra-abdominal hypertension on admission day in critically ill pediatric patients: A multicenter study.

Purpose: To investigate admission prevalence of intraabdominal hypertension (IAH) and to determine clinical and laboratory characteristics on admission day associated with IAH in critically ill pediatric patients.

Materials And Methods: One hundred thirty newly admitted critically ill pediatric patients were included. Intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) was measured 4 times (every 6 hours) with the bladder pressure method.

Pulmonary hypoplasia presenting with recurrent wheezing in an infant.

Pulmonary hypoplasia is characterized by decrease in the number and size of pulmonary airways, alveoli and vessels. In autopsy, pulmonary hypoplasia is a major cause of death in neonates and infants. The disease is usually diagnosed in childhood period.

Fulminant pertussis in very young infants: two cases and review of the literature.

Pertussis is one of the leading causes of death that can be prevented by vaccination. More than 600,000 deaths from pertussis occur annually, with a disproportionate number appearing in unvaccinated infants. Pertussis is particularly troublesome because it does not necessarily present itself in its commonly known classical stages.

Iatrogenic tracheal rupture in a child: case study and review of literature.

Tracheal rupture is rare in childhood, and optimal treatment is not clear. A 14-year-old boy was admitted to a local hospital after sudden loss of consciousness. He underwent endotracheal intubation and was referred to our hospital.

Nasopharyngeal encephalocele: a rare cause of upper airway obstruction.

Nasopharyngeal encephalocele is a rare, benign congenital anomaly. It has the potential to be fatal due to airway obstruction. Here, we report on a 34-day-old infant with pneumonia who underwent mechanical ventilation.

Old agent, new experience: colistin use in the paediatric Intensive Care Unit--a multicentre study.

Nosocomial infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) microorganisms are a common problem around the world, especially in Intensive Care Units. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of colistin therapy in paediatric patients with severe nosocomial infections caused by MDR Gram-negative bacteria. There were 87 episodes in 79 paediatric Intensive Care Unit patients in five different hospitals; each patient was treated intravenously with colistin and evaluated.

Intracardiac thrombus case caused by blunt trauma due to child abuse.

Intracardiac thrombus is a rare condition in children, although there has recently been an increase in case reports in the literature. We here report an asymptomatic intracardiac thrombus caused by blunt trauma due to child abuse in a 4-year-old girl. On the echocardiogram, one can see pericardial fluid surrounding all of the heart, and a mobile mass, a thrombus of 5.

Is serum cystatin C a better marker than serum creatinine for monitoring renal function in pediatric intensive care unit?

In critically ill patients, mild to moderate reductions in glomerular filtration rate are not instantly followed by parallel changes in serum creatinine (SCr). The aim of this study was to identify a value of serum cystatin C (cys-C) level as a marker for monitoring renal function in critically ill pediatric patients. Creatinine clearance was used to estimate glomeruler filtration rate (eGFR).

Pediatric tracheotomy: 3-year experience at a tertiary care center with 54 children.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the indications, complications and outcomes of pediatric tracheotomies at a tertiary care center. Data were obtained retrospectively from 54 patients who underwent tracheotomy from July 2007 to May 2010. Over the three-year period, 54 tracheotomies were performed.

Gluconeogenesis defect presenting with resistant hyperglycemia and acidosis mimicking diabetic ketoacidosis.

Fructose-1,6-diphosphatase (FDPase) enzyme deficiency is a rare inherited metabolic disease. Affected patients usually present with metabolic crisis including hypoglycemia, acidosis, ketonuria, and hyperuricemia. A previously healthy 8-month-old male infant presented with fever, vomiting, and hypoactivity.

Clinical and epidemiological features of Turkish children with 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) infection: experience from multiple tertiary paediatric centres in Turkey.

Background: In April 2009 a novel strain of human influenza A, identified as H1N1 virus, rapidly spread worldwide, and in early June 2009 the World Health Organization raised the pandemic alert level to phase 6. Herein we present the largest series of children who were hospitalized due to pandemic H1N1 infection in Turkey.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective multicentre analysis of case records involving children hospitalized with influenza-like illness, in whom 2009 H1N1 influenza was diagnosed by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay, at 17 different tertiary hospitals.

Admission hyperglycemia is a reliable outcome predictor in children with severe traumatic brain injury.

Objective: To identify the relationship between admission hyperglycemia and outcome in children with severe brain injury at hospital discharge and 6 months later.

Method: A retrospective analysis of blood glucose levels was conducted in 61 children with severe brain injury admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit between November 1, 2005 and October 30, 2009. Hyperglycemia was considered for a cut off value of > 150 mg/dL, based on literature.

Critically ill children with pandemic influenza (H1N1) in pediatric intensive care units in Turkey.

Objectives: To outline the epidemiologic features, clinical presentation, clinical courses, and outcomes in critically ill children with pandemic influenza in pediatric intensive care units.

Design: Retrospective, observational, multicenter study.

Setting: Thirteen tertiary pediatric intensive care units in Turkey.

Severe myopathy caused by the new pandemic influenza A (H1N1) in a child.

Myopathy is a rare complication of influenza infections. Here, we report on an eight-year-old girl with severe myopathy due to new pandemic influenza A (H1N1). She presented with severe myopathy following generalized tonic-clonic seizure and recovered completely within a few days.