Starting Pediatric VAD Program: Transforming Challenges into Opportunities; A Case Series of a Single Center.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of heart failure is constantly increasing in both children and adults. End-stage heart failure in children unresponsive to medical therapy has limited treatment options. Surgical options include heart transplantation or implantation of durable ventricular assist devices (VADs). To start the VAD program, it was necessary to train core team members, invite experienced proctors and adjust the organizational approach. METHODS: We present our first seven pediatric patients who underwent a VAD implantation with primary indication end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy. RESULTS: The median age on implant was four and a half years and the median duration of VAD support was 39 days with long term survival achieved in three patients. The causes of death were multiorgan failure, thromboembolic events, sepsis, and low cardiac output syndrome. Ischemic stroke was the reason for successful neurointervention during VAD support in two patients. CONCLUSIONS: To establish a VAD program, numerous specialties must be included with adequate training and learning for all team members.

Attitudes about withholding or withdrawing life-prolonging treatment, euthanasia, assisted suicide, and physician assisted suicide: a cross-sectional survey among the general public in Croatia.

BACKGROUND: There has been no in-depth research of public attitudes on withholding or withdrawing life-prolonging treatment, euthanasia, assisted suicide and physician assisted suicide in Croatia. The aim of this study was to examine these attitudes and their correlation with sociodemographic characteristics, religion, political orientation, tolerance of personal choice, trust in physicians, health status, experiences with death and caring for the seriously ill, and attitudes towards death and dying. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a three-stage random sample of adult citizens of the Republic of Croatia, stratified by regions, counties, and locations within those counties (N = 1203). In addition to descriptive statistics, ANOVA and Chi-square tests were used to determine differences, and factor analysis (component model, varimax rotation and GK dimensionality reduction criterion), correlation analysis (Bivariate correlation, Pearson's coefficient) and multiple regression analysis for data analysis. RESULTS: 38.1% of the respondents agree with granting the wishes of dying people experiencing extreme and unbearable suffering, and withholding life-prolonging treatment, and 37.8% agree with respecting the wishes of such people, and withdrawing life-prolonging treatment. 77% of respondents think that withholding and withdrawing procedures should be regulated by law because of the fear of abuse. Opinions about the practice and regulation of euthanasia are divided. Those who are younger and middle-aged, with higher levels of education, living in big cities, and who have a more liberal worldview are more open to euthanasia. Assisted suicide is not considered to be an acceptable practice, with only 18.6% of respondents agreeing with it. However, 40.1% think that physician assisted suicide should be legalised. 51.6% would support the dying person's autonomous decisions regarding end-of-life procedures. CONCLUSIONS: The study found low levels of acceptance of withholding or withdrawing life-prolonging treatment, euthanasia, assisted suicide and physician assisted suicide in Croatia. In addition, it found evidence that age, level of education, political orientation, and place of residence have an impact on people's views on euthanasia. There is a need for further research into attitudes on different end-of-life practices in Croatia.

End-of-Life Decision-Making in Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Units in Croatia-A Focus Group Study among Nurses and Physicians.

Background and Objectives: Working in pediatric and neonatal intensive care units (ICUs) can be challenging and differs from work in adult ICUs. This study investigated for the first time the perceptions, experiences and challenges that healthcare professionals face when dealing with end-of-life decisions in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in Croatia. Materials and Methods: This qualitative study with focus groups was conducted among physicians and nurses working in NICUs and PICUs in five healthcare institutions (three pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) and five neonatal intensive care units (NICUs)) at the tertiary level of healthcare in the Republic of Croatia, in Zagreb, Rijeka and Split. A total of 20 physicians and 21 nurses participated in eight focus groups. The questions concerned everyday practices in end-of-life decision-making and their connection with interpersonal relationships between physicians, nurses, patients and their families. The constant comparative analysis method was used in the analysis of the data. Results: The analysis revealed two main themes that were the same among the professional groups as well as in both NICU and PICU units. The theme "critical illness" consisted of the following subthemes: the child, the family, myself and other professionals. The theme "end-of-life procedures" consisted of the following subthemes: breaking point, decision-making, end-of-life procedures, "spill-over" and the four walls of the ICU. The perceptions and experiences of end-of-life issues among nurses and physicians working in NICUs and PICUs share multiple common characteristics. The high variability in end-of-life procedures applied and various difficulties experienced during shared decision-making processes were observed. Conclusions: There is a need for further research in order to develop clinical and professional guidelines that will inform end-of-life decision-making, including the specific perspectives of everyone involved, and the need to influence policymakers.

Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation with low pump flow for blocked modified Blalock-Taussig shunt followed by spontaneous recanalization.

A 2-week-old male newborn with a double inlet left ventricle developed a cardiac arrest following modified Blalock-Taussig anastomosis in pediatric intensive care unit. Probable causes of the arrest were hemodynamic instability and thrombosed shunt, which was later recanalized on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy, which was successfully used with a pump flow lower than recommended in these patients-without the shunt clip, but without any complications.

Rescue extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation in pediatric patients: a nine-year single-center experience in Zagreb, Croatia.

AIM: To investigate the risk factors and the outcomes of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in pediatric patients treated at the University Hospital Center Zagreb, the largest center in Croatia providing pediatric ECMO. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled all the pediatric patients who required E-CPR from 2011 to 2019. Demographic data, cardiac anatomy, ECMO indications, ECMO complications, and neurodevelopmental status at hospital discharge were analyzed. RESULTS: In the investigated period, E-CPR was used in 16 children, and the overall survival rate was 37.5%. Six patients were in the neonatal age group, 5 in the infant group, and 5 in the "older" group. There was no significant difference between the sexes. Four patients had an out-of-hospital arrest and 12 had an in-hospital arrest. Twelve out of 16 patients experienced renal failure and needed hemodialysis, with 4 out of 6 patients in the survivor group and 8 out of 10 in the non-survivor group. Survivors and non-survivors did not differ in E-CPR duration time, lactate levels before ECMO, time for lactate normalization, and pH levels before and after the start of ECMO. CONCLUSION: The similarity of our results to those obtained by other studies indicates that the ECMO program in our hospital should be maintained and improved.

Navigating the shadows: medical professionals' values and perspectives on end-of-life care within pediatric intensive care units in Croatia.

Background and aim: This study explores healthcare professionals' perspectives on end-of-life care in pediatric intensive care units (ICUs) in Croatia, aiming to illuminate their experiences with such practices, underlying attitudes, and major decision-making considerations. Amid the high variability, complexity, and emotional intensity of pediatric end-of-life decisions and practices, understanding these perspectives is crucial for improving care and policies. Methods: The study utilized a cross-sectional survey intended for physicians and nurses across all pediatric ICUs in Croatia. It included healthcare professionals from six neonatal and four pediatric ICUs in total. As the data from neonatal and pediatric ICUs were examined jointly, the term pediatric ICU was used to denominate both types of ICUs. A statistical analysis was performed using Python and JASP, focusing on professional roles, professional experience, and regional differences. Results: The study included a total of 103 participants (with an overall response rate-in relation to the whole target population-of 48% for physicians and 29% for nurses). The survey revealed diverse attitudes toward and experiences with various aspects of end-of-life care, with a significant portion of healthcare professionals indicating infrequent involvement in life-sustaining treatment (LST) limitation discussions and decisions, as well as somewhat ambiguous attitudes regarding such practices. Notably, discrepancies emerged between different professional roles and, in particular, regions, underscoring the high variability of LST limitation-related procedures. Conclusions: The findings highlight a pressing need for more straightforward guidelines, legal frameworks, support mechanisms, and communication strategies to navigate the complex terrain of rather burdensome end-of-life pediatric care, which is intrinsically loaded with profound ethical quandaries.

Early biochemical markers in the assessment of acute kidney injury in children after cardiac surgery.

Our aim was to evaluate biochemical markers in plasma (NGAL, CysC) and urine (NGAL, KIM-1) in children's early onset of acute kidney injury after congenital heart defect surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass. This study prospectively included 100 children with congenital heart defects who developed AKI. Patients with acute kidney injury had significantly higher CysC levels 6 and 12 h after cardiac surgery and plasma NGAL levels 2 and 6 h after cardiac surgery. The best predictive properties for the development of acute kidney injury are the combination (+CysCpl or +NGALu) after 12 h and a combination (+CysCpl and +NGALu) 6 and 24 h after cardiac surgery. We showed that plasma CysC and urinary NGAL could reliably predict the development of acute kidney injury. Measurement of early biochemical markers in plasma and urine, individually and combination, may predict the development of cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury in children.

ATP synthase deficiency due to m.8528T>C mutation - a novel cause of severe neonatal hyperammonemia requiring hemodialysis.

OBJECTIVES: Hyperammonemia in a newborn is a serious condition, which requires prompt intervention as it can lead to severe neurological impairment and death if left untreated. The most common causes of hyperammonemia in a newborn are acute liver failure and inherited metabolic disorders. Several mitochondrial disorders have been described as a cause of severe neonatal hyperammonemia. CASE PRESENTATION: Here we describe a new case of adenosine-triphosphate (ATP) synthase deficiency due to m.8528T>C mutation as a novel cause of severe neonatal hyperammonemia. So far six patients with this mutation have been described but none of them was reported to need hemodialysis in the first days of life. CONCLUSION: This broadens the so far known differential diagnosis of severe neonatal hyperammonemia requiring hemodialysis.

Characteristics, Risk Factors and Predictors for Candidemia in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at the University Hospital Centre Zagreb in Croatia: A 9-Year Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Candidemia is one of the leading causes of bloodstream infections in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). The aim of this study was to define characteristics and risk factors for candidemia in the PICU setting and propose a predictive model to identify the patients at risk. METHODS: This was a retrospective matched case-control study in the PICU during a 9-year period. Patients with candidemia were studied and matched with control patients without candidemia. Univariate analysis was performed for potential risk factors and multivariate analysis was conducted to determine the prediction score for candidemia. RESULTS: Forty-two cases of candidemia were matched with 84 control patients. Candida parapsilosis was the most common (71.4%) species. Risk factors independently associated with candidemia were: the use of >2 antibiotics in a maximum period of 4 weeks before the candidemia (odds ratio [OR]: 10.59; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.05-54.83), a previous bacterial infection in a maximum period of 4 weeks before the candidemia (OR: 5.56; 95% CI: 1.44-21.5) and the duration of PICU stay of >10 days (OR: 4.22; 95% CI: 1.02-17.41). The proposed predictive scoring system has a sensitivity of 95.24%, specificity of 76.12%, OR 64.0, 95% CI 14.2-288.6, the positive predictive value of 66.67% and the negative predictive value of 96.97%. CONCLUSIONS: Previously reported risk factors for candidemia have been confirmed and some new have been detected. The presented scoring system can help identify patients who would benefit from prophylactic antifungal therapy.

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations presenting as difficult-to-control asthma: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Although pulmonary arteriovenous malformations are relatively rare disorders, they are an important part of the differential diagnosis of common pulmonary problems, such as hypoxemia, dyspnea on exertion and pulmonary nodules. CASE PRESENTATION: An 11-year-old Croatian boy of Mediterranean origin with a history of asthma since childhood was admitted to our hospital for evaluation of difficult-to-control asthma during the previous six months. A chest X-ray showed a homogeneous soft tissue mass in the lingual area. Computed tomography angiography of the thorax showed two pulmonary arteriovenous malformations, one on each side of the lungs. Diagnosis of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia was made clinically by Curaçao criteria. Genetic analysis revealed a mutation in the endoglin gene. The patient was treated with embolotherapy with good clinical outcome. CONCLUSION: We present a case of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations masquerading as refractory asthma.