MATERIALS: Four hundred and ninety-five consecutive paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admissions were analysed. multiple organ dysfunction syndrome was defined as simultaneous dysfunction of >/= 2 organ system and sepsis by the American College of Chest Physicians and Society of Critical Care Medicine Consensus Conference definition.
RESULTS: Eighty-four patients developed MODS. The incidence of sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock in these patients was 10.7%, 23.8% and 17.9%, respectively. Worsening categories of sepsis were associated with: (1) a higher mean admission Paediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM II): 36.6 +/- 25.9, 56.8 +/- 32.1 and 73.6 +/- 28.5%, respectively (P = 0. 005), (2) a larger number of organ dysfunctions: mean MODS index of 37%, 46% and 58%, respectively (P = 0.007), and (3) a higher mortality: 22.2%, 65% and 80%, respectively (P = 0.03).
CONCLUSION: Presence of sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock was associated with an increasing severity of illness, increased number of organ dysfunctions and a distinct risk of mortality among critically ill children.
METHODS: All consecutive inborn infants with umbilical arterial (UAC) and/or umbilical venous catheters (UVC) inserted for more than 6 h duration were included in the study. Each infant was screened for thrombosis in the abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava by 2-D abdominal ultrasonography within 48-72 h of insertion of umbilical vascular catheters. Subsequent serial scanning was performed at intervals of every 5-7 days, and within 48 h after removal of catheters.
RESULTS: Upon removal of umbilical catheters, abdominal aortic thrombi were detected in 32/99 (32.3%) infants with UAC. Small thrombi were detected in the inferior vena cava of 2/49 (4.1%) infants with UVC (one of whom had both UAC and UVC). When compared with those who received only UVC (n = 18), infants who received either UAC alone (n = 68) or both UAC and UVC (n = 31) had significantly higher risk of developing thrombosis (odds ratio (OR): 7.6, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1, 325.5)). Logistic regression analysis of various potential risk factors showed that the only significant risk factor associated with the development of abdominal aortic thrombosis following insertion of UAC was longer duration of UAC in situ (for every additional day of UAC in situ, adjusted OR of developing thrombosis was: 1.2, 95% CI: 1.1, 1.3; P = 0.002).
CONCLUSION: Umbilical arterial catheter-associated thrombosis was common. Umbilical arterial catheter should be removed as soon as possible when not needed. Upon removal of UAC, all infants should be screened for abdominal aortic thrombus by 2-D ultrasonography.
RESULTS: A total of 103 cases with intracranial haemorrhage i.e. intracerebral haemorrhage, extradural haemorrhage, subdural haemorrhage, intraventricular haemorrhage, haemorrhagic contusion and subarachnoid haemorrhage, following motor vehicle accidents was undertaken to study factors contributing to either good or poor outcome according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale. Patients below 12 years of age were excluded. The end point of the study was taken at 24 months post injury. The selected variables were incorporated into models generated by logistic regression techniques of multivariate analysis to see the significant predictors of outcome as well as the correlation between the CT findings with GCS.
CONCLUSION: Significant predictors of outcome were GCS on arrival in the accident emergency department, pupillary reflex and the CT scan findings. The CT predictors of outcome include ICH, EDH, IVH, present of SAH, site of ICH, volumes of EDH and SDH as well as midline shift.
METHODS: Sixty-six consecutive patients who had primary thyroid surgery were prospectively included in the present study between late January and early August 1998.
RESULTS: A total of 96 capsular dissections were performed at thyroid surgery. Grades two and three ZT were recognized in 77 (80.2%) dissections. In general 49 (63.6%) of them were associated with significant pressure symptoms. In 43 (87.8%) of the dissections with pressure symptoms, grade 3 ZT was observed (mean weight of goitre: 154.8 g). Interestingly in this group, 16 (37.2%) patients with pressure symptoms had a goitre that was < 100 g and in one patient it was only 21 g.
CONCLUSIONS: The pressure symptom of the thyroid gland does not always appear to be due to the large size of the goitre. In a relatively small-size goitre the ZT may cause significant pressure symptoms. Observations in the present study supported a strong association of enlarged ZT with pressure symptoms. We believe this is unlikely to be simply a coincidence but rather a consequence of the enlarged tubercle. Nonetheless a prospective randomized study is called for to allow meaningful and objective evidence to be drawn.
SUBJECTS: A cohort (consisting of 2879 males without diagnosed CHD) derived from three previous cross-sectional surveys.
METHODS: Individual baseline data were linked to registry databases to obtain the first event of CHD. Hazard ratios (HR) or relative risks for risk factors were calculated using Cox's proportional hazards model with adjustment for age and ethnic group and adjustment for age, ethnic group and all other risk factors (overall adjusted).
RESULTS: There were 24,986 person-years of follow-up. The overall adjusted HR with 95% CI are presented here. Asian Indians were at greatest risk of CHD, compared to Chinese (3.0; 2.0-4.8) and Malays (3.4; 1.9-3.3). Individuals with hypertension (2.4; 1.6-2.7) or diabetes (1.7; 1.1-2.7) showed a higher risk of CHD. High low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (1.5; 1.0-2.1), high fasting triglyceride (1.5; 0.9-2.6) and low high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (1.3; 0.9-2.0) showed a lesser but still increased risk. Alcohol intake was protective with non-drinkers having an increased risk of CHD (1.8; 1.0-3.3). Obesity (body mass index > or =30) showed an increased risk (1.8; 0.6-5.4). An increased risk of CHD was found in cigarette smokers of > or =20 pack years (1.5; 0.9-2.5) but not with lesser amounts.
CONCLUSIONS: The increased susceptibility of Asian Indian males to CHD has been confirmed in a longitudinal study. All of the examined established risk factors for CHD were found to play important but varying roles in the ethnic groups in Singapore.