The occurrence of early postoperative arrhythmias after repair of congenital heart disease was significantly associated with procedure-related risk factors in each of 3 independent patient groups undergoing well-defined surgical procedures.

Eight premature infants with hyaline membrane disease needing artificial ventilation were studied at a mean age of 26.5 h. After a preparative phase they were randomly assigned either first to conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV; delivered by a Siemens Servo 900 C), followed by high-frequency ventilation (HFV; delivered by Percussionaire VDR 1 at 10 Hz) or vice versa, each period lasting 4 h. At the end of each period, arterial blood gases, lung volumes and alveolar pressures (Palv) during CMV or HFV and pressure-volume (P-V) curves of the total respiratory system were determined. Expiratory volumes were measured spirometrically, Palv by the clamping method, and the P-V curve was constructed by the syringe method. Single point static compliance at end-inspiration was higher during HFV (0.40 +/- 0.10 vs. 0.32 +/- 0.08 ml/cmH2O.kg-1; p = 0.02), whereas at end-expiration no difference was noted. Two points static compliances were also better during HFV than during CMV (0.32 +/- 0.08 vs. 0.24 +/- 0.06 ml/cmH2O.kg-1; p = 0.01). Static compliances derived from the steepest part of the inflation limb of the P-V curve were 0.55 +/- 0.12 after CMV and 0.50 +/- 0.12 ml/cmH2O.kg-1 after HFV (n.s.). Compared to CMV, HFV resulted in similar oxygenation and CO2-elimination at equal mean lung volumes, but at significantly lower mean Palv. It is concluded that recruitment of lung volume is achieved with less static recoil pressure by HFV. These findings are explained by differences in inspiration allowing more time for volume recruitment during HFV.

A case of a 14-year-old boy with Reye's syndrome (RS) and complete neurologic recovery is presented. 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed on days 1 (admission to ICU), 8 and 62: During the acute phase of RS substantial cerebral metabolic imbalances were observed and their normalization monitored. The spectra from day 1 featured extremely high glutamine content (approximately 18 mmol/kg excess) and low concentrations of choline compounds pounds (approximately 1 mmol/kg deficit). Also some excess lactate was present. The subsequent spectra demonstrated the return to an almost normal brain metabolite profile.

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