Retinal hemorrhages and apparent life-threatening events

Retinal hemorrhages due to intracranial hypertension, is it possible to differentiate them from those associated with abuse?

BACKGROUND

Retinal hemorrhages (RHs) are suggestive of abusive head trauma (AHT). Even so, controversy persists about other possible causes, a fact that hinders the diagnosis of abuse.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence and patterns of RHs associated with increased intracranial pressure (ICP) in young children.

PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS

Prospective, single center study of children aged 29 days-3 years undergoing a lumbar puncture with opening pressure (OP) measured during routine clinical care in the emergency department, over a 4-year period. Children with known causes of RHs were excluded. All the children underwent a detailed ophthalmological examination within 72 h of admission. For children with RHs, an in-depth investigation was carried out to rule out AHT.

RESULTS

Thirty-four patients were included: 20(58.8 %) were boys, median age 11.7 months (range 1-33 months). Overall, 29(85.3 %) had clinical findings of increased ICP. The duration of symptoms was ≤4 days in all patients except one, in whom it was 1.5 months. The median OP was 27cmH2O (range 20-60cmH2O). One of the children was found to have RHs, with evaluation resulting in a diagnosis of AHT. No RHs were found in any of the others studied. Using the Wilson method, we can be confident to an upper limit of 95 % that the probability of RHs occurring secondary to increased ICP alone is at most 0.1.

CONCLUSIONS

RHs were not detected in patients with isolated nontraumatic increased ICP, measured via OP and diagnosed in the ED. Therefore, if RHs are detected, investigation into the possibility of AHT is warranted.

Patterns of retinal hemorrhage associated with cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation

BACKGROUND

Hypoxia and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) have been proposed as causes of retinal hemorrhage (RH) in children evaluated for abusive head trauma (AHT). We sought to determine the prevalence and characteristics of RH in children who underwent CPR after cardiac arrest.

METHODS

This was a prospective, single-center, consecutive observational study of 38 children (<18 years of age). Indirect ophthalmoscopic examination was completed by an ophthalmologist within 48 hours of CPR. Extensive medical records data were collected to assess for potential confounding factors. Outcomes included the presence and pattern of RH.

RESULTS

Of the 38 children, 20 had in-hospital arrest; 18 had out-of-hospital arrest. The median duration of CPR was 10 minutes. Seven children had RH, of whom 6 had an RH pattern consistent with coexistent medical conditions: 4 AHT diagnosable with nonocular findings, including subdural and subarachnoid hemorrhage, rib fractures, abdominal injury (RH pattern: diffuse, numerous, intraretinal and/or multilayered RH); 1 septic shock (RH pattern: 1-2 posterior pole RH); 1 ruptured arteriovenous malformation (RH pattern: 4-8 peripapillary RH). The seventh child had unwitnessed cardiac arrest due to nonfatal drowning and a single superficial intraretinal peripapillary hemorrhage.

CONCLUSIONS

CPR for cardiac arrest is rarely associated with RH, which, absent coexisting conditions causing retinal hemorrhage, are intraretinal, few in number, and located in the posterior pole. In children who have undergone CPR, when RH are multilayered, or are more than a few in number, or extend outside the posterior pole, another etiology for the RH should be sought.

Brief resolved unexplained events vs. child maltreatment: a review of clinical overlap and evaluation

Within their first year, a number of infants present for medical evaluation because of unexplained changes in color, tone, breathing, or level of responsiveness. This broad collection of symptoms has an accordingly large differential diagnosis that includes both brief resolved unexplained event (BRUE) and child maltreatment. The overlap between clinical presentation for BRUE and maltreatment can present a diagnostic challenge - especially given the significant consequences for infants and families for diagnostic error at that juncture. In this review, we provide overviews of the presenting features and findings in cases of BRUE and child maltreatment with a focus on areas of overlap and differentiation.

Consensus statement on abusive head trauma in infants and young children

Abusive head trauma (AHT) is the leading cause of fatal head injuries in children younger than 2 years. A multidisciplinary team bases this diagnosis on history, physical examination, imaging and laboratory findings. Because the etiology of the injury is multifactorial (shaking, shaking and impact, impact, etc.) the current best and inclusive term is AHT. There is no controversy concerning the medical validity of the existence of AHT, with multiple components including subdural hematoma, intracranial and spinal changes, complex retinal hemorrhages, and rib and other fractures that are inconsistent with the provided mechanism of trauma. The workup must exclude medical diseases that can mimic AHT. However, the courtroom has become a forum for speculative theories that cannot be reconciled with generally accepted medical literature. There is no reliable medical evidence that the following processes are causative in the constellation of injuries of AHT: cerebral sinovenous thrombosis, hypoxic-ischemic injury, lumbar puncture or dysphagic choking/vomiting. There is no substantiation, at a time remote from birth, that an asymptomatic birth-related subdural hemorrhage can result in rebleeding and sudden collapse. Further, a diagnosis of AHT is a medical conclusion, not a legal determination of the intent of the perpetrator or a diagnosis of murder. We hope that this consensus document reduces confusion by recommending to judges and jurors the tools necessary to distinguish genuine evidence-based opinions of the relevant medical community from legal arguments or etiological speculations that are unwarranted by the clinical findings, medical evidence and evidence-based literature.

Retinal haemorrhages associated with fatal paediatric infections

For many physicians, retinal haemorrhages (RHs) in infants and young children remain highly diagnostic of non-accidental (abusive) head trauma. Because clinicians have applied indirect ophthalmoscopy selectively to cases of suspected child abuse, the association between RH and other conditions such as infection, coagulopathy and accidental trauma has encountered habitual bias, creating the potential for iatrogenic misdiagnosis of child abuse. We present an autopsy case series of four children, aged three years old or younger, in whom RHs were detected by post-mortem monocular indirect ophthalmoscopy after the patients had died from infections. We discuss the laterality, number, type and location of RHs in these cases, and summarize proposed mechanisms of RH formation in fatalities from paediatric infection. We demonstrate that many of the ophthalmological findings that have been considered diagnostic of abusive head trauma can also occur in association with infective processes.

Management of apparent life-threatening events in infants: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To determine in patients who are well-appearing and without a clear etiology after an apparent life-threatening event (ALTE): (1) What historical and physical examination features suggest that a child is at risk for a future adverse event and/or serious underlying diagnosis and would, therefore, benefit from testing or hospitalization? and (2) What testing is indicated on presentation and during hospitalization?

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review of clinical studies, excluding case reports, published from 1970 through 2011 identified using key words for ALTE.

RESULTS

The final analysis was based on 37 studies; 18 prospective observational, 19 retrospective observational. None of the studies provided sufficient evidence to fully address the clinical questions. Risk factors identified from historical and physical examination features included a history of prematurity, multiple ALTEs, and suspected child maltreatment. Routine screening tests for gastroesophageal reflux, meningitis, bacteremia, and seizures are low yield in infants without historical risk factors or suggestive physical examination findings.

CONCLUSION

Some historical and physical examination features can be used to identify risk in infants who are well-appearing and without a clear etiology at presentation, and testing tailored to these risks may be of value. The true risk of a subsequent event or underlying disorder cannot be ascertained. A more precise definition of an ALTE is needed and further research is warranted.

Evento com aparente risco de morte: uma revisão

OBJETIVO: Realizar uma revisão crítica reunindo informações disponíveis a respeito dos eventos com aparente risco de morte. FONTES DE DADOS: Revisão bibliográfica dos artigos (em português, inglês e espanhol) obtidos dos bancos de dados eletrônicos Medline, Lilacs e SciELO, utilizando as palavras-chave: eventos com aparente risco de morte, evento com aparente risco de vida infantil, lactente, apneia, monitorização e cianose. SÍNTESE DOS DADOS: Os eventos com aparente risco de mortesão súbitos e caracterizados por uma combinação de apneia, alteração na coloração da pele e tônus muscular, com inúmeras causas subjacentes. Sua incidência verdadeira é desconhecida e a faixa etária mais acometida é de 11 a 12 semanas. Não há correlação entre o evento com aparente risco de morte e a síndrome da morte súbita do lactente, embora já tenham sido consideradas manifestações da mesma doença. Muitas vezes, o lactente tem aparência saudável ao ser avaliado pelo pediatra após apresentar eventos com aparente risco de morte, porém, isso não afasta a possibilidade de existir uma doença grave associada ao evento, que deve ser investigada e tratada. Quando não são encontradas as causas, o evento é idiopático, geralmente com boa evolução. CONCLUSÕES: É necessário investigar os lactentes levados ao pronto-socorro após apresentarem eventos com aparente risco de morte, devido ao risco de sequelas e mortalidade. Não há uma padronização das condutas a serem realizadas diante de um lactente com aparência saudável que tenha evento com aparente risco de morte, mas recomenda-se que o paciente seja internado e a causa do evento, investigada. A observação e o monitoramento em ambiente hospitalar devem ocorrer no mínimo 24 horas após o evento.

Prevalence of retinal hemorrhages in critically ill children

BACKGROUND

Retinal hemorrhages (RHs) with encephalopathy and subdural bleeding are considered suggestive of abusive head trauma (AHT). Existing studies describing RH focus on AHT and have potential selection bias. We undertook a prospective observational study to define the prevalence, distribution, and extent of RH in critically ill children.

METHODS

From February 2008 to December 2009, emergency intensive care admissions ≥ 6 weeks of age underwent dilated retinal examination by either a pediatric ophthalmologist or RetCam (retinal photograph) imaging after written informed consent. Patients with suspected or proven AHT, penetrating eye trauma, and elective admissions were excluded.

RESULTS

The prevalence of RH was 15.1% (24/159; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 9.5%-21%); 16/24 (66%) mild, and 2/24 (8%) moderate. Severe multilayered RH were seen in only 6 patients (3.7%), 3 with myeloid leukemia and sepsis, 2 with severe accidental head injury, and 1 with severe coagulopathy secondary to late onset hemorrhagic disease of newborn. There was no detectable impact of age, gender, seizures, coagulopathy or cardiopulmonary resuscitation on prevalence of severe multilayered RH; however, sepsis (odds ratio: 3.2; 95% CI: 1.3-8.0, P = .018) and coagulopathy (odds ratio: 2.8; 95% CI: 1.2-7.0, P = .025) were significantly associated with any RH. Only admission diagnosis was independently associated with severe multilayered RH on logistic regression.

CONCLUSIONS

RHs were seen in critically ill children with a prevalence of 15.1% (24/159); however, most were mild. Severe multilayered RH resembling those described in AHT were rare (6/24) and were only seen in patients with fatal accidental trauma, severe coagulopathy, sepsis with myeloid leukemia, or a combination of these factors.