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Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics. Part B Dec 2023The supracondylar humeral fracture (SCHF) is the most common fracture seen in children, forming up to 70% of all pediatric elbow fractures. The decision to surgically...
The supracondylar humeral fracture (SCHF) is the most common fracture seen in children, forming up to 70% of all pediatric elbow fractures. The decision to surgically explore the brachial artery in a well-perfused, pulseless arm remains a controversial one among vascular and orthopedic surgeons and is something we seek to explore in this article. We reviewed the literature from electronic databases such as PubMed and Embase for studies focusing on the management of the pink pulseless hand (PPH) following SCHF. We gathered a total of 23 articles to be analyzed in this review. We found 336 PPH postreduction and evaluated the management as well as the follow-up and complications of the PPH involved. Most recent articles have cited the close observation strategy as the most reliable strategy. It is clear that the management of a SCHF requires immediate reduction and fixation. In the management of a postoperatively pulseless pink humerus, we do agree with the latest conclusion of Delionitis et al. who advocate the traditional dogma of watchful waiting in the case of a PPH postreduction and fixation as long as no signs of vascular deterioration appear. However, the outcome of this study also advocates for the monitoring of up to 24-48 h postreduction and the use of noninvasive tools such as ultrasound Doppler, Color flow duplex Ultrasound and pulse oximetry to monitor perfusion as they all have had good outcomes in the articles cited in this review. Still, in the event of vascular deterioration or development of complications of the hand, immediate vascular exploration is still indicated.
PubMed: 38189745
DOI: 10.1097/BPB.0000000000001149 -
Journal of Pediatric Surgery May 2023Surgically correctable congenital anomalies are responsible for a significant burden of morbidity and mortality in children from low-and lower-middle-income countries... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Surgically correctable congenital anomalies are responsible for a significant burden of morbidity and mortality in children from low-and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs). Early identification through fetal and neonatal screening is critical to reducing death and disability. This study aims to identify feasible screening methods for surgically correctable congenital anomalies in LMICs.
METHODS
A systematic search looking at screening for congenital anomalies in LMIC was conducted in seven databases from 2000 until May 25, 2020, with no language restriction. All articles discussing screening methods for surgically correctable congenital anomalies in LMICs were included. Articles were screened by two independent contributors using Rayyan software, with a third contributor resolving conflicts. Feasibility of the screening method and its risk of bias were assessed using the MINORS scale.
RESULTS
Of 3473 articles, 24 were included in the full-text review. Nine screening methods (three prenatal and six postnatal) were identified - the most frequently utilized being physician clinical examination (45.8%), pulse oximetry (33.3%) and fetal ultrasound (20.8%). The use of a birth defect picture toolkit was the most feasible screening method. The risk of bias scale yielded an average of 11.9 points, which corresponds to a moderate level of bias.
CONCLUSION
Despite clear benefits, prenatal and neonatal screening methods are infrequently used in LMICs to identify surgically correctable congenital anomalies in neonates, likely due to financial, material, and human resource constraints. Further research into the development of low-cost feasible methods is needed within these settings.
PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER
CRD42020192051.
TYPE OF STUDY
Systematic review.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
IV.
Topics: Infant, Newborn; Pregnancy; Female; Child; Humans; Developing Countries; Neonatal Screening; Risk Assessment
PubMed: 36822972
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2023.01.038 -
International Endodontic Journal Aug 2021Orthodontic tooth movements are performed by applying forces on teeth, which may cause alterations within the dental pulp. Previously published systematic reviews on the...
BACKGROUND
Orthodontic tooth movements are performed by applying forces on teeth, which may cause alterations within the dental pulp. Previously published systematic reviews on the subject only included a small number of studies that assessed pulp status through reliable diagnostic methods. Since then, new evidence has been published, and a further systematic review on the subject is necessary.
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate whether there is scientific evidence to support the possibility that orthodontic tooth movements could induce pulp necrosis.
METHODS
A systematic search of articles published until June 2020 was performed using MeSH and free terms in the PubMed, Cochrane Library, LILACS, SciELO, Web of Science, EMBASE, Open Grey and Grey Literature databases. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs), nonrandomized clinical trials (nRCTs) and longitudinal (prospective or retrospective) studies that evaluated the pulp status of teeth subjected to orthodontic movements using laser Doppler flowmetry or pulse oximetry were included. The revised Cochrane risk of bias tools for randomized trials (RoB 2) and nonrandomized interventions (ROBINS-I) were used to assess the quality of the included studies. Relevant findings were summarized and evaluated. The overall quality of evidence was assessed through the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) tool.
RESULTS
Initial screening of databases resulted in 353 studies. In total, 285 studies were excluded because they were duplicates. Of 68 eligible papers, fourteen met the inclusion criteria and were selected for full-text reading. Two studies were excluded due to the methods used to evaluate pulp status. Twelve studies (five RCTs, one nRCT and six prospective) were included. Four RCTs were classified as having an unclear risk of bias and one as having a high risk of bias. The nRCT was classified as having a low risk of bias. Two prospective studies were classified as having a moderate risk of bias and four as having a serious risk of bias. The GRADE analysis demonstrated a low to very low quality of evidence.
DISCUSSION
Significant limitations regarding the randomization processes within the included RCTs and a lack of control of confounders on most nonrandomized and longitudinal studies were verified.
CONCLUSIONS
This systematic review indicates that orthodontic movements do not induce loss of pulp vitality with low to very low certainty of evidence.
Topics: Dental Pulp Necrosis; Humans; Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; Tooth Movement Techniques
PubMed: 33780015
DOI: 10.1111/iej.13523 -
ERJ Open Research Mar 2023Our aim was to investigate the effectiveness of virtual wards on health outcomes in patients with acute respiratory infection. (Review)
Review
Impact of remote vital sign monitoring on health outcomes in acute respiratory infection and exacerbation of chronic respiratory conditions: systematic review and meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
Our aim was to investigate the effectiveness of virtual wards on health outcomes in patients with acute respiratory infection.
METHODS
We searched four electronic databases from January 2000 to March 2021 for randomised controlled trials (RCTs). We included studies in people with acute respiratory illness or an acute exacerbation of a chronic respiratory illness, where a patient or carer measured vital signs (oximetry, blood pressure, pulse) for initial diagnosis and/or asynchronous monitoring, in a person living in private housing or a care home. We performed random-effects meta-analysis for mortality.
RESULTS
We reviewed 5834 abstracts and 107 full texts. Nine RCTs were judged to be relevant for inclusion, in which sample sizes ranged from 37 to 389 (total n=1627) and mean ages ranged between 61 and 77 years. Five were judged to be at low risk of bias. Five RCTs had fewer hospital admissions in the intervention (monitoring) group, out of which two studies reported a significant difference. Two studies reported more admissions in the intervention group, with one reporting a significant difference. We were unable to perform a meta-analysis on healthcare utilisation and hospitalisation data due to lack of outcome definition in the primary studies and variable outcome measurements. We judged two studies to be at low risk of bias. The pooled summary risk ratio for mortality was 0.90 (95% CI 0.55-1.48).
CONCLUSION
The limited literature for remote monitoring of vital signs in acute respiratory illness provides weak evidence that these interventions have a variable impact on hospitalisations and healthcare utilisation, and may reduce mortality.
PubMed: 37101740
DOI: 10.1183/23120541.00393-2022 -
Perfusion Jan 2024The decision regarding intraoperative transfusion has traditionally been based on hemodynamic instability and estimated blood loss. We performed a systematic review to... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The decision regarding intraoperative transfusion has traditionally been based on hemodynamic instability and estimated blood loss. We performed a systematic review to determine the validity of the oximetry method compared to standard of care for hemoglobin measurement.
METHODS
A systematic literature review was conducted, and several libraries were searched from inception to March 31,2023. The primary outcome was comparing the mean difference between laboratory-derived hemoglobin and non-invasive, point-of-care hemoglobin measurement. Subgroup analysis included comparing the mean difference in the pediatric population and among female patients.
RESULTS
A total of 276 studies were identified, and 37 were included. We found that the pooled mean difference varied qualitatively between adult and pediatric population ( value for heterogeneity <0.001). In adult populations, lab hemoglobin measurements were on average slightly higher than non-invasive measurements (mean difference = 0.23; 95% CI -0.13, 0.59), though there was greater heterogeneity across studies (I2 = 97%, value = <0.001). In the pediatric population, most studies showed lab hemoglobin to be slightly lower (mean difference = -0.42; 95% CI -0.87 to 0.03).
CONCLUSIONS
In general, there was no clinically significant difference in mean hemoglobin among adult and pediatric populations. The percentage of female participants had no effect on the mean difference in hemoglobin.
PubMed: 38231793
DOI: 10.1177/02676591241226465 -
World Neurosurgery Jul 2021Neurocritical diseases and conditions are common causes of long-term disability and mortality. Early recognition and management of neurocritically ill patients is a... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Neurocritical diseases and conditions are common causes of long-term disability and mortality. Early recognition and management of neurocritically ill patients is a significant challenge for neurosurgeons, neurologists, and neurointensivists. Although cerebral angiography, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and radionuclide imaging are useful in neuromonitoring and neuroimaging, they have several important limitations: they are not readily available, cannot be used for a continuous assessment of cerebral function, and frequently require patient transport to the radiological department. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is an inexpensive, portable, noninvasive method that does not require advanced expertise and can be used at the bedside for critically ill patients without moving them to the radiology department. NIRS can detect and monitor multiple critical parameters, including cerebral oximetry, intracranial pressure, temperature, and cerebral blood flow. NIRS can be valuable for a wide variety of neurocritical diseases and conditions, such as ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes, severe traumatic brain injury, brain tumors, and perioperative neurosurgery. Although NIRS has been studied extensively in multiple neurocritical conditions, more evidence on its application is needed.
Topics: Cerebrovascular Circulation; Critical Care; Humans; Nervous System Diseases; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared
PubMed: 33895369
DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.04.054 -
Sleep Medicine Nov 2021Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is one of the common sleep-related breathing disorders in children. However, polysomnography (PSG) is an expensive and labor-intensive... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is one of the common sleep-related breathing disorders in children. However, polysomnography (PSG) is an expensive and labor-intensive diagnostic modality that may not always be feasible, especially in low-income countries or in non-tertiary hospitals. Portable monitors (PMs), a new approach for OSA diagnosis, have become more widely used with lower intolerance and cost in recent years. We aimed to analyze the diagnostic performance of Level IV PMs compared with PSG for the diagnosis of pediatric OSA.
METHODS
PubMed and Embase databases were searched for studies published in English up to December 31, 2020 evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of Level IV PMs against the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) measured using overnight in-laboratory polysomnography (PSG) in children and adolescents. A random-effects bivariate model was used to estimate the summary sensitivity and specificity of oximetry-based statistical classifiers. A qualitative evaluation of studies was performed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) rating.
RESULTS
In total, 20 studies involving 7062 participants were included in this systematic review. Among these articles, seven studies (oximetry based on new mathematical classifiers) involving 5098 individuals satisfied the criteria for quantitative synthesis. Compared with AHI evaluation measured by PSG, different PM systems achieved diagnostic accuracy with variable degrees of success. A meta-analysis showed a pooled sensitivity of 74% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 66-80%) and pooled specificity of 90% (95% CI: 85-94%). The area under the summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve was 0.89 (95% CI: 0.86-0.92).
CONCLUSION
This study showed the potential of Level IV PMs for screening pediatric OSA patients. Oximetry based on new mathematical classifiers may provide a simple and effective alternative to PSG in the diagnosis of pediatric OSA especially in the context of appropriate clinical evaluation.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Humans; Oximetry; Polysomnography; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sleep; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive
PubMed: 34597954
DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2021.08.029 -
Journal of Global Health Aug 2022WHO pneumonia guidelines recommend that children (aged 2-59 months) with chest indrawing pneumonia and without any "general danger sign" can be treated with oral...
Which children with chest-indrawing pneumonia can be safely treated at home, and under what conditions is it safe to do so? A systematic review of evidence from low- and middle-income countries.
BACKGROUND
WHO pneumonia guidelines recommend that children (aged 2-59 months) with chest indrawing pneumonia and without any "general danger sign" can be treated with oral amoxicillin without hospital admission. This recommendation was based on trial data from limited contexts whose generalisability is unclear. This review aimed to identify which children with chest-indrawing pneumonia in low- and middle-income countries can be safely treated at home, and under what conditions is it safe to do so.
METHODS
We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PubMed for observational and interventional studies of home-based management of children (aged 28 days to four years) with chest-indrawing pneumonia in low- or middle-income countries.
RESULTS
We included 14 studies, including seven randomised trials, from a variety of urban and rural contexts in 11 countries. Two community-based and two hospital-based trials in Pakistan and India found that home treatment of chest-indrawing pneumonia was associated with similar or superior treatment outcomes to hospital admission. Evidence from trials (n = 3) and observational (n = 6) studies in these and other countries confirms the acceptability and feasibility of home management of chest-indrawing pneumonia in low-risk cases, so long as safeguards are in place. Risk assessment includes clinical danger signs, oxygen saturation, and the presence of comorbidities such as undernutrition, anaemia, or HIV. Pulse oximetry is a critical risk-assessment tool that is currently not widely available and can identify severely ill patients with hypoxaemia otherwise possibly missed by clinical assessment alone. Additional safeguards include caregiver understanding and ability to return for review.
CONCLUSIONS
Home treatment of chest-indrawing pneumonia can be safe but should only be recommended for children confirmed to be low-risk and in contexts where appropriate care and safety measures are in place.
Topics: Amoxicillin; Child; Developing Countries; Humans; Infant; Oximetry; Pneumonia; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 36040992
DOI: 10.7189/jogh.12.10008 -
Children (Basel, Switzerland) May 2022Determining the neonatal heart rate immediately after birth is unsatisfactory. Auscultation is inaccurate and provides no documented results. The use of foetal Doppler... (Review)
Review
Determining the neonatal heart rate immediately after birth is unsatisfactory. Auscultation is inaccurate and provides no documented results. The use of foetal Doppler ultrasound has been recognised as a possible method of determining the neonatal heart rate after birth over the last nine years. This review includes all published studies of this approach, looking at accuracy, speed of results, and practical application of the approach. Precordial Doppler ultrasound has been shown to be as accurate as ECG and more accurate than oximetry for the neonatal heart rate, and provides quicker results than either ECG or oximetry. There is the potential for a much improved determination and documentation of the neonatal heart rate using this approach.
PubMed: 35626893
DOI: 10.3390/children9050717 -
Frontiers in Pediatrics 2022Peripheral fractional oxygen extraction (pFOE) measured with near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in combination with venous occlusion is of increasing interest in term and...
BACKGROUND
Peripheral fractional oxygen extraction (pFOE) measured with near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in combination with venous occlusion is of increasing interest in term and preterm neonates.
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to perform a systematic qualitative review of literature on the clinical use of pFOE in term and preterm neonates and on the changes in pFOE values over time.
METHODS
A systematic search of PubMed, Embase and Medline was performed using following terms: newborn, infant, neonate, preterm, term, near-infrared spectroscopy, NIRS, oximetry, spectroscopy, tissue, muscle, peripheral, arm, calf, pFOE, OE, oxygen extraction, fractional oxygen extraction, peripheral perfusion and peripheral oxygenation. Additional articles were identified by manual search of cited references. Only studies in human neonates were included.
RESULTS
Nineteen studies were identified describing pFOE measured with NIRS in combination with venous occlusion. Nine studies described pFOE measured on the forearm and calf at different time points after birth, both in stable preterm and term neonates without medical/respiratory support or any pathological findings. Nine studies described pFOE measured at different time points in sick preterm and term neonates presenting with signs of infection/inflammation, anemia, arterial hypotension, patent ductus arteriosus, asphyxia or prenatal tobacco exposure. One study described pFOE both, in neonates with and without pathological findings.
CONCLUSION
This systematic review demonstrates that pFOE may provide additional insight into peripheral perfusion and oxygenation, as well as into disturbances of microcirculation caused by centralization in preterm and term neonates with different pathological findings.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
[https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/], identifier [CRD42021249235].
PubMed: 36081622
DOI: 10.3389/fped.2022.940915