Background: Electrolyte abnormalities are common in ill children requiring the intensive care. As the electrolytes play an important role to maintain homeostasis and has impact on the final outcome of the patient, the present study was undertaken. The aims of this study was to determine the prevalence of electrolyte abnormalities in children admitted in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at the time of admission, primary organ involvement seen and the mortality associated with it. Methods: The study enrolled all the patients from 1 month to 12 years admitted in PICU of a tertiary care hospital during January 2019 to June 2020 (18 months). The children were divided according to the presence or absence of electrolyte abnormality. The organ system involved was analyzed in each group. Results: The prevalence of electrolyte abnormality in terms of sodium and potassium in the present study was 55.56% (100 of 180). The most common electrolyte abnormality was hyponatremia (30.6%) followed by hypokalemia (20.6%). The mortality in children with electrolyte abnormality was significantly higher than mortality in those without electrolyte abnormality and was found to be 51.7% in the present study. Maximum children with hyponatremia had infections (23.6%) and those with hypernatremia had gastrointestinal involvement (17.6%). Hypokalemia was most frequently seen in cases of respiratory involvement (27%) and hyperkalemia seen in renal involvement (25%). Conclusion: There is significant association of the electrolyte abnormalities at admission in PICU with mortality and primary system involvement, which was seen in the present study. Close monitoring and correction of electrolyte abnormalities reduces the mortality in ill children.

Background: Persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborns (PPHN) remains a significant cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Early recognition of factors that increase the risk of PPHN is of great importance in either to prevent or to treat PPHN optimally. Aim was to study the neonatal predisposing factors, profile and outcome of PPHN.Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in level III neonatal care unit, a rural referral centre of North Karnataka, India from January 2018 to April 2020.Results: During the study period a total of 50 infants with PPHN were identified with the incidence of 5.43/1000 live births. Mean gestation age (±SD) was 38.28±2.49 weeks and mean birth weight (±SD) was 2624±512 gm. The most noted risk factors were meconium aspiration syndrome (42%), birth asphyxia (16%), RDS (10%), positive pressure ventilation at birth (52%) and male gender (62%). Out of 50 infants with PPHN, high mortality was seen in low birth weight babies (66.6%). Use of sildenafil showed increased mortality (56.2%) whereas use of surfactant scored better with decreased mortality of 42.8%.Conclusions: Major risk factors for PPHN are MAS, birth asphyxia, RDS and low birth weight. Poor prognosis is seen in male gender, prematurity and CDH with increased risk of mortality. The use of systemic pulmonary vasodilators can be considered with caution and use of surfactant has a role in management of PPHN.