Polynitroxyl Albumin and Albumin Therapy After Pediatric Asphyxial Cardia Arrest: Effects on Cerebral Blood Flow and Neurologic Outcome

Postresuscitation cerebral blood flow (CBF) disturbances and generation of reactive oxygen species likely contribute to impaired neurologic outcome after pediatric cardiac arrest (CA). Hence, we determined the effects of the antioxidant colloid polynitroxyl albumin (PNA) versus albumin or normal saline (NS) on CBF and neurologic outcome after asphyxial CA in immature rats. We induced asphyxia for 9 minutes in male and female postnatal day 16 to 18 rats randomized to receive PNA, albumin, or NS at resuscitation from CA or sham surgery. Regional CBF was measured serially from 5 to 150 minutes after resuscitation by arterial spin-labeled magnetic resonance imaging. We assessed motor function (beam balance and inclined plane), spatial memory retention (water maze), and hippocampal neuronal survival. Polynitroxyl albumin reduced early hyperemia seen 5 minutes after CA. In contrast, albumin markedly increased and prolonged hyperemia. In the delayed period after resuscitation (90 to 150 minutes), CBF was comparable among groups. Both PNA- and albumin-treated rats performed better in the water maze versus NS after CA. This benefit was observed only in males. Hippocampal neuron survival was similar between injury groups. Treatment of immature rats with PNA or albumin resulted in divergent acute changes in CBF, but both improved spatial memory retention in males after asphyxial CA

Primary Omental Torsion in a Pediatric Patient

© Copyright 2018 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved. Primary omental torsion is a rare cause of acute abdominal pain with a clinical presentation resembling acute appendicitis. Here, we report the case of a 7-year-old child presenting with right lower quadrant pain. Primary omental torsion was discovered upon laparoscopy, and the torsed omentum was excised without postoperative complications. Potential causes, contributing factors, diagnosis, and treatment are discussed

Primary Omental Torsion in a Pediatric Patient: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

© Copyright 2018 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved. Primary omental torsion is a rare cause of acute abdominal pain with a clinical presentation resembling acute appendicitis. Here, we report the case of a 7-year-old child presenting with right lower quadrant pain. Primary omental torsion was discovered upon laparoscopy, and the torsed omentum was excised without postoperative complications. Potential causes, contributing factors, diagnosis, and treatment are discussed

Alterations in Cerebral Blood Flow after Resuscitation from Cardiac Arrest

Greater than 50% of patients successfully resuscitated from cardiac arrest have evidence of neurological disability. Numerous studies in children and adults, as well as in animal models have demonstrated that cerebral blood flow (CBF) is impaired after cardiac arrest. Stages of cerebral perfusion post-resuscitation include early hyperemia, followed by hypoperfusion, and finally either resolution of normal blood flow or protracted hyperemia. At the level of the microcirculation the blood flow is heterogeneous, with areas of no flow, low flow, and increased flow. CBF directed therapies in animal models of cardiac arrest improved neurological outcome, and therefore, the alterations in CBF after cardiac arrest likely contribute to the development of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. Current intensive care after cardiac arrest is centered upon maintaining systemic oxygenation, normal blood pressure values for age, maintaining general homeostasis, and avoiding hyperthermia. Assessment of CBF and oxygenation is not routinely performed after cardiac arrest. Currently available and underutilized techniques to assess cerebral perfusion include transcranial doppler, near-infrared spectroscopy, and arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging. Limited clinical studies established the role of CBF and oxygenation monitoring in prognostication after cardiac arrest and few studies suggest that guiding critical care post-resuscitation to mean arterial pressures above the minimal autoregulatory range might improve outcome. Important knowledge gaps thus remain in cerebral monitoring and CBF and oxygen goal-directed therapies post-resuscitation from cardiac arrest

Gender Differences in Work-Life Integration, Career Satisfaction, and Burnout in Pediatric Emergency Medicine Physicians: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Women physicians report worse work-life integration, career satisfaction, and burnout than men. No studies have evaluated work-life integration and career satisfaction in pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) or explored gender differences for these outcomes. This study aims to (1) compare work-life integration, career satisfaction, and burnout in women and men PEM physicians and (2) compare associated individual and occupational factors to distinguish modifiable factors. METHODS: We distributed an electronic survey to assess well-being parameters in PEM physicians. We assessed career satisfaction and work-life integration with single-item measures. We used a 2-item screen to measure burnout. We performed descriptive analyses, univariate analysis to compare gender differences, and multivariate logistic regression analysis for each outcome. RESULTS: Two hundred thirty-nine PEM physicians participated, yielding a response rate of 50% (57% women; age range, 30-80 years). Overall satisfaction with work-life integration was 42.9%, with 34.3% of women reporting appropriate work-life integration, compared with 55.4% of men (P = 0.001). Career satisfaction rate was 77.8%, with 71.6% of women reporting career satisfaction, compared with 86.1% of men (P = 0.008). Burnout rate was 44.5%, with 53.7% of women reporting burnout compared with 33.7% of men (P = 0.002). Modifiable factors identified include perception of unfair compensation, inadequate physical and mental health support provided by organization, feeling unappreciated, inadequate provider staffing, inadequate resources for patient care, lack of advance notice or control of work schedule, and inadequate sleep. CONCLUSIONS: Of PEM physicians, women have worse work-life integration, less career satisfaction, and more burnout than men. The PEM community should devote resources to modifiable occupational factors to improve gender disparities in well-being parameters

Work-Life Integration for Women in Pediatric Emergency Medicine: Themes Identified Through Group Level Assessment.

OBJECTIVE: Women in medicine generally have higher burnout and lower career satisfaction and work-life integration compared with men. This study identifies factors that contribute to burnout, career satisfaction, and work-life integration in women pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) physicians. METHODS: Self-identified women PEM physicians in the United States participated in a virtual focus group using Group Level Assessment methodology. Participants completed Group Level Assessment process steps of climate setting, generating, appreciating, reflecting, understanding, selecting, and action to (1) identify themes that contribute to burnout, career satisfaction, and work-life integration and (2) determine actionable factors based on these themes. Data were collected and thematically analyzed in real time through iterative processing. The group prioritized identified themes through rounds of distillation. RESULTS: Seventeen women participated, representing 10 institutions (ages 30s-70s, 69% employed full-time). Participants identified 3 main themes contributing to burnout, career satisfaction, and work-life integration: (1) gender inequities, (2) supportive leadership, and (3) balance with family life. Actionable items identified were as follows: (1) development of initiatives to equalize pay, opportunity, and career advancement among genders; (2) implementation of an institutional focus on supportive and collaborative leadership; and (3) improvement of resources and supports for physicians with family responsibilities. CONCLUSIONS: Women PEM physicians identified gender inequities, leadership, and balance with family life as major themes affecting their burnout, career satisfaction, and work-life integration. Several action steps were identified and can be used by individuals and institutions to improve work-life integration for women PEM physicians

Normoxic versus Hyperoxic Resuscitation in Pediatric Asphyxia Cardiac Arrest: Effects on Oxidative Stress

Objective: To determine the effects of normoxic vs. hyperoxic resuscitation on oxidative stress in a model of pediatric asphyxial cardiac arrest.Design: Prospective, interventional study.Setting: University research laboratory.Subjects: Postnatal day 16-18 rats (n = 5 per group).Interventions: Rats underwent asphyxial cardiac arrest for 9 min. Rats were randomized to receive 100% oxygen, room air, or 100% oxygen with polynitroxyl albumin (10 mL[middle dot]kg-1 intravenously, 0 and 30 min after resuscitation) for 1 hr from the start of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Shams recovered in 100% oxygen or room air after surgery.Measurements and Main Results: Physiological variables were recorded at baseline to 1 hr after resuscitation. At 6 hrs after asphyxial cardiac arrest, levels of reduced glutathione and protein-thiols (fluorescent assay), activities of total superoxide dismutase and mitochondrial manganese superoxide dismutase (cytochrome c reduction method), manganese superoxide dismutase expression (Western blot), and lipid peroxidation (4-hydroxynonenal Michael adducts) were evaluated in brain tissue homogenates. Hippocampal 3-nitrotyrosine levels were determined by immunohistochemistry 72 hrs after asphyxial cardiac arrest. Survival did not differ among groups. At 1 hr after resuscitation, Pao2, pH, and mean arterial pressure were decreased in room air vs. 100% oxygen rats (59 +/- 3 vs. 465 +/- 46 mm Hg, 7.36 +/- 0.05 vs. 7.42 +/- 0.03, 35 +/- 4 vs. 45 +/- 5 mm Hg; p \u3c .05). Rats resuscitated with 100% oxygen had decreased hippocampal reduced glutathione levels vs. sham (15.3 +/- 0.4 vs. 20.9 +/- 4.1 nmol[middle dot]mg protein-1; p \u3c .01). Hippocampal manganese superoxide dismutase activity was significantly increased in 100% oxygen rats vs. sham (14 +/- 2.4 vs. 9.5 +/- 1.6 units[middle dot]mg protein-1, p \u3c .01), with no difference in protein expression of manganese superoxide dismutase. Room air and 100% oxygen plus polynitroxyl albumin groups had hippocampal reduced glutathione and manganese superoxide dismutase activity levels comparable with sham. Protein thiol levels were unchanged across groups. Compared with all other groups, rats receiving 100% oxygen had increased immunopositivity for 3-nitrotyrosine in the hippocampus and increased lipid peroxidation in the cortex.Conclusions: Resuscitation with 100% oxygen leads to increased oxidative stress in a model that mimics pediatric cardiac arrest. This may be prevented by using room air or giving an antioxidant with 100% oxygen resuscitation