Real-Time Ultrasound Guidance for Umbilical Venous Cannulation in Neonates With Congenital Heart Disease.

OBJECTIVES: Umbilical venous cannulation is the favored approach to perinatal central access worldwide but has a failure rate of 25-50% and the insertion technique has not evolved in decades. Improving the success of this procedure would have broad implications, particularly where peripherally inserted central catheters are not easily obtained and in neonates with congenital heart disease, in whom umbilical access facilitates administration of inotropes and blood products while sparing vessels essential for later cardiac interventions. We sought to use real-time, point-of-care ultrasound to achieve central umbilical venous access in patients for whom conventional, blind placement techniques had failed. DESIGN: Multicenter case series, March 2019-May 2021. SETTING: Cardiac and neonatal ICUs at three tertiary care children's hospitals. PATIENTS: We identified 32 neonates with congenital heart disease, who had failed umbilical venous cannulation using traditional, blind techniques. INTERVENTIONS: Real-time ultrasound guidance and liver pressure were used to replace malpositioned catheters and achieve successful placement at the inferior cavoatrial junction. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: In 32 patients with failed prior umbilical venous catheter placement, real-time ultrasound guidance was used to successfully "rescue" the line and achieve central position in 23 (72%). Twenty of 25 attempts (80%) performed in the first 48 hours of life were successful, and three of seven attempts (43%) performed later. Twenty-four patients (75%) were on prostaglandin infusion at the time of the procedure. We did not identify an association between patient weight or gestational age and successful placement. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound guidance has become standard of care for percutaneous central venous access but is a new and emerging technique for umbilical vessel catheterization. In this early experience, we report that point-of-care ultrasound, together with liver pressure, can be used to markedly improve success of placement. This represents a significant advance in this core neonatal procedure.

A Quality Improvement Initiative to Provide Timely Central Vascular Access in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

BACKGROUND: Timely central venous access is essential in the care of critically ill neonates. Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are the preferred form of central venous access when umbilical venous catheters cannot be placed or are discontinued. However, time delays increase risk for injury from peripheral intravenous lines and may contribute to inconsistent delivery of necessary fluids and medications. PURPOSE: The aim of this quality improvement project was to decrease wait times for PICC placement in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). METHODS: A unit-based PICC team was developed consisting of NICU nurses and attending neonatologists and implemented in 2 phases. Data were collected from chart reviews before, during, and after implementation of the team. We tracked time between PICC order and placement and number of attempts. Hospital metrics on peripheral intravenous line infiltrations and central line-associated blood stream infection were also monitored. At the end of the project, we continued tracking outcomes to determine whether gains would be sustained past the project period. RESULTS: Implementation of a unit-based interdisciplinary specialty team led to a 50% reduction in mean PICC wait times from 1.2 days to 0.58 days. Benefits of the initiative were sustained past the initial project period. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The development of a dedicated, local team played a key role in improving vascular access in the NICU. IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH: Proximity of specialized teams provides a solution to address gaps in care in the NICU.

Inhaled Nitric Oxide Is Associated with Improved Oxygenation in a Subpopulation of Infants with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia and Pulmonary Hypertension.

OBJECTIVES: To determine which patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) and pulmonary hypertension (PH) benefit from inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) treatment by comparing characteristics and outcomes of iNO responders to nonresponders. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a retrospective chart review of infants with CDH treated at our center between 2011 and 2016. In a subset of patients, iNO was initiated for hypoxemia or echocardiographic evidence of extrapulmonary right to left shunting. Initial post-treatment blood gases were reviewed, and patients were classified as responders (increased PaO2 >20 mm Hg) or nonresponders. Baseline characteristics, echocardiograms and outcomes were compared between groups with Fisher exact tests and Mann-Whitney t tests, as appropriate. RESULTS: During the study period, 95 of 131 patients with CDH (73%) were treated with iNO. All patients with pretreatment echocardiograms (n = 90) had echocardiographic evidence of PH. Thirty-eight (40%) patients met treatment response criteria. Responders had significant improvements in PaO2 (51 ± 3 vs 123 ± 7 mm Hg, P < .01), alveolar-arterial gradient (422 ± 30 vs 327 ± 27 mm Hg, P < .01), and PaO2 to FiO2 ratio (82 ± 10 vs 199 ± 15 mm Hg, P < .01). Nonresponders were more likely to have left ventricular systolic dysfunction (27% vs 8%, P = .03) on echocardiogram. Responders were less likely to require extracorporeal membrane support (50 vs 24%, P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: iNO treatment is associated with improved oxygenation and reduced need for ECMO in a subpopulation of patients with CDH with PH and normal left ventricular systolic function.

Thirty-Day Hospital Readmission Among Homeless Individuals With Medicaid in Massachusetts.

BACKGROUND: National efforts are underway to reduce hospital readmissions. Few studies have used administrative data to provide a global view of readmission among people experiencing homelessness, who often utilize multiple hospital systems. OBJECTIVE: To examine the 30-day hospital readmission rate and factors associated with readmission following discharge among homeless Medicaid members in Massachusetts. METHODS: We analyzed medical record and Medicaid administrative data for 1269 hospitalizations between 2013 and 2014 for 458 unique patients attributed to Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program. Generalized Estimating Equations were used to investigate factors associated with readmission. RESULTS: Of all hospitalizations, 27% resulted in readmission, more than double the average national Medicaid readmission rate. Leaving against medical advice was associated with increased readmission, while having a Health Care for the Homeless primary care practitioner was associated with reduced readmission. Among the most frequently admitted individuals, being discharged to medical respite care was associated with reduced readmission. CONCLUSIONS: To break the readmission cycle, health care providers serving homeless individuals could focus on assuring access to medical respite care and extending outreach efforts that increase primary care engagement. This may be especially important for accountable care systems, as safety net providers increasingly assume financial risk for patients' total cost and quality of care.

Incidence and fate of device-related left pulmonary artery stenosis and aortic coarctation in small infants undergoing transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus closure.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate short- and middle-term outcomes after transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus (TC-PDA) closure in small infants, specifically device-related left pulmonary artery (LPA) stenosis and aortic coarctation, risk factors, and changes over time. BACKGROUND: Recent studies have demonstrated successful transcatheter PDA (TC-PDA) closure in small infants. LPA stenosis and aortic coarctation have been seen after TC-PDA, but it is not clear whether device-related LPA/aortic obstruction persists. METHODS: A single-center retrospective study of infants ≤4 kg who underwent TC-PDA closure from February 1, 2007 to September 1, 2018 was performed, evaluating the incidence and risk factors for LPA stenosis and coarctation. RESULTS: Forty-four patients underwent successful TC-PDA with Amplatzer Vascular Plug II (AVPII; n = 30), Amplatzer Duct Occluder II-Additional Sizes (n = 10), Amplatzer Duct Occluder I (n = 3), and coil-filled AVPI (n = 1) devices, all via an antegrade approach. Median birthweight and procedural weight were 890 g (range: 490-3,250) and 2.8 kg (range: 1.2-4.0), respectively. Median follow-up was 0.7 years (range: 2 days-7 years). Thirty-eight patients had post-procedure echocardiograms assessing LPA/aortic obstruction. Of those, 17 had LPA flow acceleration/stenosis (≥1.5 m/s), which improved or resolved in all patients with available follow-up; 3 developed mild coarctation (>2 m/s), which improved in the two with more than short-term follow-up; 4 developed mild flow acceleration (1.5-2 m/s) in the descending aorta, which resolved in three and increased in one (2.4 m/s). Flow acceleration in the LPA was associated with younger procedural age, larger PDA minimal diameter, and placement of a device other than the AVPII. There was no device-related mortality or need for reintervention. CONCLUSION: TC-PDA in small infants is effective, without significant complications. Device-related LPA/aortic obstruction can improve with time/growth.

Improved Diagnostic Sensitivity of Bowel Disease of Prematurity on Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound.

Bowel diseases of prematurity, including necrotizing enterocolitis, are dreaded ailments of neonates. Early diagnosis is difficult, with clinical and radiographic findings often inconclusive. We present a novel use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in detection of pediatric bowel disease. Early identification of compromised blood flow or an at-risk bowel can be quantitatively detected and monitored. This ability has implications for guidance of emerging therapies, allowing targeting of inflammation. These findings represent an advancement in detection of bowel disease in neonates.

Trends in transcatheter and operative closure of patent ductus arteriosus in neonatal intensive care units: Analysis of data from the Pediatric Health Information Systems Database.

BACKGROUND: The risks and benefits of pharmacologic treatment and operative closure of patent ductus arteriosus (O-PDA) in premature infants remain controversial. Recent series have demonstrated the feasibility of transcatheter PDA closure (TC-PDA) in increasingly small infants. The effect of this change on practice has not been evaluated. METHODS: A multicenter observational study of infants treated in neonatal intensive care units in hospitals contributing data to the Pediatric Health Information Systems Database from January 2007 to December 2017 was performed to study trends in the propensities for (1) mechanical closure of PDA and (2) TC-PDA versus O-PDA, as well as interhospital variation in practice. RESULTS: A total of 6,214 subjects at 44 hospitals were studied (5% TC-PDA). Subject median gestational age was 25 weeks (interquartile range: 24-27 weeks). Median age at closure was 24 days (interquartile range: 14-36 days). The proportion of all neonatal intensive care unit patients undergoing either O-PDA or TC-PDA decreased (3.1% in 2007 and 0.7% in 2017, P < .001), whereas the proportion in which TC-PDA was used increased significantly (0.1% in 2007 to 29.0% in 2017). Case-mix-adjusted multivariable models similarly demonstrated increasing propensity to pursue TC-PDA (odds ratio [OR] 1.66 per year, P < .001) with acceleration of the trend after 2014 (OR 2.46 per year, P < .001) as well as significant practice variation (P < .001, median OR 4.6) across the study period. CONCLUSIONS: In the face of decreasing closure of PDA, the use of TC-PDA increased dramatically with significant practice variability. This demonstrates that there is equipoise for potential clinical trials.

Outbreak of Adenovirus in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Critical Importance of Equipment Cleaning During Inpatient Ophthalmologic Examinations.

PURPOSE: Outbreaks of adenovirus in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) can lead to widespread transmission and serious adverse outcomes. We describe the investigation, response, and successful containment of an adenovirus outbreak in a NICU associated with contaminated handheld ophthalmologic equipment used during retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening. DESIGN: Epidemiologic outbreak investigation. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 23 hospitalized neonates, as well as NICU staff and parents of affected infants. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Routine surveillance identified an adenovirus outbreak in a level IV NICU in August 2016. Epidemiologic investigation followed, including chart review, staff interviews, and observations. Cases were defined as hospital-acquired adenovirus identified from any clinical specimen (NICU patient or employee) or compatible illness in a family member. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and partial- and whole-genome sequencing assays were used for testing of clinical and environmental specimens. RESULTS: We identified 23 primary neonatal cases and 9 secondary cases (6 employees and 3 parents). All neonatal case-patients had respiratory symptoms. Of these, 5 developed pneumonia and 12 required increased respiratory support. Less than half (48%) had ocular symptoms. All neonatal case-patients (100%) had undergone a recent ophthalmologic examination, and 54% of neonates undergoing examinations developed adenovirus infection. All affected employees and parents had direct contact with infected neonates. Observations revealed inconsistent disinfection of bedside ophthalmologic equipment and limited glove use. Sampling of 2 handheld lenses and 2 indirect ophthalmoscopes revealed adenovirus serotype 3 DNA on each device. Sequence analysis of 16 neonatal cases, 2 employees, and 2 lenses showed that cases and equipment shared 100% identity across the entire adenovirus genome. Infection control interventions included strict hand hygiene, including glove use; isolation precautions; enhanced cleaning of lenses and ophthalmoscopes between all examinations; and staff furlough. We identified no cases of secondary transmission among neonates. CONCLUSIONS: Adenovirus outbreaks can result from use of contaminated ophthalmologic equipment. Even equipment that does not directly contact patients can facilitate indirect transmission. Patient-to-patient transmission can be prevented with strict infection control measures and equipment cleaning. Ophthalmologists performing inpatient examinations should take measures to avoid adenoviral spread from contaminated handheld equipment.

Constructing a Culturally Informed Spanish Decision-Aid to Counsel Latino Parents Facing Imminent Extreme Premature Delivery.

Objective How Latino parents perceive and understand antenatal counseling for extreme prematurity, < 26 weeks of gestational age (GA), is not clear. We aim to characterize Latino parental perceptions of antenatal counseling in order to construct and validate a Spanish decision-aid (SDA) to improve parental knowledge of prematurity after antenatal consults. Methods This is a three-phased, prospective, multicenter study. First, interviews of 22 Latino parents with a history of birth < 26 weeks GA were conducted. Thematic analysis identified themes valued during antenatal counseling for decisions regarding neonatal resuscitation. Next, we incorporated these themes into the SDA. Finally, improvement in knowledge of prematurity in two Spanish-speaking groups, 'experienced' parents with a history of extremely premature birth and 'naïve' adult Latino volunteers, was measured using a multiple choice test before and after simulated counseling with the SDA. Result Twenty-two interviews generated seven unique themes. An SDA was constructed that preserved six themes paralleled by those found in a previously studied English population, and addressed a novel theme of "intercultural linguistic barriers" unique to our population. Knowledge scores rose in "naive" volunteers, 41 ± 12% to 71 ± 15% (P < 0.001), after simulated counseling with the SDA. 'Experienced' parents had a ceiling effect in knowledge scores, 62 ± 9% to 65 ± 11% (P = 0.22). The SDA was well received by participants. Conclusions for Practice Interviews of Latino parents with a history of premature birth generated similar themes to English-speaking parents, with intercultural linguistic barriers as a novel theme. An SDA for Latino parents facing extremely premature birth may improve comprehension of antenatal counseling.

Outcomes of Preterm Infants following Discussions about Withdrawal or Withholding of Life Support.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the frequency of postnatal discussions about withdrawal or withholding of life-sustaining therapy (WWLST), ensuing WWLST, and outcomes of infants surviving such discussions. We hypothesized that such survivors have poor outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective review included registry data from 18 centers of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network. Infants born at 22-28 weeks of gestation who survived >12 hours during 2011-2013 were included. Regression analysis identified maternal and infant factors associated with WWLST discussions and factors predicting ensuing WWLST. In-hospital and 18- to 26-month outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: WWLST discussions occurred in 529 (15.4%) of 3434 infants. These were more frequent at 22-24 weeks (27.0%) compared with 27-28 weeks of gestation (5.6%). Factors associated with WWLST discussion were male sex, gestational age (GA) of ≤24 weeks, birth weight small for GA, congenital malformations or syndromes, early onset sepsis, severe brain injury, and necrotizing enterocolitis. Rates of WWLST discussion varied by center (6.4%-29.9%) as did WWLST (5.2%-20.7%). Ensuing WWLST occurred in 406 patients; of these, 5 survived to discharge. Of the 123 infants for whom intensive care was continued, 58 (47%) survived to discharge. Survival after WWLST discussion was associated with higher rates of neonatal morbidities and neurodevelopmental impairment compared with babies for whom WWLST discussions did not occur. Significant predictors of ensuing WWLST were maternal age >25 years, necrotizing enterocolitis, and days on a ventilator. CONCLUSIONS: Wide center variations in WWLST discussions occur, especially at ≤24 weeks GA. Outcomes of infants surviving after WWLST discussions are poor. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00063063.

Pediatric exposure to opioid and sedation medications during terminal hospitalizations in the United States, 2007-2011.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the use of opioids and sedatives to pediatric patients dying in the hospital in the 2 weeks preceding death. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective study on opioid and sedation medication exposure among children who die in hospitals in the US by using large administrative data sources. We described patterns of exposure to these medications for deceased inpatients (<21 years of age) between 2007 and 2011 (n = 37,459) and factors associated with the exposure. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the ORs. RESULTS: Overall, 74% patients were exposed to opioids or sedatives in the 14 days before death. Among patients with 6 or more hospital days before death, the daily exposure rate ranged from 73% (the sixth day before death) to 89% (the day of death). The most commonly used medications were fentanyl (52%), midazolam (44%), and morphine (40%). Older age (ORs 1.6-3.7), black race (ORs 0.8), longer hospital stay (ORs 6.6-9.3), receiving medical interventions (including mechanical ventilation, surgery, and stay in the intensive care unit, ORs 1.7-2.6), having comorbidities (ORs 1.7-2.4), and being hospitalized in children's hospitals (ORs 4.0-4.5) were associated with exposure of opioid and sedation medication on adjusted analysis. CONCLUSION: Although most pediatric patients terminally hospitalized are exposed to opioid and sedation medication, some patients do not receive such medications before death. Given that patient and hospital characteristics were associated with opioid/sedative exposure, these findings suggest areas of potential quality improvement and further research.

31-Week Premature Male with Congenital Syphilis.

The incidence of syphilis is on the rise in many parts of the U.S., including South Dakota. We present a case of congenital syphilis and review the evaluation, clinical course, and treatment of this devastating disease process.

US-guided placement and tip position confirmation for lower-extremity central venous access in neonates and infants with comparison versus conventional insertion.

PURPOSE: To describe experience with the use of ultrasound (US)-guided placement and tip position confirmation for direct saphenous and single-incision tunneled femoral noncuffed central venous catheters (CVCs) placed in neonates and infants at the bedside. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of the interventional radiology (IR) database and electronic medical records was performed for 68 neonates and infants who received a CVC at the bedside and for 70 age- and weight-matched patients with CVCs placed in the IR suite between 2007 and 2012. Technical success, complications, and outcomes of CVCs placed at the bedside were compared with those in an age- and weight-matched sample of children with CVCs placed in the IR suite. RESULTS: A total of 150 primary insertions were performed, with a technical success rate of 100%. Total catheter lives for CVCs placed at the bedside and in the IR suite were 2,030 catheter-days (mean, 27.1 d) and 2,043 catheter-days (mean, 27.2 d), respectively. No significant difference was appreciated between intraprocedural complications, mechanical complications (bedside, 1.53 per 100 catheter-days; IR, 1.76 per 100 catheter-days), or infectious complications (bedside, 0.39 per 100 catheter-days; IR, 0.34 per 100 catheter-days) between groups. CONCLUSIONS: US-guided placement and tip position confirmation of lower-extremity CVCs at bedside for critically ill neonates and infants is a safe and feasible method for central venous access, with similar complications and catheter outcomes in comparison with CVCs placed by using fluoroscopic guidance in the IR suite.

Regoaling: a conceptual model of how parents of children with serious illness change medical care goals.

BACKGROUND: Parents of seriously ill children participate in making difficult medical decisions for their child. In some cases, parents face situations where their initial goals, such as curing the condition, may have become exceedingly unlikely. While some parents continue to pursue these goals, others relinquish their initial goals and generate new goals such as maintaining the child's quality of life. We call this process of transitioning from one set of goals to another regoaling. DISCUSSION: Regoaling involves factors that either promote or inhibit the regoaling process, including disengagement from goals, reengagement in new goals, positive and negative affect, and hopeful thinking. We examine these factors in the context of parental decision making for a seriously ill child, presenting a dynamic conceptual model of regoaling. This model highlights four research questions that will be empirically tested in an ongoing longitudinal study of medical decision making among parents of children with serious illness. Additionally, we consider potential clinical implications of regoaling for the practice of pediatric palliative care. SUMMARY: The psychosocial model of regoaling by parents of children with a serious illness predicts that parents who experience both positive and negative affect and hopeful patterns of thought will be more likely to relinquish one set of goals and pursue a new set of goals. A greater understanding of how parents undergo this transition may enable clinicians to better support them through this difficult process.

Percutaneous closure of patent ductus arteriosus in small infants with significant lung disease may offer faster recovery of respiratory function when compared to surgical ligation.

OBJECTIVES: To describe our experience with percutaneous closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in small infants and compare outcomes to matched surgical patients. BACKGROUND: Ligation via thoracotomy has been used to close PDAs in small infants, but has been associated with respiratory and hemodynamic compromise. We hypothesized that percutaneous closure would offer faster recovery of respiratory function. METHODS: Patients <4 kg requiring positive pressure ventilation who underwent percutaneous PDA closure between January 2000 and April 2012 were reviewed and matched to contemporary surgical patients on gestational age (GA), birth weight (BW), procedure weight (WT), and ventilation mode. Patients returned to baseline respiratory status when the product of mean airway pressure and FiO2 returned to pre-procedural levels. RESULTS: Eight matched pairs were included. Median BW, GA, and WT were 1.43 kg (0.52-2.97), 29.8 weeks (24-39), and 2.8 kg (2.2-3.9) for catheter patients and 1.55 kg (0.48-3.04), 29 weeks (23-37), and 2.75 kg (2.3-4.2) for surgical patients. Complete PDA closure occurred in all. The median time to return to baseline respiratory status was significantly shorter in the percutaneous group (17 hr (range 0-113) vs. 53 hr (range 13-219), P < 0.05). In the percutaneous group, two patients developed mild aortic coarctation, one mild left pulmonary artery stenosis, and four femoral vascular thromboses which all resolved with medical therapy. Surgical complications included significant respiratory and cardiac compromise, rib fractures and urinary retention. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous closure of PDA in small infants on respiratory support is equivalent in safety and efficacy and may offer shorter recovery time than surgical ligation.

Health Care of People Experiencing Homelessness: Part I.

Homelessness and Health CarePeople who experience homelessness have high rates of medical illness. They struggle with conditions associated with living in crowded shelters, trauma, and exposure to extreme weather. Here, Taylor and Munson review the care of this vulnerable population.

Health Care of People Experiencing Homelessness: Part II.

Health Care of People Experiencing HomelessnessIn this second part of a two-part review of health care for people experiencing homelessness, Taylor and Munson discuss approaches to care that are tailored to this population.