Pediatric Critical Illness Score Research Articles

Clinical value of TAT, PIC and t-PAIC as predictive markers for severe sepsis in pediatric patients.

Sepsis in pediatric patients can progress to severe sepsis, and identifying biomarkers of this progression may permit timely intervention to prevent it. This study aimed to investigate the ability of thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), α2-plasmininhibitor-plasmin complex (PIC) and tissue-type plasminogen activator-inhibitor complex (t-PAIC) to predict severe sepsis in pediatrics early. 148 eligible pediatric sepsis patients were enrolled in this study, and were then divided into those who progressed to severe sepsis (n = 50) or not (n = 98). Serum levels of TAT, PIC, and t-PAIC were analysed, and simplified pediatric critical illness score (PCIS) and DIC score were calculated on the day of pediatric sepsis diagnosis. Compared with sepsis patients, severe sepsis patients had higher levels of TAT, PIC and t-PAIC. Correlation analysis revealed that TAT, PIC and t-PAIC were significantly correlated with simplified PCIS and DIC score. ROC curve analysis suggested that TAT, PIC and t-PAIC could serve as biomarkers for predicting severe sepsis with the AUC up to 0.862, 0.759 and 0.851, respectively. Stratified analysis demonstrated that the patients with increased levels of TAT, PIC and t-PAIC had worse illness severity and clinical outcome. Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that TAT, PIC and t-PAIC were all risk factors for severe sepsis, yet only TAT and t-PAIC were independent risk factors in multivariate model. TAT, PIC and t-PAIC could serve as biomarkers for predicting severe sepsis, and correlated with illness severity in pediatrics, what's more, serum levels of TAT and t-PAIC may be independent risk factors for pediatric severe sepsis.

Development and validation of a nomogram to predict the risk of sepsis-associated encephalopathy for septic patients in PICU: a multicenter retrospective cohort study

BackgroundPatients with sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) have higher mortality rates and longer ICU stays. Predictors of SAE are yet to be identified. We aimed to establish an effective and simple-to-use nomogram for the individual prediction of SAE in patients with sepsis admitted to pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in order to prevent early onset of SAE.MethodsIn this retrospective multicenter study, we screened 790 patients with sepsis admitted to the PICU of three hospitals in Shandong, China. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression was used for variable selection and regularization in the training cohort. The selected variables were used to construct a nomogram to predict the risk of SAE in patients with sepsis in the PICU. The nomogram performance was assessed using discrimination and calibration.ResultsFrom January 2017 to May 2022, 613 patients with sepsis from three centers were eligible for inclusion in the final study. The training cohort consisted of 251 patients, and the two independent validation cohorts consisted of 193 and 169 patients. Overall, 237 (38.7%) patients developed SAE. The morbidity of SAE in patients with sepsis is associated with the respiratory rate, blood urea nitrogen, activated partial thromboplastin time, arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide, and pediatric critical illness score. We generated a nomogram for the early identification of SAE in the training cohort (area under curve [AUC] 0.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.76–0.88, sensitivity 65.6%, specificity 88.8%) and validation cohort (validation cohort 1: AUC 0.80, 95% CI 0.74–0.86, sensitivity 75.0%, specificity 74.3%; validation cohort 2: AUC 0.81, 95% CI 0.73–0.88, sensitivity 69.1%, specificity 83.3%). Calibration plots for the nomogram showed excellent agreement between SAE probabilities of the observed and predicted values. Decision curve analysis indicated that the nomogram conferred a high net clinical benefit.ConclusionsThe novel nomogram and online calculator showed performance in predicting the morbidity of SAE in patients with sepsis admitted to the PICU, thereby potentially assisting clinicians in the early detection and intervention of SAE.

Cortisol levels associated with mortality in children with critical illness: a systematic review

Background Critically ill patients, including those with sepsis, have increased cortisol levels due to activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis or critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI).
 Objective To evaluate for a possible association between cortisol levels and mortality from sepsis in pediatric patients by systematic review of the literature.
 Methods A systematic review was conducted on studies involving critically ill children, including those with sepsis. We included studies published between 2011-2020 analyzing data on cortisol levels (total serum cortisol, serum-free cortisol, salivary cortisol, real-time free cortisol, basal serum cortisol and post-adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) stimulation test, or basal salivary cortisol and post-ACTH stimulation test), the predictive score for mortality (Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction/PELOD), Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM), Pediatric Index of Mortality (PIM), Vasotropic Inotropic Score (VIS), or Pediatric Critical Illness Score (PCIS)], mortality (non-survivor percentage), and CIRCI percentage as an outcome in patients with critical illness, sepsis, and septic shock.
 Results Twenty-one observational studies were included in our systematic review, with a total of 2,212 subjects, 916 of whom had sepsis. Nineteen studies indicated a positive association between elevated cortisol levels and mortality in critically ill children, but 2 studies stated that there was no association with the CIRCI percentage of 32.3 and 84.3% respectively. The mortality percentage of critically ill patients with elevated cortisol levels and sepsis were 25.81 (2.7-60)% and 35.31 (6-60)%, respectively. The percentages of CIRCI in critically ill and sepsis patients were 21.91 (0-84.3)% and 21.35 (0-84.3)%, respectively.
 Conclusion Cortisol levels may increase or decrease in critically ill children. Elevated cortisol levels are associated with mortality in septic children. The effect of CIRCI on mortality in critically ill children cannot be concluded.

Prognostic factors of sepsis in children with acute leukemia admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit.

To analyze the prognostic factors of sepsis in children with acute leukemia admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and to compare the efficacy of different scoring systems for predicting the outcome of children. Patients with an acute leukemia diagnosis admitted to a tertiary care university hospital PICU due to sepsis during chemotherapy between May 2015 and August 2022 were retrospectively analyzed through an electronic medical record system. During this period, 693 children with acute leukemia initially diagnosed were admitted to the center, and 155 (22.3%) of them were transferred to PICU due to deterioration of the disease during treatment. Total 109 (70.3%) patients were transferred to PICU due to sepsis. Here, 17 patients was excluded (prior treatment from another hospital; referring from other hospitals; discontinued treatment; incomplete medical record). Of the 92 patients studied, the mortality rate was 35.9%. Multivariate analysis revealed that remission status, lactate level, invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), and inotropic support within 48hours after PICU transfer were independent risk factors for PICU mortality. The pediatric sequential organ failure assessment (PSOFA) score had the greatest predictive validity for hospital mortality (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUROC]: 0.83, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.74-0.92), followed by the pediatric early warning score (PEWS) (0.82, 0.73-0.91) and pediatric critical illness score (PCIS) (0.79, 0.69-0.88). The mortality rate among children with acute leukemia complicated with sepsis is high after being transferred to the PICU. Various scoring systems can be used to monitor the clinical status of patients, identify sepsis early, detect critical illness, and determine the optimal time for transfer to the PICU for supportive treatment, thereby improving the prognosis of these patients.

The clinical significance of renal resistance index (RRI) and renal oxygen saturation (RrSO2) in critically ill children with AKI: a prospective cohort study

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to look into the clinical significance of the renal resistance index (RRI) and renal oxygen saturation (RrSO2) in predicting the development of acute kidney injury (AKI) in critically ill children. A new non-invasive method for the early detection and prediction of AKI needs to develop.MethodsPatients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) affiliated with the capital institute of pediatrics from December 2020 to March 2021 were enrolled consecutively. Data of clinical information, renal Doppler ultrasound, RrSO2, and hemodynamic index within 24 h of admission were prospectively collected. Patients were divided into two groups: the study group was AKI occurred within 72 h, while the control group did not. SPSS (version 25.0) was used to analyze the data, and P < 0.05 was considered a statistical difference.Results1) A total of 66 patients were included in this study, and the incidence of AKI was 19.70% (13/66). The presence of risk factors (shock, tumor, severe infection) increased the incidence of AKI by three times. 2) Univariate analysis showed significant differences in length of hospitalization, white blood cells (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), renal resistance index (RRI), and ejection fraction (EF) between the study and control groups (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in renal perfusion semi-quantitative score (P = 0.053), pulsatility index (P = 0.051), pediatric critical illness score (PCIS), and peripheral vascular resistance index (P > 0.05). 3) Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that if RRI > 0.635, the sensitivity, specificity, and AUC for predicting AKI were 0.889, 0.552, and 0.751, respectively; if RrSO2 < 43.95%, the values were 0.615, 0.719 and 0.609, respectively; if RRI and RrSO2 were united, they were 0.889, 0.552, and 0.766, respectively.ConclusionsThe incidence of AKI is high in PICU patients. And infection, RRI, and EF are risk factors for AKI in PICU patients. RRI and RrSO2 have certain clinical significance in the early prediction of AKI and may provide a new non-invasive method for early diagnosis and prediction of AKI.

Application of transport ventilator in the inter-hospital transport of critically ill children

To study the application value of transport ventilator in the inter-hospital transport of critically ill children. The critically ill children in Hunan Children's Hospital who were transported with or without a transport ventilator were included as the observation group (from January 2019 to January 2020; n=122) and the control group (from January 2018 to January 2019; n=120), respectively. The two groups were compared in terms of general data, the changes in heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood oxygen saturation during transport, the incidence rates of adverse events, and outcomes. There were no significant differences between the two groups in sex, age, oxygenation index, pediatric critical illness score, course of disease, primary disease, heart rate, respiratory rate, and transcutaneous oxygen saturation before transport (P>0.05). During transport, there were no significant differences between the two groups in the changes in heart rate, respiratory rate, and transcutaneous oxygen saturation (P>0.05). The incidence rates of tracheal catheter detachment, indwelling needle detachment, and sudden cardiac arrest in the observation group were lower than those in the control group during transport, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the observation group had significantly shorter duration of mechanical ventilation and length of stay in the pediatric intensive care unit and significantly higher transport success rate and cure/improvement rate (P<0.05). The application of transport ventilator in the inter-hospital transport can improve the success rate of inter-hospital transport and the prognosis in critically ill children, and therefore, it holds promise for clinical application in the inter-hospital transport of critically ill children.

Analysis of risk factors of mortality in infants and toddlers with moderate to severe pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome

Objective: To identify the risk factors in mortality of pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS) in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Methods: Second analysis of the data collected in the "efficacy of pulmonary surfactant (PS) in the treatment of children with moderate to severe PARDS" program. Retrospective case summary of the risk factors of mortality of children with moderate to severe PARDS who admitted in 14 participating tertiary PICU between December 2016 to December 2021. Differences in general condition, underlying diseases, oxygenation index, and mechanical ventilation were compared after the group was divided by survival at PICU discharge. When comparing between groups, the Mann-Whitney U test was used for measurement data, and the chi-square test was used for counting data. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the accuracy of oxygen index (OI) in predicting mortality. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for mortality. Results: Among 101 children with moderate to severe PARDS, 63 (62.4%) were males, 38 (37.6%) were females, aged (12±8) months. There were 23 cases in the non-survival group and 78 cases in the survival group. The combined rates of underlying diseases (52.2% (12/23) vs. 29.5% (23/78), χ2=4.04, P=0.045) and immune deficiency (30.4% (7/23) vs. 11.5% (9/78), χ2=4.76, P=0.029) in non-survival patients were significantly higher than those in survival patients, while the use of pulmonary surfactant (PS) was significantly lower (8.7% (2/23) vs. 41.0% (32/78), χ2=8.31, P=0.004). No significant differences existed in age, sex, pediatric critical illness score, etiology of PARDS, mechanical ventilation mode and fluid balance within 72 h (all P>0.05). OI on the first day (11.9(8.3, 17.1) vs.15.5(11.7, 23.0)), the second day (10.1(7.6, 16.6) vs.14.8(9.3, 26.2)) and the third day (9.2(6.6, 16.6) vs. 16.7(11.2, 31.4)) after PARDS identified were all higher in non-survival group compared to survival group (Z=-2.70, -2.52, -3.79 respectively, all P<0.05), and the improvement of OI in non-survival group was worse (0.03(-0.32, 0.31) vs. 0.32(-0.02, 0.56), Z=-2.49, P=0.013). ROC curve analysis showed that the OI on the thind day was more appropriate in predicting in-hospital mortality (area under the curve= 0.76, standard error 0.05,95%CI 0.65-0.87,P<0.001). When OI was set at 11.1, the sensitivity was 78.3% (95%CI 58.1%-90.3%), and the specificity was 60.3% (95%CI 49.2%-70.4%). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for age, sex, pediatric critical illness score and fluid load within 72 h, no use of PS (OR=11.26, 95%CI 2.19-57.95, P=0.004), OI value on the third day (OR=7.93, 95%CI 1.51-41.69, P=0.014), and companied with immunodeficiency (OR=4.72, 95%CI 1.17-19.02, P=0.029) were independent risk factors for mortality in children with PARDS. Conclusions: The mortality of patients with moderate to severe PARDS is high, and immunodeficiency, no use of PS and OI on the third day after PARDS identified are the independent risk factors related to mortality. The OI on the third day after PARDS identified could be used to predict mortality.

Establishment of a nomogram model for the early diagnosis of childhood sepsis

To establish a nomogram model for the early diagnosis of sepsis in children. A total of 76 children with sepsis who were admitted to Sichuan Maternal and Child Health Hospital from January 2018 to June 2021 were retrospectively selected as the sepsis group. After matching for sex and age (±2 years) at a ratio of 1:1:1, 76 children with local infection who were hospitalized during the same period were enrolled as the local infection group, and 76 children with non-infectious diseases were enrolled as the control group. The three groups were compared in terms of laboratory markers and the results of quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) and Pediatric Critical Illness Score (PCIS). A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association between the above indicators and sepsis. R4.1.3 software was used to establish and validate the nomogram model for the early diagnosis of sepsis based on the results of the multivariate analysis. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the value of the nomogram model, and the Bootstrap method was used to perform the internal validation of the model. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1, qSOFA score, PCIS score, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and interleukin-10 were independently associated with childhood sepsis (P<0.05). The above indicators were used to establish a nomogram for the early diagnosis of sepsis, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.837 (95%CI: 0.760-0.914), and the calibration curve results showed a mean absolute error of 0.024, suggesting that the performance of this model was basically consistent with that of the ideal model. The indicators soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1, qSOFA score, PCIS score, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and interleukin-10 are independently associated with childhood sepsis, and the nomogram model established based on these indicators has high discriminatory ability and accuracy in the early diagnosis of sepsis in children.

Risk Factors for Mortality and Antimicrobial Regimens in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Patients with Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae Infections: A Six-Year Retrospective Study.

Limited data are available on the characteristics, risk factors, and antimicrobial treatment of critically ill pediatric patients with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infections. This study was to identify the risk factors for 30-day mortality in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients with CRE infections and compare the clinical outcomes of different antimicrobial regimens. A retrospective, observational cohort study was performed on patients admitted to the PICU with positive CRE cultures between January 2016 and December 2021. For the 56 patients, the overall 30-day mortality was 50% (n=28). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that pediatric critical illness score (PCIS; HR = 0.879; 95% CI, 0.827-0.935; P < 0.001) and serum albumin levels (HR = 0.921; 95% CI, 0.860-0.987; P = 0.019) were independently associated with 30-day mortality. At the same time, there was no significant difference in 30-day mortality (42.9% versus 45.5%, P = 0.854) or clinical efficiency rate (53.4% versus 40.9%, P = 0.374) between with and without polymyxin B therapy. The study revealed PCIS and serum albumin levels were the independent mortality-related risk factors of CRE infections in critically ill pediatric patients. Treatment with polymyxin B could not reduce 30-day mortality. Future prospective cohort studies are needed to investigate the optimal antimicrobial regimens for CRE infection in PICU patients.

A prediction model for the efficacy of continuous positive airway pressure on bronchiolitis.

Prediction of the efficacy of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on bronchiolitis is necessary for timely treatment. This study aims to establish a nomogram for efficacy of CPAP on bronchiolitis, and compares accuracy with Pediatric Risk of Mortality III (PRISM III), Brighton Pediatric Early Warning Score (Brighton PEWS) and Pediatric Critical Illness Score (PCIS). From February 2014 to December 2020, data on children diagnosed with bronchiolitis and treated with CPAP in Chongqing was collected. The nomogram was evaluated by using multivariate logistic regression analysis. We compared the predictive value of model with PRISM III, PEWS and PCIS. A total of 510 children were included. The nomogram prediction model including fever, APTT, white blood cells, serum potassium concentration, lactic acid, immunodeficiency, atelectasis, lung consolidation, congenital airway dysplasia and congenital heart disease was established. The AUC of the nomogram was 0.919 in the training set and 0.947 in the validating set. The model fitted well, as evidenced by the calibration curve and Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test. We discovered that the nomogram significantly performed better than PRISM III, PCIS and PEWS. A nomogram including ten factors for predicting the efficacy of CPAP on bronchiolitis was established. It had higher performance than the PRISM III, PCIS, and PEWS in terms of clinical benefits.

Risk factors for air leakage during invasive mechanical ventilation in pediatric intensive care units

PurposeThis study aimed to investigate air leakage during invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and explore potential risk factors.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study of children who underwent IMV in a single-center PICU in a tertiary referral hospital. Air leakage risk factors and factors associated with an improved outcome were assessed.ResultsA total of 548 children who underwent IMV were enrolled in this study. Air leakage occurred in 7.5% (41/548) of the cases in the PICU. Air leakage increased the duration of IMV and hospitalization time. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed a higher risk of air leakage during IMV for PICU patients with acute respiratory dyspnea syndrome (ARDS) (OR = 4.38), a higher pediatric critical illness score (PCIS) (OR = 1.08), or a higher peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) (OR = 1.08), whereas the risk was lower for patients with central respiratory failure (OR = 0.14). The logistic model had excellent predictive power for air leakage, with an area under the curve of 0.883 and tenfold cross-validation. Patients aged between 1 and 6 years who were diagnosed with measles or pneumonia and had a low positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) or high PaO2/FiO2 ratio were associated with improved outcomes. Patients diagnosed with central respiratory failure or congenital heart diseases were associated with less desirable outcomes.ConclusionsPatients with ARDS, a higher PCIS at admission or a higher PIP were at higher risk of air leakage.

Research on the Correlation of Peripheral Blood Inflammatory Markers with PCT, CRP, and PCIS in Infants with Community-Acquired Pneumonia.

Aims This study aimsto investigate the relationship between peripheral blood neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII), and procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), and pediatric critical illness score (PCIS) in infants with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Methods 100 infants with bacterial CAP admitted to our hospital between January 2021 and December 2021 were selected as the infected group, and another 100 healthy infants who underwent health check-ups at the same time were selected as the control group, and the NLR, PLR, and SII of peripheral blood of infants in both groups and the serum PCT, CRP, and PCIS scores of infants in the infected group were tested. The correlation between NLR, PLR, SII, and PCT, CRP, and PCIS was analyzed by Spearman's analysis. Results The peripheral blood levels of NLR, PLR, and SII were higher in the infected group than in the control infants (P < 0.05). The ROC results showed that the AUCs of peripheral blood NLR, PLR, and SII for the diagnosis of infants with CAP were 0.934, 0.737, and 0.882, respectively. The ROC results showed that the AUCs of peripheral blood NLR, PLR, and SII for assessing the extent of disease in infants with CAP were 0.815, 0.710, and 0.813, respectively, with best cut-off values of 2.05, 98.57, and 823.41; the joint predicted AUC was 0.862. Conclusions NLR, PLR, and SII were significantly elevated in the peripheral blood of infants with CAP, positively correlated with PCT and CRP, and negatively correlated with PSIC scores, and NLR and SII also have some guiding value in early diagnosis and assessment of the extent of the disease in infants and toddlers with CAP.

Risk factors and optimal predictive scoring system of mortality for children with acute paraquat poisoning

BACKGROUNDThere is no suitable scoring system that can be used to predict mortality in children with acute paraquat intoxication (APP).AIMTo optimize a predictive scoring system for mortality in children with APP.METHODSA total of 113 children with APP from January 1, 2010 to January 1, 2020 were enrolled in this study. These patients were divided into survivors and non-survivors. We compared the clinical characteristics between the two groups and analyzed the independent prognostic risk factors. The survival rates of patients with different values of the pediatric critical illness score (PCIS) were assessed using kaplan-meier survival analysis. The best scoring system was established by using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.RESULTSThe overall mortality rate was 23.4%. All non-survivors died within 20 days; 48.1% (13/27) died within 3 days, and 70.3% (19/27) died within 7 days. Compared to survivors, the non-survivors were older, had higher white blood cell count, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, glucose, and pediatric early warning score, and had lower platelet count, albumin, Serum sodium (Na+) and PCIS. ALT and PCIS were the independent prognostic risk factors for children with APP. The survival rate of children classified as extremely critical patients (100%) was lower than that of children classified as critical (60%) or noncritical (6.7%) patients. The specificity of ALT was high (96.51%), but the sensitivity was low (59.26%). The sensitivity and specificity of ALT combined with PCIS were high, 92.59% and 87.21%, respectively. The difference in mortality was significantly higher for ALT combined with PCIS (area under the receiver operating characteristic: 0.937; 95%CI: 0.875-0.974; P < 0.05).CONCLUSIONIn our study, ALT and PCIS were independent prognostic risk factors for children with APP. ALT combined with PCIS is an optimal predictive mortality scoring system for children with APP.

Pediatric Critical Illness Score, Clinical Characteristics and Comprehensive Treatment of Children with Severe Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Pneumonia

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical characteristics of children with severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (SMPP) and the correlation with pediatric critical illness score (PICS), and to explore the effect of combined treatment with antibiotics and glucocorticoids.MethodsThe medical records of 120 children with SMPP admitted to our hospital from January 2020 to June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Children with a PICS score greater than 80 within 24 h of admission were included in the non-critical group, those with a score of 71–80 were included in the critical group, and those with a score of ≤70 were included in the extremely critical group. The relevant clinical data and examination indicators of the three groups of children were intercepted and compared. Univariate and multifactorial logistic regression analyses were performed to analyze the correlation between clinical characteristics of children with SMPP and PICS. According to the different treatment methods, the children were subdivided into the control group (n = 54) who received antibiotics alone and the comprehensive group (n = 66) who received antibiotics combined with glucocorticoid therapy. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), inflammation and immune indexes, symptom relief or disappearance time, hospitalization days, and clinical efficacy were compared between the two groups before and after treatment.ResultWithin 24 h of admission, among the 120 children with SMPP, 79 had PICS >80, 32 had PICS 71–80, and 9 had PICS ≤70. Before discharge, among the 120 children with SMPP, 99 had PICS >80, 17 had PICS 71–80, and 4 had PICS ≤70. Univariate analysis showed that there were no significant differences in gender ratio, ratio of fever duration >10 days, age and WBC among the three groups (p > 0.05), the differences in the ratio of abnormal ECG, the ratio of ≥2 pathogenic infections, the ratio of ≥2 systemic damages, CRP levels, and D-dimer levels were statistically significant when compared among the three groups (p < 0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the number of Co-systemic damages and the level of D-dimer were negatively correlated with PICS classification (p < 0.05). After medication, ESR, CRP, IL-6, and CD8+ levels decreased and CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ levels increased in both the control and comprehensive groups, and all changes were significant in the comprehensive group compared with the control group (p < 0.05). The antipyretic time, cough relief time, disappearance time of lung rales and hospitalization days in the comprehensive group were shorter than those in the control group (p < 0.05). The total effective rate of the comprehensive group (95.45%) was better than that of the control group (83.33%) (p < 0.05).ConclusionPICS can effectively reflect the clinical characteristics of children with SMPP. The comprehensive treatment effect of azithromycin combined with glucocorticoid is significantly better than that of azithromycin alone. It can effectively reduce the level of inflammation in children with SMPP, improve the immune function of children, and accelerate clinical recovery. It has promotion value.

Efficacy of plasma exchange in children with severe hemophagocytic syndrome: a prospective randomized controlled trial.

To investigate the efficacy and application value of plasma exchange as an adjuvant therapy in children with hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS). A prospective randomized controlled trial was designed. Forty children with severe HPS were enrolled, who were treated in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of Hunan Children's Hospital from October 2018 to October 2020. The children were randomly divided into a plasma exchange group and a conventional treatment group using a random number table, with 20 children in each group. The children in the conventional treatment group received etiological treatment and conventional symptomatic supportive treatment, and those in the plasma exchange group received plasma exchange in addition to the treatment in the conventional treatment group. The two groups were compared in terms of general information, clinical symptoms and signs before and after treatment, main laboratory markers, treatment outcome, and prognosis. Before treatment, there were no significant differences between the two groups in gender, age, course of the disease before admission, etiological composition, pediatric critical illness score, involvement of organ or system functions, and laboratory markers (P>0.05). After 7 days of treatment, both groups had remission and improvement in clinical symptoms and signs. After treatment, the plasma exchange group had significantly lower levels of C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and serum protein levels than the conventional treatment group (P<0.05). The plasma exchange group also had significantly lower levels of alanine aminotransferase and total bilirubin than the conventional treatment group (P<0.05). The length of stay in the PICU in the plasma exchange group was significantly shorter than that in the conventional treatment group (P<0.05). The plasma exchange group had a significantly higher treatment response rate than the conventional treatment group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the total length of hospital stay and 3-month mortality rate (P>0.05). Plasma exchange as an adjuvant therapy is effective for children with severe HPS. It can improve clinical symptoms and signs and some laboratory markers and shorten the length of stay in the PICU, and therefore, it may become an optional adjuvant therapy for children with severe HPS.

Biomarker-based score for predicting in-hospital mortality of children admitted to the intensive care unit

This study aims to establish a new scoring system based on biomarkers for predicting in-hospital mortality of children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). The biomarkers were chosen...

Comparison of a new predictive model with other critical scores for predicting in-hospital mortality among children with pneumonia-related bacteremia

Prediction of mortality in children with pneumonia-related bacteremia is necessary for providing timely care and treatment. This study aims to develop and validate a nomogram and compare it with Pediatric...

Elevated Serum C1q Levels in Children With Sepsis.

Objective: To analyze the serum complement C1q levels in children with sepsis, and explore the suggestive effect of serum C1q levels on the condition of children with sepsis.Methods: The clinical and laboratory data of children with sepsis (n = 95) and healthy children (n = 71) in Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from January 2019 to October 2019 were collected, and each index of the two groups was compared. Then we divided children with sepsis into three subgroups based on the Pediatric Critical Illness Score (PCIS): non-critical group, critical group, and extremely critical group. The serum C1q and PCT levels of the three subgroups were analyzed, and the correlation analysis was carried out between the levels of serum C1q and PCT levels as well as PCIS among children with sepsis. Finally, we analyzed the serum C1q levels of septic children infected by different pathogens.Results: The serum C1q levels of children with sepsis were significantly higher than those of healthy children (median 198.4 vs. 186.2 mg/L, P < 0.001). In the analysis of subgroups, the serum C1q levels of non-critical group, critical group, and extremely critical group septic children were 182.80 (166.75, 195.85) mg/L, 219.90 (209.10, 246.40) mg/L and 249.95 (239.10, 272.25) mg/L, respectively, which were correlated with the severity of the disease. At the same time, we also found that serum C1q in children with sepsis was positively correlated with PCT levels (r = 0.5982, P < 0.001), and negatively correlated with PCIS score (r = −0.6607, P < 0.001). The serum C1q levels of septic children with bacterial infections, mycoplasma infections, viral infections, and co-infection were higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05).Conclusion: The serum levels of C1q in children with sepsis were increased and related to the severity of sepsis, suggesting that C1q may be involved in the occurrence and development of sepsis, which had reference value for the preliminary diagnosis and severity classification of sepsis.

Nutritional support in children with pneumonia on mechanical ventilation by short-peptide enteral nutrition formula

Objective To observe the incidence of malnutrition and nutritional risk in children with pneumonia on mechanical ventilation in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), and to explore the nutritional support effect of short-peptide enteral nutrition formula. Methods A total of 68 children with severe pneumonia who were hospitalized in the PICU from October 2017 to October 2018 and required mechanical ventilation were enrolled for a prospective randomized controlled study. The children were randomly divided into a control group and an experimental group. Through the nasogastric feeding tube, the experimental group received the short-peptide enteral nutrition formula, and the control group received the intact-protein enteral nutrition formula. The weight-for-age Z score, STRONGkids nutritional risk score, and pediatric critical illness score of the two groups were evaluated. The serum levels of total protein, albumin, and prealbumin (PA) on admission and before discharge were measured. The gastrointestinal tolerance and clinical outcome indicators of the two groups were observed. Results Among the 68 mechanically ventilated children, 26 (38%) had malnutrition, including moderate malnutrition (10 cases, 15%) and severe malnutrition (16 cases, 24%); 10 cases (15%) had malnutrition at discharge. Sixty-three children (93%) had nutritional risk, including moderate nutritional risk in 21 cases and high nutritional risk in 42 cases. The moderate and high nutritional risk rates of the critical and extreme critical groups were significantly higher than those of the non-critical group (P 0.05). Conclusions The detection rates of malnutrition and nutritional risk in children with pneumonia on mechanical ventilation are relatively high. Short-peptide enteral nutrition formula can help improve their treatment outcome and are more suitable for nutritional support in critically ill children on mechanical ventilation.

Impact of and risk factors for pediatric acute kidney injury defined by the pROCK criteria in a Chinese PICU population.

The definition of pediatric AKI continues to evolve. We aimed to find a better AKI definition to predict outcomes and identify risk factors for AKI in a Chinese PICU. This study consisted of 3338 patients hospitalized in a Chinese PICU between 2016 and 2018. AKI was defined and staged using pROCK criteria, which were compared with KDIGO criteria. AKI outcomes, including mortality, daily cost and length of stay (LOS), were assessed. Risk factors for AKI were also estimated. The incidence of AKI in the PICU was 7.7% according to pROCK criteria. The characteristics of patients with KDIGO-defined AKI who did not meet the pROCK were similar to those without AKI. pROCK outperformed KDIGO in predicting mortality with a higher c index in the Cox models (0.81 versus 0.79, P = 0.013). AKI, as well as AKI stages, were associated with higher mortality (HR: 10.5, 95%CI: 6.66-19.5), daily cost (β = 2064, P < 0.01) and LOS (β = 2.30, P < 0.01). Age, comorbidities, mechanical ventilation (MV), pediatric critical illness score (PCIS) and exposure to drugs had significant influence on AKI occurrence. The mortality predictability of pROCK was slightly greater than that of KDIGO. Older age, underlying comorbidities, MV, decreased PCIS and exposure to drugs were potential risk factors for AKI. Two AKI criteria, pROCK and KDIGO, were significantly associated with an increased risk of mortality and pROCK was slightly greater than that of KDIGO. Older age, comorbidities, mechanical ventilation, decreased PCIS and exposure to drugs were potential risk factors for AKI. This study first used the pROCK criteria to provide an epidemiologic description of pediatric AKI in Chinese PICU. This study compared the AKI outcomes across the pROCK and KDIGO AKI criteria, indicating the prior utility for AKI classification in Chinese children. This study indicated that the potential risk factors for AKI were older age, comorbidities, mechanical ventilation, decreased PCIS and exposure to drugs.