Cornell Assessment Research Articles

Gabapentin for Delirium in Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

OBJECTIVE A protocol was developed for neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) delirium: Step 1, gabapentin for pain or melatonin for sleep; Step 2, add on other Step 1 agent; Step 3, antipsychotics. The purpose of this study was to describe the utility and dosing of gabapentin for NICU delirium. METHODS Retrospective evaluation of NICU patients from January 1, 2021–December 31, 2022 who received >1 dose of gabapentin based on the delirium protocol. Data collection included demographics, gabapentin regimen, and concomitant sedatives and analgesics. The primary objective was to identify the number of patients receiving gabapentin for Step 1 or Step 2. Secondary objectives included identifying the number of patients requiring antipsychotics (Step 3), the gabapentin regimen, comparison of Échelle de Douleur et d'Inconfort du Nouveau-né (EDIN), Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium (CAPD), and Withdrawal Assessment Tool-1 (WAT-1) scores 72 hours pre- and post-gabapentin initiation, and comparison of opioids, clonidine, and melatonin 24 hours pre- and 72 hours post-gabapentin initiation. Wilcoxon signed rank tests were employed with significance defined at p < 0.05. RESULTS Twenty-nine patients were studied. The majority (n = 22; 75.9%) received gabapentin for Step 1; no patients required Step 3. The median initial dose was 14.4 mg/kg/day divided every 8 hours. Twelve (41.4%) required increase to a median of 16.9 mg/kg/day. A significant decrease in EDIN and WAT-1 scores was noted, but there was no change in CAPD scores or opioid, clonidine, or melatonin doses pre- versus post-gabapentin. CONCLUSION The majority received gabapentin at a median dose of 14 mg/kg/day as Step 1 for delirium. Gabapentin was associated with a significant decrease in pain and withdrawal scores.

Postoperative Delirium Screening Characteristics in Pediatric Intestinal, Liver, and Renal Transplant Recipients: Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study.

To describe and compare the results of delirium screening in the immediate post-transplant PICU admission for pediatric intestinal, liver, and renal transplant recipients. We also examined associations with known and suspected risk factors for pediatric delirium (PD). Retrospective analysis of a single-center cohort, 2016-2022. Twenty-four-bed PICU in a high-volume transplant center. All intestinal, liver, and renal transplant recipients under 23 years old admitted between July 2016 and August 2022. We identified 211 pediatric transplant recipients: intestinal ( n = 36), liver ( n = 78), and renal ( n = 97). Results of the Cornell Assessment for PD during the immediate post-transplant PICU admission were reviewed and patients were categorized into screen positive, screen negative, and unscreened. Corresponding data on known and suspected risk factors for PD were also collected. Data on delirium subtypes were not collected. Screens were available for 156 of 211 patients (74%) who were included in the final analysis. The prevalence of a positive screen by transplant category was: intestine 80% (24/30), liver 75% (47/63), and renal 14% (9/63). A positive screen was associated with younger age, greater duration of mechanical ventilation, and greater PICU length of stay (LOS) in bivariate analysis. In multivariable analysis, age and PICU LOS remained strongly correlated with a positive screen ( p < 0.05). Deep sedation and agitation as categorized by the State Behavioral Scale was associated with a positive screen, as was significant iatrogenic withdrawal symptoms ( p < 0.05). Most patients screened positive by post-transplant days 2 and 3 (58/80 [72%] and 64/80 [80%], respectively). In our 2016 to 2022 experience, we found a high prevalence of positive PD screens in pediatric intestinal and liver transplant recipients in the immediate post-transplant PICU admission. A positive screen was associated with younger age and greater PICU LOS.

3-Dimensional Virtual Reality Versus 2-Dimensional Video for Distraction During the Induction of Anesthesia in Children to Reduce Anxiety: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Preoperative anxiety is common in children. It can contribute to negative experiences with anesthetic induction and may cause adverse physiological and psychological effects. Virtual reality (VR) and electronic tablet devices are 2 audiovisual distraction tools that may help to reduce anxiety and enhance the preoperative experience. This study aimed to compare the use of an immersive 3-dimensional (3D) VR to 2-dimensional (2D) video on anxiety in children during induction of general anesthesia. Two hundred children (4-13 years) undergoing elective or emergency surgery under general anesthesia were enrolled in this randomized, controlled trial. Participants were randomized to use either the 3D VR goggles (intervention) or 2D video tablet (control) during anesthetic induction. Anxiety, the primary outcome, was measured using the modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale Short Form (mYPAS-SF) at 2 time points: in the preoperative holding area before randomization (T1) and during induction of general anesthesia (T2). The primary outcome was analyzed using a linear regression model, including demographic and other covariates, to investigate any differences in anxiety scores. Secondary outcomes included evaluating compliance during the anesthetic induction (Induction Compliance Checklist), emergence of delirium (Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium), perceived usefulness of the device, and child satisfaction. Participant characteristics were similar between the 3D VR (n = 98) and 2D video (n = 90) groups, with a mean (±standard deviation) age 8. 8 ± 2.8 years. The median (lower quartile, upper quartile) mYPAS-SF scores for the 3D VR group at the preoperative holding area were 22.9 (22.9, 35.4), then 29.2 (24.0, 41.7) during induction. For the 2D Video group, the scores were 27.1 (22.9, 35.4) and then 30.2 (22.9, 41.1). No significant difference was observed in the increase in mYPAS-SF scores between groups (P = .672). Children in the 3D VR group were less likely to be rated as having a perfect induction (P = .039). There was no evidence of a difference between the groups in emergence delirium. Both devices were rated highly for usefulness and patient satisfaction. Children preferred VR, while anesthesiologists and parents felt the 2D was more useful. This randomized controlled trial demonstrated that preoperative anxiety was equally low and induction compliance high with both 3D VR and 2D video distraction in children with parental presence during anesthetic induction.

Adapting the Cornell assessment of pediatric delirium for Swedish context: translation, cultural validation and inter-rater reliability

BackgroundPediatric delirium causes prolonged hospital stays, increased costs, and distress for children and caregivers. Currently, there is no delirium screening tool available in Sweden that has been translated, culturally validated, and tested for reliability. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and assess the suitability of the Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium (CAPD) for implementation in Swedish healthcare settings.MethodsThe CAPD was translated and culturally adapted to Swedish context following the ten-step process recommended by the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Task Force for Translation and Cultural Adaptation. The Swedish CAPD was tested in the pediatric intensive care unit of Uppsala University Hospital, a tertiary hospital in Sweden. Inter-rater reliability was tested using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), with both Registered Nurses (RNs) and Assistant Nurses (ANs) conducting parallel measurements using the Swedish CAPD. A reliability score of ICC > 0.75 was considered indicative of good reliability.ResultsAfter translation of the CAPD into Swedish, 10 RNs participated in the cultural adaptation process. Issues related to word choice, education, and instructions were addressed. Wording improvements were made to ensure accurate interpretation. Supplementary training sessions were organized to strengthen users’ proficiency with the Swedish CAPD. Additional instructions were provided to enhance clarity and usability. Inter-rater reliability testing resulted in an ICC of 0.857 (95% CI: 0.708–0.930), indicating good reliability.ConclusionThis study successfully translated and culturally adapted the CAPD to align with Swedish contextual parameters. The resulting Swedish CAPD demonstrated good inter-rater reliability, establishing its viability as a tool for measuring delirium among pediatric patients in Swedish pediatric intensive care units.Trail registrationNot applicable.

The effect of antipsychotic medications on QTc and delirium in paediatric cardiac patients with ICU delirium.

Children with prolonged hospital admissions for CHD often develop delirium. Antipsychotic medications (APMs) have been used to treat delirium but are known to prolong the QTc duration. There is concern for prolongation of the QTc interval in cardiac patients who may be more vulnerable to electrocardiogram (ECG) changes and may have postoperative QTc prolongation already. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of APM on QTc duration in postoperative paediatric cardiac patients and determine the effect of quetiapine and risperidone in treating delirium and QTc prolongation. Retrospective study, July 1, 2017-May 31, 2022. Tertiary children's hospital. Included were patients admitted to the paediatric cardiac ICU at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. None. ECGs, delirium scores, and drug information were collected. Delirium was defined as Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium (CAPD) score >9. Mixed effect models were performed to evaluate the effect of surgery on QTc change and the effect of antipsychotics on QTc and CAPD changes. There were 139 children, 55% male and 67% surgical admissions. Median age was 5.9 months. Mean QTc increased after cardiac surgery by 18 ms (p = 0.014, 95% CI 3.65-32.4). There was no significant change in QTc after antipsychotic administration (p = 0.064). The mean CAPD score decreased (12.5-7.2; p < 0.001). Quetiapine had the most improvement in delirium, and risperidone had the least improvement (77.8%, n = 14; 37.8%, n = 34, respectively; p = 0.002). The QTc interval did not have a statistically significant change after the administration of antipsychotics, while there was improvement in the CAPD score. APMs may be administered safely without significant prolongation of the QTc and are an effective treatment for delirium.

A nomogram for predicting postoperative delirium in pediatric patients following cardiopulmonary bypass: A prospective observational study

ObjectivesTo create a nomogram for early delirium detection in pediatric patients following cardiopulmonary bypass. Research Methodology/DesignThis prospective, observational study was conducted in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at a Children's Hospital, enrolling 501 pediatric patients from February 2022 to January 2023. Perioperative data were systematically collected through the hospital information system. Postoperative delirium was assessed using the Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium (CAPD). For model development, Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression was employed to identify the most relevant predictors. These selected predictors were then incorporated into a multivariable logistic regression model to construct the predictive nomogram. The performance of the model was evaluated by Harrell's concordance index, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis. External validity of the model was confirmed through the C-index and calibration plots. ResultsFive independent predictors were identified: age, SpO2 levels, lymphocyte count, diuretic use, and midazolam administration, integrated into a predictive nomogram. This nomogram demonstrated strong predictive capacity (AUC 0.816, concordance index 0.815) with good model fit (Hosmer-Lemeshow test p = 0.826) and high accuracy. Decision curve analysis showed a significant net benefit, and external validation confirmed the nomogram's reliability. ConclusionsThe study successfully developed a precise and effective nomogram for identifying pediatric patients at high risk of post-cardiopulmonary bypass delirium, incorporating age, SpO2 levels, lymphocyte counts, diuretic use, and midazolam medication. Implications for Clinical PracticeThis nomogram aids early delirium detection and prevention in critically ill children, improving clinical decisions and treatment optimization. It enables precise monitoring and tailored medication strategies, significantly contributes to reducing the incidence of delirium, thereby enhancing the overall quality of patient care.

Two months outcomes following delirium in the pediatric intensive care unit.

The lasting consequences of delirium in children are not well characterized. This study aimed to compare the two-month outcomes in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) survivors according to the presence of delirium. Post-hoc analysis of a single-center prospective study of mechanically ventilated (invasive ventilation or non-invasive ventilation) children followed at the CHU Sainte-Justine PICU follow-up clinic two months after PICU discharge, between October 2018 and August 2022. Delirium was defined as one or more Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium (CAPD) scores ≥ 9. Primary outcome was survivors' quality of life and secondary outcomes were sleep and posttraumatic stress and anxiety and depression in parents. Multivariable linear and logistic regression models assessed the independent associations between delirium and outcomes while adjusting for age, sex, comorbidity, diagnosis, severity of illness, PICU length of stay, and invasive mechanical ventilation. Of the 179 children included over a 47 month-period, 117 (65.4%) had delirium. Children with delirium were more commonly intubated (91.5% vs. 30.7%, p < 0.001) and had higher PELOD-2 scores (10 vs. 4, p < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, delirium was associated with a decreased quality of life at 2.3 months post discharge (p = 0.03). The severity of the delirium episode (higher scores of CAPD) was associated with a higher likelihood of sleep disturbances (OR 1.13, p = 0.01) and parental anxiety (OR 1.16, p = 0.01), in addition to lower quality of life (p = 0.03).Conclusions: Two months following their PICU stay, children with delirium had a lower quality of life, suggesting a lasting effect of delirium on children and their families.

Predictors of postoperative delirium in paediatric patients undergoing surgery under general anaesthesia at Amhara Regional State Tertiary Hospitals: a multicenter prospective study.

Postoperative delirium in paediatric patients is a recognised issue. Nevertheless, in low- and middle-income nations, researchers have had luck in determining its extent and predictors. Identifying predictors of postoperative delirium in paediatric patients having general anaesthesia at Tertiary Hospitals in Ethiopia was the aim of this study. A multicenter, prospective follow up study was conducted from April 15 to June 15, 2023 at the study settings. During the study period a total of 424 paediatric surgical patients treated under general anaesthesia in all study locations, ranging in age from birth to sixteen were candidates for this study. Charts and direct observation of patient's with assessment tool [Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium (CAPD)] were used from each available patient. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to determine predictors of postoperative delirium in paediatric patients undergoing surgery under general anaesthesia. Postoperative delirium occurred in 160 of the 404 paediatric patients who underwent surgery under general anaesthesia. Ophthalmic surgery, corticosteroid use, anticholinergic use, severe postoperative pain, and preoperative anxiety were found to be predictors of postoperative delirium; whereas, sedative medication premedication and paracetamol used for analgesia were found to be protective against postoperative delirium. The postoperative delirium in paediatric patients undergoing surgery under general anaesthesia was higher compared to developed countries. Ophthalmic surgery, corticosteroids, anticholinergic medications, postoperative pain, and preoperative anxiety were found to be predictors. The impact of postoperative delirium might be lessened by concentrating on its screening and factor control.

Screening for Delirium During Pediatric Brain Injury Rehabilitation

ObjectiveTo assess feasibility of routine delirium screening using the Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium (CAPD) in children admitted for rehabilitation with acquired brain injury (ABI), report on the prevalence of positive delirium screens in this population, and explore longitudinal trends in CAPD scores and their association with rehabilitation outcomes. DesignRetrospective study. SettingPediatric inpatient rehabilitation unit. Participants144 children (median 10.8 years) with ABI (N=144). InterventionsNot applicable. Main Outcome MeasuresPercent compliance with twice daily delirium screening; prevalence of positive delirium screens; trajectories in CAPD scores and their relation with FIM for Children (WeeFIM) scores. ResultsScreening was feasible (mean 75% compliance for each of 144 children). Of 16,136 delirium screens, 29% were positive. 62% of children had ≥1 positive screen. Four primary patterns of CAPD trajectories were identified: Static Encephalopathy (10%), Episodic Delirium (10%), Improving (32%), and No Delirium (48%). Validity of these trajectories was demonstrated through association with WeeFIM and CALS outcomes. Younger age at admission was associated with positive delirium screens, and rehabilitation length of stay was significantly longer for the Improving group. ConclusionsDelirium occurs frequently in children with ABI during inpatient rehabilitation. Routine delirium screening provides clinically relevant information including the potential to facilitate early detection and intervention for medical complications. Longitudinal ratings of delirium symptoms may also have a role in developing a standardized definition for Post Traumatic Confusional State (PTCS) stage of recovery in children.

Frequency and risk factors of delirium in the pediatric intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital: A prospective observational study

Abstract Background: Critical illness is one of the most common causes of delirium in children which can be associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Delirium continues to be an overlooked aspect of the management of critically ill children. This study was conducted with the objective of determining the frequency and risk factors of delirium in critically ill children. Subjects and Methods: This prospective observational study included patients admitted for at least a period of 24 h of teaching in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a medical college of Pakistan from March 2022 to September 2022. Each patient was screened for developing delirium twice a day using the Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium. Results: The median age of the patients was 19.5 months (interquartile range: 10.7–72). There were 64.6% (n = 106) of male children, and 97.2% (n = 143) were admitted due to medical conditions. Delirium was identified in 97 (59.1%) patients. Mortality was observed in 3 (1.8%) cases. The average length of stay and frequency of hypoxia was higher among the pediatric delirium group (P = 0.002 and P = 0.022, respectively). Independent predictors of delirium in PICU patients were length of stay (odds ratio [OR], 2.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39–4.20), use of inotropes (OR, 3.32; 95% CI, 1.0.4–10.64), use of narcotics (OR, 8.78; 95% CI, 0.96–80.51), and hypoxia (OR, 3.02; 95% CI, 1.17–7.81). Conclusion: Delirium is common in children admitted to PICU. Length of PICU stay, use of narcotics, inotropes, and hypoxia were found as independent risk factors for delirium.

Incidence, associated factors, and outcomes of delirium in critically ill children in china: a prospective cohort study

BackgroundDelirium occurs frequently in critically ill children and has been reported in many countries, but delirium is not well-characterized in China. The aim of this study was to represent the incidence of delirium in critically ill children in China, its associated factors, and the influence of delirium on in-hospital outcomes.MethodsThis observational prospective cohort study was set up in a large academic medical center with a 57-bed PICU in southwestern China. Critically ill children who required PICU stays over 24 h and were admitted between November 2019 and February 2022 were included in this study. The Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium was used twice daily for delirium evaluation by bedside nurses, and twenty-four clinical features were collected from medical and nursing records during hospitalization.ResultsThe incidence of delirium was 26.0% (n = 410/1576). Multivariate analysis revealed that seven independent risk factors including days of mechanical ventilation and physical restraints, admission diagnosis (neurologic disorder), sleep deprivation, use of benzodiazepines and dexmedetomidine, liver failure/liver dysfunction associated with delirium in critically ill children. One potentially protective factor was the watching television /listening to music/playing with toys. Children with delirium had longer lengths of stay in the PICU (median 11 vs. 10 days, p < 0.001) and hospital (median 18 vs. 15 days, p < 0.001) compared to those without delirium. Additionally, the in-hospital mortality rates were 4.63% and 0.77% in patients with and without delirium (p < 0.05).ConclusionsDelirium is common in critically ill children in China and related to poor outcomes. Interventional studies are warranted to determine the best practices to reduce delirium exposure in at-risk children.

Effects of a Multidisciplinary Stewardship Program on the Prevention of Delirium in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of a multidisciplinary practice bundle on the incidence of delirium in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). METHODS This retrospective observational study evaluated patients admitted to the PICU with Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium (CAPD) scoring. A multidisciplinary practice bundle was implemented involving pharmacists, nurses, and providers. Study endpoints included CAPD scores greater than or equal to 9, length of hospital stay, and days spent in the PICU. RESULTS The study included 192 patients. The pre-intervention mean CAPD score was 3.59, maximum of 24 (range, 0–24), and 4.5% of patients had a score ≥9. The post-intervention mean score was 4.04, maximum of 21 (range, 0–21), and 9.6% of patients had a score ≥9. The pre-intervention mean total length of hospital stay was 8.7 days, maximum of 149 days (range, 0–149); the mean number of days spent in PICU was 4.5 days, and maximum days in PICU was 89 days (range, 0–89). The post-intervention mean total length of hospital stay was 8.8 days, maximum of 57 days (range, 0–57); the mean number of days spent in PICU was 3.9 days, and maximum days in PICU was 31 days (range, 0–31). CONCLUSIONS Implementation of a multidisciplinary practice bundle, the use of CAPD scores, and the stewardship of high-risk patients increased overall awareness of the occurrence of pediatric delirium in the PICU and reduced length of stay in the intensive care unit and therefore reduced cost for families and the institute.

Implementation and effectiveness of a delirium care protocol in Thai critically ill children.

Delirium in critically ill children can result in long-term morbidity. Our main objectives were to evaluate the effectiveness of a new protocol on the reduction, prevalence, and duration of delirium and to identify associated risk factors. The effectiveness of the protocol was evaluated by a chart review in all critically ill children aged 1 month to 15 years during the study period. A Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium score ≥9 was considered positive for delirium. Data on delirium prevalence and duration from the pre-implementation and post-implementation phases were compared. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify the risk factors of delirium. A total of 120 children was analyzed (58 children in the pre-implementation group and 62 children in the post-implementation group). Fifty children (41.7%) screened positive for delirium. Age less than 2 years, delayed development, use of mechanical ventilation, and pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) stay >7 days were significantly associated with delirium. The proportion of children screened positive was not significantly different after the implementation (before, 39.7% vs. after, 43.5%; P=0.713). Subgroup analyses revealed a significant reduction in the duration of delirium in children with admission diagnosis of cardiovascular problems and after cardiothoracic surgery. The newly implemented protocol was able to reduce the duration of delirium in children with admission diagnosis of cardiovascular problems and after cardiothoracic surgery. More studies should be conducted to reduce delirium to prevent long-term morbidity after PICU discharge.

Characterizing Delirium and Associated Risk Factors Using the Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium Score in Pediatric Burn Patients.

Delirium is a syndrome of acute brain dysfunction with disturbance in consciousness and cognition that is increasingly recognized in critically ill pediatric patients. The Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium (CAPD) tool is used to detect delirium in children of all ages and developmental stages in various hospital settings. To date, the incidence of delirium in the pediatric burn population has been poorly defined. In order to describe the incidence as well as risk factors for delirium in this patient population, we retrospectively reviewed patients <18 years of age admitted to our American Burn Association-verified pediatric burn center from March 2018 to May 2021 who underwent delirium screening using the CAPD tool. Patient demographics, burn characteristics, hospitalization details, and date of first positive delirium screening were collected, and χ2, Fisher's exact test, univariate, and multivariate analyses were performed. Delirium was identified in 42 (10.8%) of 389 patients meeting inclusion criteria. Patients screening positive for delirium were older (4 years [IQR: 2, 11] vs 2 years [IQR: 1, 6], P < .0005) and had larger TBSA burns (21.63% [IQR: 9, 42] vs 3.5% [IQR: 1.75, 6], P < .0001) than delirium-negative patients. Delirium-positive patients required a longer duration of mechanical ventilation (OR 4.23; 95% CI [1.16-15.39], P = .0289) and had higher TBSA burns (OR 1.12; 95% CI [1.06-1.17], P < .0001). Delirium-positive patients had 1.6 day longer length-of-stay adjusted for TBSA burned (95% CI [0.81-2.41], P < .0001). Compared to delirium-negative patients, delirium-positive patients had a 5.4-day longer PICU admission (95% CI [2.93-10.3]; P < .0001). Screening pediatric burn patients with risk factors known to be associated with delirium by using the CAPD score could improve delirium prevention and allow for early intervention.

Adaptation and Validation of the Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium Tool in the Greek Language.

Adaptation and Validation of the Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium Tool in the Greek Language.

Differences in Delirium Evaluation and Pharmacologic Management in Children With Developmental Delay: A Retrospective Case-Control Study.

Delirium is associated with increased mortality and cost, decreased neurocognition, and decreased quality of life in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) population. The Cornell Assessment for Pediatric Delirium (CAPD) is used in PICUs for delirium screening but lacks specificity in children with developmental delay (DD). Within a cohort of children receiving pharmacologic treatment for intensive care unit (ICU) delirium, we compared delirium scoring and medication management between children with and without DD. We hypothesized that CAPD scores and treatment decisions would differ between DD and neurotypical (NT) patients. In this retrospective case-control study, we queried the medical record of patients admitted to our PICU with respiratory failure from June 2018 to March 2022 who received antipsychotics typically used for ICU delirium. Antipsychotics prescribed for home use were excluded. Nonparametric statistics compared demographics, CAPD scores, medication choice, dosing (mg/kg), and medication continuation after discharge between those with and without DD based on the ICD-10 codes. Twenty-one DD admissions and 59 NT admissions were included. Groups did not significantly differ by demographics, LOS, drug, or initial dosage. DD patients had higher median CAPD scores at admission (17 vs 13; P = .02) and treatment initiation (18 vs 16.5; P = .05). Providers more frequently escalated doses in DD patients (13/21 vs 21/59; P = .04) and discharged them home on new antipsychotics (7/21 vs 5/59; P = .01). DD patients experience delirium screening and management differently than NT counterparts. Providers should be aware of baseline elevated scores in DD patients and carefully attend to indications for dosage escalation. Further work is needed to understand if prolonged duration, even after hospital discharge, benefits patients, or represents potential disparity in care.

The Development and Preliminary Exploratory Validation of the PEdiatric Delirium Scale: Assessing the Feasibility and Accessibility of a Novel Delirium Scale

AbstractDelirium screening and identification in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) can be a diagnostic challenge. Primarily, the burden of screening falls on the bedside nurses, who are juggling countless tasks throughout their shift. The nursing staff at the researcher's institution were concerned that the existing screen, Cornell Assessment for Pediatric Delirium (CAPD), detracted from workflow. The PEdiatric Delirium Scale (PEDS) was developed to accurately identify delirium in children of all developmental abilities and improve nursing workflow. This is a single-center, double-blinded, preliminary exploratory validation study that assesses the feasibility and accessibility of PEDS. This study was performed in a busy 24-bed quaternary PICU serving a diverse, noncardiac patient population. Enrolled patients underwent screening for delirium using the CAPD and PEDS. These results were compared to the gold standard psychiatric evaluation to determine the validity of the novel screen. Finally, the surveyed nurses reviewed their experience with CAPD and PEDS. The primary outcome was to explore the validation of PEDS in the PICU. Using the Youden index, an overall sensitivity of 79% for the detection of delirium (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.61–0.91) and a specificity of 68% (95% CI: 0.64–0.73) were achieved with an optimal cut-point of 4, on a scale of 0 to 10. PEDS demonstrated a higher predictive value compared to CAPD. Elicited nursing feedback favored PEDS over CAPD, with 86% of respondents citing a shorter time to perform the screen. PEDS is a streamlined tool that can be used to detect pediatric delirium regardless of developmental abilities. Nursing surveys revealed improved workflow when comparing PEDS to CAPD.

Machine learning-based prediction of delirium 24 h after pediatric intensive care unit admission in critically ill children: A prospective cohort study

BackgroundAccurately identifying patients at high risk of delirium is vital for timely preventive intervention measures. Approaches for identifying the risk of developing delirium among critically ill children are not well researched. ObjectiveTo develop and validate machine learning-based models for predicting delirium among critically ill children 24 h after pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission. DesignA prospective cohort study. SettingA large academic medical center with a 57-bed PICU in southwestern China from November 2019 to February 2022. ParticipantsOne thousand five hundred and seventy-six critically ill children requiring PICU stay over 24 h. MethodsFive machine learning algorithms were employed. Delirium was screened by bedside nurses twice a day using the Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium. Twenty-four clinical features from medical and nursing records during hospitalization were used to inform the models. Model performance was assessed according to numerous learning metrics, including the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). ResultsOf the 1576 enrolled patients, 929 (58.9 %) were boys, and the age ranged from 28 days to 15 years with a median age of 12 months (IQR 3 to 60 months). Among them, 1126 patients were assigned to the training cohort, and 450 were assigned to the validation cohort. The AUCs ranged from 0.763 to 0.805 for the five models, among which the eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGB) model performed best, achieving an AUC of 0.805 (95 % CI, 0.759–0.851), with 0.798 (95 % CI, 0.758–0.834) accuracy, 0.902 sensitivity, 0.839 positive predictive value, 0.640 F1-score and a Brier score of 0.144. Almost all models showed lower predictive performance in children younger than 24 months than in older children. The logistic regression model also performed well, with an AUC of 0.789 (95 % CI, 0.739, 0.838), just under that of the XGB model, and was subsequently transformed into a nomogram. ConclusionsMachine learning-based models can be established and potentially help identify critically ill children who are at high risk of delirium 24 h after PICU admission. The nomogram may be a beneficial management tool for delirium for PICU practitioners at present.

Stuck in the Dark: No Association between Light, Sound, and Delirium in the PICU

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between sound and light variables and development of delirium in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients within the subsequent 3 days. Light and sound were continuously measured, and patient-specific data were collected daily. Outcomes included presence of delirium, determined by Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium (CAPD) score ≥ 9 on at least 1 day, and development of delirium in the subsequent 3 days. One hundred and forty-two patients were enrolled, totaling 896 study days. Delirium prevalence was 31%. Neurologic diagnosis, younger age, longer PICU stay, restraints, benzodiazepines, opiate infusion, and dexmedetomidine were associated with delirium. Nighttime sound peaks (&gt;70 and &gt;80 dB) were not associated with delirium (p = 0.94 and 0.36, respectively). Light intensity during midday hours (12:00, 1:00, 2:00 pm) was not associated with the development of delirium (p=0.93, 0.81, 0.83, respectively), nor was maximum light at night, difference between maximum daytime and nighttime light, or between maximum and minimum daytime light (p = 0.15, 0.46, and 0.96, respectively). When adjusting for covariables, none of the sound or light variables was associated with delirium. Despite increasing awareness of pediatric delirium, data surrounding modifiable risk factors and concrete treatment strategies are lacking. We found no significant association between light or sound and development of delirium in PICU patients. However, there was little difference between daytime and nighttime light and sound, which may have impacted findings. As the etiology of delirium is multifactorial and potentially different for individual patients, targeted light/dark cycles warrant further study as they relate to delirium and critical illness.

68 Using the Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium Score to Identify Delirium in Pediatric Burn Patients

Abstract Introduction Delirium rates in pediatric critical care range from 18-40% and its development is associated with baseline cognitive dysfunction, primary diagnosis, and mechanical ventilation. The Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium (CAPD) is a tool used to detect delirium in children of all ages, but has not been validated in burn patients. Our study aimed to use CAPD score to determine the frequency of delirium in pediatric burn patients and assess the association of delirium with burn demographics. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of patients aged 2.5 weeks to 18 years who were admitted to our ABA-verified pediatric burn center from 2018-2021 and who underwent delirium screening with the CAPD tool (CAPD ≥9 indicates a diagnosis of delirium). Injury mechanism, patient demographics, hospitalization details, and CAPD score were collected and χ2, Fisher’s exact test, and univariate analyses performed. Results 389 patients with documented CAPD scores were included in our cohort, with median age of 2 years at the time of burn injury. Delirium was identified in 42 (10.8%) patients. Delirious patients were generally older compared to non-delirious patients (4 years (IQR 2, 11) vs 2 years (IQR 1, 6), P &amp;lt; 0.0005) and had higher TBSA burned (21.63% (IQR 9, 42) vs 3.5% (IQR 1.75, 6), P &amp;lt; 0.0001). Odds of developing delirium with increasing age was 1.08 (95% CI: 1.02-1.15, P = 0.0068) and 1.16 (95% CI: 1.11-1.20, P = &amp;lt; 0.0001) for each percent increase in TBSA burned. Delirium diagnosis did not vary significantly with gender or race/ethnicity. Though it did not reach statistical significance, percent probability of developing delirium was highest among fire burns (26.53% (95% CI: 17.79-35.27)), and lowest among chemical burns (1.49% (95%CI: 0-4.40), P &amp;gt; 0.05). Patients who underwent 6 or more Anesthesia Events (AE) were 74.43 times more likely to develop delirium than patients who underwent 0 AEs (P &amp;lt; 0.001). Compared to non-delirious patients, patients with delirium were 81.02 times more likely to have an ICU admission (95% CI: 38.79-169.22, P &amp;lt; 0.0001) and 11.37 times more likely to have a longer hospital admission (95% CI: 7.74-16.72, P &amp;lt; 0.0001). Conclusions Screening with the CAPD tool identified delirium in pediatric burn patients with known risk factors for delirium including higher TBSA burned, greater number of AEs, and longer ICU course or hospital admission. Delirium increased with age in our study group. There are few validated tools for measuring delirium in pediatric burn patients, and further studies are needed determine whether CAPD accurately captures delirium in younger burn patients. Applicability of Research to Practice Knowing associations between clinical burn characteristics and delirium can help predict which patients are at highest risk. Early identification of these patients can enable extra precautions to prevent delirium and to treat it early if it develops.