Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Admission Research Articles

Recurrent Intensive Care Episodes and Mortality Among Children With Severe Neurologic Impairment

Children requiring care in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) are known to have increased risk of subsequent mortality. Children with severe neurologic impairment (SNI)-who carry neurologic or genetic diagnoses with functional impairments and medical complexity-are frequently admitted to PICUs. Although recurrent PICU critical illness episodes (PICU-CIEs) are assumed to indicate a poor prognosis, the association between recurrent PICU-CIEs and mortality in this patient population is poorly understood. To assess the association between number of recent PICU-CIEs and survival among children with severe neurologic impairment. This population-based retrospective cohort study used health administrative data from April 1, 2002, to March 31, 2020, on 4774 children born between 2002 and 2019 with an SNI diagnosis code in an Ontario, Canada, hospital record before 16 years of age and a first PICU-CIE from 2002 to 2019. Data were analyzed from November 2021 to June 2023. Pediatric intensive care unit critical illness episodes (excluding brief postoperative PICU admissions). One-year survival conditioned on the number and severity (length of stay >15 days or use of invasive mechanical ventilation) of PICU-CIEs in the preceding year. In Ontario, 4774 children with SNI (mean [SD] age, 2.1 [3.6] months; 2636 [55.2%] <1 year of age; 2613 boys [54.7%]) were discharged alive between 2002 and 2019 after their first PICU-CIE. Ten-year survival after the initial episode was 81% (95% CI, 79%-82%) for children younger than 1 year of age and 84% (95% CI, 82%-86%) for children 1 year of age or older; the age-stratified curves converged by 15 years after the initial episode at 79% survival (95% CI, 78%-81% for children <1 year and 95% CI, 75%-84% for children ≥1 year). Adjusted for age category and demographic factors, the presence of nonneurologic complex chronic conditions (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 1.70 [95% CI, 1.43-2.02]) and medical technology assistance (AHR, 2.32 [95% CI, 1.92-2.81]) were associated with increased mortality. Conditional 1-year mortality was less than 20% regardless of number or severity of recent PICU-CIEs. Among children with high-risk PICU-CIEs, 1-year conditional survival decreased from 90% (95% CI, 89%-91%) after the first PICU-CIE to 81% (95% CI, 77%-86%) after the fourth PICU-CIE. This cohort study of children with SNI demonstrated a modest dose-dependent association between PICU-CIEs and short-term mortality. These data did not support the conventional wisdom that recurrent PICU admissions are associated with subsequent high mortality risk.

Use of Latent Class Analysis to Predict Intensive Care Unit Admission and Mortality in Children with a Major Congenital Anomaly

To define major congenital anomaly (CA) subgroups and assess outcome variability based on defined subgroups. This population-based cohort study used registries in Denmark for children born with a major CA between January 1997 and December 2016, with follow-up until December 2018. We performed a latent class analysis (LCA) using child and family clinical and sociodemographic characteristics present at birth, incorporating additional variables occurring until age of 24months. Cox proportional hazards regression models estimated hazard ratios (HRs) of pediatric mortality and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions for identified LCA classes. The study included 27 192 children born with a major CA. Twelve variables led to a 4-class solution (entropy=0.74): (1) children born with higher income and fewer comorbidities (55.4%), (2) children born to young mothers with lower income (24.8%), (3) children born prematurely (10.0%), and (4) children with multiorgan involvement and developmental disability (9.8%). Compared with those in Class 1, mortality and ICU admissions were highest in Class 4 (HR=8.9, 95% CI=6.4-12.6 and HR=4.1, 95% CI=3.6-4.7, respectively). More modest increases were observed among the other classes for mortality and ICU admissions (Class 2: HR=1.7, 95% CI=1.1-2.5 and HR=1.3, 95% CI=1.1-1.4, respectively; Class 3: HR=2.5, 95% CI=1.5-4.2 and HR=1.5, 95% CI=1.3-1.9, respectively). Children with a major CA can be categorized into meaningful subgroups with good discriminative ability. These groupings may be useful for risk-stratification in outcome studies.

Methylene Blue in Metformin Intoxication: Not Just Rescue But Also Initial Treatment.

Metformin (MTF) is a widely used oral antidiabetic medication. Regardless the reason, high doses of MTF cause lactic acidosis as a result of its effects on mitochondrial ATP production and no-mediated vascular smooth muscle relaxation. Metformin-associated lactic acidosis can be life-threatening despite all treatments. Methylene blue (MB) has the potential to reverse the toxic effects of MTF through its effects on both the mitochondrial respiratory chain and nitric oxide production. The use of MB in MTF intoxication has only been reported in a limited number of cases. Herein, we present a 16-year-old female patient who attempted suicide by ingesting high doses of MTF. Supportive treatments, such as vasopressor, inotropic treatments, and sodium bicarbonate, were started in the patient who developed fluid-resistant hypotension after pediatric intensive care unit admission. Because of rising lactate levels, Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) was started immediately. Despite all treatments, hypotension and hyperlactatemia persisted; MB was given as a rescue therapy. Noticeable hemodynamic improvement was observed within 30 minutes of initiating MB infusion, allowing a gradual decrease in the doses of inotropic infusions within the first hour of therapy. Patient's cardiovascular support was discontinued on the second day, and she was discharged on the fifth day. We speculate that, considering the mechanisms of MTF toxicity and the mechanisms of action of MB, it is suggested that early administration of MB, not only as a rescue treatment but as the initial approach to MTF poisoning in combination with other treatments, may result in improved outcomes.

Mortality and associated factors among children admitted to an intensive care unit in muhimbili national hospital, from the time of admission to three months after discharge: a prospective cohort study

BackgroundMortality of children admitted to Intensive Care Units (ICU) is higher in low-to-middle-income countries (LMICs) as compared to high-income countries (HICs). There is paucity of information on outcomes following discharge from ICU, especially from sub-Saharan Africa region. This study was conducted to determine mortality and its associated factors among children admitted to Pediatric ICU (PICU) at Muhimbili National Hospital, from admission to three months after discharge.MethodologyThis was a hospital-based prospective cohort study conducted between July 2021 and May 2022, among children admitted to PICU who were followed up for 3-month after discharge. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data from their medical charts. Telephone interviews were made after discharge. Medical records and verbal autopsy were used to determine the cause of death after discharge. Cox regression analysis was performed to assess the association between variables. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Survival after PICU discharge was estimated by Kaplan - Meier curve.ResultsOf 323 children recruited, 177(54.8%) were male, with a median age of 17 months (1-168). The leading cause of PICU admission was severe sepsis 90/323(27.9%). A total of 161/323 children died, yielding an overall mortality of 49.8%. Of 173 children discharged from PICU, 33(19.1%) died. The leading cause of death among children who died in the general ward or as readmission into PICU was sepsis 4/17(23.5%). Respiratory diseases 4/16(25.0%) were the commonest cause of death among those who died after hospital discharge. Independent predictors of overall mortality included single organ dysfunction with hazard ratio(HR):5.97, 95% confidence interval (CI)(3.05–12.26)] and multiple organ dysfunction [HR:2.77,95%CI(1.03–2.21)]. Chronic illness[HR:8.13,95%CI(2.45–27.02)], thrombocytosis [HR:3.39,95%CI(1.32–8.73)], single[HR:3.57,95%CI(1.42–9.03)] and multiple organ dysfunction[HR:3.11,95%CI(1.01–9.61)] independently predicted post-PICU discharge mortality.ConclusionOverall mortality and post- PICU discharge mortality were high and more likely to affect children with organ dysfunction, chronic illness, and thrombocytosis. The leading causes of mortality post- PICU discharge were sepsis and respiratory diseases. There is a need for a focused follow up plan of children post- PICU discharge, further research on the long term survival and strategies to improve it.

Characteristics and outcomes of critically ill children with moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury

ObjectiveTo characterize outcomes of paediatric moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), defined by a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) ≤ 12.DesignRetrospective, single-centre cohort study (July 2010 and June 2020).SettingMedical-surgical tertiary paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in a level 1 university medical trauma centre.PatientsOne-hundred and thirty subjects < 18 years (moderate N = 56, severe N = 74).Measurements and main resultsSubjects were stratified according to favourable (Paediatric Cerebral Performance Category [PCPC] Scale ≤ 3) and poor (PCPC ≥ 4) neurological outcome determined at PICU discharge. One-hundred and six patients (81.5%) had PCPC ≤ 3; of those, N = 55 (52%) had moderate TBI and N = 51 (48%) severe TBI. Twelve patients (9.2%) died, of whom eight (66.7%) within 24 h of PICU admission. Intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring was performed in N = 12 (50%) patients with PCPC ≥ 4 and in N = 15 (14.2%) patients with PCPC ≤ 3. No clinically relevant differences in serum sodium, glucose, temperature, or blood pressure management during the first 72 h of PICU admission were observed between patients with and without favourable outcome. Mortality was highest among patients with severe TBI (N = 11, 14.9%). Among survivors with PCPC ≥ 4, N = 11 (91.7%) were discharged to a rehabilitation facility compared to N = 22 (20.8%) with PCPC ≤ 3.ConclusionSevere paediatric TBI (pTBI) remains an important cause of serious morbidity and mortality. Patients with moderate pTBI had a favourable outcome at PICU discharge, although the outcome measurement used may not be granular enough to discriminate. Follow-up after discharge is essential to optimize outcome on physical, cognitive, behavioural, and social functioning.

Paediatric cancer patients with severe sepsis or septic shock at the PICU with positive microbiological results do worse than those with negative results: a retrospective cohort study

PurposeInfections are a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in paediatric cancer patients. The aim of this study was to determine whether positive or negative microbiological results impact the clinical outcomes of sepsis in paediatric cancer patients admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU).MethodsWe performed a retrospective observational single-centre cohort study between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2020 in the Netherlands. All paediatric cancer patients aged 0 to 18 years admitted to PICU due to severe sepsis or septic shock were included.ResultsWe identified 73 PICU admissions in 58 unique patients. Forty-nine of the 73 PICU admissions (67.1%) had positive blood and/or bronchoalveolar lavage microbiological results. Patients with positive results had a higher Paediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction-2 (PELOD-2) score at PICU admission compared to patients with negative results (median (IQR), 7 (6–9) vs 6 (4–8), p = 0.04). Mortality in PICU among patients with positive results was significantly higher when compared to patients with negative results, 18% versus 0% respectively (p = 0.03). In addition, patients with positive results had significantly less ventilator-free days at day 28 compared to patients with negative results, median (IQR) 26 (19–28) versus 28 (27–28) respectively (p = 0.01).ConclusionsMicrobiologically confirmed infections (bacterial, viral, or fungal) in paediatric cancer patients with sepsis are associated with higher mortality in PICU and a higher need for PICU resources. Large-scale (multicentre) studies in paediatric oncologic patients are required to confirm these results.

Comparative study between ventriculosubgaleal shunt and external ventricular drain for management of post infective hydrocephalus among pediatrics

PurposePost infective hydrocephalus (PIH) is a type of hydrocephalus which occurs after an infection of the brain or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Treatment of PIH requires temporary measures such as external ventricular drain (EVD) and ventriculosubgaleal shunt (VSGS) until CSF becomes clear and ready to implement VP shunt.Limited research has been done to explore the tradeoff between these approaches particularly in pediatric PIH patients.Our study compares the complications, mortality rates, and the cost of used resources of both procedures.MethodsA prospective study was conducted for 18 months in which we compared between VSGS and EVD for management of PIH involving 42 randomized cases with 21 patients in group A operated by VSGS and 21 patients in group B operated by EVD.ResultsOur results show a statistically significant difference between both groups in the duration of implementation of VSGS/EVD until resolution of infection occurs. Additionally, a higher rate of pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission and a longer length of hospital stay (LOS) were recorded among the EVD group. No statistically significant difference between the number of complications that happened in both despite variations in their forms. Moreover, both groups showed nearly similar mortality rates.ConclusionThere is no significant difference in the rate of complications between VSGS and EVD for PIH. Based on that, VSGS emerges as a favorable and cost-effective option for the management of PIH which leads to less economic burden on patients and the country’s health resources, especially in developing countries.

Acute neuromuscular disorders in critically ill children

Acute neuromuscular disorders are a group of neurological emergencies characterized by rapid onset of motor weakness commonly involving the respiratory and bulbar muscles. These can be acute or an exacerbation of the chronic neuromuscular disease. An accurate and timely diagnosis allows for the timely institution of specific therapies, improving long-term functional outcomes. Landry–Guillain–Barre syndrome (LGBS), acute transverse myelitis, compressive myelopathy, traumatic spinal lesions, and anterior horn cell myelitis (due to viral infections) are some of the common causes of acute motor weakness in children. LGBS is the most common among all. The diagnosis relies on clinical presentation, signs, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, electrophysiological studies, and neuroimaging of the spine. Once compressive or traumatic spinal lesions are suspected, immediate neuroimaging of the spine is essential to plan early neurosurgical intervention. Pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission is often required for supportive management and immunomodulation. Supportive management typically includes endotracheal intubation to protect the airway, mechanical ventilation (MV) to support breathing, monitoring, management of autonomic dysfunction, control of pain, physiotherapy, adequate nutrition, prevention of pressure sores, bladder–bowel care, psychological support, and planning of long-term care. Autonomic dysfunction can cause hemodynamic instability, arrhythmias, sudden cardiac arrest, and death, requiring close monitoring and management in PICU. Tracheostomy is often needed in children who continue to have respiratory paralysis and are predicted to require long-term term mechanical ventilation. The outcome generally depends on the primary disease and long-term care.

Mortality in Patients with Leukemia and Lymphoma Urgently Admitted to the PICU: Secondary Analysis of Data from a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

AbstractObjectives were to describe the severity of illness in patients with leukemia or lymphoma urgently admitted to pediatric intensive care and explores the risk factors for mortality. A secondary analysis was performed of prospectively collected data from a cluster-randomized controlled trial in 21 children's hospitals from 2011 to 2015. Eligible patients were urgently admitted to intensive care and had a diagnosis of leukemia or lymphoma. Associations with intensive care mortality (primary outcome) were determined with multivariable generalized estimating equation with a logit link, accounting for clustering by site. Associations with time to intensive care mortality (secondary outcome) were determined with multivariable proportional hazards models. A total of 109 patients were included, age 115 (interquartile range [IQR] 42, 168) months and intensive care length of stay was 3 (IQR 2, 6) days. During the first hour in intensive care 36 (33%) were ventilated, and during intensive care 45 (41.3%) had at least 1 technology day. Day 1 Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction (PELOD) score was ≥ 20 in 37 (33.9%), Pediatric Index of Mortality 2 mortality risk was &gt; 10% in 35 (32.1%), and Children's Resuscitation Intensity Scale (RISC) was ≥ 3 (late admission to intensive care) in 32 (31.7%). Intensive care mortality was 20/109 (18.3%); with intensive care stay ≥ 20 days mortality was 51%. Previous urgent pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission, mechanical ventilation, and day 1 PELOD score were associated with higher PICU mortality. Mechanical ventilation, day 1 PELOD score, and late admission to the PICU (RISC ≥ 2) were associated with time to death. Patients with leukemia and lymphoma urgently admitted to intensive care had mortality of 18.3%, an improvement from historical cohorts. Risk factors were not accurate enough to make individual patient care decisions.

Experience of a therapeutic plasma exchange program in a pediatric intensive care unit: A single-center retrospective observational study from Canada

Background: Pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) may not have timely access to therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) for critically ill patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the common indications for TPE in a smaller tertiary PICU-developed TPE program and to evaluate the associated predictors of mortality. We hypothesized that a PICU-developed TPE program could provide timely access for a wide breadth of pathologies and can be delivered safely. Subjects and Methods: This was a retrospective case-comparison within-cohort study in a PICU from Canada. Data from pediatric patients between October 2015 and January 2022 was examined. The study included all patients &lt; 18 years admitted to the PICU and requiring TPE. Multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS) was defined to agree with the International Pediatric Sepsis Consensus Conference. Proportions, medians, and interquartile ranges (IQR) were calculated where appropriate. Results: Twenty-five patients with a median age of 14 years underwent 118 acute TPE runs. The most common diagnosis (24%) was MODS. The median time from PICU admission to initiation of TPE was 38 h (IQR: 5–113.5) hours. The median PICU length of stay was 10 (IQR: 5.5–26) days. Twenty percent (n = 5) of patients who received TPE acutely in the PICU required chronic TPE. There were no adverse events. Conclusions: TPE may be delivered quickly and safely from a small PICU for many indications, with MODS being the most common.

Unsaturated fatty acids, omega-3 index and hospitalization in MISC

The growing interest in Omega-3 fatty acids as diagnostic markers or new therapeutic approaches also for COVID-19 disease, led us to investigate the presence of potential correlations between Omega-3 fatty acids’ levels in whole blood and days of hospitalization or admission to the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in 51 children with MIS-C diagnosis following SARS-CoV-2 infection. A statistically significant negative correlation was observed between days of hospitalization and docosapentaenoic acid (22:5n-3,DPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and total Omega-3 FA levels. Dividing the study group into quartiles according to Omega-3-Index (O3I), no statistically significant difference was observed with respect to the PICU admission rate. In contrast, the number of days of hospitalization in Q4 (O3I ≥ 2.51 %) was different from the number observed in groups Q1-3 (O3I < 2.51 %), with subjects showing higher O3I needing shorter hospitalizations than the subjects with lower O3I. According to previous study investigating O3I in adults affected by Sars-cov-2 we explored the levels of this nutrients in children with MIS-C. Our exploratory study shows that high DPA, DHA and O3I levels could be effective in reducing the length of hospitalization.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Bronchiolitis Before and After COVID-19 Pandemic: Has the Immunity Debt Been Paid Off?

Our aim was to hypothesize that the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the characteristics of viral bronchiolitis by comparing the last 3 epidemics with 3 pre-COVID-19 epidemics in infants hospitalized with bronchiolitis. We prospectively enrolled 637 consecutive infants (median age 3.0 ± 2.1 months, 58.5% males), hospitalized for bronchiolitis during 6 consecutive annual epidemic seasons from 2017 to 2023. All parents of the children were given a structured anamnestic questionnaire. A nasopharyngeal aspirate was tested for 15 respiratory viruses. As measures of severity, we evaluated the O 2 supplementation and the admission at the pediatric intensive care unit. A total of 166 were hospitalized with bronchiolitis in 2017-2018, 97 in 2018-2019, 69 in 2019-2020, 0 in 2020-2021, 129 in 2021-2022 and 176 in 2022-2023. Taking together the 332 bronchiolitis cases hospitalized during the 3 prepandemic seasons, they peaked between December and January; after the flat curve in 2020-2021, the cases of bronchiolitis peaked in November 2021 and in December 2022. While the 2021-2022 season registered a less severe clinical presentation, O 2 supplementation and pediatric intensive care unit admissions increased in 2022-2023 with respect to the prepandemic seasons ( P < 0.001). This study represents an important scientific demonstration of the impact of primary prevention measures on the epidemiology of viral infections; their fluctuations were related to the intensity of restrictive measures and to the changing trend of respiratory viruses. It is essential to predict the real temporal trend of bronchiolitis not to leave high-risk children uncovered and to guide hospitals to maintain a high level of readiness.

The neurological wake-up test in severe pediatric traumatic brain injury: a long term, single-center experience.

To describe the use and outcomes of the neurological wake-up test (NWT) in pediatric severe traumatic brain injury (pTBI). Retrospective single-center observational cohort study. Medical-surgical tertiary pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in a university medical center and Level 1 Trauma Center. Children younger than 18 years with severe TBI [i.e., Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of ≤8] admitted between January 2010 and December 2020. Subjects with non-traumatic brain injury were excluded. Of 168 TBI patients admitted, 36 (21%) met the inclusion criteria. Median age was 8.5 years [2 months to 16 years], 5 patients were younger than 6 months. Median initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and Glasgow Motor Scale (GMS) was 6 [3-8] and 3 [1-5]. NWTs were initiated in 14 (39%) patients, with 7 (50%) labelled as successful. Fall from a height was the underlying injury mechanism in those seven. NWT-failure occurred in patients admitted after traffic accidents. Sedation use in both NWT-subgroups (successful vs. failure) was comparable. Cause of NWT-failure was non-arousal (71%) or severe agitation (29%). Subjects with NWT failure subsequently had radiological examination (29%), repeat NWT (43%), continuous interruption of sedation (14%) or intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring (14%). The primary reason for not doing NWTs was intracranial hypertension in 59%. Compared to the NWT-group, the non-NWT group had a higher PRISM III score (18.9 vs. 10.6), lower GCS/GMS at discharge, more associated trauma, and circulatory support. Nine patients (25%) died during their PICU admission, none of them had an NWT. We observed limited use of NWTs in pediatric severe TBI. Patients who failed the NWT were indistinguishable from those without NWT. Both groups were more severely affected compared to the NWT successes. Therefore, our results may indicate that only a select group of severe pTBI patients qualify for the NWT.

Abnormal DNA methylation within HPA-axis genes years after paediatric critical illness

BackgroundCritically ill children suffer from impaired physical/neurocognitive development 2 years later. Glucocorticoid treatment alters DNA methylation within the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis which may impair normal brain development, cognition and behaviour. We tested the hypothesis that paediatric-intensive-care-unit (PICU) patients, sex- and age-dependently, show long-term abnormal DNA methylation within the HPA-axis layers, possibly aggravated by glucocorticoid treatment in the PICU, which may contribute to the long-term developmental impairments.ResultsIn a pre-planned secondary analysis of the multicentre PEPaNIC-RCT and its 2-year follow-up, we identified differentially methylated positions and differentially methylated regions within HPA-axis genes in buccal mucosa DNA from 818 former PICU patients 2 years after PICU admission (n = 608 no glucocorticoid treatment; n = 210 glucocorticoid treatment) versus 392 healthy children and assessed interaction with sex and age, role of glucocorticoid treatment in the PICU and associations with long-term developmental impairments. Adjusting for technical variation and baseline risk factors and correcting for multiple testing (false discovery rate < 0.05), former PICU patients showed abnormal DNA methylation of 26 CpG sites (within CRHR1, POMC, MC2R, NR3C1, FKBP5, HSD11B1, SRD5A1, AKR1D1, DUSP1, TSC22D3 and TNF) and three DNA regions (within AVP, TSC22D3 and TNF) that were mostly hypomethylated. These abnormalities were sex-independent and only partially age-dependent. Abnormal methylation of three CpG sites within FKBP5 and one CpG site within SRD5A1 and AKR1D1 was partly attributable to glucocorticoid treatment during PICU stay. Finally, abnormal methylation within FKBP5 and AKR1D1 was most robustly associated with long-term impaired development.ConclusionsTwo years after critical illness in children, abnormal methylation within HPA-axis genes was present, predominantly within FKBP5 and AKR1D1, partly attributable to glucocorticoid treatment in the PICU, and explaining part of the long-term developmental impairments. These data call for caution regarding liberal glucocorticoid use in the PICU.

Impact of Rapid Response Teams on Pediatric Care: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis of Unplanned PICU Admissions and Cardiac Arrests.

Pediatric rapid response teams (RRTs) are expected to significantly lower pediatric mortality in healthcare settings. This study evaluates RRTs' effectiveness in decreasing cardiac arrests and unexpected Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) admissions. A quasi-experimental study (2014-2017) at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, involved 3261 pediatric inpatients, split into pre-intervention (1604) and post-intervention (1657) groups. Baseline pediatric warning scores and monthly data on admissions, transfers, arrests, and mortality were analyzed pre- and post-intervention. Statistical methods including bootstrapping, segmented regression, and a Zero-Inflation Poisson model were employed to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of the intervention's impact. RRT was activated 471 times, primarily for respiratory distress (29.30%), sepsis (22.30%), clinical anxiety (13.80%), and hematological abnormalities (6.7%). Family concerns triggered 0.1% of activations. Post-RRT implementation, unplanned PICU admissions significantly reduced (RR = 0.552, 95% CI 0.485-0.628, p < 0.0001), and non-ICU cardiac arrests were eliminated (RR = 0). Patient care improvement was notable, with a -9.61 coefficient for PICU admissions (95% CI: -12.65 to -6.57, p < 0.001) and a -1.641 coefficient for non-ICU cardiac arrests (95% CI: -2.22 to -1.06, p < 0.001). Sensitivity analysis showed mixed results for PICU admissions, while zero-inflation Poisson analysis confirmed a reduction in non-ICU arrests. The deployment of pediatric RRTs is associated with fewer unexpected PICU admissions and non-ICU cardiopulmonary arrests, indicating improved PICU management. Further research using robust scientific methods is necessary to conclusively determine RRTs' clinical benefits.

Direct vs. redirected admission of critically ill children to PICU after interfacility transfer: a retrospective cohort study.

Critically ill children must often be transported long distances for access to critical care resources in Canada. This study aims to describe and compare characteristics and outcomes in patients presenting in the community and requiring inter-facility transport and admission to a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). This is a retrospective cohort study of children admitted to the ICU at the Hospital for Sick Children from 2016 to 2019 after inter-facility transport. Characteristics and outcomes were compared between children admitted to the PICU within 24 h from their initial critical care transport request, and children admitted after initial redirection to a non-ICU care setting, 24-72 h from request. The primary outcome was severity of illness at PICU admission. Secondary outcomes included duration of mechanical ventilation, organ dysfunction, PICU length of stay and mortality. A total of 2,730 patients were admitted after inter-facility transport to either the medical/surgical or cardiac ICU within 72 h of initial critical care transport request. Of these children, 2,559 (94%) were admitted within 24 h and 171 (6%) were admitted between 24 and 72 h. Children admitted after initial redirection were younger and residing in more rural centers. Children who were initially redirected had lower severity of illness (PRISM-IV median score 3 vs. 5, p = 0.047) and lower risk of mortality. Initial redirection to a non-ICU care setting rather than directly admitting to the PICU did not result in increased severity of illness or mortality. This study highlights the need to better understand which factors influence disposition decision-making at the time of initial transport request. Further research should focus on the impact of transport factors on clinical outcomes after PICU admission.

Cost of illness due to respiratory syncytial virus acute lower respiratory tract infection among infants hospitalized in Argentina

BackgroundInformation is scarce regarding the economic burden of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease in low-resource settings. This study aimed to estimate the cost per episode of hospital admissions due to RSV severe disease in Argentina.MethodsThis is a prospective cohort study that collected information regarding 256 infants under 12 months of age with acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRTI) due to RSV in two public hospitals of Buenos Aires between 2014 and 2016. Information on healthcare resource use was collected from the patient’s report and its associated costs were estimated based on the financial database and account records of the hospitals. We estimated the total cost per hospitalization due to RSV using the health system perspective. The costs were estimated in US dollars as of December 2022 (1 US dollar = 170 Argentine pesos).ResultsThe mean costs per RSV hospitalization in infants was US$587.79 (95% confidence interval [CI] $535.24 – $640.33). The mean costs associated with pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission more than doubled from those at regular pediatric wards ($1,556.81 [95% CI $512.21 – $2,601.40] versus $556.53 [95% CI $514.59 – $598.48]).ConclusionsThis study shows the direct economic impact of acute severe RSV infection on the public health system in Argentina. The estimates obtained from this study could be used to inform cost-effectiveness analyses of new preventive RSV interventions being developed.

Plasma Protein Biomarkers Distinguish Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children From Other Pediatric Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare but serious hyperinflammatory complication following infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The mechanisms underpinning the pathophysiology of MIS-C are poorly understood. Moreover, clinically distinguishing MIS-C from other childhood infectious and inflammatory conditions, such as Kawasaki disease or severe bacterial and viral infections, is challenging due to overlapping clinical and laboratory features. We aimed to determine a set of plasma protein biomarkers that could discriminate MIS-C from those other diseases. Seven candidate protein biomarkers for MIS-C were selected based on literature and from whole blood RNA sequencing data from patients with MIS-C and other diseases. Plasma concentrations of ARG1, CCL20, CD163, CORIN, CXCL9, PCSK9 and ADAMTS2 were quantified in MIS-C (n = 22), Kawasaki disease (n = 23), definite bacterial (n = 28) and viral (n = 27) disease and healthy controls (n = 8). Logistic regression models were used to determine the discriminatory ability of individual proteins and protein combinations to identify MIS-C and association with severity of illness. Plasma levels of CD163, CXCL9 and PCSK9 were significantly elevated in MIS-C with a combined area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 85.7% (95% confidence interval: 76.6%-94.8%) for discriminating MIS-C from other childhood diseases. Lower ARG1 and CORIN plasma levels were significantly associated with severe MIS-C cases requiring inotropes, pediatric intensive care unit admission or with shock. Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of a host protein biomarker signature for MIS-C and may provide new insight into its pathophysiology.

Impact of COVID‑19 pandemic restrictions and subsequent relaxation on the prevalence of respiratory virus hospitalizations in children

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic and the consequently adopted worldwide control measures have resulted in global changes in the epidemiology and severity of other respiratory viruses. We compared the number and severity of viral acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRTI) hospitalizations and determined changes in causative respiratory pathogens before, during, and after the pandemic among young children in Qatar.MethodsIn this single-center retrospective study, we reviewed data of children ≤ 36 months old who were admitted to Sidra Medicine in Qatar with a viral ALRTI during winter seasons (September–April) between 2019 and 2023. The study period was divided into three distinct seasons based on the pandemic-imposed restrictions as follows: (1) the period between September 2019 and April 2020 was considered the pre-COVID-19 pandemic season; (2) the periods between September 2020 and April 2021, and the period between January and April 2022 were considered the COVID-19 pandemic seasons; and (3) the periods between September 2022 and April 2023 was considered the post-COVID-19 pandemic season.ResultsDuring the COVID-19 season, 77 patients were admitted, compared with 153 patients during the pre-COVID-19 season and 230 patients during the post-COVID-19 season. RSV was the dominant virus during the pre-COVID-19 season, with a detection rate of 50.9%. RSV infection rate dropped significantly during the COVID-19 season to 10.4% and then increased again during the post-COVID-19 season to 29.1% (P < 0.001). Rhinovirus was the dominant virus during the COVID-19 (39.1%) and post-COVID-19 seasons (61%) compared to the pre-COVID-19 season (31.4%) (P < 0.001). The average length of hospital stay was significantly longer in the post-COVID-19 season than in the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 seasons (P < 0.001). No significant differences in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission rate (P = 0.22), PICU length of stay (p = 0.479), or respiratory support requirements were detected between the three seasons.ConclusionOur study showed reduced viral ALRTI hospitalizations in Qatar during the COVID-19 pandemic with reduced RSV detection. An increase in viral ALRTI hospitalizations accompanied by a resurgence of RSV circulation following the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions was observed without changes in disease severity.

Exploring Factors Affecting Parental Psychological Vulnerability During Their Child's PICU Admission: A Prospective Pilot Cohort Study

Parental psychological responses during their child's pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission are often overlooked. This study aimed to identify pre-existing and peri-traumatic factors explaining parental stress and anxiety during their child's PICU admission and one-month follow-up. A prospective pilot study included 60 PICU parents. Parental Stressors Scale and State-trait Anxiety Inventory measured stress and anxiety during PICU admission, and the State-trait Anxiety Inventory and Perceived Stress Scale at a one-month follow-up. During PICU admission, parental stress correlated with age, race, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), anxiety was linked to income. At one-month follow-up, anxiety related to child's health worries, perceived stress was linked to parental ACEs and education. Parental ACEs predicted perceived stress (b=0.83, p=.028). Children's diagnoses explained anxiety, particularly respiratory and cardiac diagnoses (b=-13.44, p=.023; -10.03, p=.045). Identifying factors helps teams understand parental vulnerability and provide appropriate support.