תוצאת חיפוש

Intrahospital Transport of Critically Ill Children

Gideon Paret, Ron Ben Abraham, Oshrat Yativ, Amir Vardi, Zohar Barzilay

Dept. of Pediatric Intensive Care and of Anesthesiology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer and University of Tel Aviv

Prospective evaluation of intrahospittransportation of 33 critically ill children to and from the pediatric intensive care unit was conducted over the course of a month. Factors contributing to risk of transport were assessed.

There were 33 children (25 boys and 8 girls), 3 days to 15 years of age. Reasons for admission included: disease and trauma in 19, and status post operation in 11. The pretransport PRISM score was 4.84. 22 children (66.6%) were being mechanically ventilated and 10 (30.3%) were being treated with amines. Transport time ranged from 8-150 minutes. 15 of the transports (45.4%) were urgent and a special intensive care team escorted 22 (66.6%). Equipment mishaps and physiolog-ical deterioration occured in 12 (36.3%) and 11 (30.3%) of the cases, respectively. The use of amines, mechanical ventilation, longer transport time and high PRISM score were all associated with physiological deterioration on transport.

Ketogenic Diet for Intractable Epilepsy in Adults

Yaffa Schiff, Tally Lerman-Sagie

Nutrition and Diet Unit, Tel Aviv Medical Center; and Pediatric Neurology Unit, Wolfson Medical Center, Holon; and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

The ketogenic diet is an accepted alternative for children with intractable generalized or multi-focal seizures not amenable to surgery. It is not commonly used in adults because of the impression that the diet is less effective after childhood, when it is more difficult both to achieve ketosis and to change dietary habits. We present a 20-year-old man with intractable epilepsy since early childhood who is being treated with great success by a medium-chain triglyceride ketogenic diet. It has not only controlled the seizures but has also improved quality of life. We recommend a therapeutic trial of the ketogenic diet in intractable epilepsy for all ages.

Effects of Vertical Banded Gastroplasty on Weight, Quality of Life and Nutrition

Iris Shai, Shimon Weitzman, Izhak Levy

Depts. of Epidemiology and Surgery, Soroka Medical Center and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheba

We examined the long term results of vertical banded gastroplasty 3-10 years after operation. They were assessed by weight lost, incidence and severity of untoward effects and improvement in diet and in quality of life in 75 of 122 who had had the operation. Average weight lost was 28.5±14.9 kg (p<0.001) in 5 years and 58.6±30.4% of excess weight, which brought patients to within 32±25.2% of ideal weight. According to these measures, in 63-76% the operation had been successful in causing weight loss. The 2 criteria for successful weight loss were loss of more than 50% of weight in excess of ideal body weight and residual body weight less than 50% greater than ideal body weight. There was a greater risk of failure in unmarried subjects older than 45 (odds ratio for not losing weight was 6; in those weighing more than 120 kg it was 9). We saw evidence of this mostly 4 years after operation (odds ratio 11). The degree of success in weight loss was correlated with texture of food (softness) preferred and length of operation. Of those interviewed, only 65% were satisfied with their results. The greatest improvement in quality of life measurements was in physical activity, perception of health, and frequency of feeling depressed. Side-effects were vomiting, reflux and fatigue. Only 34.7% were able to digest solid foods, so that subjects are at risk for nutritional deficiencies.

* Based on MS thesis in epidemiology of Iris Shai.