Care Measures and Health Outcomes in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in Brazil

Introduction: In low- and middle-income countries, including Brazil, conditions that favor mortality in the PICU remain significant. Compared to developed countries, there is a shortage of skilled human resources, lower availability of technological resources, greater difficulty of access and a higher incidence of infections, including both those acquired prior to admission and those resulting from treatment and hospitalization (i.e., healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)). HAIs in the PICU include ventilator-associated pneumonia and catheter-related bloodstream infections. Actions for the prevention of HAIs can minimize the occurrence of negative outcomes. Materials and Methods: This is an epidemiological study comparing admissions at the PICU of a high-complexity hospital in South Brazil over two three-year periods: 2012-2014 (before the measures were adopted) and 2015-2017 (after the measures). The care measures were adopted mainly at the beginning of 2015 and consisted of expansion of physical therapy care, adoption of care protocols, acquisition of new materials and equipment (transparent dressings for central catheters, high-tech mechanical ventilators and multiparametric monitors) and multidisciplinary team training. The frequency of the outcomes mortality, length of PICU stay, diagnosis of catheter-related bloodstream infection, need for and duration of ventilatory support and diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia were compared between the two trienniums using logistic regression with adjustment for age in months and need of vasoactive drugs. Results: A total of 1140 admissions were analyzed (470 in the first triennium and 670 in the second), representing an increase in the admission rate of 42.6% after the adoption of the measures. After adjustments, significant reductions in the frequency of mortality (adjusted OR [adjOR] = 0.54;CI 95%: 0.34 - 0.84), length of PICU stay > 7 days (adjOR = 0.75;CI 95%: 0.57 - 0.97) and duration of ventilatory support > 7 days (adjOR = 0.54;CI 95%: 0.39 - 0.74) were observed. Conclusion: The results indicate the benefits of care measures for children admitted to the PICU in terms of a reduction in adverse events and expansion of access.

Psychological needs of parents of children with complicated congenital heart disease after admitting to pediatric intensive care unit: A questionnaire study

BACKGROUND Parents of children with complicated congenital heart disease(CHD)have different needs after surgery.Little literature reports the impact factors for psychological needs of parents of children with complicated CHD.AIM To investigate the status quo of the needs of parents of children after surgery for complex CHD,and analyze the influencing factors,in order to provide a theoretical basis for formulating corresponding nursing countermeasures.METHODS A modified Chinese version of the Critical Care Family Needs Inventory(MCCFNI)was used to select 200 parents of children with complex CHD after surgery within 72 h after admission to the intensive care unit in our hospital to conduct an online questionnaire survey.The aim was to understand the needs of parents in relation to the following five aspects:The support from medical staff,comfort of the parents themselves,the acquisition of information,their closeness to the children,and assurance of the child’s condition.RESULTS Parents of children with complex CHD had a higher degree of demand,especially in terms of condition assurance,acquisition of information,and closeness to the children.The age,education level,and residence of the parents were related to the five dimensions of the needs of parents of children with complex CHD who had undergone surgery.CONCLUSION In practice,nurses should formulate corresponding nursing strategies based on the different cultural and social backgrounds of parents of children after complex CHD surgery to meet their different needs,and improve satisfaction.These findings provide a theoretical basis for constructing a family participatory nursing model for children in the intensive care unit in the future.

National preparedness survey of pediatric intensive care units with simulation centers during the coronavirus pandemic

The coronavirus disease pandemic caught many pediatric hospitals unpreparedand has forced pediatric healthcare systems to scramble as they examine and planfor the optimal allocation of medical resources for the highest priority patients.There is limited data describing pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) preparednessand their health worker protections.AIMTo describe the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) preparedness effortsamong a set of PICUs within a simulation-based network nationwide.METHODS A cross-sectional multi-center national survey of PICU medical director(s) fromchildren’s hospitals across the United States. The questionnaire was developedand reviewed by physicians with expertise in pediatric critical care, disasterreadiness, human factors, and survey development. Thirty-five children’shospitals were identified for recruitment through a long-established nationalresearch network. The questions focused on six themes: (1) PICU and medicaldirector demographics;(2) Pediatric patient flow during the pandemic;(3)Changes to the staffing models related to the pandemic;(4) Use of personalprotective equipment (PPE);(5) Changes in clinical practice and innovations;and(6) Current modalities of training including simulation.RESULTSWe report on survey responses from 22 of 35 PICUs (63%). The majority of PICUswere located within children’s hospitals (87%). All PICUs cared for pediatricpatients with COVID-19 at the time of the survey. The majority of PICUs (83.4%)witnessed decreases in non-COVID-19 patients, 43% had COVID-19 dedicatedunits, and 74.6% pivoted to accept adult COVID-19 patients. All PICUsimplemented changes to their staffing models with the most common changesbeing changes in COVID-19 patient room assignment in 50% of surveyed PICUsand introducing remote patient monitoring in 36% of the PICU units. Ninety-fivepercent of PICUs conducted training for donning and doffing of enhanced PPE.Even 6 months into the pandemic, one-third of PICUs across the United Statesreported shortages in PPE. The most common training formats for PPE werehands-on training (73%) and video-based content (82%). The most commonconcerns related to COVID-19 practice were changes in clinical protocols andguidelines (50%). The majority of PICUs implemented significant changes in theirairway management (82%) and cardiac arrest management protocols in COVID-19patients (68%). Simulation-based training was the most commonly utilizedtraining modality (82%), whereas team training (73%) and team dynamics (77%)were the most common training objectives.CONCLUSIONSA substantial proportion of surveyed PICUs reported on large changes in theirpreparedness and training efforts before and during the pandemic. PICUsimplemented broad strategies including modifications to staffing, PPE usage,workflow, and clinical practice, while using simulation as the preferred trainingmodality. Further research is needed to advance the level of preparedness,support staff assuredness, and support deep learning about which preparednessactions were effective and what lessons are needed to improve PICU care andstaff protection for the next COVID-19 patient waves.

Ultrasound-Guided Central Venous Catheterization: A Protocol to Be Followed in Pediatrics?

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided central venous catheterization when compared to the conventional procedure. Method: A prospective cohort study was carried out over a 9-month period from February to October 2016 involving 144 inpatients at PICU of Irmandade da Santa Casa de Sao Paulo Hospital, undergoing central venous catheterization. The patients were matched in pairs of identical patients according to the levels of potentially intervening variables (age, nutritional status, puncture site, professional experience), differing only as to the CVC technique: ultrasound-guided (USG-CVC) or conventional (C-CVC). Discarding data from non-paired patients, the remaining did forming 47 pairs, matched as two related samples: USG-CVC and C-CVC groups. Success parameters: number of puncture attempts;time spent at CVC;success rate and complications. Results: In the USG-CVC group, the number of attempts (mean = 2.04) and the time spent at catheterization (mean = 11.89 minutes) were lower (t = 2.34, df = 46, t 0.95 = 2.02, p t = 3.07, df = 46, t 0.95 = 2.02, p < 0.05), respectively, when compared to the results obtained for the control group (C-GVC), (mean = 3.21) and (mean = 28.26 minutes), respectively. As to success, there was observed a significant difference (F (1, 46) = 16.6;Q (1) = 12.5, p < 005) when considering only one trial (USG -CVC = 27/47;C-CVC = 9/47), but no significant difference (F (1, 46) = 3.76;Q (1) = 3.56, p > 0.05) when considering several attempts. Complications were found less frequently in the USG-CVC group (3/47) than in the CVC-C (13/47), (F (1, 46) = 8.24;Q (1) = 7.14, p < 0.05). Conclusion: USG-CVC was found to be more effective than the conventional technique, especially regarding success at the first puncture attempt.

Intensive care drug therapy and its potential adverse effects on blood pressure and heart rate in critically ill children

Background Owing to complex treatment,critically ill children may experience alterations in their vital parameters.We investigated whether such hemodynamic alterations were temporally and causally related to drug therapy.Methods In a university pediatric intensive care unit,we retrospectively analyzed hemodynamic alterations defined as values exceeding the limits set for heart rate(HR)and blood pressure(BP).For causality assessment,we used the World Health Organization–Uppsala Monitoring Center(WHO–UMC)system,which categorizes the probability of causality as“certain,”“probable,”“possible,”and“unlikely.”Results Of 315 analyzed patients with 43,200 drug prescriptions,59.7%experienced at least one hemodynamic alteration;39.0%were affected by increased HR,19.0%by decreased HR,18.1%by increased BP,and 16.2%by decreased BP.According to drug information databases,83.9%of administered drugs potentially lead to hemodynamic alterations.Overall,88.3%of the observed hemodynamic alterations had a temporal relation to the administration of drugs;in 80.2%,more than one drug was involved.Based on the WHO–UMC system,a drug was rated as a“probable”causing factor for only 1.4%of hemodynamic alterations.For the remaining alterations,the probability ratings were lower because of multiple potential causes,e.g.,several drugs.Conclusions Critically ill children were frequently affected by hemodynamic alterations.The administration of drugs with potentially adverse effects on hemodynamic parameters is often temporally related to hemodynamic alterations.Hemodynamic alterations are often multifactorial,e.g.,due to administering multiple drugs in rapid succession;thus,the influence of individual drugs cannot easily be captured with the WHO–UMC system.

Clinical application of bedside fiber-optic bronchoscopy in mechanically ventilated children in a pediatric intensive care unit

Critically ill children often require mechanical ventilation on the pediatric intensive care unit （PICU） for indications such as severe pneumonia, atelectasis, airway abnormalities, and the presence of a foreign body in the airway. The correct management of the airway is a crucial determinant of a successful outcome. We performed fiber-optic bronchoscopy （FOB） 70 times for 51 mechanically ventilated children between June 2009 and December 2011, and present our results below.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2-related and imputable deaths in children:results from the French pediatric national registry

Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2(SARS-CoV-2)is responsible for an important mortality rate worldwide.We aimed to evaluate the actual imputability of SARS-CoV-2 on the mortality rate associated with SARS-CoV-2-related illnesses in the pediatric intensive care unit(PICU).Secondary objectives were to identify risk factors for death.Methods This national multicenter comparative study comprised all patients under 18 years old with positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reactions(PCRs)[acute corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19)or incidental SARS-CoV-2 infection]and/or pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome(PIMS)recorded in the French PICU registry(PICURe)between September 1,2021,and August 31,2022.Included patients were classified and compared according to their living status at the end of their PICU stay.Deceased patients were evaluated by four experts in the field of pediatric infectiology and/or pediatric intensive care.The imputability of SARS-CoV-2 as the cause of death was classified into four categories:certain,very probable,possible,or unlikely,and was defined by any of the first three categories.Results There were 948 patients included of which 43 died(4.5%).From this,26 deaths(67%)could be attributed to SARS-CoV-2 infection,with an overall mortality rate of 2.8%.The imputability of death to SARS-CoV-2 was considered certain in only one case(O.1%).Deceased patients suffered more often from comorbidities,especially heart disease,neurological disorders,hematological disease,cancer,and obesity.None of the deceased patients were admitted for pediatric inflam-matory multisystem syndrome(PIMS).Mortality risk factors were male gender,cardiac comorbidities,cancer,and acute respiratorydistress syndrome.Conclusions SARS-CoV-2 mortality in the French pediatric population was low.Even though the imputability of SARS-Cov-2 on mortality was considered in almost two-thirds of cases,this imputability was considered certain in only one case.

Pediatric interfacility transport effects on mortality and length of stay

Background We aimed to evaluate the effects of interfacility pediatric critical care transport response time,physician presence during transport,and mode of transport on mortality and length of stay(LOS)among pediatric patients.We hypothesized that a shorter response time and helicopter transports,but not physician presence,are associated with lower mortality and a shorter LOS.Methods Retrospective,single-center,cohort study of 841 patients(<19 years)transported to a quaternary pediatric intensive care unit and cardiovascular intensive care unit between 2014 and 2018 utilizing patient charts and transport records.Multivariate linear and logistic regression analyses adjusted for age,diagnosis,mode of transport,response time,stabilization time,return duration,mortality risk(pediatric index of mortality-2 and pediatric risk of mortality-3),and inotrope,vasopressor,or mechanical ventilation presence on admission.Results Four hundred and twenty-eight(50.9%)patients were transported by helicopter,and 413(49.1%)were transported by ambulance.Physicians accompanied 239(28.4%)transports.The median response time was 2.0(interquartile range 1.4–2.9)hours.Although physician presence increased the median response time by 0.26 hours(P=0.020),neither physician presence nor response time significantly affected mortality,ICU length of stay(ILOS)or hospital length of stay(HLOS).Helicopter transports were not significantly associated with mortality or ILOS,but were associated with a longer HLOS(3.24 days,95%confidence interval 0.59–5.90)than ambulance transports(P=0.017).Conclusions These results suggest response time and physician presence do not significantly affect mortality or LOS.This may reflect the quality of pre-transport care and medical control communication.Helicopter transports were only associated with a longer HLOS.Our analysis provides a framework for examining transport workforce needs and associated costs.