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Objective: We aimed to determine the threshold value of lactate levels, and to analyze its avaliability as mortality biomarker by correlating it with scoring systems in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Material and Methods: Observational retrospective cohort study. Our study was conducted among patients admitted to the 24-bed tertiary PICU of our hospital in 2015. All children between the ages of 1 month and 18 years were evaluated. Among 433 patients whose arterial blood gases were obtained during hospitalization, a total of 382 were included in the study. Patients with congenital metabolic disease with lactic acidosis were excluded. The arterial blood lactate levels on admission, PIM-2, PRISM-III and PELOD scores and survival status of the patients were evaluated. Correlation between lactate levels and mortality scores, threshold values of lactate levels and the factors affecting mortality risk were the main variable of interest. Results: There was a significant correlation between lactate levels and scores in patients who died (p<0.001). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that blood lactate level was an effective parameter on mortality (area under the curve=AUC: 0.861; p<0.001) with a cut-off value of 2.55 mmol/L. The mortality risk was 1.38 fold higher in patients with higher levels of lactate. Conclusion: In our series, the levels of lactate were higher in critically ill children who died. Again, lactate levels and mortality scores of these children were correlated. In our series, the levels of lactate were higher in critically ill children who died. Again, lactate levels and mortality scores of these children were correlated. We were able to establish a cut-off point with high specificity for predicting evolution. These findings should be validated in prospective and multicenter studies for their incorporation into scoring systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Flexible bronchoscopy is a valuable method in the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory tract diseases in children. This study aimed to examine the indications for and results of flexible bronchoscopy in children., Materials and Methods: The study included patients aged 0-18 years who underwent flexible bronchoscopy between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2022. The patients were evaluated for demographic characteristics, indications for bronchoscopy, comorbidities, bronchoscopy findings, and the results of bronchoalveolar lavage., Result: During the defined study period, a total of 410 flexible bronchoscopy procedures were performed. 51.9% of the patient population were male, and 48.1% were female, with a mean age of 96.93 ± 63.45 months. The most common indication for flexible bronchoscopy was recurrent lower respiratory tract infection (26.8%), followed by chronic cough (19.1%). The bronchoalveolar lavage culture results showed that the most commonly isolated microorganisms were H. influenzae non-type b (7.8%) followed by M. catarrhalis (7.3%). Mucus obstruction and secretion (33.0%) constituted the most common bronchoscopic findings, while the flexible bronchoscopy examination was normal in 27% of patients. No serious complications occurred in any patient during or after the procedure., Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrated that the most common indication for flexible bronchoscopy was recurrent lower respiratory tract infection and the most common bronchoscopy finding was purulent secretion with mucus obstruction. Flexible bronchoscopy is an important diagnostic and treatment tool for patients with recurrent respiratory symptoms. It is a highly valuable method as it enables direct visualization of the airways and facilitates the collection of bronchoalveolar lavage samples.