A survey of United Kingdom intensive care echocardiography provision.

This study, conducted under the oversight of National Health Service Blood & Transplant, aimed to evaluate the current feasibility and implementation of both comprehensive and focused donor echocardiography in United Kingdom Intensive Care Units through a nationwide survey. Responses from 95 hospitals across all 4 UK nations showed each ICU had median 4 (IQR 2, 6) personal with 3 (IQR 2, 5) consultants and 1 (IQR 0, 2) registrar trained in focused echocardiography. A comprehensive echocardiogram can be acquired in 48% ( = 46) of hospitals within 6 h during regular working hours.

Neurally-Adjusted Ventilatory Assist (NAVA) versus Pneumatically Synchronized Ventilation Modes in Children Admitted to PICU.

Traditionally, invasively ventilated children in the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) are weaned using pneumatically-triggered ventilation modes with a fixed level of assist. The best weaning mode is currently not known. Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA), a newer weaning mode, uses the electrical activity of the diaphragm (Edi) to synchronise ventilator support proportionally to the patient's respiratory drive.

Fifteen-minute consultation: Paediatric organ and tissue donation.

This article explores ways in which paediatricians can help increase awareness and embed organ and tissue donation in the end-of-life care process. This can save patient lives on the organ transplant waiting list, many of whom currently die prematurely. The information benefits multidisciplinary staff including doctors, nurses and allied professionals to (1) recognise triggers for making referral to the specialist nurse for organ donation in order to make timely assessment for suitability for organ and/or tissue donation, (2) plan a multidisciplinary approach for families to make decisions for the gift of life and (3) help provide on-going support to families and staff.

Cytokine imbalance in infants receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for respiratory failure.

Background: It is likely that the imbalance between the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines will determine the outcome in infants with severe respiratory failure receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

Aims: We determined if there was an imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in serial bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid obtained from survivors and non-survivors of ECMO.

Methods: We therefore measured the cellular changes and the molar ratios of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in serial BAL fluid obtained from survivors and non-survivors of ECMO.

The influence of perioperative factors on outcomes in children aged less than 18 months after repair of tetralogy of Fallot.

Objectives: To determine the impact of age at repair in patients with tetralogy of Fallot on early postoperative morbidity.

Methods: All patients less than 19 months of age (median age, 8 months; range, 36 days-18.5 months) who underwent complete repair of tetralogy of Fallot between January 1997 and December 1999 were reviewed.

Effect of air and heliox as carrier gas on CO2 transport in a model of high-frequency oscillation comparing two oscillators.

Objective: To study the effect of carrier gas on CO(2) transport during high-frequency oscillatory ventilation in a closed model.

Design: In vitro model study.

Setting: Respiratory research laboratory affiliated with a tertiary center for pediatric critical care.