Coma and depressed sensorium
Pearls • Coma is a state of unconsciousness with lack of awareness and loss of wakefulness. • A Glasgow Coma Scale score of less than 15 in children should be…
Pediatric lung transplantation
Pearls • Pediatric lung transplantation is an accepted option for children of all ages who have end-stage, life-threatening disease and all medical options for treatment have been exhausted. • Outcomes…
Diseases of the pulmonary circulation
Pearls • Updated definitions and classification of pulmonary hypertension have helped to advance the understanding of pulmonary hypertensive diseases and facilitate drug trials. • Four classes of drugs have been…
Overview of breathing failure
Pearls • Three pathways to breathing failure are impaired neural control, failure of the muscles of breathing, and dysfunction of the mechanics of breathing. • Dysfunction of the mechanics of…
Noninvasive ventilation in the pediatric intensive care unit
Pearls • The wide availability, ease of use, and low-risk profile of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) make it an attractive alternative to intubation and invasive mechanical ventilation. Consequently, its use is…
Extracorporeal life support
Pearls • The miniaturization and increased efficacy of centrifugal pump systems and low-resistance membrane lungs have resulted in a transition from roller pump devices to centrifugal setups in many centers….
Neonatal pulmonary disease
Pearls • Both pulmonary and nonpulmonary disorders must be considered as leading to neonatal respiratory distress. • It is important to distinguish respiratory disorders from the normal neonatal cardiorespiratory transition….
Pneumonitis and interstitial disease
Pearls • Most pediatric pulmonary parenchymal disease occurs as a result of an infectious agent. • Clinical evaluation for parenchymal lung disease in the pediatric patient should include a search…
Pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome and ventilator-associated lung injury
Pearls • Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a restrictive lung disease with clinical manifestations of hypoxemia, low respiratory system compliance, and new pulmonary infiltrates. Pathologically, ARDS is characterized by…
