Head circumference and chronic positive pressure ventilation in children: a pilot study.
METHODS
We reviewed the cases of 11 children <12 years of age with complex medical conditions and respiratory failure requiring chronic positive pressure ventilation (CPPV). We conducted a within-group comparison of average head circumference (HC) percentiles with each child's age-expected 50th percentile value and a between-groups comparison with children with no history of ventilation. We examined the relationship between HC, peak levels of positive inspiratory pressure (PIP), and length of time on CPPV.


RESULTS
We found that children on CPPV had an average HC value at the 71st percentile, significantly greater (p=0.009) than the age-expected 50th percentile; that children on CPPV had a greater (p=0.003) average HC percentile compared with children with complex medical conditions not on CPPV; and that peak levels of PIP had a moderately strong correlation to HC (r=0.689, p=0.019).


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that children on CPPV have larger than expected HC and HC appears related to the peak level of PIP. Research to further investigate the relationship between HC and CPPV in children appears to be warranted.
Kharasch
Virginia S
VS
Pediatric Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Franciscan Hospital for Children, Boston, MA 02135, USA. virginia.kharasch@childrens.harvard.edu
Hui
Ning Tat Hamilton
NT
Dumas
Helene M
HM
Haley
Stephen M
SM
Specht
Linda
L
Colin
Andrew A
AA
D002508:Cephalometry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012016:Reference Values; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*