Wojciech Durlak

Can anyone please explain pathophysiological mechanism of changes in cardiovascular system after balloon atrioseptostomy in children with TGA? I commonly observe that these babies require large volume of fluids, including boluses to maintain proper cardiovascular performance immediately after the procedure. They are often very responsive to rapid fluid administration even though the intracardiac volemia seems adequate.

Could you please share your experience/protocols for preventing CPAP-related nasal trauma? I mean not only possible septal injury but also trauma related to frequent nasal suctioning.

We had a similar issue a number of times. I personally came across children who seemed fine in terms of abdominal symptoms (no distension, good feeding tolerance) but presented with pneumatosis. In cases of massive pneumatosis we would usually start them on NEC protocol. There are also sometimes children with only small number of gas bubbles in the portal vein or superior mesenteric vein. We would observe them closely. Most of these cases resolve spontaneously without sequelae, we sometimes even continue feeds. I remember a preemie approaching discharge in whom the only etiology we could associate portal gas with was cow milk protein allergy. The baby was fine, discharged home with intermittent pneumatosis. On the other hand, very recently I had a term baby who presented with unilateral seizures and was diagnosed with left-sided MCA infarct. On presentation I noticed massive hepatic/portal pneumatosis with gas transfer to IVC via open venous duct and to the systemic circulation via PFO. I was wondering whether air embolism could have been responsible for neurological presentation in that child. Also, pneumatosis usually preceeds other clinical symptoms, like in this case - this baby developed enterocolitis symptoms 24hours later, without any clinical symptoms on the initial presentation. On a different note, couple years back we almost completely eliminated X-ray for assessment of abdominal symptoms. We now rely on ultrasound which provides more data, is obviously not associated with radiation exposure and unlike x-ray allows for continous assessment.