Pediatric In-hospital Cardiac Arrest Research Articles

Association Between Chest Compression Pause Duration and Survival After Pediatric In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

The association between chest compression (CC) pause duration and pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrest survival outcomes is unknown. The American Heart Association has recommended minimizing pauses in CC in children to <10 seconds, without supportive evidence. We hypothesized that longer maximum CC pause durations are associated with worse survival and neurological outcomes. In this cohort study of index pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrests reported in pediRES-Q (Quality of Pediatric Resuscitation in a Multicenter Collaborative) from July of 2015 through December of 2021, we analyzed the association in 5-second increments of the longest CC pause duration for each event with survival and favorable neurological outcome (Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category ≤3 or no change from baseline). Secondary exposures included having any pause >10 seconds or >20 seconds and number of pauses >10 seconds and >20 seconds per 2 minutes. We identified 562 index in-hospital cardiac arrests (median [Q1, Q3] age 2.9 years [0.6, 10.0], 43% female, 13% shockable rhythm). Median length of the longest CC pause for each event was 29.8 seconds (11.5, 63.1). After adjustment for confounders, each 5-second increment in the longest CC pause duration was associated with a 3% lower relative risk of survival with favorable neurological outcome (adjusted risk ratio, 0.97 [95% CI, 0.95-0.99]; P=0.02). Longest CC pause duration was also associated with survival to hospital discharge (adjusted risk ratio, 0.98 [95% CI, 0.96-0.99]; P=0.01) and return of spontaneous circulation (adjusted risk ratio, 0.93 [95% CI, 0.91-0.94]; P<0.001). Secondary outcomes of any pause >10 seconds or >20 seconds and number of CC pauses >10 seconds and >20 seconds were each significantly associated with adjusted risk ratio of return of spontaneous circulation, but not survival or neurological outcomes. Each 5-second increment in longest CC pause duration during pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrest was associated with lower chance of survival with favorable neurological outcome, survival to hospital discharge, and return of spontaneous circulation. Any CC pause >10 seconds or >20 seconds and number of pauses >10 seconds and >20 seconds were significantly associated with lower adjusted probability of return of spontaneous circulation, but not survival or neurological outcomes.

Abstract 43: Development and Internal Validation of Risk Scores to Predict Survival to Discharge Following Pediatric In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Introduction: In-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) in the pediatric population is associated with poor survival and neurological outcomes. We aimed to develop and internally validate a risk score to predict survival to discharge in pediatric IHCA patients. Methods: For model development and validation, we included pediatric IHCA patients captured in the Get With The Guidelines® registry (provided by the American Heart Association) between 2005 and 2021. We used logistic regression (LR), classification and regression trees (CART), and artificial neural networks (ANN) to develop models using 70% of the data and validate them using the remaining 30% of the data. The discrimination of the models was compared based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), calibration based on the ratio of observed to expected (O: E), and predictive accuracy based on percent survival in each risk group. Results: We included 6141 pediatric patients (mean age 4.82 years, 41.3% infants, 54.7% male). Most patients survived to hospital discharge (60.9%). We developed separate models for infants vs. older children using LR, CART, and ANN. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) identified age, illness category, acyanotic cardiac malformation, hepatic insufficiency, hypotension/hypoperfusion, metabolic/electrolyte abnormality, metastatic/hematologic malignancy, renal insufficiency, septicemia, and pediatric cerebral performance score on admission as important predictor variables for analysis. Table 1 shows a comparison of model parameters. Logistic regression models were found to be better at classifying survivors into risk categories with higher specificity and discrimination. Conclusion: Pediatric patients experiencing IHCA can be classified into low, moderate, and high-risk categories using a simple risk score and easily identified pre-arrest variables. These risk scores can support clinical decisions, facilitate research, and help monitor the quality of medical services.

Risk Factors and Outcomes for Recurrent Pediatric In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: Retrospective Cohort Study from the American Heart Association's Get with the Guidelines-Resuscitation Registry

Abstract Objective We aimed to describe the risk factors and outcomes of recurrent in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) in a large pediatric cohort. Methods A retrospective cohort study of patients ≤18 years from the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines®-Resuscitation Registry with single or recurrent IHCA who achieved return of spontaneous circulation and were not placed on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation with their initial IHCA were included. Patients were categorized into two groups for analysis: (1) single IHCA or (2) recurrent ICHA. Initial IHCAs from each category were analyzed and compared. Continuous variables were expressed as medians with interquartile ranges and compared via rank sum test. Categorical variables were expressed as percentages and compared via chi square test. Outcomes were assessed in a matched cohort. Results A total of 10,019 patients, 2,225 (22.2%) experienced a recurrent IHCA. Recurrent IHCA patients were more likely to be medical cardiac (21.3 vs. 19%; p = 0.01) or trauma patients (7.5 vs. 5.3%; p &lt; 0.001) and have higher acuity (27.8 vs. 22.7%; p &lt; 0.001). Initial IHCA for recurrent IHCA patients were more likely to occur in the pediatric intensive care unit (44.2 vs. 39.6%; p &lt; 0.001) or cardiac intensive care unit (11.5 vs. 9.5%; p = 0.006) versus other inpatient locations. There was no difference in initial IHCA duration between groups. After matching, patients with a recurrent IHCA had a lower rate of survival to hospital discharge (42.1 vs. 65.3%; p &lt; 0.001). Conclusion In a matched cohort, patients with recurrent IHCA had lower rates of survival compared with those with a single IHCA. Higher acuity and intensive care unit location during initial IHCA event were associated with increased risk for recurrent IHCA.

ECPR for prolonged Pediatric Cardiac Arrest, an outcome without major neurological compromise

Pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) has been reported in 1–3% of pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and up to 6% of children admissions to the cardiac ICU. In the last 25 years, the survival to hospital discharge after pediatric IHCA has improved from 9% to 13.7% up to 35%. The improvement in outcomes was attributed in part to the application of ECMO as a rescue strategy when prolonged conventional CPR cannot restore spontaneous circulation. We report a case of a 4-month-old patient with a history of ventricular and septal defects, with left to right shunt and enlargement of left heart chambers that underwent surgery for the closure of the atrial and septal defects, and experienced complications that led to the use of ECMO in response to a prolonged cardiac arrest.

Abstract 411: Characterization of Pediatric In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Denmark

Background: Pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrest occurs frequently and is associated with high mortality. However, the epidemiology of pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrest outside of the US is poorly characterized. Aim: We aimed to characterize pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrests in Denmark. Methods: This is a nationwide cohort study. We collected data from the Danish in-hospital cardiac arrest registry (DANARREST) from 2013-2021. We included all pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrests (&lt;18 years of age) with a clinical indication for CPR. Neonatal cardiac arrests were excluded. Results: We identified 318 cases of which 137 had a cardiac arrest with an indication for CPR and complete data. Overall, the median (quartile 1; quartile 3) age was 2 (0; 13) years and 90 (66%) were male. In total, 34 (25%) occurred in the pediatric intensive care unit, 79 (58%) were monitored, 121 (90%) were witnessed, and 42 (31%) were intubated prior to the cardiac arrest. The initial rhythm was PEA (51%), asystole (19%), VF/ VT (13%) and pulse generating rhythm (17%). The cause of arrest was cardiac (23%) vs. non-cardiac (77%). Median time to first rhythm check was 1 (0;3) minutes and median time to arrival of the cardiac arrest team was 3 (2; 5) minutes. Overall, 81% achieved return of spontaneous circulation or return of circulation on ECMO, whereas 49% survived to 30 days, and 43% survived to one year. Conclusion: Most pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrests in Denmark occurred outside of the pediatric intensive care units, and almost half were not monitored. However, almost half survived to 30 days.

Abstract 394: Epinephrine Administration Before Defibrillation in Children With an Initially Shockable In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Rhythm

Background: Contrary to current guidelines, administration of epinephrine before first defibrillation for shockable in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) is common in adults and associated with lower survival. Whether these findings are also present in pediatric IHCA remains unknown. Methods: We used 2000-2020 data from the Get With the Guidelines®—Resuscitation registry to identify children (&lt;18 years) with index IHCA due to an initial shockable rhythm of ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia and at least 1 defibrillation attempt. Study outcomes were event survival, defined as return of spontaneous circulation for &gt; 20 minutes, survival to hospital discharge and favorable neurologic survival. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) using propensity scores was used to adjust for confounding . Results: Among 492 pediatric IHCA index events (median [IQR] age, 7 years [0.75 to 14 years]; 351 [71%] in the ICU), 142 (29%) children with an initial shockable rhythm received epinephrine before defibrillation. Subjects receiving epinephrine before defibrillation had longer times to defibrillation compared to those receiving defibrillation first (median [IQR]: 4 minutes [2 to 8] vs. 1 minute [0 to 2]). Rates of event survival (72.7% vs. 82.8%), survival to hospital discharge (36.4% vs. 47.9%), and favorable neurologic survival (18.9% vs. 33.1%) were lower in the epinephrine before defibrillation group, Table). However, in adjusted analyses using IPTW, epinephrine before defibrillation was not associated with survival outcomes (Table). Conclusions: Nearly one in three pediatric IHCA with initial shockable rhythm receives epinephrine before defibrillation in contrast with recommended guidelines. However, unlike adults with IHCA, we did not identify a clear association between epinephrine before defibrillation and survival.

Abstract 310: Impact of "Cognitive Aids" on Responder Performance During Pediatric Code Blue Simulations - Results From Performance Improvement Project at a Tertiary Care Center in Saudi Arabia

Introduction: Despite advances such as high-fidelity code blue simulations, pediatric In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest mortality rate has plateaued at 62% in the USA. It is expected to be higher in low-income countries. Studies show deviations from the PALS guidelines despite regular PALS training due to skills and knowledge decay. Use of simple, easily accessible resources as “Cognitive Aids”, that decrease reliance on memory during stressful events, however, has not been studied well. Aim: To evaluate impact of cognitive aids on resuscitative capabilities of code-blue responders during simulations. Method: Performance Improvement (PI) project by Pediatrics Department at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Madinah, Saudi Arabia. Simulations were run by Consultant, Pediatric Intensivist and PICU nurse on regular pediatric floors. A performance assessment checklist and a scoring tool were designed to evaluate team members for responsiveness, effective resuscitation, effective communication and resource utilization. Results: A total of 94 responders participated multiple times in 35 simulations that were conducted in two phases: Codes 1 - 19 as the Pre-PI phase and Codes 20 - 35 as Post-PI phase. Cognitive aids were not utilized during the Pre-PI codes and based on the assessment scores, interventions were introduced in the form of A3 size PALS resuscitation cards, “Pediatric Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation Direction” document with prompts to facilitate smooth running of the code and SBAR notes. Based on the scores, improvement was observed in responsiveness by 27% (Pre-PI:192/262 vs. Post-PI:222/223), effective resuscitation by 38% (Pre-PI:293/511 vs. Post-PI:409/431), effective communication by 46% (Pre-PI:94/245 vs. Post-PI:173/207) and resource utilization by 56% (PrePI:37/94 vs. Post-PI:76/80). Total of 36 (38%) responders participated in actual pediatric cardiac arrests after project completion and 97% (35/36) reported higher confidence. Conclusion: Cognitive aids were helpful supportive tools in overcoming skills and knowledge decay and enhance team performance and quality of resuscitation during code blue simulations. We suggest use of such tools wherever high-fidelity simulation training may not be available.

Establishing a Quality Improvement Program for Pediatric In-hospital Cardiac Arrest

Background: Pediatric In-hospital Cardiac Arrest (IHCA) is a rare event with a 50-55% mortality rate. Techniques of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), medication and electrical therapy timing, team dynamics, simulation and debriefing programs are associated with improved outcomes. This study aimed to improve outcomes after IHCA by describing and implementing quality improvement processes that cross and coordinate among traditional siloed pediatric resuscitation team structures. Methods: We chose three outcome measures: (1) return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), (2) 24-hour survival after IHCA, and (3) survival to hospital discharge. Process outcomes include (1) hot debriefs performed with a standardized form, (2) code documentation using a revised form, and (3) formal code team review presented to a central Emergency Management Committee, using a standardized form. Results: One hundred and thirty-two patients experienced 176 events during the 36-month study period. Survival to hospital discharge increased from 33% during year 1 to 60% during year 2 (P &lt; 0.05) but decreased to 45% in year 3. Both hot debrief performance and code documentation process methods did not demonstrate widespread adoption, but formal code team review was documented in 80% of events quite rapidly. Conclusions: There are common traits inherent to effective CPR team response. Ensuring optimal performance of these common tasks and techniques in every pediatric IHCA event in our hospital is being addressed by committee reorganization, task simplification, new technology acquisition and enhanced feedback loops. Early outcome analysis shows initial improvement in survival to hospital discharge after pediatric IHCA.

Identification of post-cardiac arrest blood pressure thresholds associated with outcomes in children: an ICU-Resuscitation study

IntroductionThough early hypotension after pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) is associated with inferior outcomes, ideal post-arrest blood pressure (BP) targets have not been established. We aimed to leverage prospectively collected BP data to explore the association of post-arrest BP thresholds with outcomes. We hypothesized that post-arrest systolic and diastolic BP thresholds would be higher than the currently recommended post-cardiopulmonary resuscitation BP targets and would be associated with higher rates of survival to hospital discharge.MethodsWe performed a secondary analysis of prospectively collected BP data from the first 24 h following return of circulation from index IHCA events enrolled in the ICU-RESUScitation trial (NCT02837497). The lowest documented systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) were percentile-adjusted for age, height and sex. Receiver operator characteristic curves and cubic spline analyses controlling for illness category and presence of pre-arrest hypotension were generated exploring the association of lowest post-arrest SBP and DBP with survival to hospital discharge and survival to hospital discharge with favorable neurologic outcome (Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category of 1–3 or no change from baseline). Optimal cutoffs for post-arrest BP thresholds were based on analysis of receiver operator characteristic curves and spline curves. Logistic regression models accounting for illness category and pre-arrest hypotension examined the associations of these thresholds with outcomes.ResultsAmong 693 index events with 0–6 h post-arrest BP data, identified thresholds were: SBP > 10th percentile and DBP > 50th percentile for age, sex and height. Fifty-one percent (n = 352) of subjects had lowest SBP above threshold and 50% (n = 346) had lowest DBP above threshold. SBP and DBP above thresholds were each associated with survival to hospital discharge (SBP: aRR 1.21 [95% CI 1.10, 1.33]; DBP: aRR 1.23 [1.12, 1.34]) and survival to hospital discharge with favorable neurologic outcome (SBP: aRR 1.22 [1.10, 1.35]; DBP: aRR 1.27 [1.15, 1.40]) (all p < 0.001).ConclusionsFollowing pediatric IHCA, subjects had higher rates of survival to hospital discharge and survival to hospital discharge with favorable neurologic outcome when BP targets above a threshold of SBP > 10th percentile for age and DBP > 50th percentile for age during the first 6 h post-arrest.

Association of CPR simulation program characteristics with simulated and actual performance during paediatric in-hospital cardiac arrest

AimTo evaluate associations between characteristics of simulated point-of-care cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training with simulated and actual intensive care unit (ICU) CPR performance, and with outcomes of children after in-hospital cardiac arrest. MethodsThis is a pre-specified secondary analysis of the ICU-RESUScitation Project; a prospective, multicentre cluster randomized interventional trial conducted in 18 ICUs from October 2016–March 2021. Point-of-care bedside simulations with real-time feedback to allow multidisciplinary ICU staff to practice CPR on a portable manikin were performed and quality metrics (rate, depth, release velocity, chest compression fraction) were recorded. Actual CPR performance was recorded for children 37 weeks post-conceptual age to 18 years who received chest compressions of any duration, and included intra-arrest haemodynamics and CPR mechanics. Outcomes included survival to hospital discharge with favourable neurologic status. ResultsOverall, 18,912 point-of-care simulations were included. Simulation characteristics associated with both simulation and actual performance included site, participant discipline, and timing of simulation training. Simulation characteristics were not associated with survival with favourable neurologic outcome. However, participants in the top 3 sites for improvement in survival with favourable neurologic outcome were more likely to have participated in a simulation in the past month, on a weekday day, to be nurses, and to achieve targeted depth of compression and chest compression fraction goals during simulations than the bottom 3 sites. ConclusionsPoint-of-care simulation characteristics were associated with both simulated and actual CPR performance. More recent simulation, increased nursing participation, and simulation training during daytime hours may improve CPR performance.

Effectiveness of a Novel Tablet Application in Reducing Guideline Deviations During Pediatric Cardiac Arrest

Deviations from international resuscitation guidelines during the management of pediatric cardiac arrest are frequent and affect clinical outcomes. An interactive tablet application (app), PediAppRREST, was developed to reduce guideline deviations during pediatric cardiac arrest. To assess the effectiveness of PediAppRREST in improving the management of simulated in-hospital pediatric cardiac arrest. This multicenter 3-group simulation-based randomized clinical trial was conducted from September 2020 to December 2021 at 4 Italian university hospitals (Padua, Florence, Rome, Novara). Participants included residents in pediatrics, emergency medicine, and anesthesiology. Analyses were conducted as intention-to-treat. Data were analyzed from January to June 2022. Teams were randomized to 1 of 3 study groups: an intervention group that used the PediAppRREST app; a control group that used a paper-based cognitive aid, the Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) pocket card; and a control group that used no cognitive aids. All the teams managed the same standardized simulated scenario of nonshockable pediatric cardiac arrest. The primary outcome was the number of deviations from guidelines, measured by a 15-item checklist based on guideline recommendations. The main secondary outcomes were quality of chest compressions, team clinical performance (measured by the Clinical Performance Tool), and perceived team leader's workload. Study outcomes were assessed via video reviews of the scenarios. Overall 100 teams of 300 participants (mean [SD] age, 29.0 [2.2] years; 195 [65%] female) were analyzed by intention-to-treat, including 32 teams randomized to the PediAppRREST group, 35 teams randomized to the PALS control group, and 33 teams randomized to the null control group. Participant characteristics (210 pediatric residents [70%]; 48 anesthesiology residents [16%]; 42 emergency medicine residents [14%]) were not statistically different among the study groups. The number of deviations from guidelines was significantly lower in the PediAppRREST group than in the control groups (mean difference vs PALS control, -3.0; 95% CI, -4.0 to -1.9; P < .001; mean difference vs null control, -2.6; 95% CI, -3.6 to -1.5; P < .001). Clinical Performance Tool scores were significantly higher in the PediAppRREST group than control groups (mean difference vs PALS control, 1.4; 95% CI, 0.4 to 2.3; P = .002; mean difference vs null control, 1.1; 95% CI, 0.2 to 2.1; P = .01). The other secondary outcomes did not significantly differ among the study groups. In this randomized clinical trial, the use of the PediAppRREST app resulted in fewer deviations from guidelines and a better team clinical performance during the management of pediatric cardiac arrest. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04619498.

Paediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation quality during simulation of in-hospital transport

In-hospital cardiac arrests that occur outside of the intensive care unit may require transportation during active cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Studies have shown that high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation is imperative for survival with preserved neurologic function. We sought to determine if high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation is maintained during simulated transportation of paediatric in-hospital cardiac arrest. Randomized crossover simulated study of paediatric in-hospital cardiac arrest with 10 teams composed of five providers (physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses and respiratory therapists). Teams remained in a simulation room or transported the mannequin between two rooms. The primary analysis compared chest compression fraction in stationary versus transport simulations. Secondary analyses included additional cardiopulmonary resuscitation quality metrics with comparison to the 2015 American Heart Association standards. There was no significant difference in chest compression fraction or rate between the transport and stationary groups. 92%, 72% and 26% of epochs met American Heart Association criteria for compression fraction, rate and depth, respectively. Stationary simulations were more likely to meet recommendations for combined quality metrics, including compression fraction and rate (77 vs. 53; Chest compression fraction was preserved during simulated in-hospital cardiac arrest with transport. However, the transport simulation was less likely to meet American Heart Association recommendations for combined metrics. Similar to previous cardiopulmonary resuscitation quality studies, both teams failed to meet depth requirements in the majority of simulations.

Outcomes and characteristics of cardiac arrest in children with pulmonary hypertension: A secondary analysis of the ICU-RESUS clinical trial

BackgroundPrevious studies have identified pulmonary hypertension (PH) as a relatively common diagnosis in children with in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA), and preclinical laboratory studies have found poor outcomes and low systemic blood pressures during CPR for PH-associated cardiac arrest. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of PH among children with IHCA and the association between PH diagnosis and intra-arrest physiology and survival outcomes. MethodsThis was a prospectively designed secondary analysis of patients enrolled in the ICU-RESUS clinical trial (NCT02837497). The primary exposure was a pre-arrest diagnosis of PH. The primary survival outcome was survival to hospital discharge with favorable neurologic outcome (Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category score 1–3 or unchanged from baseline). The primary physiologic outcome was event-level average diastolic blood pressure (DBP) during CPR. ResultsOf 1276 patients with IHCAs during the study period, 1129 index IHCAs were enrolled; 184 (16.3%) had PH and 101/184 (54.9%) were receiving inhaled nitric oxide at the time of IHCA. Survival with favorable neurologic outcome was similar between patients with and without PH on univariate (48.9% vs. 54.4%; p = 0.17) and multivariate analyses (aOR 0.82 [95%CI: 0.56, 1.20]; p = 0.32). There were no significant differences in CPR event outcome or survival to hospital discharge. Average DBP, systolic BP, and end-tidal carbon dioxide during CPR were similar between groups. ConclusionsIn this prospective study of pediatric IHCA, pre-existing PH was present in 16% of children. Pre-arrest PH diagnosis was not associated with statistically significant differences in survival outcomes or intra-arrest physiologic measures.

CPR quality and outcomes after extracorporeal life support for pediatric In-Hospital cardiac arrest

Aim of studyTo determine outcomes in pediatric patients who had an in-hospital cardiac arrest and subsequently received extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR). Our secondary objective was to identify cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) event characteristics and CPR quality metrics associated with survival after ECPR. MethodsMulticenter retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients in the pediRES-Q database who received ECPR after in-hospital cardiac arrest between July 1, 2015 and June 2, 2021. Primary outcome was survival to ICU discharge. Secondary outcomes were survival to hospital discharge and favorable neurologic outcome at ICU and hospital discharge. ResultsAmong 124 patients included in this study, median age was 0.9 years (IQR 0.2–5) and the majority of patients had primarily cardiac disease (92 patients, 75%). Survival to ICU discharge occurred in 61/120 (51%) patients, 36/61 (59%) of whom had favorable neurologic outcome. No demographic or clinical variables were associated with survival after ECPR. ConclusionIn this multicenter retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients who received ECPR for IHCA we found a high rate of survival to ICU discharge with good neurologic outcome.

Pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrest: Respiratory failure characteristics and association with outcomes

AimsTo characterize respiratory failure prior to pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) and to associate pre-arrest respiratory failure characteristics with survival outcomes. MethodsThis is a single-center, retrospective cohort study from a prospectively identified cohort of children <18 years in intensive care units (ICUs) who received cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for ≥1 minute between January 1, 2017 and June 30, 2021, and were receiving invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) in the hour prior to IHCA. Patient characteristics, ventilatory support and gas exchange immediately pre-arrest were described and their association with the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was measured. ResultsIn the 187 events among 154 individual patients, the median age was 0.9 [0.2, 2.4] years, and CPR duration was 7.5 [3, 29] minutes. Respiratory failure was acute prior to 106/187 (56.7%) events, and the primary indication for IMV was respiratory in nature in 107/187 (57.2%) events. Immediately pre-arrest, the median positive end-expiratory pressure was 8 [5, 10] cmH2O; mean airway pressure was 13 [10,18] cmH2O; peak inspiratory pressure was 28 [24, 35] cmH2O; and fraction of inhaled oxygen (FiO2) was 0.40 [0.25, 0.80]. Pre-arrest FiO2 was lower in patients with ROSC vs. without ROSC (0.30 vs. 0.99; p < 0.001). Patients without ROSC had greater severity of pre-arrest oxygenation failure (p < 0.001) as defined by oxygenation index, oxygen saturation index, P/F ratio or S/F ratio. ConclusionsThere was substantial heterogeneity in respiratory failure characteristics and ventilatory requirements pre-arrest. Higher pre-arrest oxygen requirement and greater degree of oxygenation failure were associated with worse survival outcomes.

Inappropriate Shock Delivery Is Common During Pediatric In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

To characterize inappropriate shock delivery during pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA). Retrospective cohort study. An international pediatric cardiac arrest quality improvement collaborative Pediatric Resuscitation Quality [pediRES-Q]. All IHCA events from 2015 to 2020 from the pediRES-Q Collaborative for which shock and electrocardiogram waveform data were available. None. We analyzed 418 shocks delivered during 159 cardiac arrest events, with 381 shocks during 158 events at 28 sites remaining after excluding undecipherable rhythms. We classified shocks as: 1) appropriate (ventricular fibrillation [VF] or wide complex ≥ 150/min); 2) indeterminate (narrow complex ≥ 150/min or wide complex 100-149/min); or 3) inappropriate (asystole, sinus, narrow complex < 150/min, or wide complex < 100/min) based on the rhythm immediately preceding shock delivery. Of delivered shocks, 57% were delivered appropriately for VF or wide complex rhythms with a rate greater than or equal to 150/min. Thirteen percent were classified as indeterminate. Thirty percent were delivered inappropriately for asystole (6.8%), sinus (3.1%), narrow complex less than 150/min (11%), or wide complex less than 100/min (8.9%) rhythms. Eighty-eight percent of all shocks were delivered in ICUs or emergency departments, and 30% of those were delivered inappropriately. The rate of inappropriate shock delivery for pediatric IHCA in this international cohort is at least 30%, with 23% delivered to an organized electrical rhythm, identifying opportunity for improvement in rhythm identification training.

Clinician-reported physiologic monitoring of cardiopulmonary resuscitation quality during pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrest: A propensity-weighted cohort study

AimsThe primary objective was to determine the association between clinician-reported use of end-tidal CO2 (ETCO2) or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) to monitor cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) quality during pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrest (pIHCA) and survival outcomes. DesignA retrospective cohort study was performed in two cohorts: (1) Patients with an invasive airway in place at the time of arrest to evaluate ETCO2 use, and (2) patients with an arterial line in place at the time of arrest to evaluate DBP use. The primary exposure was clinician-reported use of ETCO2 or DBP. The primary outcome was return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Propensity-weighted logistic regression evaluated the association between monitoring and outcomes. SettingHospitals reporting to the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines®– Resuscitation registry (2007–2021). PatientsChildren with index IHCA with an invasive airway or arterial line at the time of arrest. ResultsBetween January 2007 and May 2021, there were 15,280 pediatric CPR events with an invasive airway or arterial line in place at the time of arrest. Of 7159 events with an invasive airway, 6829 were eligible for analysis. Of 2978 events with an arterial line, 2886 were eligible. Clinicians reported using ETCO2 in 1335/6829 (20%) arrests and DBP in 1041/2886 (36%). Neither exposure was associated with ROSC. ETCO2 monitoring was associated with higher odds of 24-hour survival (aOR 1.17 [1.02, 1.35], p = 0.03). ConclusionsNeither clinician-reported ETCO2 monitoring nor DBP monitoring during pIHCA were associated with ROSC. Monitoring of ETCO2 was associated with 24-hour survival.

Gamification educational intervention improves pediatric nurses' comfort and speed drawing up code-dose epinephrine

PurposeDrawing up weight-based doses of epinephrine is a vital skill for pediatric nurses; however, non-intensive care unit (ICU) nurses may not routinely perform this skill and may not be as efficient or comfortable doing so during pediatric resuscitations. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a gamification program on non-ICU pediatric nurses' knowledge and skills regarding epinephrine for pediatric cardiac arrest. Design and methodsComfort and time to draw up three doses of epinephrine during out-of-ICU in-hospital pediatric cardiac arrest were measured pre- and post- a gamification-centered educational intervention. ResultsNursing comfort improved from 2.93 ± 1.90 to 6.68 ± 1.46 out of 10 (mean difference 3.6 +/− 2.1, p < 0.001). Overall time to draw up three doses of epinephrine decreased after the intervention by an average of 27.1 s (p = 0.019). The number of nurses who could complete the task in under 2 min improved from 23% to 59% (p = 0.031). ConclusionsAt baseline few non-ICU nurses could draw up multiple weight-based doses of epinephrine in under two minutes. A gamification simulation-based educational intervention improved pediatric non-ICU nurses' comfort and speed drawing up epinephrine. Practice implicationsWide-spread implementation of gamification-centered educational initiatives could result in faster epinephrine administration and improved mortality rates from in-hospital pediatric cardiac arrest.

Calcium use during paediatric in-hospital cardiac arrest is associated with worse outcomes

AimTo evaluate associations between calcium administration and outcomes among children with in-hospital cardiac arrest and among specific subgroups in which calcium use is hypothesized to provide clinical benefit. MethodsThis is a secondary analysis of observational data collected prospectively as part of the ICU-RESUScitation project. Children 37 weeks post-conceptual age to 18 years who received chest compressions in one of 18 intensive care units from October 2016–March 2021 were eligible. Data included child and event characteristics, pre-arrest laboratory values, pre- and intra-arrest haemodynamics, and outcomes. Outcomes included sustained return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), survival to hospital discharge, and survival to hospital discharge with favourable neurologic outcome. A propensity score weighted cohort was used to evaluate associations between calcium use and outcomes. Subgroups included neonates, and children with hyperkalaemia, sepsis, renal insufficiency, cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, and calcium-avid cardiac diagnoses. ResultsOf 1,100 in-hospital cardiac arrests, median age was 0.63 years (IQR 0.19, 3.81); 450 (41%) received calcium. Among the weighted cohort, calcium use was not associated with sustained ROSC (aOR, 0.87; CI95 0.61–1.24; p = 0.445), but was associated with lower rates of both survival to hospital discharge (aOR, 0.68; CI95 0.52–0.89; p = 0.005) and survival with favourable neurologic outcome at hospital discharge (aOR, 0.75; CI95 0.57–0.98; p = 0.038). Among subgroups, calcium use was associated with lower rates of survival to hospital discharge in children with sepsis and renal insufficiency. ConclusionsCalcium use was common during paediatric in-hospital cardiac arrest and associated with worse outcomes at hospital discharge.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Cardiac Arrest in Adult Patients Admitted to Pediatric Services: A Descriptive Analysis of the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines-Resuscitation Data.

Differences between adult and pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) are well-described. Although most adults are cared for on adult services, pediatric services often admit adults, particularly those with chronic conditions. The objective of this study is to describe IHCA in adults admitted to pediatric services. Retrospective cohort analysis from the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines-Resuscitation registry of a subpopulation of adults with IHCA while admitted to pediatric services. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate adjusted survival outcomes and compare outcomes between age groups (18-21, 22-25, and ≥26 yr old). Hospitals contributing to the Get With The Guidelines-Resuscitation registry. Adult-aged patients (≥ 18 yr) with an index pulseless IHCA while admitted to a pediatric service from 2000 to 2018. None. A total of 491 adult IHCAs were recorded on pediatric services at 17 sites, during the 19 years of review, and these events represented 0.1% of all adult IHCAs. In total, 221 cases met inclusion criteria with 139 events excluded due to an initial rhythm of bradycardia with poor perfusion. Median patient age was 22 years (interquartile range, 19-28 yr). Ninety-eight percent of patients had at least one pre-existing condition. Return of spontaneous circulation occurred in 63% of events and 30% of the patients survived to discharge. All age groups had similar rates of survival to discharge (range 26-37%; p = 0.37), and survival did not change over the study period (range 26-37%; p = 0.23 for adjusted survival to discharge). In this cohort of adults with IHCA while admitted to a pediatric service, we failed to find an association between survival outcomes and age. Additional research is needed to better understand resuscitation in this population.