Severe Group A Streptococcus Infection among Children, France, 2022-2024.

Group A Streptococcus infections have increased in Europe since September 2022. The French Pediatric Intensive Care and French Pediatric Infectious Diseases expert groups conducted a retrospective and prospective study of children who had severe group A Streptococcus infections during September 1, 2022-April 1, 2024, across 34 hospitals in France. A total of 402 pediatric patients (median age 4 [interquartile range 2-7.

Neurodevelopmental outcomes at age 5 years among children born very preterm and surviving after persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn: EPIPAGE-2 cohort study.

Objective: To determine whether pulmonary hypertension (PH) is associated with higher risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcome at age 5 in a population-based cohort of 22-31 preterm children.

Study Design: In the EPIPAGE-2 French prospective population-based cohort of preterm children born in 2011, the neurodevelopmental outcome of children with PH was collected at 5 years. The primary outcome was a composite measure with four levels of neurodevelopmental disabilities: severe, moderate, mild, no disability, based on cerebral palsy, visual, hearing or cognitive deficiencies, behavioral difficulties and developmental coordination disorders.

Neurodevelopmental outcome in children between one and five years after persistent pulmonary hypertension of term and near-term newborns.

Background: Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is a serious condition that affects 1-2 per 1,000 newborns. Scientific data report the existence of neurological developmental abnormalities between 10 and 30%, but the description of these disorders linked with this situation of cerebral hypoxia and haemodynamic failure remains poorly documented.

Objective: The main goal of this study was to describe the prevalence of neuro-psychomotor developmental disorders in children aged between one and five years old who have been hospitalised at birth in a neonatal intensive care unit for the management of PPHN.

Advancing paediatric cardiac imaging: a comprehensive analysis of the feasibility and accuracy of a novel 3D paediatric transoesophageal probe.

Aims: Pediatric transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) probes have remained two-dimensional (2D) limiting their use compared to adults. While critical in pediatrics for interventions and post-surgery assessments, technological advancements introduced a three-dimensional (3D) pediatric TOE probe. This study assessed the new 3D pediatric TOE probe (GE 9VT-D) for feasibility, handling, and imaging quality.

Pulmonary hypertension among preterm infants born at 22 through 32 weeks gestation in France: Prevalence, survival, morbidity and management in the EPIPAGE-2 cohort study.

Objective: To determine the prevalence, short-term prognosis and pharmacologic management of pulmonary hypertension (PH) among very preterm infants born before 32 weeks gestation (WG).

Study Design: In the EPIPAGE-2 French national prospective population-based cohort of preterm infants born in 2011, those presenting with PH were identified and prevalence was estimated using multiple imputation. The primary outcome was survival without severe morbidity at discharge and was compared between infants with or without PH after adjusting for confounders, using generalized estimating equations models.

Unusual circumstance for craniopharyngioma discovery on meningoencephalitis: a pediatric case report.

Background: Craniopharyngioma is a rare condition in children, but it is the most frequent tumor that occurs in the hypothalamic pituitary region. Chemical meningitis has been described as an uncommon postoperative complication, but no chemical meningitis due to a spontaneous rupture leading to craniopharyngioma diagnosis in children has been reported.

Case Presentation: This is a case of a 13-year-old boy presenting with fever, vomiting and headache for two days.

Population Pharmacokinetics of Levosimendan and its Metabolites in Critically Ill Neonates and Children Supported or Not by Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Background: Levosimendan (LVSMD) is a calcium-sensitizer inotropic and vasodilator agent whose use might have a beneficial effect on the weaning of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO). In light of LVSMD pharmacological characteristics, we hypothesized that ECMO may induce major pharmacokinetic (PK) modifications for LVSMD and its metabolites.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the PK of LVSMD and its metabolites, and to assess the effects of ECMO on PK parameters.

Tetralogy of Fallot: T-shaped infundibulotomy for pulmonary valve-sparing procedure.

This new and easily reproducible pulmonary valve-sparing technique for the correction of Tetralogy of Fallot is based on a conservative management of the native pulmonary valve to preserve its growth potential. From July 2015 to December 2019, 67 children presenting with a Tetralogy of Fallot were operated consecutively in a single centre using this technique in all cases. A T-shaped infundibulotomy is used to release the anterior pulmonary annulus from any muscular attachment.

Continuous Amplitude-Integrated Electroencephalography During Neonatal and Pediatric Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Purpose: Early prognostication of neurologic outcome in neonates and children supported with extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is challenging. Amplitude-integrated EEG (aEEG) offers the advantages of continuous monitoring and 24-hours availability at the bedside for intensive care unit providers. The objective of this study was to describe the early electrophysiological background patterns of neonates and children undergoing ECMO and their association with neurologic outcomes.

Safety and efficiency of the new micro-multiplane transoesophageal probe in paediatric cardiology.

Background: Transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) is feasible in neonates using a miniaturized probe, but is not widely used because of low imaging quality.

Aims: To assess handling and imaging quality of a new release of a micro-TOE probe in children.

Methods: Thirty-eight consecutive children, enrolled during February and May 2013, underwent TOE with the Philips S8-3t probe.