Continuous noninvasive cardiac output in children: is this the next generation of operating room monitors? Initial experience in 402 pediatric patients.

BACKGROUND: Electrical Cardiometry(™) (EC) estimates cardiac parameters by measuring changes in thoracic electrical bioimpedance during the cardiac cycle. The ICON(®), using four electrocardiogram electrodes (EKG), estimates the maximum rate of change of impedance to peak aortic blood acceleration (based on the premise that red blood cells change from random orientation during diastole (high impedance) to an aligned state during systole (low impedance)). OBJECTIVE: To determine whether continuous cardiac output (CO) data provide additional information to current anesthesia monitors that is useful to practitioners. METHODS: After IRB approval and verbal consent, 402 children were enrolled. Data were uploaded to our anesthesia record at one-minute intervals. Ten-second measurements (averaged over the previous 20 heart beats) were downloaded to separate files for later comparison with routine OR monitors. RESULTS: Data from 374 were in the final cohort (loss of signal or improper lead placement); 292,012 measurements during 58,049 min of anesthesia were made in these children (1 day to 19 years and 1 to 107 kg). Four events had a ≥25% reduction in cardiac index at least 1 min before a clinically important change in other monitored parameters; 18 events in 14 children confirmed manifestations of other hemodynamic measures; eight events may have represented artifacts because the observed measurements did not seem to fit the clinical parameters of the other monitors; three other events documented decreased stroke index with extreme tachycardia. CONCLUSIONS: Electrical cardiometry provides real-time cardiovascular information regarding developing hemodynamic events and successfully tracked the rapid response to interventions in children of all sizes. Intervention decisions must be based on the combined data from all monitors and the clinical situation. Our experience suggests that this type of monitor may be an important addition to real-time hemodynamic monitoring.

The PediSedate device, a novel approach to pediatric sedation that provides distraction and inhaled nitrous oxide: clinical evaluation in a large case series.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric sedation is of paramount importance but can be challenging. Fear and anticipatory anxiety before invasive procedures often lead to uncooperativeness. A novel device (PediSedate) provides sedation through a combination of inhaled nitrous oxide and distraction (video game). We evaluated the acceptability and safety of the PediSedate device in children. METHODS: We enrolled children between 3 and 9 years old who were scheduled to undergo surgical procedures that required general inhalational anesthesia. After the device was applied, he/she played a video game while listening to the audio portion of the game through the earphones. Nitrous oxide in oxygen was administered via the nasal piece of the headset starting at 50% and increasing to 70%, in 10% increments every 8 min. Treatment failures, vital signs, arterial oxygen saturation, depth of sedation, airway patency, side effects, acceptance of the device and parental satisfaction were all evaluated. RESULTS: Of 100 children included, treatment failure occurred in 18% mainly because of poor tolerance of the device. At least 96% of the children who completed the study exhibited an excellent degree of sedation, 22% had side effects, and none experienced serious airway obstruction. Nausea and vomiting were the most common side effects and no patients had hemodynamic instability. CONCLUSIONS: The PediSedate device combines nonpharmacologic with pharmacologic methods of sedation. Most of the children we evaluated were able to tolerate the PediSedate device and achieved an adequate degree of sedation.