Pediatric Intensive Care Physicians Research Articles

Pediatric Limb Ischemia: Our Experience from a Tertiary Hospital in Oman

Introduction: Pediatric acute limb ischemia (PALI) is a consequence of sudden loss of blood flow to an extremity that can progress to irreversible ischemia if not promptly treated. This may unfortunately result in life-changing consequences which include limb loss, limb length discrepancy, emotional trauma, and or financial stress. Due to the rarity of this condition, and the lack of high-quality evidence, treatment strategies have largely been anecdotal or extrapolated from treatment of the adult patient. The article is a guide to improve overall functional outcomes and reduce morbidity of PALI. Methods: The authors retrospectively analysed patient data on the electronic patient record of the hospital between January 2021 and December 2023. The patients with PALI were divided into three broad categories: iatrogenic arterial injury managed with the best medical management, managed surgically; iatrogenic deep vein injury/thrombosis, and trauma. Results: A total of 13 patients were referred during the study period. 9 were male. 8 cases were line related, 2 trauma and 3 acute deep vein thrombosis [DVT]. Two patients succumbed prior to intervention. Eight patients were managed with best medical therapy, two surgically and one by endovascular means. Conclusion: Since experience worldwide is limited with PALI, we decided to share our experience and a propose comprehensive algorithm for the management of PALI emphasizing a multi-disciplinary team approach that we follow at our hospital. Early and decisive involvement of vascular surgeons, hematologists, intervention radiologists, and pediatric intensive care physicians is necessary to achieve the most favorable outcomes.

Predictors and outcomes of extubation failures in a pediatric intensive care unit: A retrospective study

ObjectivesThis study was aimed at determining the extubation failure (EF) rate in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), and assessing the etiology, associated risk factors, and outcomes. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study on 335 pediatric patients admitted to King Abdulaziz University Hospital between 2018 and 2020, ranging in age from 1 month to 14 years, who required invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) for >24 h. Extubation readiness was determined by the attending pediatric intensive care physician, according to the patients’ clinical status and extubation readiness criteria. ResultsIn the cohort of 335 patients, 42 experienced issues during extubation (failure rate, 12.5%). Cardiovascular disease (42.9%) was the main primary admission condition in patients with EF. Younger age (median, interquartile range [IQR]: 4, 1.38–36 months) was strongly associated with EF compared with successful extubation (median, IQR: 12, 2–48; p = 0.036), and with a high predicted mortality rate (10.9%; p < 0.001) and Pediatric Risk of Mortality III (PRISM) score (13; p < 0.001). Furthermore, prolonged ICU stay (25.5 days; p < 0.001) and longer MV requirements (4 days; p < 0.001) before extubation in patients with EF were associated with a high mortality rate (∼12%; p < 0.001). Interestingly, dexamethasone administration before extubation significantly alleviated EF risk (28.3%; p < 0.001). ConclusionA higher EF rate in younger patients may potentially be associated with longer ICU stays, prolonged MV requirements before extubation, and the primary diagnostic condition. Dexamethasone effectively alleviated EF incidence. Further research with a rigorous evidence-based study design is necessary to substantiate the factors identified as predictors of EF and to develop strategies to avoid EF.

POCUS in the PICU: A Narrative Review of Evidence-Based Bedside Ultrasound Techniques Ready for Prime-Time in Pediatric Critical Care.

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is an accessible technology that can identify and treat life-threatening pathology in real time without exposing children to ionizing radiation. We aim to review current evidence supporting the use of POCUS by pediatric intensivists with novice-level experience with bedside ultrasound. Current evidence supports the universal adoption of POCUS-guided internal jugular venous catheter placement and arterial line placement by pediatric critical care physicians. Focused cardiac ultrasound performed by PICU physicians who have completed appropriate training with quality assurance measures in place can identify life-threatening cardiac pathology in most children and important physiological changes in children with septic shock. POCUS of the lungs, pleural space, and diaphragm have great potential to provide valuable information at the bedside after validation of these techniques for use in the PICU with additional research. Based on currently available evidence, a generalizable and attainable POCUS educational platform for pediatric intensivists should include training in vascular access techniques and focused cardiac examination. A POCUS educational program should strive to establish credentialing and quality assurance programs that can be expanded when additional research validates the adoption of additional POCUS techniques by pediatric intensive care physicians.

Implementation of Clinical Pathways for CAR-T Cell Therapy in a Brazilian Private Healthcare Organization

Introduction: the treatment with CAR-T cells in Brazil is challenging because it requires a highly qualified multidisciplinary team trained in new clinical pathways to take care of these patients. Objective: to describe the implementation of the clinical pathways for CAR-T cell therapy, ensuring safety and quality. Method: this is an experience report study, performed in four private general hospitals of the Americas from São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Ceará states, during the year of 2022. The process of implementing the CAR-T Cell clinical pathway included: creation of a medical committee with the main medical references and specialist nurses from each center, for the elaboration of the main clinical protocols and operational procedures, in addition to the discussion of eligibility cases for therapy with CAR-T Cells. Identification of the multidisciplinary reference team in all phases of treatment, training the team involved in the clinical care of the patient, and finally, establishment of patient clinical pathway before, during and after the CAR-T cell therapy. The implementation process lasted seven months between the qualification of centers by the Therapy provider, internal qualification each center and the first cell infusion with CAR-T Cell performed. Results: In all hospitals, professionals from the multidisciplinary team (pharmacy, nursing, physicians - hematologists, pediatric hematology-oncologists involved in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, neurologists, pediatric and adult intensive care physicians) were trained. The Multidisciplinary Care Protocol was elaborated including indications, early and late complications. The Standard Operating Procedures addressed the pre and post infusion care, daily screening, criteria to transfer the patients to the intensive care unit, recognition and management of cytokine release syndrome and neurological toxicities. The main challenges of this process were to create the routines for evaluation and systematic monitoring and to identify and involve the multidisciplinary professionals directly involved in patient care. Conclusions: the implementation of the program brought improvements to the clinical pathway, positively impacting professional satisfaction, the quality and safety of the patients. The CAR-T cell therapy was performed in a safe and integrated environment, uneventful and successful.

Pediatric Delirium: An Overlooked Diagnosis?

BackgroundDelirium is well-recognized in adult inpatient care. However, it is often overlooked in children, being mistaken for pain, anxiety, or age-appropriate agitation. MethodsTo assess the impact of a formal teaching session on the diagnostic rates and management of pediatric delirium (PD) in a tertiary care center, we conducted a retrospective chart review of all hospitalized children diagnosed with PD between August 2003 and August 2018 at the CHU Sainte-Justine (Montreal, Canada). Diagnostic incidence and management were compared before (2003 to 2014) and after (2015 to 2018) a formal teaching session provided to pediatric residents, staff pediatricians, and intensive care physicians in December 2014. ResultsThe two cohorts displayed similar demographics, PD symptomatology, PD duration (median: 2 days), and hospital stay duration (median: 11.0 and 10.5 days). However, we saw a major increase in diagnosis frequency after 2014 (from 1.84 to 7.09 cases/year). This increased diagnostic rate was most striking in the pediatric intensive care unit setting. Although symptomatic treatment with antipsychotics and alpha-2 agonists was similar between the two cohorts, patients diagnosed after 2014 were more often weaned from offending medications (benzodiazepines, anesthetics, and anticholinergics). All patients recovered fully. ConclusionsFormal teaching on the symptoms and management of PD was associated with an increase in diagnostic rate and an improved management of PD in our institution. Larger studies are required to assess standardized screening tools that may further enhance diagnostic rates and improve care for children with PD.

Exploring Interprofessional Development of Entrustable Professional Activities For Pediatric Intensive Care Fellows: A Proof-of-Concept Study

Phenomenon : Entrustable professional activities (EPAs) delineate major professional activities that an individual in a given specialty must be “entrusted” to perform, ultimately without supervision, to provide quality patient care. Until now, most EPA frameworks have been developed by professionals within the same specialty. As safe, effective, and sustainable health care ultimately depends on interprofessional collaboration, we hypothesized that members of interprofessional teams might have clear and possibly additional insight into which activities are essential to the professional work of a medical specialist. Approach : We recently employed a national modified Delphi study to develop and validate a set of EPAs for Dutch pediatric intensive care fellows. In this proof-of-concept study, we explored what pediatric intensive care physicians’ non-physician team members (physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses) constitute as essential professional activities for PICU physicians and how they regarded the newly developed set of nine EPAs. We compared their judgments with the PICU physicians’ opinions. Findings : This study shows that non-physician team members share a mental model with physicians about which EPAs are indispensable for pediatric intensive care physicians. Despite this agreement however, descriptions of EPAs are not always clear for non-physician team members who have to work with them on a daily basis. Insights : Ambiguity as to what an EPA entails when qualifying a trainee can have implications for patient safety and trainees themselves. Input from non-physician team members may add to the clarity of EPA descriptions. This finding supports the involvement of non-physician team members in the developmental process of EPAs for (sub)specialty training programs.

Sedation and analgesia practices of pediatric intensivists in Saudi Arabia

Background: Sedation practices in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) vary significantly worldwide. This study aimed to explore the current sedation and analgesia practices among paediatric intensivists in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This web-based survey was conducted among pediatric intensive care physicians in Saudi Arabia. The survey investigated the participating PICUs, physicians' demographic data, and sedation/analgesia practices. Results: Of the 160 physicians included, the response rate was 67% (n = 108). Of the 100 participants who provided location information, 51% (n = 51) were from the central region of Saudi Arabia. Approximately two-thirds of the participants were consultants, and 48.1% had >10 years of experience. Most respondents practised in general PICUs and routinely assessed sedation and analgesia levels. The COMFORT-Behavior and Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability scales were popular (42.6%). More than half of the respondents (52/98) did not practice daily sedation interruption. Furthermore, 78.3% of the respondents assessed patients for withdrawal, whereas only 25% used delirium screening scores. Infusions were preferred over interrupted doses to provide comfort for mechanically ventilated patients. The first-choice infusions were midazolam for sedation and fentanyl for analgesia. Dexmedetomidine was preferred when a third agent was required. Sedation protocols were used by 41.2% of the respondents and were mainly physician-led (75.2%). Various nonpharmacological measures were used to provide patient comfort, and parents often participated in their application. Conclusions: The practice of sedation varies significantly between pediatric intensivists, and formal assessment for delirium is infrequently done in PICUs in Saudi Arabia.

Early removal of a permanent catheter during the acute management of the unstable pediatric hemato-oncology patient with suspected catheter-related bloodstream infection: a multi-disciplinary survey and review of the literature.

Our study findings reflect the need for uniform guidelines on permanent central catheter use and indications for its removal in the hemodynamically unstable pediatric patient. We suggest that permanent central catheter removal should be urgently considered in a deteriorating patient who failed to be stabilized with medical treatment. •There are no guidelines for the optimal choice and timing of permanent central catheter removal in the hemodynamically unstable pediatric hemato-oncology patient with suspected catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI). •We found variations in practices among pediatricians from diverse subspecialties and conflicting data in the literature. •There is a need for prospective studies to provide uniform guidelines for optimal management of suspected CRBSI in the hemodynamically unstable pediatric patient.

Severe Traumatic Brain Injury in French-Speaking Pediatric Intensive Care Units: Study of Practices

AbstractBest strategies for managing severe pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) are not established, with wide variations among professional practices. The main objective of this study was to assess compliance with updated pediatric TBI management guidelines (2019). A survey was distributed among French-speaking pediatric intensive care physicians from April 1 to June 30, 2019. The survey was based on a clinical case with a total of 70 questions that cover the 15 items of the 2019 TBI guidelines. The questions evaluated the assessment and management of TBI during the acute and intensive care phases. Of 487 e-mails sent, 78 surveys were included. Guidelines were adhered to (&gt; 60%) for 10 of 15 items in the guidelines. Strong adherence to recent guideline changes was achieved for seizure prophylaxis with levetiracetam (n = 21/33, 64%) and partial pressure of carbon dioxide threshold (n = 52, 67%). However, management of the sodium and glucose thresholds and the role of transcranial Doppler were not consistent with the guidelines. Assessment of brain tissue oxygenation (n = 12, 16%) and autoregulation (n = 35, 45%) was not a common practice. There was strong agreement among clinicians on the intracranial pressure (&gt; 80%) and cerebral perfusion pressure (&gt; 70%) thresholds used according to age. Overall, stated practices for the management of TBI appear to be relatively standardized among responders. Variations persist in areas with a lack of evidence and pediatric-specific recommendations.

Comfort care practice in pediatric intensive care units; practitioner-oriented survey from Saudi Arabia

Staff in the Pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) often need to make difficult decisions regarding critically-ill patients with poor outcomes and extremely poor prognosis. . The study aimed to explore the medical and ethical practice related to palliative care among pediatric intensivists in Saudi Arabia. The study was designed as a cross-sectional, web-based survey targeting all clinicians working in any PICU in Saudi Arabia. Only 30% of pediatric intensive care physicians have a well-established program for discharging chronic patients home. Although 70% of the participants have an ethical committee in their hospital, 20% think that it is not adding much to their practice or supporting their medical decisions. Notably,decision of comfort care or Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) was intiated by consultants in 76.4% of cases and 23.6% by other pediatric specialists . Furthermore, 60% of the pediatricians signed the comfort care or DNR form first and then later informed the family about such a decision. No significant difference was found when comparing the responses to different clinical comfort care scenarios between participants with < 5 year-experience and those with > 5 year-experience in the PICU. (P > 0.05 across all scenarios using Chi2 test). More guidelines and policies about palliative care practice in PICU are needed. Given that palliative care practice is a new clinical practice area, these guidelines and policies should also be combined with the training for all staff, with special attention to family/patient communication and consultation.

Delayed Diagnosis and Treatment of an Occult Hemothorax Following Complicated Central Line Insertion Leads to Cardiac Arrest

Delayed Diagnosis and Treatment of an Occult Hemothorax Following Complicated Central Line Insertion Leads to Cardiac Arrest

Building Inpatient Pediatric Readiness for the Clinically Deteriorating Child.

Building Inpatient Pediatric Readiness for the Clinically Deteriorating Child.

Establishing Entrustable Professional Activities in Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care*

Define a set of entrustable professional activities for pediatric cardiac critical care that are recognized as the core activities of the subspecialty by a diverse group of pediatric cardiac critical care physicians and that can be broadly and consistently applied irrespective of training pathway. Mixed methods study with sequential integration of qualitative and quantitative data. Structured telephone interviews of pediatric cardiac critical care medical directors at Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Consortium centers followed by an electronic survey of pediatric cardiac critical care physician members of the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society from across the United States and internationally. Pediatric cardiac intensive care physicians. None. Twenty-four of 26 eligible Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Consortium medical directors participated in the interviews. Based on qualitative analyses of interview data, we identified an initial set of nine entrustable professional activities. Fifty-eight of 185 eligible physicians completed a subsequent survey asking them to rate their agreement with the entrustable professional activities. It showed consensus (> 80% agreement) with the entire initial set of entrustable professional activities, with greater than 96% agreement in most cases. The feedback from free-text survey responses was incorporated to generate a final set of entrustable professional activities. We generated a set of nine entrustable professional activities, which we believe can be broadly applied to any physician training in pediatric cardiac critical care, irrespective of individual training pathway. Next steps include incorporation of these entrustable professional activities into curriculum design and trainee assessment tools.

A training plan to implement lung ultrasound for diagnosing pneumonia in children

BackgroundLung ultrasound (LUS) for critical patients requires trained operators to perform them, though little information exists on the level of training required for independent practice. The aims were to implement a training plan for diagnosing pneumonia using LUS and to analyze the inter-observer agreement between senior radiologists (SRs) and pediatric intensive care physicians (PICPs).MethodsProspective longitudinal and interventional study conducted in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary hospital. Following a theoretical and practical training plan regarding diagnosing pneumonia using LUS, the concordance between SRs and the PICPs on their LUS reports was analyzed.ResultsNine PICPs were trained and tested on both theoretical and practical LUS knowledge. The mean exam mark was 13.5/15. To evaluate inter-observer agreement, a total of 483 LUS were performed. For interstitial syndrome, the global Kappa coefficient (K) was 0.51 (95% CI 0.43–0.58). Regarding the presence of consolidation, K was 0.67 (95% CI 0.53–0.78), and for the consolidation pattern, K was 0.82 (95% CI 0.79–0.85), showing almost perfect agreement.ConclusionsOur training plan allowed PICPs to independently perform LUS and might improve pneumonia diagnosis. We found a high inter-observer agreement between PICPs and SRs in detecting the presence and type of consolidation on LUS.ImpactLung ultrasound (LUS) has been proposed as an alternative to diagnose pneumonia in children. However, the adoption of LUS in clinical practice has been slow, and it is not yet included in general clinical guidelines.The results of this study show that the implementation of a LUS training program may improve pneumonia diagnosis in critically ill patients. The training program’s design, implementation, and evaluation are described. The high inter-observer agreement between LUS reports from the physicians trained and expert radiologists encourage the use of LUS not only for pneumonia diagnosis, but also for discerning bacterial and viral patterns.

Functional Short-Term Outcomes and Mortality in Children with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: Comparing Decompressive Craniectomy and Medical Management.

The effect of decompressive craniectomy (DC) on functional outcomes and mortality in children after severe head trauma is strongly debated. The lack of high-quality evidence poses a serious challenge to neurosurgeons' and pediatric intensive care physicians' decision making in critically ill children after head trauma. This study was conducted to compare DC and medical management in severely head-injured children with respect to short-term outcomes and mortality. Data on patients <18 years of age treated in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland during a 10-year period were extracted from TraumaRegister DGU®, forming a retrospective multi-center cohort study. Descriptive and multi-variable analyses were performed to compare outcomes and mortality after DC and medical management. Of 2507 patients, 402 (16.0%) received DC. Mortality was 20.6% after DC and 13.7% after medical management. Poor outcome (death or vegetative state) occurred in 27.6% after DC and in 16.1% after medical management. After risk adjustment by logistic regression modeling, the odds ratio was 1.56 (95% confidence interval 1.01-2.40) for poor outcome at intensive care unit discharge and 1.20 (0.74-1.95) for mortality after DC. In summary, DC was associated with increased odds for poor short-term outcomes in children with severe head trauma. This finding should temper enthusiasm for DC in children until a large randomized controlled trial has answered more precisely if DC in children is beneficial or increases rates of vegetative state.

Telemedicine in Pediatric Intensive Care Units: Perspectives From a Brazilian Experience

Purpose of ReviewTo present the implementation of a telemedicine project (TeleICU) in pediatric intensive care units (ICU) throughout different Brazilian regions.Recent FindingsAlthough telemedicine in pediatric ICUs has shown evidence of benefit in numerous studies with potential to 18 mitigate existing disparities, in Brazil, its use is still under development. Brazil has several opportunities for implementing this resource since, according to the National Registry of Healthcare 20 Establishments (NRHE), there is a discrepancy in the density of pediatric intensive care physicians per patient and the availability 21 of pediatric ICU beds per number of inhabitants.SummaryHealth technologies are being widely used to fill gaps in the healthcare system. Telemedicine has been an important tool to meet demands in intensive care units, especially the demand for specialized assistance. TeleICU is a Brazilian model of telemedicine that performs multidisciplinary telerounds in remote pediatric ICUs and develops continuing education activities for the healthcare teams. The project aims to systematize and to qualify care, as well as to reduce risks for patients admitted to pediatric ICUs engaged in the project. Preliminary results have demonstrated a positive impact regarding this approach, providing medical care to 6640 inpatients-day in two Brazilian pediatric ICUs, for 616 patients during 946 daily telerounds.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40124-021-00242-z.

The impact of interprofessional perspective-taking on moral distress in the pediatric intensive care unit

ABSTRACT Moral distress arises when constraints outside of healthcare professionals’ control prohibit them from acting according to the ethically sound course of action. It can be triggered by poor communication and different perspectives between professionals. We examined whether and how taking the perspective of the other profession reduces moral distress among pediatric intensive care nurses and physicians. Using elements of a previously published scale, we created a Vignette-based Moral Distress Rating Scale (V-MDRS). Study participants from three sites included 105 nurses and 34 physicians who read a patient vignette with their own profession’s perspective, completed the V-MDRS, then received the other profession’s perspective and completed the V-MDRS again. We conducted semi-structured interviews with nine nurses and nine physicians who completed the V-MDRS to explore how interprofessional perspective-taking impacts moral distress. Nurses experienced higher baseline moral distress than physicians (mean ± standard deviation 31.1 ± 6.9 vs 26.4 ± 5, P < .001), and at two study sites nurses’ moral distress declined after reading the physician’s perspective. Findings from interviews suggest that physicians were already sensitized to nurses’ perspective and that perspective-taking may be particularly beneficial to cohesive teams with strong relationships. Thus, encouraging interprofessional perspective-taking may mitigate moral distress in healthcare professionals.

Basics of extra corporeal membrane oxygenation: a pediatric intensivist’s perspective

Extra Corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is one of the most advanced forms of life support therapy in the Intensive Care Unit. It relies on the principle where an external artificial circuit carries venous blood from the patient to a gas exchange device (oxygenator) within which blood becomes enriched with oxygen and has carbon dioxide removed. The blood is then returned to the patient via a central vein or an artery. The goal of ECMO is to provide a physiologic milieu for recovery in refractory cardiac/respiratory failure. The technology is not a definitive treatment for a disease, but provides valuable time for the body to recover. In that way it can be compared to a bridge, where patients are initiated on ECMO as a bridge to recovery, bridge to decision making, bridge to transplant or bridge to diagnosis. The use of this modality in children is not backed by a lot of randomized controlled trials, but the use has increased dramatically in our country in last 10 years. This article is not intended to provide an in-depth overview of ECMO, but outlines the basic principles that a pediatric intensive care physician should know in order to manage a kid on ECMO support.

An email-based survey of practice regarding hemodynamic monitoring and management in children with septic shock in China.

BackgroundUnderstanding current hemodynamic monitoring (HM) practice patterns is essential to determine education and training strategies in China. The survey was to describe the practice of HM and management in children with septic shock in China.MethodsWe conducted an Email-based survey of members of sub-association of pediatric intensive care physicians. The questionnaire consisted of 22 questions and gathered the following information: (I) general information on the hospitals, respective ICUs and participants, (II) the availability of technical equipment and parameters of HM and (III) management simulation of septic shock in three clinical case vignettes.ResultsSurveys were received from 68 institutions (87.2%) and 368 questionnaires (response-rate 45.1%) were included. Basic HM (93–100%) were reported as the most utilized parameters, followed by advanced HM which included central venous pressure (CVP) (56.0%), cardiac output (53.5%), and central venous oxygen saturation (36.7%), 61.1% (225/368) of respondents stated the utilization of non-invasive HM equipment. The factors such as ICU specialist training center (P=0.003) and more than 30 cases of septic shock per year (P=0.002) were related to the utilization of non-invasive monitoring equipment. In the simulated case vignette, 49.7% (183/368) of respondents reported performing fluid responsiveness and volume status (FR-VS) assessment. Despite differences in training centers (P=0.005) and educational backgrounds (P=0.030), FR-VS assessment was not related to the volume expansion decision.ConclusionsThere is a large variability in use advanced HM parameters, an increasing awareness and acceptance of non-invasive HM devices and a potential need for hemodynamic education and training in pediatric intensive care medicine in China.

Pediatric tracheostomy in COVID-19 pandemic: a review

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly contagious infection caused by a novel strain of coronavirus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The severity of the COVID-19 infection of the pediatric patient varies broadly between a mild cough and fever to severe form of diseases such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) for which some may need intubation and followed by mechanical ventilation through tracheostomy in case of prolonged ventilation. Performing tracheostomy in pediatric patient pose a challenge for health care professional as there is high chance of spread of the disease in COVID-19 pandemic. Surgical tracheostomy is an aerosol generating procedure which causes high chance of spread of infections. There is increasing concern for high transmissibility of the virus to the operating surgeon with their assisting staff and other nearby patients. Pediatric tracheostomy should be performed with close association with pediatric otolaryngologists, anesthesiologists and pediatric intensive care physicians along with adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) for smooth and safe execution of the procedure.