Association between blood carboxyhemoglobin level and bronchopulmonary dysplasia in extremely low birthweight infants.

Carboxyhemoglobin (CO-Hb) can be endogenously formed in the presence of oxidative stress and may be elevated in inflammatory lung disease. There is lack of evidence of its relationship with the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in extremely low birthweight (ELBW) infants. The objective of the study is to evaluate the relationship between blood CO-Hb levels in the first 14 days of life (DOL) in ELBW infants and the development of BPD at 36 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA).

Maternal preeclampsia and respiratory outcomes in extremely premature infants.

Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy complication characterized by an anti-angiogenic environment. This can affect fetal pulmonary vascular and alveolar development but data of the impact of PE on respiratory outcome in extremely premature infants are inconclusive. The objective of this study was to determine if PE is associated with an increased risk for severe respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in extremely premature infants.

D-dimer evaluation of hemorrhagic orbital lymphangioma.

An 8-year-old boy with recurrent acute bleeding of lymphangioma of the left orbit is described. D-dimer levels increased as the size of the mass became stable, showing the effect of fibrinolysis within the hemorrhagic mass after clotting. D-dimer levels confirmed the possible use of conservative management of this lymphangioma.

Implementation of a febrile seizure guideline in two pediatric emergency departments.

Despite the typically benign nature of febrile seizures, a large number of children with simple febrile seizures are overinvestigated and overtreated, according to the personal clinical experience of the treating doctors. The study objective was to analyze the effect of implementing an evidence-based medicine guideline on the management of febrile seizures in two European pediatric emergency departments. After introduction of a selected guideline, we analyzed the change in hospitalization rate and in the rate of execution of blood exams in children presenting with febrile seizures.

Endobronchial and transbronchial biopsies in children.

The aim of this review is to describe the indications, techniques and side effects of bronchial biopsies in children. At present, two different types of bronchial biopsies are currently used: endobronchial biopsies (EBBs) and transbronchial biopsies (TBBs). These procedures are becoming more diffuse thanks to the extensive use of pediatric fiber optic bronchoscopes (FOBs).