Facilitators and Barriers to Implementing Two Quality Improvement Interventions Across 10 Pediatric Intensive Care Units: Video Laryngoscopy-Assisted Coaching and Apneic Oxygenation.

BackgroundDetermine if apneic oxygenation (AO) delivered via nasal cannula during the apneic phase of tracheal intubation (TI), reduces adverse TI-associated events (TIAEs) in children.MethodsAO was implemented across 14 pediatric intensive care units as a quality improvement intervention during 2016–2020. Implementation consisted of an intubation safety checklist, leadership endorsement, local champion, and data feedback to frontline clinicians. Standardized oxygen flow via nasal cannula for AO was as follows: 5 L/min for infants (< 1 year), 10 L/min for young children (1–7 years), and 15 L/min for older children (≥ 8 years). Outcomes were the occurrence of adverse TIAEs (primary) and hypoxemia (SpO2 < 80%, secondary).ResultsOf 6549 TIs during the study period, 2554 (39.0%) occurred during the pre-implementation phase and 3995 (61.0%) during post-implementation phase. AO utilization increased from 23 to 68%, p < 0.001. AO was utilized less often when intubating infants, those with a primary cardiac diagnosis or difficult airway features, and patient intubated due to respiratory or neurological failure or shock. Conversely, AO was used more often in TIs done for procedures and those assisted by video laryngoscopy. AO utilization was associated with a lower incidence of adverse TIAEs (AO 10.5% vs. without AO 13.5%, p < 0.001), aOR 0.75 (95% CI 0.58–0.98, p = 0.03) after adjusting for site clustering (primary analysis). However, after further adjusting for patient and provider characteristics (secondary analysis), AO utilization was not independently associated with the occurrence of adverse TIAEs: aOR 0.90, 95% CI 0.72–1.12, p = 0.33 and the occurrence of hypoxemia was not different: AO 14.2% versus without AO 15.2%, p = 0.43.ConclusionWhile AO use was associated with a lower occurrence of adverse TIAEs in children who required TI in the pediatric ICU after accounting for site-level clustering, this result may be explained by differences in patient, provider, and practice factors.Trial Registration Trial not registered.

Primary care physicians, office-based practice, and the meaning of quality improvement

Critical care and the global burden of critical illness in adults

Propofol is not licensed for sedation in pediatric intensive care medicine mainly due to the risk of propofol infusion syndrome. Nevertheless, it is applied by many pediatric intensive care units. The aim of this national survey was to asses the current use of propofol in pediatric intensive care units in Germany. We performed a nationwide survey. The questionnaire assessed the intensive care unit type, patient numbers, dosing, duration, age and time limits, indications, side effects, and institutional protocols for propofol usage. Pediatric intensive care units in Germany. Questionnaire about routine use of propofol sent to 214 pediatric departments. None. One hundred ninety-four questionnaires (90.7%) were returned, ten had to be censored. The final analysis comprised 184 questionnaires (134 pediatric/neonatal intensive care units, 28 pediatric intensive care units, 22 neonatal intensive care units). Seventy-nine percent of intensive care units (n = 145 of 184) used propofol in children under the age of 16 yrs. Of these, 98% were for bolus application (n = 142 of 145), 78% for infusion ≥3 hrs (n = 113 of 145), and 33% for infusion >3 hrs (n = 48 of 145). A lower age limit was applied by 52% (n = 75 of 145) and a dose limit by 51% (n = 74 of 145). The median dose limit was 4 mg/kg/hr; 48% (n = 70 of 145) used 3 mg/kg/hr or less. A time limit was applied by 98% (n = 46 of 47), 70% (n = 33 of 47) used it for ≤24 hrs, and 30% (n = 15 of 47) for >24 hrs. MAIN INDICATIONS FOR PROPOFOL APPLICATION WERE: difficult sedation (44%), postoperative ventilation (43%), and difficult extubation (30%). Seven cases of propofol infusion syndrome were reported by seven centers. This study shows that propofol is used off-license by many pediatric intensive care units in Ge. The majority of users has adopted tightly controlled regimens for propofol sedation, and limits the dose to ≤3-4 mg/kg/hr and the maximum application time to 24-48 hrs.

Your Medical Director Can Lead the QI Team

Many hospitals are unable to successfully implement evidence-based practices. For example, implementation of the central line bundle (CLB), proven to prevent catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs), is often challenging. This problem is broadly characterized as a "change implementation failure." A prospective study was conducted in 2 intensive care units (ICUs), a medical ICU (MICU) and a pediatric ICU (PICU), within an academic health center. Both units had low baseline adherence to CLB and higher-than-expected CRBSIs. The study sought to promote CLB implementation in both units through periodic quality improvement (QI) interventions over a 52-week period. Simultaneously, it examined (1) the content and frequency of communication related to CLB through weekly "communication logs" completed by physicians, nurses, and managers, and (2) outcomes, that is, CLB adherence rates through weekly medical record reviews. The aim of the study was 2-fold: (1) to examine associations between QI interventions and communication content and frequency at the unit level, and (2) to examine associations between communication content and frequency and outcomes at the unit level. The periodic QI interventions were expected to increase CLB adherence and reduce CRBSIs through their influence on communication content and frequency. A total of 2638 instances of communication were analyzed. Both units demonstrated a statistically significant increase in "proactive" communications-that is, communication intended to reduce infection risk between physicians and nurses over time. Proactive communications increased by 68% in the MICU (P < .05) and 61% in the PICU (P < .05). During the same timeframe, both units increased CLB adherence to 100%. Both units also demonstrated statistically significant declines in (1) catheter days: 34% decline in the MICU (P < .05) and 30% in the PICU (P < .05); and (2) CRBSI rates: 63% decline in the MICU (P < .05) and 100% in the PICU (P < .10). Direct costs savings from reduced CRBSIs in 1 year were estimated to be at least $840 000. Periodic QI interventions were effective in reframing interprofessional communication dynamics and enabling practice change. The prospective design provides insights into communication content and frequency associated with collective learning and culture change. The study identifies evidence-based management strategies for positive practice change at the unit level.

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Pinto, Matthew1; Polikoff, Lee2; Napolitano, Natalie3; Li, Simon4; Rehder, Kyle5; Nett, Sholeen6; Harwayne-Gidansky, Ilana7; Culver, Kathleen8; McNally, Mary Frances9; Jarvis, Dean10; Emerson, Beth11; Nadkarni, Vinay12; Nishisaki, Akira3 Author Information

Background: Korean children are often treated in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) rather than in Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs). However, pediatric critical care (PCC) in ICUs, other than in PICUs, may have effects on patient’s outcome. Objectives: To compare the PCC outcomes of pediatric patients in the PICU with the outcomes of pediatric patients in other ICUs. Methods: This is a retrospective study of pediatric patients treated in ICUs. The participants of this study were children aged < 18 years who were admitted to the ICUs from the Pediatric Department of Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital from April 2009 to June 2017. Patients with hemato-oncologic diseases or those needing postoperative care were excluded. Results: Among the 429 ICU cases, 306 were PICU and 123 were ICU patients. The age (18 months vs. 26 months; P = 0.104) and male sex ratio (57% vs. 54%; P = 0.587) were not significantly different between PICU and other ICU patients. PICU patients (73%) were commonly admitted from another hospital compared with ICU patients (63%, P = 0.043). The pediatric index of mortality -3 score was not significantly different between the PICU and ICU patients (-4.3 vs -4.1; P = 0.128); the ICU and hospital length of stay were 5 days vs 5 days (P = 0.357) and 11 days vs 11 days (P = 0.317); and the mortality rate was 4% vs 11% (P = 0.008), respectively. Respiratory and neurologic complications were 5% vs 11% (P = 0.021) and 4% vs 2% (P = 0.282), respectively. The risk of mortality was higher for ICUs patients (odds ratio = 2.56; 95% CI = 1.11 - 5.87), adjusted for source of ICU admission, and type of ICU. Conclusions: Pediatric patients treated in a PICU had a lower mortality compared to those treated in other ICUs.

Prolonged apneic time during tracheal intubation (TI) may increase the risk of oxygen desaturation in critically ill children. This study aimed to identify factors associated with long apneic times and examine the relationship between apneic duration and oxygen desaturation. We conducted a prospective observational study of children <18 years undergoing oral TI in the pediatric intensive care unit and emergency department of a large academic children's hospital. Apneic time was measured and categorized as short or long using a 54-s cutoff. Desaturation was defined as SpO₂ <90% during the apneic period in children with baseline SpO₂ >90%. Among 204 TIs, the median apneic time was 54 s. Long apneic times were more common in infants than in younger children or older children. Apneic time did not differ by history of a difficult airway, provider type, laryngoscope type, or apneic oxygenation use. Oxygen desaturation rates were similar between long and short groups. There was no significant association between long apneic time and desaturation while apneic oxygenation significantly reduced desaturation risk. Patient age was associated with long apneic times. While apneic time was not associated with desaturation, apneic oxygenation use was associated with lower occurrence of oxygen desaturation. This study found that longer apneic times during pediatric tracheal intubation were not independently associated with oxygen desaturation after adjusting for patient age and apneic oxygenation use. Apneic oxygenation significantly reduced the risk of desaturation, supporting its routine use during tracheal intubation in critically ill children. These findings add evidence supporting age-specific airway strategies and highlight the importance of modifiable practices to improve the safety of pediatric airway management.

Objective: Identifying antibiotic use in pediatric and neonatal intensive care units with a point prevalence study in Adana, Turkey’s sixth largest city. Material and Methods: In this point prevalence study, demographic information and antibiotic treatment data were taken on the same day from patients in pediatric and neonatal intensive care units of 6 hospitals located in Adana’s city center. Results: Four pediatric intensive care units (two university, one research and training hospital, and one public hospital) and six neonatal intensive care units (two university, one research and training hospital, one public hospital, and two private hospital) were included in the study; 220 patients were at the intensive care units at the time of the study, 44 (20%) of the patients were in the pediatric intensive care units, and 176 (80%) of them were at the neonatal intensive care units. Also, 146 (66.4%) of the patients were using antibiotics. The frequency of antibiotic use was 72.7% in the pediatric intensive care units and 64.8% in neonatal intensive care units. There was a pediatric infectious disease physician at the university and research and training hospital. Antibiotic usage was lower (p=0.002) in clinics where pediatric infectious disease physician consultations could be done. Double antibiotic combination was applied most frequently. Mostly, ampicillin was preferred at neonatal intensive care units. Clarithromycin was used as a second choice because of seasonal lower respiratory tract infections. Vancomycin was the most preferred antibiotic in pediatric intensive care units, and meropenem and linezolid were the second and third choices. At both intensive care units, use of empiric antibiotic treatment was more frequent. Empiric treatment was applied in 22 (68.7%) patients in the pediatric intensive care units and 95 (83.3%) in neonatal intensive care units. Antibiotics were given to 14.3% of the patients in line with the resulting cultures. Conclusion: Intensive care units are services where antibiotics are used most frequently both in Turkey and in the world. In our opinion, protocols need to be established in clinics, national and international guides should be followed; and pediatric infectious disease physician consultations should be increased in order to reduce the frequency of antibiotic use, inappropriate indications, and inappropriate doses. (J Pediatr Inf 2014; 8: 56-63)

ObjectiveTo identify the neonatal, pediatric and mixed (neonatal and pediatric) intensive care units in Brazil that use cuffed tracheal tubes in clinical practice and to describe the characteristics related to the use of protocols and monitoring.MethodsTo identify the intensive care units in Brazil, the Ministry of Health’s National Registry of Health Facilities was accessed, and information was collected on 693 registered intensive care units. This was an analytical cross-sectional survey conducted through electronic questionnaires sent to 298 neonatal, pediatric and mixed intensive care units in Brazil.ResultsThis study analyzed 146 questionnaires (49.3% from neonatal intensive care units, 35.6% from pediatric intensive care units and 15.1% from mixed pediatric intensive care units). Most of the participating units (78/146) used cuffed tracheal tubes, with a predominance of use in pediatric intensive care units (52/78). Most of the units that used cuffed tracheal tubes applied a cuff pressure monitoring protocol (45/78). The use of cuff monitoring protocols was observed in intensive care units with a physical therapy service exclusive to the unit (38/61) and in those with a physical therapist present 24 hours/day (25/45). The most frequent cause of extubation failure related to the use of cuffed tracheal tubes in pediatric intensive care units was upper airway obstruction.ConclusionIn this survey, the use of cuffed tracheal tubes and the application of a cuff pressure monitoring protocol was predominant in pediatric intensive care units. The use of a monitoring protocol was more common in intensive care units that had a physical therapist who was exclusive to the unit and was present 24 hours/day.

The Importance of the Intubation Process for the Safety of Emergency Airway Management.

To evaluate if the use of apneic oxygenation during tracheal intubation in children is feasible and would decrease the occurrence of oxygen desaturation. Prospective pre/post observational study. A large single-center noncardiac PICU in North America. All patients less than 18 years old who underwent primary tracheal intubation from August 1, 2014, to September 30, 2018. Implementation of apneic oxygenation for all primary tracheal intubation as quality improvement. Total of 1,373 tracheal intubations (661 preimplementation and 712 postimplementation) took place during study period. Within 2 months, apneic oxygenation use reached to predefined adherence threshold (> 80% of primary tracheal intubations) after implementation and sustained at greater than 70% level throughout the postimplementation. Between the preimplementation and postimplementation, no significant differences were observed in patient demographics, difficult airway features, or providers. Respiratory and procedural indications were more common during preintervention. Video laryngoscopy devices were used more often during the postimplementation (pre 5% vs post 75%; p < 0.001). Moderate oxygen desaturation less than 80% were observed in fewer tracheal intubations after apneic oxygenation implementation (pre 15.4% vs post 11.8%; p = 0.049); severe oxygen desaturation less than 70% was also observed in fewer tracheal intubations after implementation (pre 10.4% vs post 7.2%; p = 0.032). Hemodynamic tracheal intubation associated events (i.e., cardiac arrests, hypotension, dysrhythmia) were unchanged (pre 3.2% vs post 2.0%; p = 0.155). Multivariable analyses showed apneic oxygenation implementation was significantly associated with a decrease in moderate desaturation less than 80% (adjusted odds ratio, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.34-0.88) and with severe desaturation less than 70% (adjusted odds ratio, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.31-0.96) while adjusting for tracheal intubation indications and device. Implementation of apneic oxygenation in PICU was feasible, and was associated with significant reduction in moderate and severe oxygen desaturation. Use of apneic oxygenation should be considered when intubating critically ill children.

Emergency airway management of critically ill children in the Emergency Department (ED) is associated with the risk of intubation-related desaturation, which can be minimized by apneic oxygenation. We evaluated the use of apneic oxygenation in the pediatric ED and reported a quality improvement initiative to incorporate apneic oxygenation as a routine standard of care during rapid sequence intubations (RSIs). A baseline period from June 2016 to April 2017 highlighted the practice gaps. Quality improvement interventions were subsequently developed and implemented as a care bundle consisting of a pre-intubation checklist, placing reminders and additional oxygen source in resuscitation bays, incorporating into the responsibilities of the airway doctor and the airway nurse (copiloting), education during airway workshops and simulation training for doctors and nurses, as well as enhancing documentation of the intubation process. We monitored a post-intervention observation period from May 2017 to April 2018 for the effectiveness of the care bundle. Apneic oxygenation was not performed in all 22 RSIs during the baseline period. Among 25 RSIs in the post-intervention observation period, providers performed apneic oxygenation in 17 (68%) cases. There was no significant difference in the utilization of apneic oxygenation among emergency physicians and pediatric anesthetists performing RSIs in the pediatric ED. We successfully implemented a care bundle targeted at incorporating apneic oxygenation as a routine standard of care during emergency intubations performed in ED. This method could be adopted by other pediatric EDs to improve airway management in critically ill children.