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Infant Mortality In Delaware: The Need To Improve Maternal Health And Reduce Premature Births., David A. Paul. Md

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

Delaware's high infant mortality rate continues to be driven by an increasing number of premature births. Premature birth is a complex problem with both social and medical roots. Based on the CDC road map, programs aimed at improving preconception health of women of childbearing age are blossoming in Delaware. In addition, Delaware's infant mortality rate can only be reduced if we are able to diminish disparities in health care delivery, and improve the social factors influencing infant mortality. These factors include diminishing family support, low high school graduation rate, poor housing, and a lack of health insurance.

Chest Radiograph After Central Line Placement Under Fluoroscopy: Utility Or Futility?, Scott J. Keckler, Troy L. Spilde, Brian Ho, Kuojen Tsao, Daniel J. Ostlie, G W. Holcomb Iii, Shawn D. St Peter

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Postoperative portable chest films are routinely performed after fluoroscopic placement of central venous catheters to evaluate positioning and to rule out significant complications (eg, pneumothorax). Emerging evidence in the literature has called this practice into question suggesting that routine postoperative chest x-ray is unnecessary. Therefore, we investigated our recent experience to examine the utility of these films, to examine the development of symptoms relative to therapeutic intervention, and to report a cost-benefit analysis.

METHODS: After obtaining institutional review board approval, all charts of patients undergoing central venous catheter placement from January 2004 to December 2005 at our institution were …

Pediatric Safety And Quality, Susan R. Lacey, Janis B. Smith, Karen Cox

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Excerpt

Pediatric care is complex due to developmental and dependency issues associated with children. How these factors impact the specific processes of care is an area of science in which little is known. We are only beginning to understand the relationship between nurse staffing and adverse events in hospitalized children; effects that may be compounded by inadequate numbers of pediatric nurses. Throughout health care providing safe and high quality patient care continues to provide significant challenges. Efforts to improve the safety and quality of care are resource intensive and take continued commitment not only by those who deliver care, but …

Continuous Source Of Care Among Young Underserved Children: Associated Characteristics And Use Of Recommended Parenting Practices., Esther K Chung, Leny Mathew, Kelly F Mccollum, Irma T Elo, Jennifer F Culhane

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to 1) assess sociodemographic and health characteristics associated with having a continuous source of care (CSOC) among young children and 2) determine the relationship between having a CSOC and use of parenting practices.

METHODS: We conducted a prospective, community-based survey of women receiving prenatal care at Philadelphia community health centers. We conducted surveys at the first prenatal visit and at a mean age +/- standard deviation of 3 +/-1, 11 +/- 1, and 24 +/- 2 months postpartum, obtaining information on sociodemographic and health characteristics, child's health care provider, and 6 parenting practices. …

Nonsexual Transmission Of Anogenital Warts In Children: A Retrospective Analysis, Valerie Jones, Shawn J. Smith, Hatim A. Omar

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

The purpose was to evaluate the prevalence of sexual abuse in patients who were referred to a pediatric gynecologist for evaluation based on the clinical findings of anogenital warts. A retrospective analysis was performed on 131 patients between the ages 6 month and 9 years referred to a pediatric gynecologist after the finding of anogenital warts by a clinical provider, parent or caregiver. A complete physical examination under colposcopy by a the same, trained pediatric gynecologist was completed, and a complete medical and family history including maternal and sibling history for evidence of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and anogenital warts. The …

Survival After Bidirectional Cavopulmonary Anastomosis: Analysis Of Preoperative Risk Factors., Mark A. Scheurer, Elizabeth G Hill, Nagavardhan Vasuki, Scott Maurer, Eric M. Graham, Varsha Bandisode, Girish S. Shirali, Andrew M. Atz, Scott M. Bradley

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

OBJECTIVE: Prognostic factors for survival after bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis for functionally single ventricle are not well defined. We analyzed preoperative hemodynamic and echocardiographic data to determine risk factors for death or transplantation at least 1 year after bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis.

METHODS: Data for all patients who underwent bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis before 5 years of age at our institution from September 1995 through June 2005 were analyzed. Available preoperative echocardiograms and catheterizations were reviewed. Survivors were compared with those who died or underwent transplantation. Bivariable associations between demographic and clinical risk factors and survival status (alive without transplantation vs dead or …

Azithromycin In The Extremely Low Birth Weight Infant For The Prevention Of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: A Pilot Study, Hubert O. Ballard, Michael I. Anstead, Lori A. Shook

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Azithromycin reduces the severity of illness in patients with inflammatory lung disease such as cystic fibrosis and diffuse panbronchiolitis. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a pulmonary disorder which causes significant morbidity and mortality in premature infants. BPD is pathologically characterized by inflammation, fibrosis and impaired alveolar development. The purpose of this study was to obtain pilot data on the effectiveness and safety of prophylactic azithromycin in reducing the incidence and severity of BPD in an extremely low birth weight (< or = 1000 grams) population.

METHODS: Infants < or = 1000 g birth weight admitted to the University of Kentucky Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (level III, regional referral center) from 9/1/02-6/30/03 were eligible for this pilot study. The pilot study was double-blinded, randomized, and placebo-controlled. Infants were randomized to treatment or placebo within 12 hours of beginning mechanical ventilation (IMV) and within 72 hours of birth. The treatment group received azithromycin 10 mg/kg/day for 7 days followed by 5 mg/kg/day for the duration of the study. Azithromycin or placebo was continued until the infant no longer required IMV or supplemental oxygen, to a maximum of 6 weeks. Primary endpoints were incidence of BPD as defined by oxygen requirement at 36 weeks gestation, post-natal steroid use, days of IMV, and mortality. Data was analyzed by intention to treat using Chi-square and ANOVA.

RESULTS: A total of 43 extremely premature infants were enrolled in this pilot study. Mean gestational age and …

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease And Fundoplication In Infants And Children, Shawn D. St Peter, G W. Holcomb Iii

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can be one of the most distressing conditions developing at different ages in infants and children. The disease itself is a complex process along with ongoing dynamic anatomic and physiologic changes occurring during normal development. Therefore among referring physicians, considerations regarding the role of surgery for GERD in children varies widely depending on individual experiences in managing these patients. These varied opinions result in discrepancies in the operative experience with fundoplication among pediatric surgeons. It is unclear how much of the current opinions stem from published evidence, particularly with regard to the safety and efficacy of …

Homocysteine Levels In Preterm Infants: Is There An Association With Intraventricular Hemorrhage? A Prospective Cohort Study., Wendy J Sturtz, Kathleen H Leef, Amy B Mackley, Shailja Sharma, Teodoro Bottiglieri, David A Paul

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to characterize total homocysteine (tHcy) levels at birth in preterm and term infants and identify associations with intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and other neonatal outcomes such as mortality, sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and thrombocytopenia. METHODS: 123 infants < 32 weeks gestation admitted to our Level III nursery were enrolled. A group of 25 term infants were enrolled for comparison. Two blood spots collected on filter paper with admission blood drawing were analyzed by a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Statistical analysis included ANOVA, Spearman's Rank Order Correlation and Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: The median tHcy was 2.75 micromol/L with an interquartile range of 1.34 - 4.96 micromol/L. There was no difference between preterm and term tHcy (median 2.76, IQR 1.25 - 4.8 micromol/L vs median 2.54, IQR 1.55 - 7.85 micromol/L, p = 0.07). There was no statistically significant difference in tHcy in 31 preterm infants with IVH compared to infants without IVH (median 1.96, IQR 1.09 - 4.35 micromol/L vs median 2.96, IQR 1.51 - 4.84 micromol/L, p = 0.43). There was also no statistically significant difference in tHcy in 7 infants with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) compared to infants without PVL (median 1.55, IQR 0.25 - 3.45 micromol/L vs median 2.85, IQR 1.34 - 4.82 micromol/L, p = 0.07). Male infants had lower tHcy compared to female; prenatal steroids were associated with a higher tHcy. CONCLUSION: In our population of preterm infants, there is no association between IVH and tHcy. Male gender, prenatal steroids and preeclampsia were associated with differences in tHcy levels.

Guidelines And Standards For Performance Of A Pediatric Echocardiogram: A Report From The Task Force Of The Pediatric Council Of The American Society Of Echocardiography., Wyman W. Lai, Tal Geva, Girish S. Shirali, Peter C. Frommelt, Richard A. Humes, Michael M. Brook, Ricardo H. Pignatelli, Jack Rychik, Pediatric Council Of The American Society Of Echocardiography

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

No abstract provided.

Open Versus Laparoscopic Pyloromyotomy For Pyloric Stenosis: A Prospective, Randomized Trial., Shawn D. St Peter, G W. Holcomb Iii, Casey M. Calkins, J Patrick Murphy, Walter S. Andrews, Ronald J. Sharp, Charles L. Snyder, Daniel J. Ostlie

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Pyloric stenosis, the most common surgical condition of infants, is treated by longitudinal myotomy of the pylorus. Comparative studies to date between open and laparoscopic pyloromyotomy have been retrospective and report conflicting results. To scientifically compare the 2 techniques, we conducted the first large prospective, randomized trial between the 2 approaches.

METHODS: After obtaining IRB approval, subjects with ultrasound-proven pyloric stenosis were randomized to either open or laparoscopic pyloromyotomy. Postoperative pain management, feeding schedule, and discharge criteria were identical for both groups. Operating time, postoperative emesis, analgesia requirements, time to full feeding, length of hospitalization after operation, and complications …

Incidence And Outcome Of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation In Patients With Shunted Single Ventricle: Advantage Of Right Ventricle To Pulmonary Artery Shunt., Eric M. Graham, Geoffrey A. Forbus, Scott M. Bradley, Girish S. Shirali, Andrew M. Atz

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

No abstract provided.

Investigating The Causes Of Low Birth Weight In Contrasting Ovine Paradigms., J M Wallace, Timothy Regnault, S W Limesand, W W Hay, R V Anthony

Paediatrics Publications

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) still accounts for a large incidence of infant mortality and morbidity worldwide. Many of the circulatory and transport properties of the sheep placenta are similar to those of the human placenta and as such, the pregnant sheep offers an excellent model in which to study the development of IUGR. Two natural models of ovine IUGR are those of hyperthermic exposure during pregnancy, and adolescent overfeeding, also during pregnancy. Both models yield significantly reduced placental weights and an asymmetrically growth-restricted fetus, and display altered maternal hormone concentrations, indicative of an impaired trophoblast capacity. Additionally, impaired placental angiogenesis …

Association Of Viral Genome With Graft Loss In Children After Cardiac Transplantation., Girish S. Shirali, J Ni, R E. Chinnock, J K. Johnston, G L. Rosenthal, N E. Bowles, J A. Towbin

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: The survival of recipients of cardiac allografts is limited by rejection, lymphoproliferative disease, and coronary vasculopathy. The purpose of this study in children who had received heart transplants was to evaluate the cardiac allografts for myocardial viral infections and to determine whether the presence of viral genome in the myocardium correlates with rejection, coronary vasculopathy, or graft loss.

METHODS: We enrolled heart-transplant recipients 1 day to 18 years old who were undergoing evaluation for possible rejection and coronary vasculopathy. Endomyocardial-biopsy specimens were evaluated for evidence of rejection with the use of standard criteria and were analyzed for the presence …

Nebulized Nitroglycerin In Children With Pulmonary Hypertension Secondary To Congenital Heart Disease, Hatim Omar, Fangqi Gong, Mei Y. Sun, Stanley Einzig

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Pulmonary hypertension continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality, despite new treatments. Since inhaled nitric oxide has been reported to be effective in some cases, we investigated using nebulized nitroglycerine to treat pulmonary hypertension in children with congenital heart disease. Four children (ages 6-72 months) with severe pulmonary hypertension secondary to congenital heart disease (all with membranous ventricular septal defect, undergoing cardiac catheterization) were given 3 cc of nebulized normal saline over 10 min as placebo control, followed by nebulized nitroglycerine (20 micrograms/Kg in 3 cc normal saline). Normal saline administration did not elicit any change, but …

Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography For Assessing Coronary Artery Disease After Transplantation In Children., R L. Larsen, P M. Applegate, D A. Dyar, P A. Ribeiro, S D. Fritzsche, N F. Mulla, Girish S. Shirali, M A. Kuhn, R E. Chinnock, P M. Shah

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility, safety and diagnostic accuracy of dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) for evaluating posttransplant coronary artery disease (TxCAD) in children, and to determine the frequency of selected cardiac events after normal or abnormal DSE.

BACKGROUND: Posttransplant coronary artery disease is the most common cause of graft loss (late death or retransplantation) after cardiac transplantation (CTx) in children. Coronary angiography, routinely performed to screen for TxCAD, is an invasive procedure with limited sensitivity. The efficacy of DSE for detecting atherosclerotic coronary artery disease is established, but is unknown in children after CTx. …

Predicting Red Blood Cell Transfusions In Very Low Birth Weight Infants Based On Clinical Risk Factors., David A. Paul, Stephen A. Pearlman, Kathleen H. Leef, John L. Stefano

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical factors most predictive of red blood cell transfusion in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of VLBW infants cared for at a single level III NICU during a two year period, n = 199.

RESULTS: Overall transfusion requirement was 4.6 +/- 6.2 transfusions/infant/hospital course. Length of hospital stay, days of mechanical ventilation, requirement for dopamine support, birth weight, initial hematocrit, periventricular leukomalacia and necrotizing enterocolitis all independently correlated with number of transfusions and donors. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia and patent ductus arteriosus were associated with donor but not transfusion number.

CONCLUSIONS: Our data …

The Optimal Fontan Connection: A Growing Extracardiac Lateral Tunnel With Pedicled Pericardium., S R. Gundry, A J. Razzouk, M J. Del Rio, Girish S. Shirali, L L. Bailey

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

OBJECTIVE: The concept of a lateral tunnel for the Fontan operation is now widely accepted. Most lateral tunnels are constructed intraatrially with the use of aortic crossclamping. Construction of extracardiac lateral tunnels with the use of homografts or other nonviable tubes eliminates aortic crossclamping but lacks growth potential in length or width. The native pericardium, which is "sealed" posteriorly along the pulmonary artery, atrium, and inferior vena cava, could be turned down onto the right atrium to form a viable extracardiac lateral tunnel.

METHODS: We designed and successfully constructed extracardiac lateral tunnels using viable autologous pericardium, pedicled on its lateral …

Ventricular Remodeling Following Infant-Pediatric Cardiac Transplantation. Does Age At Transplantation Or Size Disparity Matter?, Girish S. Shirali, F Lombano, W L. Beeson, D A. Dyar, N F. Mulla, A Khan, J K. Johnston, R E. Chinnock, S R. Gundry, A J. Razzouk

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Early left ventricular (LV) remodeling following pediatric cardiac transplantation has not been described. To identify patterns and determinants of change in left ventricular mass and volume posttransplant, we studied 125 consecutive children who underwent cardiac transplantation between January 1, 1989 and July 31, 1993. Two-dimensional imaging-directed M-mode echocardiograms were studied weekly until 26 weeks post-transplant. LV mass and volume (indexed to BSA1.5) were measured. LV mass index increased until 3 weeks post-transplant, and then decreased. The mean decrement in LV mass index after 8 weeks post-transplant (relative to baseline) was significantly larger in patients with donor-recipient weight ratio > 1.5 compared …

Images In Clinical Medicine. Bilateral Femur Fractures., Gregory P. Conners, D W. Ochsenschlager

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of Cytotoxic Properties Of Neonatal And Adult Neutrophils And Monocytes And Enhancement By Cytokines., E . R. Stiehm, R. L. Roberts, B. J. Ank, S. Plaeger-Marshall, N. Salman, L. Shen, M. W. Fanger

Dartmouth Scholarship

We studied cytotoxic capabilities of newborn polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and monocytes and their enhancement by cytokines and antibodies. Umbilical cord PMNs were assessed for their ability to kill various target cells spontaneously, after activation with phorbol myristate acetate, in the presence of antiserum (antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity), and in the presence of dually specific antibody (heteroantibody-mediated cytotoxicity). Target cells included the K562 cell line (natural killer cell target), chicken erythrocytes (CRBCs), and herpes simplex virus-infected CEM cell lines. Newborn PMNs were equivalent to adult PMNs in their cytotoxic capacity in several cytotoxicity assays. Neither adult nor newborn PMNs lyse tumor cell …

A Clustering Of Childhood Meningococcal Disease: A Challenge For Physicians, Press And Community., Michael S. Dreyer, Stephen C. Eppes, Joel D. Klein

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

The Delaware Division of Public Health reported only two cases of documented meningococcal infection in the pediatric population in 1992. As of March 1, 1993, the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report indicated only one case of meningococcal disease in the state of Delaware for 1993. However, from the end of February to early April 1993, approximately six weeks, there were seven cases of documented meningococcal infection in the pediatric population that either presented or were transferred to one of the pediatric care facilities in the Wilmington, Delaware area. Notification of these cases to the Delaware Division of Public Health prompted …