Placement In Children Research Articles

Bolus versus continuous feeding regimens post gastrostomy tube placement in children

Background/purposeOwing to the frequency of gastrostomy tube placement in children and the numerous regimens used to start feeds after placement we attempted to see if it matters if the initial feeds after a gastrostomy tube placement are provided in a bolus or continuous manner. MethodsUsing a prospective randomized trial, children were randomized to initial bolus or continuous chimney feeding after gastrostomy tube placement. Feeding tolerance and complications related to the gastrostomy tube were collected for 4 weeks after placement. ResultsDemographics were similar in the two groups. Times to goal feeds were similar in both groups, but in the first two weeks more feeding modifications were required in the bolus group. Other than the rate of leakage during the second week after placement which occurred more in the bolus group, all other clinical outcomes were similar in the two groups. ConclusionsOther than minor, clinically insignificant differences noted above, the method of initial feeding after a gastrostomy tube placement does not affect feeding tolerance or gastrostomy tube complication in the first month after placement. Level of evidenceTherapeutic, level II.

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous brachiocephalic vein cannulation for ventriculoatrial shunt placement in a child.

As far as the ventriculoatrial shunt placement in children is concerned, the percutaneous approach to the internal jugular vein under ultrasonographic control has been hitherto strongly recommended. Unfortunately, children still represent a challenge, having them peculiar characteristics for which the internal jugular vein cannulation shows some disadvantages. In this manuscript, we describe a percutaneous placement of ventriculoatrial shunt via right brachiocephalic vein under intraoperative ultrasonographic control. Brachiocephalic vein cannulation in surgery provides notable advantages in paediatric population and it may be considered as the first choice in younger children.

Early versus Delayed Feeding after Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Placement in Children: A Meta-Analysis.

Early feeding after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) placement is an accepted practice in the treatment of adult patients and the knowledge is clinically extrapolated in the treatment of children. To verify this treatment in children—as there are some specific features of PEG-related practices in children—the present study aimed to review meta-analyses of early feeding (within 4 h) after PEG placement in children. We searched the PubMed database for articles published until July 2020. A quality assessment was performed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation method. Three randomized controlled trials (208 patients) were eligible for inclusion. No patients died within 72 h. Early feeding resulted in little to no difference in the length of hospital stay (mean difference [MD] −7.47, 95% confidence interval [CI] −25.16 to 10.21; I2 = 95%) and vomiting events (risk ratio 0.84, 95% CI 0.55 to 1.31; I2 = 0%). In a subgroup analysis, early feeding without antibiotics reduced the length of hospital stay in one study (MD −21.60, 95% CI −22.86 to −20.34) but early feeding with antibiotics did not affect the length in two studies (MD 0.28, 95% CI −6.49 to 7.06; I2 = 0%). Overall, the certainty of the evidence was not very high. In summary, early feeding after PEG placement may be a safe alternative to delayed feeding in children. The findings in children seemed similar to those in adults, while there is a need for further studies that specifically investigate PEG placement-related practices in children.

The Incidence of Pediatric Tracheostomy and Its Association Among Black Children.

In 2012, Black or African American children constituted 21% of pediatric tracheostomies while representing approximately 15% of the US population. It is unclear if this discrepancy is due to differences in associated diagnoses. This study aimed to analyze the incidence of pediatric tracheostomy in the United States from 2003 to 2016 and to determine the odds of placement among Black children when compared with other children. Retrospective. Academic hospital. We used the 2003 to 2016 Kid Inpatient Database to determine the incidence of pediatric tracheostomy in the United States and determine the odds of tracheostomy placement in Black children when compared with other children. A total of 26,034 pediatric tracheostomies were performed between 2003 and 2016, among which, 21% were Black children. The median age was 7 years (interquartile range [IQR] = 0 to 17); 43% were ≤2 years old, and 62% were male. The most common principal diagnosis was respiratory failure (72%). When compared with other children, Black children were more likely to undergo tracheostomy (odds ratio [OR] = 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1-1.3), which increased among children younger than 2 years old (OR = 1.5; 95% CI, 1.4-1.5). Black children with tracheostomies were also more likely to be diagnosed with laryngeal stenosis and bronchopulmonary dysplasia and to have an extended length of stay (P < .001). Black children are 1.2 times more likely to undergo tracheostomy in the United States compared with other children. Further investigation is warranted to evaluate if there are underlying anatomical, environmental, or psychosocial factors that contribute to this discrepancy.

Laparoscopic insertion and revision of ventriculo-peritoneal shunts in children

Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt is a common procedure used to drain cerebrospinal fluid to treat hydrocephalus. Advances in laparoscopy tools and techniques made it possible to perform this procedure laparoscopically assisted. Complications of this procedure are also amenable to laparoscopic correction. This study outlines the safety and feasibility of laparoscopy in performing the procedure and management of its complications. A retrospective file review for all cases underwent laparoscopic-assisted VP shunt or laparoscopic management of one of its complications in the period 2015–2019. Laparoscopic-assisted procedure was done either by 3-port technique or a peritoneocentesis needle technique. Management of complications was done according to its nature. Over 4 years, we performed 36 laparoscopic-assisted VP shunt placement and 17 laparoscopic interventions for abdominal complications related to VP shunts. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications related to the laparoscopic technique. Conversion to conventional laparotomy was done in 3 patients presented with hugely infected CSF pseudocysts with amalgamated intestine with the wall of the cyst. Laparoscopic-assisted VP shunt placement and revisions in children are feasible and safe. No special tools are required for the procedure.

Procedural competency for ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous catheter insertion for nurses in a pediatric emergency department.

To evaluate if nurses can reliably perform ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous catheter placement in children with a high success rate after an initial training period. A secondary aim was to analyze complication rates of ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous catheters. A database recorded all ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous catheter encounters in the emergency department from November 2013 to April 2019 including the emergency department nurse attempting placement, number of attempts, and whether it was successful. Patient electronic medical records were reviewed for the time of and reason for intravenous removal.The probabilities of first-attempt successful intravenous placement and complication at successive encounters after an initial training period were calculated. These probabilities were plotted versus encounter number to graph best-fit logarithmic regressions. A total of 83 nurses completed a standardized training program in ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous catheter placement including 10 supervised ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous catheter placements. In total, 87% (3513/4053) of the ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous catheter placed after the training program were successful on the first attempt. The probability of successfully placing an ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous catheter increased as nurses had more experience placing ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous catheters (R2 = 0.18) and was 83% at 10 encounters.Twenty-five percent (904/3646) of ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous catheters had complications, and there was no statistically significant relationship between the number of encounters per nurse and complication rates (R2 < 0.001). Nurses can reliably place ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous catheters at a high success rate after an initial training period. First-attempt success rates were high and increased from 67% to 83% for the first 10 unsupervised encounters after training and remained high. The complication rate was low and did not change as nurses gained more experience.

Combined intranasal fentanyl and dexmedetomidine plus inhaled nitrous oxide sedation in children needing myringotomy and ventilation tube insertion with a specific handheld device

ObjectivesWe report a case series of one-time 4 mcg/kg dose of intranasal dexmedetomidine and 1 mcg/kg of intranasal fentanyl plus inhaled nitrous oxide for procedural sedation in children with otitis media with effusion (OME) for tympanostomy tube placement with a specific handheld device (Solo TTD, AventaMed ®). MethodsA retrospective review was conducted in a tertiary paediatric teaching hospital on patients with OME referred from December 2018 to December 2019 in need of procedural sedation for myringotomy and ventilation tube insertion (VTI). Sixteen of twenty-four consecutively admitted subjects received a one-time dose (4 mcg/kg) of intranasal dexmedetomidine and 1mcg/Kg of intranasal fentanyl followed by inhaled nitrous oxide (iN2O) at 50% with the intended goal to achieve a Ramsay Sedation Score 4 allowing a motionless procedure with adequate analgesia. Parents’ satisfaction for the procedure was measured by mean of a Likert scale (from 0 to 5 points). ResultsSixteen patients underwent procedural sedation for myringotomy with VTI. Sedation was achieved successfully in fifteen patients (93,75%), with a mean induction time of 29 min (range 19–43) and a mean recovery time of 74 min (range 54–110). The patient who did reach an adequate sedation level underwent an intravenous line positioning and a dose of ketamine. No adverse effects were reported, and the parents’ judgment average on the Likert scale was 4,93. VTI procedure was successful in all ears. ConclusionsA combination of intranasal dexmedetomidine, fentanyl, and iN2O could be considered as a possible option for procedural sedation in children with OME undergoing procedural sedation for tympanostomy tube placement in children with Solo TTD device.

Intravenous cannula placement in children for induction of general anesthesia: Prospective audit and identification of success factors.

Approaches to pediatric induction of anesthesia vary widely. While oral sedative premedication and inhalational induction are common, total intravenous anesthesia is becoming increasingly popular. Total intravenous anesthesia without anxiolytic premedication, which is the most commonly used technique in our hospital, requires intravenous (IV) cannula placement in an awake child. To quantify the success rate of IV cannula placement in 1 or 2 attempts and to identify success factors and barriers. With ethical approval and written informed consent from participating anesthesiologists, a prospective audit of IV cannulation was undertaken over a 1-month period. The attending anesthesiologist captured basic demographics, IV insertion characteristics, setting, distraction techniques, the behavior of the child, number of attempts, and success/failure. A logistic regression model for successful IV cannulation was created. Anesthesiologists and procedural suite nurses participated in semi-structured interviews to identify success factors, barriers, and teaching approaches. Data from 984 cases were analyzed. IV induction was planned in 562 cases, and IV cannulation was successful in 90% of these patients. Anxiolytic premedication was given in 6% of cases. Observations indicated that 64% of children were pain- and reaction-free, and 90% experienced minimal or no reaction. Predictors for success included older child's age and child behavior at first encounter. Qualitative interview data from 13 participants suggested success factors included effective distraction, preparing the family for IV induction, parental presence, support of the operating room team, effective use of local analgesic cream, adapting the approach to the individual child, and the anesthesiologist's efficiency. Barriers included needle phobia, uncooperative child, anxious parents, ineffective use of analgesic cream, and unfavorable anatomy. Distraction techniques varied by age and developmental stage of the child. Cannulation for planned IV induction is feasible for most children, enabling increased use of total intravenous anesthesia as an institutional anesthetic strategy.

Variability in the Method of Gastrostomy Placement in Children

Although gastrostomy placement is one of the most common procedures performed in children, the optimal technique remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate variability in the method of gastrostomy tube placement in children in the United States. Patients <18 years old undergoing percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) or surgical gastrostomy (SG) (including open or laparoscopic) from 1997 to 2012 were identified using the Kids’ Inpatient Database. Method of gastrostomy placement was evaluated using a multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression model with a random intercept term and a patient-age random-effect term. A total of 67,811 gastrostomy placements were performed during the study period. PEG was used in 36.6% of entries overall and was generally consistent over time. PEG placement was less commonly performed in infants (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.30, 95%CI 0.26–0.33), children at urban hospitals (aOR: 0.38, 95%CI 0.18–0.82), and children cared for at children’s hospitals (aOR 0.57, 95%CI 0.48–0.69) and was more commonly performed in children with private insurance (aOR 1.17, 95%CI 1.09–1.25). Dramatic variability in PEG use was identified between centers, ranging from 0% to 100%. The random intercept and slope terms significantly improved the model, confirming significant center-level variability and increased variability among patients <1 year old. These findings emphasize the need to further evaluate the safest method of gastrostomy placement in children, in particular among the youngest patients in whom practice varies the most.

P512New approaches to pacing in children with atrioventricular block

Abstract Introduction The placement of permanent pacemaker is presented as one of the most appropriate procedures in patients with congenital complete atrioventricular block (AVB). Despite video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for epicardial lead placement has demonstrated positive results concerning the feasibility and freedom of complications in adults, its role in pacemaker implantation in children remains unclear. The study aimed to assess the intermediate-term outcomes of video-assisted thoracic pacing in children with congenital complete AVB. Methods From May 2017 to November 2018, six children with complete idiopathic AVB underwent minimally invasive left ventricular lead placements via thoracoscopic video assistance. The procedure was performed under complex intratracheal anesthesia with single-lung ventilation, median operation time was 180 minutes (120–240). Four incisions were made, three of them were used to place the lead on the left ventricular, and one was needed to place the device. All pacing parameters were evaluated in perioperative and follow-up periods. Results Median age at implantation was 3 years (2 to 15 years), median weight 13 kg (12–46 kg). All procedures were completed successfully, pacing thresholds for the active lead measured 0.5-1.1V, with R-wave amplitude of 8-18 mV and impedance of 404-1478 Ohm. Increasing pacing thresholds in the third month after pacemaker implantation occurred in one patient, so anti-inflammatory therapy was assigned. Satisfactory thresholds and impedances with no significant difference with initial values were obtained at the median follow-up of 21 months (range: 10–28 months). Conclusion Video-assisted thoracic pacing may provide a potential alternative to the transthoracic approach of epicardial lead placement in children with congenital AVB.

Rate and risk factors for post-adenotonsillectomy complications in children under 24months and 24 to 36months old.

The primary purpose of this study was to assess the overall rate of postoperative complications after adenotonsillectomy in children under 24months old relative to children 24-36months old. Our secondary goal focused on quantifying specific preoperative risk factors that predispose children to postoperative complications. We retrospectively reviewed 248 patients who underwent adenotonsillectomy at our ENT office from 2006 to 2011. We stratified these patients into two groups: under 2years old; and 2-3years old. We identified 42 preoperative risk factors and 22 postoperative complications for each age group and conducted tests of statistical significance. We found that children under 24months old had a statistically significant higher postoperative complication rate of 38% compared to 22.3% in children 2-3years old (p=0.0320, chi-squared test). For specific complications, younger children had a higher rate of respiratory distress within 24h (p=0.0355), endotracheal re-intubation (p=0.0281), and retractions (p=0.0281). The only identified risk factors aside from age demonstrating statistical significance were nasal steroid sprays used preoperatively in children under 24months (p=0.005) and concurrent tympanostomy tube placement in children 24-36months (p=0.026). Our data demonstrates that children under 2years of age have an overall increased rate of postoperative complications after adenotonsillectomy when compared to children between 2 and 3years old, with a significantly higher rates of early respiratory distress, endotracheal re-intubation, and retractions. This study is one of the largest that compares postoperative complication rates and risk factors after adenotonsillectomy in this age group.

Implantable venous access devices in children with severe hemophilia: a tertiary pediatric institutional experience.

Clotting factor replacement forms the pillar of treatment for children with hemophilia. Most children can be treated using peripheral venipuncture, but very young children and children with poor venous access might require a central venous catheter. Short-term and long-term complications of implantable venous access device placement (also known as port placement) can result in important morbidity and mortality in children with hemophilia. The purpose of this study is to describe our experience with port placement in children and adolescents with severe hemophilia (<1% of the Factors VIII or IX). We performed a retrospective review over a 10-year period to identify port placement in pediatric patients with severe hemophilia. We reviewed demographic and procedural information, access frequency, mechanical complications, and central-line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI). Eighteen males were included, with median age at insertion of 3.9years (0.7-22.7years). Fifteen of the 18 patients had hemophilia Type A and 3/18 had Type B. Thirteen had high neutralizing inhibitor titers. Technical success in port placement was achieved in 26/27 (96.3%) patients, with 1 port failure caused by venous occlusion from prior catheter placement. Port catheter size ranged from 5 French (Fr) to 7.5 Fr. All were single-lumen and placed via right (76.9%) or left (23.1%) internal jugular vein; 59.3% were placed during general anesthesia, and all had factor replacement prophylaxis. A peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) was placed concurrently in 69.2% of the cases; per hospital policy, the port was only accessed 15days post-placement to reduce the risk of site hematoma. Two patients were lost to follow-up. The total catheter days was 15,893. Ports were removed in 14/24 cases, most commonly because of CLABSI (7/24; 29.2%) and transition to peripheral infusion (3/24; 12.5%). Bleeding was the most common complication in the first 30days after placement. There were nine CLABSI events (0.57 per 1,000 catheter days), all in patients with high neutralizing inhibitor titers. A higher frequency of port access (more or equal to daily vs. less than daily) correlated with higher infection rates (P=0.02). Median time from port insertion to first infection was 348days (range 167-1,055days). There were four fibrin-sheath-related catheter occlusions (0.25 per 1,000 catheter days): three catheters were salvaged with intra-catheter tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) instillation resulting in a salvage of an additional 1,214 catheter days, and one catheter was removed after tPA failure (0.06 per 1,000 catheter days). Port maintenance in boys with severe hemophilia is challenging given the need for long-term frequent device access that is associated with catheter-related infections. The rate of bleeding or infection did not differ in patients whether the device was accessed immediately or 15days post placement. With appropriate pre- and post-procedural factor replacement, immediate and early term severe complications are not common.

Ultrasound-detected venous changes associated with peripheral intravenous placement in children.

Ultrasound shows several venous changes in pediatric PIV-containing veins. Changes were visualized by ultrasound in the absence of physical exam findings. Venous luminal narrowing, wall thickening, and thrombosis may explain PIV failure. Peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVs) are routinely used for venous access in hospitalized pediatric patients to administer fluids and medications and to aspirate blood. Unfortunately, PIVs do not remain functional for the entire duration of intravascular need. We hypothesized that PIV malfunction may be related to venous changes that can be visualized with ultrasound (US) imaging. The purpose of this study was to describe and document such changes in pediatric patients. This Institutional Review Board-approved study was performed at a tertiary pediatric medical center. Patients underwent US scans of their PIV-containing veins, documenting venous characteristics such as depth, diameter, wall thickness, blood flow, valves, branch points, and presence of thrombus. Patient demographics and PIV characteristics were also recorded. Data from 30 patients including 12 males and 18 females with a mean age of 11 years were analyzed. Mean venous depth and diameter were 2.07 ± 0.13 and 2.02 ± 0.18 mm, respectively. Mean PIV dwell time at time of evaluation was 3.3 days. PIV-associated venous changes were seen in 73% of accessed veins and included lumen narrowing (47%), wall thickening (33%), presence of thrombus (20%), and absence of blood flow around the PIV tip (40%). PIV-associated venous changes are seen with US in the majority of pediatric patients with indwelling PIVs but are not necessarily appreciated on physical exam. These changes may help explain the high rate of pediatric PIV device failure. Given the small sample size, further investigation is needed to better characterize PIV-associated venous changes in children.

Table of contents

The LaryngoscopeVolume 130, Issue S4 p. v-v Issue InformationFree Access Table of contents First published: 10 April 2020 https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.28683AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume130, IssueS4Supplement: In-Office Tympanostomy Tube Placement in Children Using Iontophoresis and Automated Tube DeliveryMay 2020Pages v-v RelatedInformation

Socially-Assistive Robots Using Empathy to Reduce Pain and Distress during Peripheral IV Placement in Children.

Objectives Socially-assistive robots (SAR) have been used to reduce pain and distress in children in medical settings. Patients who perceive empathic treatment have increased satisfaction and improved outcomes. We sought to determine if an empathic SAR could be developed and used to decrease pain and fear associated with peripheral IV placement in children. Methods We conducted a pilot study of children receiving IV placement. Participating children were randomized to interact with (1) no robot, or a commercially available 3D printed humanoid SAR robot programmed with (2) empathy or (3) distraction conditions. Children and parents completed demographic surveys, and children used an adapted validated questionnaire to rate the robot's empathy on an 8-point Likert scale. Survey scores were compared by the t-test or chi-square test. Pain and fear were measured by self-report using the FACES and FEAR scales, and video tapes were coded using the CHEOPS and FLACC. Scores were compared using repeated measures 2-way ANOVA. This trial is registered with NCT02840942. Results Thirty-one children with an average age of 9.6 years completed the study. For all measures, mean pain and fear scores were lowest in the empathy group immediately before and after IV placement. Children were more likely to attribute characteristics of empathy to the empathic condition (Likert score 7.24 v. 4.70; p=0.012) and to report that having the empathic vs. distraction robot made the IV hurt less (7.45 vs. 4.88; p=0.026). Conclusions Children were able to identify SAR designed to display empathic characteristics and reported it helped with IV insertion pain and fear. Mean scores of self-reported or objective pain and fear scales were the lowest in the empathy group and the highest in the distraction condition before and after IV insertion. This result suggests empathy improves SAR functionality when used for painful medical procedures and informs future research into SAR for pain management.

Pectoral nerve blocks decrease postoperative pain and opioid use after pacemaker or implantable cardioverter–defibrillator placement in children

Pectoral nerve blocks (PECs) can reduce intraprocedural anesthetic requirements and postoperative pain. Little is known about the utility of PECs in reducing pain and narcotic use after pacemaker (PM) or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) placement in children. The purpose of this study was to determine whether PECs can decrease postoperative pain and opioid use after PM or ICD placement in children. A single-center retrospective review of pediatric patients undergoing transvenous PM or ICD placement between 2015 and 2020 was performed. Patients with recent cardiothoracic surgery or neurologic/developmental deficits were excluded. Demographics, procedural variables, postoperative pain, and postoperative opioid usage were compared between patients who had undergone PECs and those who had undergone conventional local anesthetic (Control). A total of 74 patients underwent PM or ICD placement; 20 patients (27%) underwent PECs. There were no differences between PECs and Control with regard to age, weight, gender, type of device placed, presence of congenital heart disease, type of anesthesia, procedural time, or complication rates. Patients who underwent PECs had lower pain scores at 1, 2, 6, 18, and 24 hours compared to Control. PECs patients had a lower mean cumulative pain score [PECs 1.5 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.8-2.2) vs Control 3.1 (95% CI 2.7-3.5); P <.001] and lower total opioid use [PECs 6.0 morphine milligram equivalent (MME)/m2 (95% CI 3.4-8.6) vs Control 15.0 MME/m2 (95% CI 11.8-18.2); P = .001] over the 24 hours postimplant. PECs reduce postoperative pain scores and lower total opioid usage after ICD or PM placement. PECs should be considered at the time of transvenous device placement in children.

Do Antibiotics Reduce the Incidence of Infections After Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Placement in Children?

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) provides a long-term solution for tube dependency. Pediatric guidelines recommend prophylactic antibiotic treatment (ABT) based on adult studies. To compare wound infection and other complications in children receiving a PEG with and without prophylactic ABT. Retrospective study including children 0 to 18 years undergoing PEG placement. Patients with (2010-2013) and without (2000-2010) ABT were compared with respect to the occurrence of wound infection and other complications. In total, 297 patients were included (median age 2.9 years, 53% boys). Patients receiving ABT per PEG protocol (n = 78) had a similar wound infection rate (17.9% vs 21%, P = 0.625), significantly less fever (3.8% vs 14.6%, P = 0.013), leakage (0% vs 9.1%, P = 0.003) and shorter hospital admission (2 vs 4 days, P = 0.000), but more overgranulation (28.2% vs 8.7%, P = 0.000) compared with those without (n = 219). Patients receiving any ABT, per PEG protocol or clinical indication (n = 115), had similar occurrence of wound infection (19.1% vs 20.9%, P = 0.768), fever (7.8% vs 14.3%, P = 0.100) and leakage (3.5% vs 8.8%, P = 0.096), a significantly shorter hospital admission (3 vs 4 days, P = 0.000), but more overgranulation (21.7% vs 8.8%, P =0.003) compared with those without (n = 182). Prophylactic ABT does not seem to reduce the occurrence of wound infection but it might be beneficial with respect to fever, leakage and duration of hospital admission, but not overgranulation. A randomized controlled trial is needed to confirm our results.

Ultrasound-Detected Venous Changes Associated with Peripheral Intravenous Placement in Children

HighlightsUltrasound shows several venous changes in pediatric PIV-containing veins. Changes were visualized by ultrasound in the absence of physical exam findings. Venous luminal narrowing, wall thickening, and thrombosis may explain PIV failure.

Contemporary postoperative imaging practices among pediatric surgeons for image-guided central venous line placement: A survey of the American Pediatric Surgical Association

Background/PurposeRare life-threatening complications after central venous line (CVL) placement in children may encourage the routine use of postoperative imaging, despite multiple studies demonstrating the limited utility of this practice. The aim of this study was to investigate the nature of this discordance. MethodsA 10-question survey was sent to 1,239 members of the American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) addressing contemporary practices regarding CVL placement and postoperative imaging. ResultsFive hundred eighteen (42%) surveys were completed. The majority of respondents routinely obtain a chest radiograph (CXR) after image-guided CVL placement (52%). Years in practice, operative volume, and practice type were not statistically associated with postoperative CXR usage (all p > 0.05). ‘Routine’ users were more likely to cite “standard of care” (p < 0.001), position verification (p < 0.001), and complication identification (p < 0.001) as indications for use than those who use CXR selectively. ConclusionRoutine use of postoperative CXR after image-guided CVL placement remains common among pediatric surgeons. Significant variation exists in the indication for this study, with considerable disagreement between ‘selective’ and ‘routine’ users. Consideration should be given for an APSA standardized guideline utilizing a clinically-driven approach to CVL placement and postoperative imaging to align with evidence-based practice. Level of evidenceN/A — descriptive analysis of survey results.

Difficult airway and Awake laryngeal mask placement in children- case presentation

Difficult airway and Awake laryngeal mask placement in children- case presentation