Intraoperative renal replacement therapy during liver transplantation in children: Safety, efficacy and impact on survival.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (iCRRT) can prevent life-threatening complications, facilitate fluid management, and maintain metabolic homeostasis during liver transplantation (LT) in adults. There is a paucity of data in pediatric LT. We evaluated the safety, efficacy, and impact on survival of iCRRT in pediatric LT. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all children requiring CRRT pre-OLT at a quaternary children's hospital from 2014 to 2022. Demographic characteristics, intraoperative events, and post-LT outcomes were compared between those who received iCRRT and those who did not. RESULTS: Out of 306 patients who received LT, 30 (10%) were supported with CRRT at least 24 h prior to LT, of which 11 (36%) received iCRRT. The two cohorts were similar in demographics, diagnosis of liver disease, and severity of illness. The iCRRT patients experienced massive blood loss and increased transfusion requirements. There was no difference in intraoperative metabolic balance. One-year post-LT mortality rates were similar. CONCLUSION: ICRRT is safe in critically ill children with pre-LT renal dysfunction. It optimizes fluid and blood product resuscitation while maintaining metabolic homeostasis. Candidates need to be carefully chosen for this highly resource-intensive therapy to benefit this fragile population.

Lack of Association of A1C With Postoperative Complications in Children With Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes.

Not meeting recommended A1C targets may be associated with postoperative complications in adults, but there are no studies reporting on the relationship between preoperative A1C and postoperative complications in children with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The objective of this study was to determine whether elevated A1C levels were associated with an increased incidence of postoperative complications in children with diabetes presenting for elective noncardiac surgery or diagnostic procedures. It found no such association, suggesting no need to delay elective surgery in children with diabetes until A1C is optimized.

Perioperative Risk Assessment in Children With Congenital Heart Disease Undergoing Noncardiac Procedures.

OBJECTIVES: To risk-stratify children with congenital heart disease undergoing noncardiac surgery or diagnostic procedures for perioperative cardiopulmonary complications using the authors' established institutional guidelines. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. SETTING: The study was conducted in an academic, tertiary-care children's hospital. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1,005 children, from birth to 19 years of age with a diagnosis of congenital heart disease, who underwent a noncardiac surgery or diagnostic procedure from January 2017 to December 2018, were included in the study. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The incidence of a severe perioperative complication, defined as a perioperative cardiac arrest or death within 30 days of the procedure, was 1.6%. Age, an emergent surgery/procedure, a preoperative renal abnormality, preoperative mechanical ventilation, and a preoperative pericardial effusion were significant for severe perioperative complications, in the multivariate analysis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for severe complications was 0.936. However, the area under the curve for moderate perioperative complications was 0.679, in which moderate complications were defined as (1) an escalation in anticipated postoperative disposition (from planned disposition), (2) an escalation in postoperative disposition (from preoperative location), (3) an escalation of preoperative airway support, (4) an administration of any intraoperative vasoactive medication/infusion, (5) a noncardiac surgery reoperation within 30 days of the procedure (if related to the primary procedure or change in physiology), or (6) unplanned readmission with 24 hours of the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: A robust model for severe perioperative complications was developed within the authors' institutional clinical guidelines, identifying 5 predictors for perioperative cardiac arrest or death. The usual markers of critical illness were not found to be predictive of a moderate perioperative complication, regardless of the level of anesthesiologist training, suggesting that many of these children with congenital heart disease undergoing noncardiac procedures can be treated by a general pediatric anesthesiologist rather than a pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist within an institution that has or can establish clinical guidelines for these children.

SCAI/CCAS/SPA expert consensus statement for anesthesia and sedation practice: Recommendations for patients undergoing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in the pediatric and congenital cardiac catheterization laboratory.

Current practice of sedation and anesthesia for patients undergoing pediatric congenital cardiac catheterization laboratory (PCCCL) procedures is known to vary among institutions, a multi-society expert panel with representatives from the Congenital Heart Disease Council of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI), the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia (SPA) and the Congenital Cardiac Anesthesia Society (CCAS) was convened to evaluate the types of sedation and personnel necessary for procedures performed in the PCCCL. The goal of this panel was to provide practitioners and institutions performing these procedures with guidance consistent with national standards and to provide clinicians and institutions with consensus-based recommendations and the supporting references to encourage their application in quality improvement programs. Recommendations can neither encompass all clinical circumstances nor replace the judgment of individual clinicians in the management of each patient. The science of medicine is rooted in evidence, and the art of medicine is based on the application of this evidence to the individual patient. This expert consensus statement has adhered to these principles for optimal management of patients requiring sedation and anesthesia. What follows are recommendations for patient monitoring in the PCCCL regardless of whether minimal or no sedation is being used or general anesthesia is being provided by an anesthesiologist. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals Inc.

SCAI/CCAS/SPA Expert Consensus Statement for Anesthesia and Sedation Practice: Recommendations for Patients Undergoing Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures in the Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory.

Current practice of sedation and anesthesia for patients undergoing pediatric and congenital cardiac catheterization laboratory (PCCCL) procedures is known to vary among institutions, a multi-society expert panel with representatives from the Congenital Heart Disease Council of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia and the Congenital Cardiac Anesthesia Society was convened to evaluate the types of sedation and personnel necessary for procedures performed in the PCCCL. The goal of this panel was to provide practitioners and institutions performing these procedures with guidance consistent with national standards and to provide clinicians and institutions with consensus-based recommendations and the supporting references to encourage their application in quality improvement programs. Recommendations can neither encompass all clinical circumstances nor replace the judgment of individual clinicians in the management of each patient. The science of medicine is rooted in evidence, and the art of medicine is based on the application of this evidence to the individual patient. This expert consensus statement has adhered to these principles for optimal management of patients requiring sedation and anesthesia. What follows are recommendations for patient monitoring in the PCCCL regardless of whether minimal or no sedation is being used or general anesthesia is being provided by an anesthesiologist.

Perioperative respiratory complications following awake and deep extubation in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative respiratory complications after adenotonsillectomy (T&A) are common and have been described to occur more frequently in children below 3 years of age, those with cranio-facial abnormalities, Down syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, morbid obesity, and failure to thrive. AIMS: To investigate the association between awake vs deep tracheal extubation and perioperative respiratory conditions. RESULTS: The primary outcome was any perioperative respiratory complication. Major complications included the need for airway reinstrumentation, continuous or bi-level positive airway pressure (CPAP or BiPAP) and ventilation, or pharmacologic intervention for managing airway obstruction. Minor respiratory complications included persistent hypoxemia defined as oxygen saturation (SpO2 ) <92% for ≥30 s or postoperative oxygen dependence for hypoxemia for ≥15 min. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of any perioperative respiratory complication in children undergoing an awake vs deep extubation (18.5% and 18.9% for awake and deep extubation, respectively (P = 0.93)). Only low weight (≤14 kg) was associated with increased perioperative respiratory complications (P = 0.005). In this study, factors found not to be statistically significant with perioperative respiratory complications included age; presence of Down syndrome, cranio-facial abnormality, or cerebral palsy; obstructive sleep apnea confirmed by polysomnography; diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea by clinical history; presence of an upper respiratory tract infection (URI) within 2 weeks of presentation; history of reactive airway disease; status at extubation; endtidal sevoflurane and carbon dioxide concentrations at extubation; total intraoperative opioids administered in morphine equivalents (mg·kg(-1) ); administration of propofol at extubation; and intraoperative administration of an anticholinergic drug. CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference in the incidence of perioperative respiratory complications in children undergoing a T&A following an awake vs deep extubation. Only weight ≤14 kg was associated with increased perioperative respiratory complications.

Perioperative and Long-Term Outcomes in Infants Undergoing a Tracheostomy from a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for perioperative complications and long-term morbidity in infants from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) presenting for a tracheostomy. METHODS: This single-center retrospective cohort study included infants in the NICU presenting for a tracheostomy from August 2011 to December 2019. Primary outcomes were categorized as either a perioperative complication or long-term morbidity. A severe perioperative complication was defined as having either (1) an intraoperative cardiopulmonary arrest, (2) an intraoperative death, (3) a postoperative cardiopulmonary arrest within 30 days of the procedure, or (4) a postoperative death within 30 days of the procedure. Long-term morbidities included (1) the need for gastrostomy tube placement within the tracheostomy hospitalization and (2) the need for diuretic therapy, pulmonary hypertensive therapy, oxygen, or mechanical ventilation at 12 and 24 months following the tracheostomy. RESULTS: One-hundred eighty-three children underwent a tracheostomy. The mean age at tracheostomy was 16.9 weeks while the mean post-conceptual age at tracheostomy was 49.7 weeks. The incidence of severe perioperative complications was 4.4% (n = 8) with the number of pulmonary hypertension medication classes preoperatively (OR: 3.64, 95% CI: (1.44-8.94), p = 0.005) as a significant risk factor. Approximately 81% of children additionally had a gastrostomy tube placed at the time of the tracheostomy, and 62% were ventilator-dependent 2 years following their tracheostomy. CONCLUSION: Our study provides critical perioperative complications and long-term morbidity data to neonatologists, pediatricians, surgeons, anesthesiologists, and families in the expected course of infants from the NICU presenting for a tracheostomy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 134:1945-1954, 2024.

A retrospective study of multimodal analgesic treatment after laparoscopic appendectomy in children.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic appendectomy is a common emergency pediatric surgery procedure accompanied by substantial pain (pain scores >4 for >60% of the time) in 33% of these patients. We introduced a bundle of pain management interventions including local anesthetic infiltration at the incision site, intravenous (IV) opioids by patient-controlled analgesia (PCA), and scheduled doses of IV ketorolac and oral acetaminophen/hydrocodone. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of these pain management interventions on pain control after laparoscopic appendectomy. METHODS: We retrospectively studied pain in 206 children above 7 years of age undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy from December 2011 to February 2012 at our institution. We extracted data on patient demographics, duration of anesthesia and surgery, intraoperative opioids, local anesthetic infiltration, surgical procedure reports, along with pain scores, postoperative PCA use, and opioid-related complications and hospital stays. Patients were divided into two groups - simple appendicitis without peritonitis and appendicitis with generalized peritonitis. RESULTS: The incidence of substantial pain when the multimodal regimen was used was 12%, which is significantly lower than earlier reports (Fisher's exact test P < 0.001). Patients with generalized peritonitis experienced more pain, consumed more opioids, had more unmet PCA demands, and a higher incidence of respiratory depression compared with those with simple appendicitis. CONCLUSION: The multimodal regimen of local anesthetic infiltration, opioid by PCA, NSAIDs, and oral acetaminophen/hydrocodone reduced the incidence of substantial pain. Additional studies are required to identify subgroups of patients with minimal opioid requirements who can benefit from modifications of this regimen.

Surgical Techniques for Tonsillectomy and Perioperative Respiratory Complications in Children.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of perioperative respiratory complications in children following tonsillectomy with cold and hot dissection surgical techniques. STUDY DESIGN: The study was a retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Retrospective chart review was performed for all children presenting for a tonsillectomy at Texas Children's Hospital from November 2015 to December 2017. METHODS: Pre- and intraoperative patient factors, including surgical technique with cold or hot dissection (electrocautery or radiofrequency ablation), and perioperative anesthetic factors were collected to determine the incidence of perioperative respiratory complications. RESULTS: A total of 2437 patients underwent a tonsillectomy at Texas Children's Hospital from November 2015 to December 2017. The incidence of perioperative respiratory complications was 20.0% (n = 487). Sickle cell disease, cardiac disease, reactive airway disease, pulmonary disease, age >2 and <3 years, and obesity, defined as a body mass index >95th percentile for age, were significant for overall perioperative respiratory complications. There was no difference in the incidence of perioperative respiratory complications in children undergoing tonsillectomy by cold or hot dissection. CONCLUSION: Perioperative respiratory complications following tonsillectomy are more affected by patient factors than surgical technique.

Can pediatric sleep questions be incorporated into a risk model to predict respiratory complications following adenotonsillectomy?

BACKGROUND: Adenotonsillectomy, one of the most frequent surgical procedures in children, is usually performed for sleep-disordered breathing, a disease spectrum from primary snoring to obstructive sleep apnea. Children undergoing an adenotonsillectomy may be at risk for perioperative respiratory complications, necessitating intervention or escalation of care. However, there is no effective preoperative screening or risk-stratification model for perioperative respiratory complications that incorporates not only clinical history and physical examination but also sleep question responses for children as there is for adults. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this prospective observational study was to develop a risk-stratification model for perioperative respiratory complications in children undergoing an adenotonsillectomy incorporating not only clinical history and physical examination but also sleep question responses. METHODS: A 25-question sleep questionnaire was prospectively administered preoperatively for 1895 children undergoing an adenotonsillectomy from November 2015 to December 2017. The primary outcome measure was overall perioperative respiratory complications, collected prospectively and defined as having at least one major or minor complication intraoperatively or postoperatively. RESULTS: The incidence of overall perioperative respiratory complications was 20.4%. Preoperative factors associated with perioperative respiratory complications in the multiple regression model were age, race, preoperative tonsil size, the presence of a syndrome, and the presence of a pulmonary disease. None of the sleep questionnaire responses remained in the multivariable analysis. The area under the ROC curve for the risk stratification model incorporating sleep question responses was only 0.6114% (95% CI: 0.60, 0.67). CONCLUSION: Preoperative sleep question responses may be unable to predict overall perioperative respiratory complications in children undergoing an adenotonsillectomy. A robust risk stratification model incorporating sleep question responses with clinical history and physical examination was unable to discriminate or predict perioperative respiratory complications in our population undergoing an adenotonsillectomy.

Outcomes Using a Postoperative Protocol in Pediatric Single-Stage Laryngotracheal Reconstruction.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate single-stage laryngotracheal reconstruction (ssLTR) outcomes before and after the implementation of a postoperative care protocol in pediatric patients. METHODS: A case-control study with chart review was conducted at 2 tertiary academic centers from 2010 to 2016. Pediatric patients who underwent ssLTR with a postoperative care protocol were compared with those who did not receive care under this protocol. Data regarding perioperative management were collected and compared using χ2 and Wilcoxon rank tests. Planned extubation, length of intubation in the intensive care unit, and complications were examined. RESULTS: Nineteen patients completed ssLTR after the protocol was initiated, and 26 prior patients were used as control subjects. Planned extubation failed in 9 patients (35%) in the control group compared with 1 patient (5%) in the protocol group (P < .05). Using a structured protocol demonstrated a decrease in delayed extubation and intensive care unit stay (P < .05). Despite more postprotocol patients' requiring posterior graft placement, preprotocol patients were less likely to be extubated within 7 days (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The authors propose an intensive care unit protocol that uses a combination of pharmacologic agents to optimally reduce the risk for adverse events that delay time to extubation and thus decannulation. Timely extubation was more likely with the use of this postoperative care protocol using a multidisciplinary approach involving otolaryngologists, pharmacists, intensivists, and anesthesiologists.