Percutaneous central venous catheterization through the external jugular vein in children: is inserting the guide wire into the superior vena cava essential for successful catheterization?

Background/purpose: The external jugular vein (EJV) is an attractive alternative for percutaneous central venous catheterization (PCVC), with fewer complications. The inability to pass the guide wire into the superior vena cava (SVC) is, however, a major reason for the failure of this approach. The authors report a modification of the Seldinger technique to increase the effectiveness of this procedure in children.

Assessing clinical and spirometric control and the intensity of the inflammatory process in asthma.

Objectives: To review the role of clinical assessment, quality of life assessment, spirometry, bronchial responsiveness test and inflammatory markers for asthma assessment.

Sources: Search run on MEDLINE and LILACS.

Summary Of The Findings: Clinical assessment aids with assessing asthma control and is widely recommended.

Basal cortisol in asthmatics on two different doses of fluticasone propionate.

Objectives: To evaluate basal plasma cortisol in persistent asthmatics on inhaled fluticasone propionate 200 mcg/day and 300 mcg/day.

Methods: Asthma diagnosis and classification was based on Global Initiative for Asthma recommendations. Patients aged 11 years old or less received fluticasone propionate 200 mcg/day and those older than 11 years received 300 mcg/day.

Early diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis: assessment by latex particle agglutination test.

Objectives: Acute pharyngitis is one of the most common diseases in pediatric practice, and the most common bacterial etiology is group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GABHS). Correct diagnosis and treatment are primarily of importance to the prevention of non-suppurative sequelae. Rapid tests for detecting the antigen of group A streptococcus are a useful tool for the diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis, due to the speed of results, accuracy and low cost; however, in our country they are little used and have been little studied.

Central venous catheter placement in children: a prospective study of complications in a Brazilian public hospital.

Central venous access is frequently used in infants and children with a wide variety of conditions. This report evaluates our experience and the complications from central venous catheters (CVC) placed percutaneously in children at a public hospital of a developing country-Brazil. To identify associated complications, data were collected prospectively and 155 consecutive catheterizations in children at a public hospital over a nearly 8-month period were analyzed.