Characteristics and Outcomes of Critical Bronchiolitis During the 2022 Surge Compared With Baseline.

Aims & Objectives: To assess the outcomes of non-invasive bi-level positive airway pressure (BLPAP) ventilation as first-line therapy in children with acute respiratory failure (ARF). Methods: Design: A retrospective observational study. Setting: Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of a university hospital. Patients: Eighty-seven patients subjected to non-invasive ventilation (NIV) as the initial management in a total of 92 ARF episodes were included, from July-2017 to June-2020. Each episode was treated as an independent event. Main Outcome Measures: We evaluated changes of heart rate, respiratory rate and SpO2/FiO2 ratio (S/F) at 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours after NIV onset, and compared patients using BLAP vs CPAP as first-line therapy. Results: BLPAP was started in 63 episodes (68.5%). Ten of 29 episodes (34.5%) that started CPAP were escalated to BLPAP. Baseline characteristics, initial physiologic parameters and severity score did not differ between groups. The S/F ratio increase at 6 hours was significantly greater in the BLPAP group (mean 48; CI95% 29-66) compared to the CPAP group (mean 21; CI95% -17-59; p=0,011). The trend continued over time, S/F ratio increase was greater in the BLPAP group at 24 hours. No difference was found in the intubation rate (BLPAP 4.4% vs CPAP 3.2%). The mean length of stay in the PICU was 1 day longer in the CPAP group, although it was not a significant difference. Conclusions: In children with ARF, the initial use of BLPAP rapidly improves the S/F ratio compared to CPAP. BLPAP as first-line therapy could be the best option for the management of patients with ARF.

Nine consecutive end-stage patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) awaiting lung transplantation were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in respiratory decompensation. They all received noninvasive bilevel positive airway pressure (BIPAP) support and were evaluated to determine whether or not it improved their oxygenation and provided them with long-term respiratory stability. BIPAP was applied to all patients after a brief period of assessment of their respiratory status. Inspiratory and expiratory positive airway pressures (IPAP, EPAP) were initially set at 8 and 4 cm H2O respectively. IPAP was increased by increments of 2 cm H2O and EPAP was increased by 1 cm H2O increments until respiratory comfort was achieved and substantiated by noninvasive monitoring. Patients were observed in the PICU for 48 to 72 hours and then discharged to home with instructions to apply BIPAP during night sleep and whenever subjectively required. Regular follow-up visits were scheduled through the hospital-based CF clinic. The patients' final IPAP and EPAP settings ranged from 14 to 18 cm H2O and 4 to 8 cm H2O, respectively. All nine patients showed a marked improvement in their respiratory status with nocturnal use of BIPAP at the time of discharge from the PICU. Their oxygen requirement dropped from a mean of 4.6 +/- 1.1 L/min to 2.3 +/- 1.5 L/min (P < 0.05). Their mean respiratory rate decreased from 34 +/- 4 to 28 +/- 5 breaths per minute (P < 0.05). The oxygen saturation of hemoglobin measured by pulse oximetry, significantly increased from a mean of 80% +/- 15% to 91% +/- 5% (P < 0.05). The patients have been followed up for a period of 2 to 43 months and have all tolerated the use of home nocturnal BIPAP without any reported discomfort. Six patients underwent successful lung transplantation after having utilized nocturnal BIPAP for 2, 6, 14, 15, 26, and 43 months, respectively. Three patients have utilized home BIPAP support for 2, 3, and 19 months, respectively, and continue to await lung transplantation. An acute development of refractory respiratory failure resulted in the demise of the remaining three patients after having utilized BIPAP for 3, 6, and 10 months, respectively. The authors conclude that BIPAP therapy improves the respiratory status of decompensating end-stage CF patients. It is well tolerated for long-term home use and provides an extended period of respiratory comfort and stability for CF patients awaiting lung transplantation.

Objective To explore the effect of aerosol salmeterol combined with non-invasive bi-level positive airway pressure ventilation on the improvement of arterial blood gas index and the changes of serum levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and prealbumin (PA) in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD). Methods 86 patients with AECOPD treated at our hospital from January, 2015 to June, 2017 were divided into a control group and an experimental group according to different treatment protocols, 43 cases for each group. The control group were treated by non-invasive bi-level positive airway pressure ventilation and the experimental group by non-invasive bi-level positive airway pressure ventilation and aerosol salmeterol. The curative effects of two groups were observed. The arterial blood gas indexes [arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2), pH value and arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure (PaCO2)] and serum levels of sICAM-1 and PA before and after the treatment were compared between the two groups. Results Compared with the control group, the treatment effect was more significant in the experimental group; and the total effective rate of the experimental group was 90.70% (39/43), which was higher than that of the control group [74.42% (32/43)], with a statistical difference (P<0.05) . Compared with the control group, the pH, PaO2 and serum level of PA in the experimental group were higher and the levels of PaCO2 and serum sICAM-1 were lower than those in the control group, with statistical differences (P<0.05) . Conclusion Aerosol salmeterol combined with non-invasive bi-level positive airway pressure ventilation in the treatment of AECOPD can effectively improve the blood gas analysis indexes, reduce the serum level of sICAM-1 and increase the serum level of PA. And the effect is remarkable. Key words: Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Aerosol salmeterol; Non-invasive bi-level positive airway pressure ventilation; Arterial blood gas indexes; Serum factors

Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) after Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) admission is considered a valuable outcome measure. Yet, data on HRQoL after PICU admission are scarce and often collected in heterogeneous patient groups. The current study aimed to evaluate HRQoL in children with bronchiolitis 6 months after PICU admission, which represents a homogenous patient group. This study was conducted at the Radboud University Medical Centre in the Netherlands. Children admitted to the PICU between November 2019 and April 2020 were eligible. HRQoL was assessed with the “TNO-AZL Preschool children Quality of Life” (TAPQOL) questionnaire and compared to Dutch normative data. Lower scores represent worse HRQoL. HRQoL was assessed in 34 children (response rate 81%), mean age at assessment was 7.6 months (SD 2.5 months), and median length of stay was 5 days (range 1–17). Parents reported significant lower scores on stomach problems (p < 0.001; d = 0.8) and lung problems (p < 0.001; d = 1.2) and significant higher scores on appetite (p < 0.001; d = 0.6) and problem behavior (p < 0.001; d = 0.5) compared to normative data. Effect sizes were moderate to large.Conclusion: Significant differences in several HRQoL domains were found after PICU admission for bronchiolitis compared to normative data. Whereas the domains lung and stomach problems showed significantly impaired scores, most domains revealed HRQoL levels comparable with healthy peers. This study may contribute to the optimization of HRQoL PICU outcomes by highlighting specific HRQoL domains to focus on at admission and during follow-up.What is Known:• With the decline in PICU mortality, HRQoL became an important outcome measure. Yet, the currently limited number of studies on HRQoL outcomes often involve heterogeneous patient groups.• Bronchiolitis is one of the most frequent reasons for PICU admission, and although a significant part of children admitted for bronchiolitis has a medical history, compared with other reasons for PICU admission, this patient group is relatively homogeneous in terms of age, disease course, and treatment.What is New:• In the present study, six months after PICU admission for bronchiolitis, children scored differently on multiple HRQoL domains compared to healthy peers.• Significantly impaired HRQoL scores were reported on lung and stomach problems in comparison to normative data.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00431-022-04700-8.

PurposeFor successful prevention and intervention, it is important to unravel the complex constellation of factors that affect neurocognitive functioning after pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission. This study aims (1) to elucidate the potential relevance of patient and PICU-related characteristics for long-term adverse neurocognitive outcome after PICU admission for bronchiolitis, and (2) to perform a preliminary exploration of the potential of machine learning as compared to linear regression to improve neurocognitive outcome prediction in a relatively small sample of children after PICU admission.MethodsThis cross-sectional observational study investigated 65 children aged 6–12 years with previous PICU admission for bronchiolitis (age ≤ 1 year). They were compared to demographically comparable healthy peers (n = 76) on neurocognitive functioning. Patient and PICU-related characteristics used for the prediction models were as follows: demographic characteristics, perinatal and disease parameters, laboratory results, and intervention characteristics, including hourly validated mechanical ventilation parameters. Neurocognitive outcome was measured by intelligence and computerized neurocognitive testing. Prediction models were developed for each of the neurocognitive outcomes using Regression Trees, k-Nearest Neighbors, and conventional linear regression analysis.ResultsThe patient group had lower intelligence than the control group (p < .001, d = −0.59) and poorer performance in neurocognitive functions, i.e., speed and attention (p = .03, d = −0.41) and verbal memory (p < .001, d = −0.60). Lower intelligence was predicted by lower birth weight and lower socioeconomic status (R2 = 25.9%). Poorer performance on the speed and attention domain was predicted by younger age at follow-up (R2 = 53.5%). Poorer verbal memory was predicted by lower birth weight, younger age at follow-up, and greater exposure to acidotic events (R2 = 50.6%). The machine learning models did not reveal added value in terms of model performance as compared to linear regression.Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that in children with previous PICU admission for bronchiolitis, (1) lower birth weight, younger age at follow-up, and lower socioeconomic status are associated with poorer neurocognitive outcome; and (2) greater exposure to acidotic events during PICU admission is associated with poorer verbal memory outcome. The findings of this study provide no evidence for the added value of machine learning models as compared to linear regression analysis in the prediction of long-term neurocognitive outcome in a relatively small sample of children.What is Known:• Adverse neurocognitive outcomes are described in PICU survivors, which are known to interfere with development in other major domains of functioning, such as mental health, academic achievement, and socioeconomic success, highlighting neurocognition as an important outcome after PICU admission.• Machine learning is a rapidly growing field of artificial intelligence that is increasingly applied in health care settings, with great potential to capture the complexity of outcome prediction.What is New:• This study shows that lower birth weight, lower socioeconomic status, and greater exposure to acidotic events during PICU admission for bronchiolitis are associated with poorer long-term neurocognitive outcome after PICU admission. Results provide no evidence for the added value of machine learning models in a relatively small sample of children.• As bronchiolitis seldom manifests neurologically, the relation between acidotic events and neurocognitive outcome may reflect either potentially harmful effects of acidosis itself or related processes such as hypercapnia or hypoxic and/or ischemic events during PICU admission. This study further highlights the importance of structured follow-up to monitor long-term outcome of children after PICU admission.

Noninvasive Positive Airway Pressure and Risk of Myocardial Infarction in Acute Cardiogenic Pulmonary Edema: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure vs Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation

Hemodynamic Effects of Noninvasive Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure on Patients With Chronic Congestive Heart Failure With Systolic Dysfunction

Fluid administration is essential in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Admission to pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) is required for 11-29% of pediatric HSCT recipients and is associated with high mortality. The objective of this study was to determine if a positive fluid balance acquired during the HSCT procedure is a risk factor for PICU admission. The medical records of 87 consecutive children who underwent a first HSCT were reviewed retrospectively for the following periods: from admission for HSCT to PICU admission for the first group (PICU group), and from admission for HSCT to hospital discharge for the second group (non-PICU group). Fluid balance was determined on the basis of weight gain (WG) and fluid overload (FO). PICU group consisted of 19 patients (21.8%). Among these, 13 (68.4%) developed>or=10% WG prior to PICU admission compared with 15 (22.1%) in the non-PICU group (p<0.001). Thirteen patients (68.4%) developed>or=10% FO prior to PICU admission compared with 31 (45.6%) in the non-PICU group (p=0.075). Following multivariate analysis, >or=10% WG (p=0.018) and cardiac dysfunction on admission for HSCT (p=0.036) remained independent risk factors for PICU admission. Smaller children (p=0.033) and patients with a twofold increase in serum creatinine (p=0.026) were at risk of developing>or=10% WG. This study shows that WG is a risk factor for PICU admission in pediatric HSCT recipients. Further research is needed to better understand the pathophysiology of WG in these patients and to determine the impact of WG prevention on PICU admission.

BackgroundLong-term morbidity after pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission is a growing concern. Both critical illness and accompanying PICU treatments may impact neurocognitive development as assessed by its gold standard measure; intelligence. This meta-analysis and meta-regression quantifies intelligence outcome after PICU admission and explores risk factors for poor intelligence outcome.MethodsPubMed, Embase, CINAHL and PsycINFO were searched for relevant studies, published from database inception until September 7, 2021. Using random-effects meta-analysis, we calculated the standardized mean difference in full-scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) between PICU survivors and controls across all included studies and additionally distinguishing between PICU subgroups based on indications for admission. Relation between demographic and clinical risk factors and study’s FSIQ effect sizes was investigated using random-effects meta-regression analysis.ResultsA total of 123 articles was included, published between 1973 and 2021, including 8,119 PICU survivors and 1,757 controls. We found 0.47 SD (7.1 IQ-points) lower FSIQ scores in PICU survivors compared to controls (95%CI -0.55 to -0.40, p < .001). All studied PICU subgroups had lower FSIQ compared to controls (range 0.38–0.88 SD). Later year of PICU admission (range 1972–2016) and longer PICU stay were related to greater FSIQ impairment (R2 = 21%, 95%CI -0.021 to -0.007, p < .001 and R2 = 2%, 95%CI -0.027 to -0.002, p = .03, respectively), whereas male sex and higher rate of survivors were related to smaller FSIQ impairment (R2 = 5%, 95%CI 0.001 to 0.014, p = .03 and R2 = 11%, 95%CI 0.006 to 0.022, p < .001, respectively). Meta-regression in PICU subgroups showed that later year of PICU admission was related to greater FSIQ impairment in children admitted after cardiac surgery and heart- or heart–lung transplantation. Male sex was related to smaller FSIQ impairment in children admitted after cardiac surgery. Older age at PICU admission and older age at follow-up were related to smaller FSIQ impairment in children admitted after heart- or heart–lung transplantation.ConclusionsPICU survivors, distinguished in a wide range of subgroups, are at risk of intelligence impairment. Length of PICU stay, female sex and lower rate of survivors were related to greater intelligence impairment. Intelligence outcome has worsened over the years, potentially reflecting the increasing percentage of children surviving PICU admission.

Important Outcomes for Parents of Critically Ill Children.

Near-Fatal Asthma: An Ounce of Prevention May be Worth More than a Pound of Cure

BackgroundAnemia is prevalent at pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission and incident during PICU stay, but little is known about anemia at PICU discharge. Anemia after critical illness is an important issue because it could impact post-PICU outcome. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of anemia at PICU discharge and to determine its risk markers.MethodsThis is an ancillary study of a prospective observational study on transfusion practices conducted in the PICU of a tertiary care children’s hospital. All children consecutively admitted to the PICU during a 1-year period were considered for inclusion. Data were prospectively collected from medical charts, except for hemoglobin (Hb) levels at PICU and hospital discharge that were collected retrospectively. Anemia was defined by an Hb concentration below the lower limit of the normal range for age.ResultsAmong the 679 children retained for analysis, 390 (57.4%) were anemic at PICU discharge. After multivariate adjustment, anemia at PICU admission was the strongest risk marker of anemia at PICU discharge. The strength of this association varied according to age (interaction): The odds ratio (OR) (95% CI) of anemia at PICU discharge was 4.85 (1.67–14.11) for 1–5-month-old infants anemic versus not anemic at PICU admission, and it was 73.13 (13.43, 398.19) for adolescents anemic versus not anemic at PICU admission. Children admitted after a non-cardiac surgery had an increased risk of anemia at PICU discharge [OR 2.30 (1.37, 3.88), p = 0.002]. The proportion of anemic children differed between age categories, while the median Hb level did not exhibit significant variations according to age.ConclusionsAnemia is highly prevalent at PICU discharge and is strongly predicted by anemia at PICU admission. The usual age-based definitions of anemia may not be relevant for critically ill children. The consequences of anemia at PICU discharge are unknown and deserve further scrutiny.

A POTENTIALLY UNDER-RECOGNIZED COMPLICATION OF POSITIVE PRESSURE VENTILATION: ACUTE HYPOCALCEMIA

Long-Term Follow-Up of Daily Life Functioning After Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Admission

Noninvasive ventilation using noninvasive bilevel positive airway pressure (Bi-PAP) has been shown to be an effective means of improving oxygenation and respiratory status in patients with obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and acute congestive heart failure (CHF). However, it is uncertain what effects this positive airway pressure has on the haemodynamic condition of these patients. This study examines the acute changes in basic circulatory parameters with the initiation of Bi-PAP. Noninvasive measurements of the heart rate, systolic and diastolic arterial pressure, cardiac index, total peripheral resistance, ventricular ejection time, and total diastolic time were determined by impedance cardiography before and after the institution of Bi-PAP (pressures 15/5) in a group of healthy volunteers. In a collateral study, the same measurements were made in COPD patients in whom Bi-PAP was initiated for therapeutic reasons. Changes in the haemodynamic parameters were analysed using a paired t-test (p < 0.05). In the 12 healthy volunteers studied there were no significant differences in any of the haemodynamic parameters measured (average cardiac index: 2.75 +/- 0.78) over a period of 15 minutes after the placement of Bi-PAP. Similar results for most haemodynamic parameters were found in the 7 COPD patients with imminent respiratory failure (average respiratory rate 24.8 +/- 3.2) when Bi-PAP was utilized with the exception of significant but small increases in the cardiac index, stroke volume and oxygen saturation (p<0.05). While Bi-PAP is frequently used in the treatment of patients with acute respiratory failure, little is known about its effect on haemodynamics. This study suggests that the effects of the initiation of Bi-PAP on the general circulation and cardiac output may be of minor relevance.