Abstract Objective: To evaluate the influence of intra-abdominal pressure on the cardiac index (CI) at different intra-abdominal hypertension grades achieved when performing an abdominal compression maneuver (ACM). Evaluating the effectiveness of the ACM in distending the left internal jugular vein (LIJV). Methods: Prospective observational study conducted in the PICU of a quaternary care teaching hospital. Participants underwent the ACM and the IAP was measured with an indwelling urinary catheter. At each IAH grade reached during the ACM, the CI was measured by transthoracic echocardiography and the LIJV cross-sectional area (CSA) was determined by ultrasonography. Results: Twenty-four children were included (median age and weight of 3.5 months and 6.37 kg, respectively). The median CI observed at baseline and during IAH grades I, II, III, and IV were 3.65 L/min/m2 (IQR 3.12−4.03), 3.38 L/min/m2 (IQR 3.04−3.73), 3.16 L/min/m2 (IQR 2.70−3.53), 2.89 L/min/m2 (IQR 2.38−3.22), and 2.42 L/min/m2 (IQR 1.91−2.79), respectively. A 25% increase in the LIJV CSA area was achieved in 14 participants (58%) during the ACM. Conclusion: The ACM significantly increases IAP, causing severe reversible impairment in the cardiovascular system and is effective in distending the LIJV in just over half of the subjects. Even low levels of HIA can result in significant cardiac dysfunction in children. Therefore, health professionals should be aware of the negative hemodynamic repercussions caused by the increased IAP.

OBJETIVOS: Descrever características clínicas e epidemiológicas de crianças com diarréia aguda e choque, admitidas em unidade de terapia intensiva pediátrica, e comparar a evolução clínica entre os grupos óbito e sobrevida, identificando fatores associados ao óbito. MÉTODOS: Estudo descritivo, retrospectivo, não controlado, no período de fevereiro de 1994 a janeiro de 1998. Os dados epidemiológicos e clínico-evolutivos dos pacientes foram analisados e os grupos de pacientes com sobrevida e com óbito foram comparados. O teste Qui-quadrado foi utilizado para variáveis contínuas, e o teste exato de Fisher para as variáveis categóricas (valores menores que cinco). RESULTADOS: Foram admitidas 71 crianças, com idade entre 0,4 e 13,9 meses. Evoluíram para óbito 15. Baixo peso de nascimento foi encontrado em 18,1% dos pacientes, tempo médio de aleitamento materno de 1,1 mês e de internação de 5,6 dias. Receberam antibióticos 93% das crianças. Necessitaram de ventilação pulmonar mecânica 52/71 crianças, uso de drogas vasoativas 23/70 e uso de bicarbonato de sódio 15/71; estas variáveis estiveram associadas com maior risco de óbito, na análise univariada. No modelo multivariado, permaneceram como significantes o parâmetro droga vasoativa (OR=18,56) e idade menor que três meses (OR=0,10). CONCLUSÕES: A diarréia aguda e choque ocorreram principalmente em crianças com menos de três meses de idade, com apresentação clínica e laboratorial de gravidade. Na evolução clínica, a utilização de terapia de suporte em paciente crítico esteve associada ao óbito, com destaque para o uso de droga vasoativa.

BACKGROUND: Describe clinical and epidemiological characteristics of pediatric patients diagnosed with acute diarrhea and shock, admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit, in order to compare the evolution of clinical data between the survival and non-survival groups, thereby identifying the risk factors of death. METHODS: In the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of the Clinical Hospital at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), a non-controlled, descriptive and retrospective study was carried out from February 1994 to January 1998 The epidemiological and clinical/evolution data were analyzed and the groups of those who survived (56) and did not survive (15) were compared. For continuous variables, the Chi-Square test was used and for categorical variables, the Fisher's Exact test, for values lower than five. RESULTS: Seventy one children aged from 0.4 to 13.9 months were admitted, 15 of them died (21.2%). Low birth weight was found in 18.1% and the mean breast-feeding time was 1.1 months. The average length of stay was 5.6 days. 52/71 children needed mechanical ventilation, use of vasoactive drugs and sodium bicarbonate was necessary in 23/71 and 15/71, respectively. 93% of children were given antibiotics. The use of sodium bicarbonate, vasoactive drugs and mechanical ventilation showed an association with risk of death, but only vasoactive drugs (OR=18.56) and an age less than 3 months (OR=0.10) showed a statistically significant difference in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Acute diarrhea and shock occurred mainly in children under 3 months of age with a severe clinical/laboratorial condition. During clinical evolution, the high risk of death was related to the use of vasoactive drugs, a support therapy used in critical patients.

OBJETIVO:Análise de 52 pacientes pediátricos com trauma de crânio (TCE) assistidos em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva, considerando fatores epidemiológicos do trauma, manifestações clínicas, aspectos tomográficos, variações hemodinâmicas e opções de tratamento da hipertensão intracraniana; avaliar a utilização da monitorização da pressão intracraniana (PIC). MÉTODO:Estudoretrospectivo de 52 pacientes com TCE e 17 destes submetidos a monitorização da PIC. RESULTADO:Houve predominância masculina e a média de idade foi 7,75 anos. Atropelamento foi a principal causa (38,5% dos casos). Encontramos 21,2% dos pacientes com hipotensão arterial. Foram classificados como TCE grave 67,3% dos pacientes. Tivemos graduação tomográfica de Marshall tipo I em 19,2%, II em 65,4%, III em 3,8%, IV em 3,8% e V em 7,7%. Apresentaram crise convulsiva 25%. Foram submetidos a monitorização da PIC 32,7%. A taxa de mortalidade foi 11,5%. O maior valor pressórico ocorreu no segundo dia em 58,8%. CONCLUSÃO: O prognóstico se relacionou com a severidade do trauma, hipotensão arterial, graduação tomográfica de Marshall tipo III e IV e altos valores de PIC. A monitorização da PIC permite facilidades no diagnóstico e tratamento da hipertensão intracraniana.

OBJECTIVES: Analysis of 52 pediatric patients with head trauma assisted at Intensive Care Unit; to present considerations about epidemiologic factors of trauma, clinical presentation, tomografic aspects, hemodynamic changes and treatment options of intracranial hypertension; to present considerations about the intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring. METHOD: Retrospective study involving 52 patients with head trauma and 17 patients submitted to a ICP monitoring. RESULTS: We found a male predominance, mean age 7.75 years-old, main cause was run over (38.5%); 21.2% patients presentd arterial hypotension; 67.3% were considered severe head trauma. According to Marshall tomografic grading we had 19.2% type I, 65.4% type II, 3.8% type III, 3.8% type IV and 7.7% type V. Seizures occurred in 25% children ICP monitoring was made in 32.7% of all patients. Mortality rate was 11.5%. In 58% the maximum ICP level occured at the second day of trauma. CONCLUSION: Prognosis was related to severity of trauma, arterial hypotension, Marshall's tomografic gradind III and IV and ICP high values. The ICP monitoring was considered useful to allow the identification and treatment of intracranial hypertension.