piperidines and Respiratory-Sounds

The purpose of a single-subject randomized trial is to assess objectively the efficacy of a specific therapeutic intervention in an individual patient. Treatment is randomly alternated with placebo over a number of study periods. Specific outcome measures are recorded blindly and later compared via paired statistical analysis. Single-subject trials have long been successfully performed in adults, but rarely in children. We present single-subject trials of two pediatric patients done to assess the effect of cisapride on symptoms arising from gastroesophageal reflux. In the first patient, the drug affected neither vomiting nor gagging, although stool frequency increased. Since the symptoms of concern were unaffected, cisapride was discontinued. In the second patient, use of cisapride led to a significant decrease in vomiting and wheezing; the drug was therefore incorporated into the therapeutic regimen. Single-subject randomized trials are inexpensive and simple and can be used by the family physician, pediatrician, or pediatric surgeon in daily practice. They permit the rational use of effective therapy and the abandonment of ineffective measures.

Topics: Adult; Child; Child, Preschool; Cisapride; Gagging; Gastroesophageal Reflux; Humans; Infant; Male; Piperidines; Respiratory Sounds; Treatment Outcome; Vomiting

Undetected apnea can lead to severe hypoxia, bradycardia, and cardiac arrest. Tracheal sounds entropy has been proved to be a robust method for estimating respiratory flow, thus maybe a more reliable way to detect obstructive and central apnea during sedation.. A secondary analysis of a previous pharmacodynamics study was conducted. Twenty volunteers received propofol and remifentinal until they became unresponsive to the insertion of a bougie into the esophagus. Respiratory flow rate and tracheal sounds were recorded using a pneumotachometer and a microphone. The logarithm of the tracheal sound Shannon entropy (Log-E) was calculated to estimate flow rate. An adaptive Log-E threshold was used to distinguish between the presence of normal breath and apnea. Apnea detected from tracheal sounds was compared to the apnea detected from respiratory flow rate.. The volunteers stopped breathing for 15 s or longer (apnea) 322 times during the 12.9-h study. Apnea was correctly detected 310 times from both the tracheal sounds and the respiratory flow. Periods of apnea were not detected by the tracheal sounds 12 times. The absence of tracheal sounds was falsely detected as apnea 89 times. Normal breathing was detected correctly 1,196 times. The acoustic method detected obstructive and central apnea in sedated volunteers with 95% sensitivity and 92% specificity.. We found that the entropy of the acoustic signal from a microphone placed over the trachea may reliably provide an early warning of the onset of obstructive and central apnea in volunteers under sedation.

Topics: Adult; Anesthetics, Intravenous; Apnea; Entropy; Female; Humans; Male; Piperidines; Propofol; Reference Values; Remifentanil; Reproducibility of Results; Respiration; Respiratory Sounds; Sensitivity and Specificity; Trachea

Gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) has been implicated in such clinical phenomena as aspiration pneumonia, bronchospasm or wheezing, apnea, stridor, and hoarseness. Various tests have been used as an aid to diagnosing patients with chronic respiratory disease where GOR is a causal factor. Different forms of conservative treatment have been tried for GOR, including cisapride. Several studies have evaluated its effect on the pH profile and respiratory symptoms in patients with chronic respiratory disease and have demonstrated improvement of nocturnal wheezing, cough, and irritability. Our experience with cisapride is positive in children with GOR. Patients refractory to medical treatment have been surgically treated with good results.

Topics: Anti-Ulcer Agents; Asthma; Child; Child, Preschool; Chronic Disease; Cisapride; Gastroesophageal Reflux; Humans; Infant; Piperidines; Pneumonia, Aspiration; Respiratory Sounds; Respiratory Tract Diseases

A higher frequency (25%) of gastrooesophageal reflux (GOR) has been previously reported in patients over 5 years old with cystic fibrosis compared with controls without cystic fibrosis. It was believed that GOR was caused by the complications of cystic fibrosis. We looked for GOR in all 26 children younger than 60 months who had cystic fibrosis diagnosed. They had a classical genetic profile and the usual scattered clinical manifestations for age. GOR was confirmed in 21 (81%): 20 by abnormal pH tracings and in one on a clinical basis. After at least one month of adjusted cystic fibrosis treatment, antireflux treatment (cisapride) was given to 16 patients and variables of GOR improved dramatically. Weight gain was significant and recurrent cough and wheeze disappeared. One year later half of the patients still suffered from GOR. GOR is a major problem in the early life of those with cystic fibrosis and is not the consequence of either respiratory or gastrointestinal complications as it improves with age whereas cystic fibrosis becomes worse with age.

Topics: Child, Preschool; Cisapride; Cough; Cystic Fibrosis; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gastroesophageal Reflux; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Piperidines; Respiratory Sounds; Serotonin Antagonists; Weight Gain