M ultisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) guidance has been issued by the World Health Organization and by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 1,2 Pediatric acute ischemic stroke and thromboembolic conditions have been reported as rare complications of COVID-19 or MIS-C. [3][4][5] Venous thromboembolism has not been reported in children with no underlying disease who have undergone enoxaparin prophylaxis after recovery from MIS-C. This previously healthy 9-year-old boy without any history of head trauma arrived at the hospital obtunded, nonverbal, with a left-sided hemiparesis and leftsided central facial paralysis. He had fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and tenesmus for 5 days. His parents had been ill with SARS-CoV-2 infection about a month prior.

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Objective: Although pediatric central venous catheterization is performed using ultrasound guidance, it is still a challenge. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of the syringe-free, long-axis in-plane approach and compared the short-axis classic out-of-plane approach for ultrasound-guided central venous catheter placement in critically ill pediatric patients. Design: Prospective randomized study. Setting: Single institution, tertiary university hospital, pediatric care unit. Participants: The study comprised 60 patients ages three months to 15 years. Interventions: Participants were randomly divided into two equal groups. Group I (n = 30) incorporated patients who underwent the long-axis, syringe-free in-plane approach, and group II (n = 30) incorporated patients who underwent the short-axis out-of-plane approach. Measurements and Main Results: Performing time, number of needle passes, number of skin punctures, first-pass success rate, and related complications were evaluated. There were no differences between the two groups in terms of demographics and vein-related measurements (p > 0.05). Performing time was statistically shorter in group I compared with group II (32 [25-38] v 58 [42-70] s; p < 0.001). There was no statistical difference between first-pass success rates between groups (group I 86.6% v group II 80%; p = 0.731). There were no significant differences between the groups in the number of needle passes and skin punctures (p = 0.219 and 0.508, respectively). Complications occurred in both groups, but there was no significant difference (4/30 v 7/30; p = 0.317). Conclusions: The syringe-free, long-axis in-plane approach can be a safe and fast alternative for pediatric catheterization.

Aim: In this study, it was aimed to examine the serum endocan levels in patients with rheumatic aortic regurgitation and to investigate whether it has a value in differentiating it from aortic regurgitation due to bicuspid aortic valve. Methods: Blood samples were collected from patients with rheumatic aortic regurgitation (Group 1), incidentally diagnosed patients with borderline or definite rheumatic aortic regurgitation (Group 2), children with bicuspid aortic valve accompanied by aortic regurgitation (Group 3) and healthy children (Group 4) of similar age. Results: There were 12 children in Group 1, 13 in Group 2, 25 in Group 3, and 25 in Group 4. Groups were similar in terms of age (p = 0.291). There was no statistically significant difference between median serum endocan levels of Group 1 and Group 2 (p = 0.624), and Group 3 and Group 4 (p = 0.443). Despite that, the median serum endocan levels of Group 1 and Group 2 were significantly higher than that of both Group 3 and Group 4 (p = 0.000 for all). Conclusions: Our results indicate that serum endocan level can be used to differentiate rheumatic aortic regurgitation from non-rheumatic aortic regurgitation. It is thought that the prognostic role of this marker should be confirmed in long-term, prospective studies with larger samples.

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