Point-of-care ultrasonography to predict fluid responsiveness in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) is proposed as a valuable method for hemodynamic monitoring and several ultrasound-based predictors of fluid responsiveness have been studied. The main objective of this study was to assess the accuracy of these predictors in children. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for relevant publications through July 2022. Pediatric studies reporting accuracy estimates of ultrasonographic predictors of fluid responsiveness were included since they had used a standard definition of fluid responsiveness and had performed an adequate fluid challenge. RESULTS: Twenty-three studies involving 1028 fluid boluses were included, and 12 predictors were identified. A positive response to fluid infusion was observed in 59.7% of cases. The vast majority of participants were mechanically ventilated (93.4%). The respiratory variation in aortic blood flow peak velocity (∆Vpeak) was the most studied predictor, followed by the respiratory variation in inferior vena cava diameter (∆IVC). The pooled sensitivity and specificity of ∆Vpeak were 0.84 (95% CI, 0.76-0.90) and 0.82 (95% CI, 0.75-0.87), respectively, and the area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (AUSROC) was 0.89 (95% CI, 0.86-0.92). The ∆IVC presented a pooled sensitivity and specificity of 0.79 (95% CI, 0.62-0.90) and 0.70 (95% CI, 0.51-0.84), respectively, and an AUSROC of 0.81 (95% CI, 0.78-0.85). Significant heterogeneity in accuracy estimates across studies was observed. CONCLUSIONS: POCUS has the potential to accurately predict fluid responsiveness in children. However, only ∆Vpeak was found to be a reliable predictor. There is a lack of evidence supporting the use of POCUS to guide fluid therapy in spontaneously breathing children.

Acute kidney injury in critically ill children: predictive value of renal arterial Doppler assessment.

BACKGROUND: Renal resistive index (RRI) and renal pulsatility index (RPI) are Doppler-based variables proposed to assess renal perfusion at the bedside in critically ill patients. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of such variables to predict acute kidney injury (AKI) in mechanically ventilated children. METHODS: Consecutive children aged <14 years underwent kidney Doppler ultrasound examination within 24 h of invasive mechanical ventilation. Renal resistive index (RRI) and renal pulsatility index (RPI) were measured. The primary outcome was severe AKI (KDIGO stage 2 or 3) on day 3. RESULTS: On day 3, 22 patients were classified as having AKI, of which 12 were severe. RRI could effectively predict severe AKI (area under the ROC curve [AUC] = 0.94) as well as RPI (AUC = 0.86). The optimal cut-off for RRI was 0.85 (sensitivity, 91.7%; specificity, 84.7%; PPV, 50.0%; and NPV, 98.4%). Similar results were obtained when the accuracy to predict AKI on day 5 was assessed. Significant correlations were observed between RRI and estimated glomerular filtration rate at enrollment (ρ = -0.495) and on day 3 (ρ = -0.467). CONCLUSIONS: Renal Doppler ultrasound may be a promising tool to predict AKI in critically ill children under invasive mechanical ventilation. IMPACT: Early recognition of acute kidney injury (AKI) is essential to promptly initiate supportive care aimed at restoring renal perfusion, which may prevent or attenuate acute tubular necrosis. Renal arterial Doppler-based parameters are rapid, noninvasive, and repeatable variables that may be promising for the prediction of AKI in children. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the use of renal Doppler-based variables to predict AKI in critically ill children. The present study found that Doppler-based variables could accurately predict the occurrence of severe AKI and were correlated with urinary output and diuretic use.

A Pediatric Intensive Care Checklist for Interprofessional Rounds: The R-PICniC Study.

BACKGROUND: The use of checklists in the pediatric intensive care unit can help improve the quality of care and patient safety. OBJECTIVES: To build and validate a checklist for use in interprofessional rounds in a pediatric intensive care unit. METHODS: This methodological study was conducted in a 20-bed pediatric intensive care unit serving children up to 14 years old. A checklist prototype was constructed through review of the literature and achievement of consensus among the professionals providing care in the unit. Content validation was performed using a modified Delphi technique involving specialists with more than 5 years of experience in pediatric intensive care, methodological studies, and patient safety. Content validity ratios were calculated for the elements of the checklist, which were considered valid when they reached values greater than 0.78. The checklist was tested for usability, application time, and effects on patient care, and feedback was obtained from potential users. RESULTS: Before content validation, the checklist contained 11 domains, 32 items, and 6 daily goals. The invitation to validate content was sent to 86 specialists, and content validity was achieved after 2 rounds of evaluation, with the checklist elements having content validity ratios ranging from 0.94 to 0.97. The mean application time of the checklist was 5 minutes. The final version consisted of 11 domains, 33 items, and 8 daily goals. CONCLUSIONS: This study resulted in a useful and valid instrument for application in interprofessional rounds that was tailored to the needs of local health care professionals.

Carotid doppler ultrasonography as a method to predict fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated children.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate whether respiratory variations in carotid and aortic blood flows measured by Doppler ultrasonography could accurately predict fluid responsiveness in critically ill children. METHODS: This was a prospective single-center study including mechanically ventilated children who underwent fluid replacement at the discretion of the attending physician. Response to fluid load was defined by a stroke volume increase of more than 15%. Maximum and minimum values of velocity peaks were determined over one controlled respiratory cycle before and after volume expansion. Respiratory changes in velocity peak of the carotid (∆Vpeak_Ca) and aortic (∆Vpeak_Ao) blood flows were calculated as the difference between the maximum and minimum values divided by the mean of the two values and were expressed as a percentage. RESULTS: A total of 30 patients were included, of which twelve (40%) were fluid responders and 18 (60%) non-responders. Before volume expansion, both ∆Vpeak_Ca and ∆Vpeak_Ao were higher in responders than in non-responders (17.1% vs 4.4%; p < .001 and 22.8% vs 6.4%; p < .001, respectively). ∆Vpeak_Ca could effectively predict fluid responsiveness (AUC 1.00, 95% CI 0.88-1.00), as well as ∆Vpeak_Ao (AUC 0.94, 95% CI 0.80-0.99). The best cutoff values were 10.6% for ∆Vpeak_Ca (sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 100%) and 18.2% for ∆Vpeak_Ao (sensitivity, 91.7%; specificity, 88.9%; positive predictive value, 84.6%; negative predictive value, 94.1%). Volume expansion-induced changes in stroke volume correlated with the ∆Vpeak_Ca and ∆Vpeak_Ao before volume expansion (ρ of 0.70 and 0.61, respectively; p < .001 for both). CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of respiratory changes in carotid and aortic blood flows are accurate methods for predicting fluid responsiveness in children under invasive mechanical ventilation.

Hypophosphatemia in critically ill pediatric patients receiving enteral and oral nutrition.

BACKGROUND: Hypophosphatemia(HP) is related to several comorbidities in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs). This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of HP in severely ill pediatric patients receiving oral and/or enteral nutrition. The secondary objectives were to investigate the association between HP and the inflammatory state, PICU length of stay, severity, mortality, nutrition status, and protein, energy, calcium, vitamin D, and phosphate intake. METHODS: A prospective, observational cohort study was conducted in a PICU of a quaternary hospital. Participants aged between 28 days and 14 years were included. Anthropometric and laboratory assessments were performed ≤72 h after PICU admission and repeated after 7 days for three consecutive times. Energy, protein, calcium, phosphate, and vitamin D intake per day of hospitalization were recorded individually. The Pediatric Index of Mortality 2 (PIM2) was used to determine each patient's severity score. RESULTS: A total of 103 participants were included in the study. Hypophosphatemic events ranged from 27.2% to 37.5% among the assessments. HP was associated with high C-reactive protein levels (P = .012) and lower energy adequacy (P = .037). Serum phosphorus was inversely correlated (weak correlation) with PIM2 (P = .017). CONCLUSION: HP is common in critically ill pediatric patients, even when they are not receiving parenteral nutrition. It is necessary to monitor serum phosphorus levels and consider the possibility of early replacement, especially in patients showing high levels of inflammation. In addition to inflammation itself, low energy intake and illness severity were related to HP.

Hemodynamic effects of increased intra-abdominal pressure in critically ill children.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of intra-abdominal pressure on the cardiac index (CI) at different intra-abdominal hypertension grades achieved when performing an abdominal compression maneuver (ACM). Evaluating the effectiveness of the ACM in distending the left internal jugular vein (LIJV). METHODS: Prospective observational study conducted in the PICU of a quaternary care teaching hospital. Participants underwent the ACM and the IAP was measured with an indwelling urinary catheter. At each IAH grade reached during the ACM, the CI was measured by transthoracic echocardiography and the LIJV cross-sectional area (CSA) was determined by ultrasonography. RESULTS: Twenty-four children were included (median age and weight of 3.5 months and 6.37kg, respectively). The median CI observed at baseline and during IAH grades I, II, III, and IV were 3.65L/min/m2 (IQR 3.12-4.03), 3.38L/min/m2 (IQR 3.04-3.73), 3.16L/min/m2 (IQR 2.70-3.53), 2.89L/min/m2 (IQR 2.38-3.22), and 2.42L/min/m2 (IQR 1.91-2.79), respectively. A 25% increase in the LIJV CSA area was achieved in 14 participants (58%) during the ACM. CONCLUSION: The ACM significantly increases IAP, causing severe reversible impairment in the cardiovascular system and is effective in distending the LIJV in just over half of the subjects. Even low levels of HIA can result in significant cardiac dysfunction in children. Therefore, health professionals should be aware of the negative hemodynamic repercussions caused by the increased IAP.

Protein intake deficiency in critically ill children with respiratory insufficiency: A call to action?

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Adequate energy-protein intake is associated with improved clinical outcomes in critically ill children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the time of enteral nutrition (EN) onset and the energy-protein intake in critically ill pediatric patients admitted with respiratory insufficiency. METHODS: A single-center prospective cohort study, including children and adolescents, aged from 1 month to 14 years. All patients had been diagnosed with respiratory insufficiency and were exclusively enterally fed and had been admitted to a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of a public quaternary hospital in southeastern Brazil. Demographic, clinical, and nutritional therapy characteristics were recorded. Early EN (EEN) was considered when EN was initiated within the first 48 h of PICU admission. RESULTS: Seventy-one patients were included in this study, 64.79% were male with a median age of 6 months (2; 13) and a median PICU length of stay of 13.00 days (6.75; 23.00). PICU mortality was 4.23% and 78.87% of patients were under mechanical ventilation within the first 48 h of PICU admission with a median time of mechanical ventilation of 10 days (6.00; 16.50). The median energy adequacy was 74.97% (50.29; 93.94) and the median protein adequacy was 56.12% (40.72; 69.81). Only 7.25% of the patients achieved protein adequacy. Nutritional variables were compared between groups: EEN and late EN (LEN). EEN was utilized in 69.01% of patients who had increased energy (41.80 [34.07; 51.17] versus 23.60 [11.22; 35.17] kcal/kg/day; p < 0.0001) and protein intake (0.94 [0.78, 1.16] versus 0.53 [0.30, 0.79] g/kg/day, p < 0.0001) and better nutritional adequacies (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients who received EEN had increased energy-protein delivery and adequacies. However, protein inadequacy occurred throughout in all patients within this sample, regardless the onset of EN.

Lung ultrasound in children with pneumonia: interoperator agreement on specific thoracic regions.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the interoperator agreement of lung ultrasonography (LUS) on specific thoracic regions in children diagnosed with pneumonia and to compare the findings of the LUS with the chest X-ray. Participants admitted to the ward or PICU underwent LUS examinations performed by an expert and a novice operator. A total of 261 thoracic regions in 23 patients were evaluated. Median age and weight of participants were 30 months and 11.6 kg, respectively. A substantial overall agreement between operators was found for normal lung tissue (κ = 0.615, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 0.516-0.715) and for consolidations (κ = 0.635, 95% CI = 0.532-0.738). For B-lines, a moderate agreement was observed (κ = 0.573, 95% CI = 0.475-0.671). An almost perfect agreement was found for pleural effusion (κ = 0.868, 95% CI = 0.754-0.982). The diagnosis of consolidations by LUS showed a high sensitivity (93% for both operators) but a low specificity (14% for expert and 25% for novice operator). While intubated patients presented significantly more consolidations, nonintubated patients presented more normal ultrasound patterns.Conclusion: Even when performed by operators with very distinct degrees of experience, LUS had a good interoperator reliability for detecting sonographic patterns on specific thoracic regions. What is Known: • Lung ultrasound is feasible, safe, and highly accurate for the diagnosis of pneumonia in children; however, it does not allow global visualization of the thorax in a single moment as in chest X-rays, and, similar to the stethoscope, partial thorax assessments must be performed sequentially. What is New: • This is the first study evaluating the agreement of LUS on specific thoracic regions between operators with distinct degrees of experience performing the sonograms. • There is a good agreement between an expert operator and a novice operator who underwent a brief theoretical-practical training program on LUS.

Ultrasound Guidance for Pediatric Central Venous Catheterization: A Meta-analysis.

: media-1vid110.1542/5828324804001PEDS-VA_2018-1719Video Abstract CONTEXT: Central venous catheterization is routinely required in patients who are critically ill, and it carries an associated morbidity. In pediatric patients, the procedures can be difficult and challenging, predominantly because of their anatomic characteristics. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether ultrasound-guided techniques are associated with a reduced incidence of failures and complications when compared with the anatomic landmark technique. DATA SOURCES: We conducted a systematic search of PubMed and Embase. STUDY SELECTION: We included randomized controlled trials and nonrandomized studies in which researchers compare ultrasound guidance with the anatomic landmark technique in children who underwent central venous catheterization. DATA EXTRACTION: Study characteristics, sample sizes, participant characteristics, settings, descriptions of the ultrasound technique, puncture sites, and outcomes were analyzed. Pooled analyses were performed by using random-effects models. RESULTS: A total of 23 studies (3995 procedures) were included. Meta-analysis revealed that ultrasound guidance significantly reduced the risk of cannulation failure (odds ratio = 0.27; 95% confidence interval: 0.17-0.43), with significant heterogeneity seen among the studies. Ultrasound guidance also significantly reduced the incidence of arterial punctures (odds ratio = 0.34; 95% confidence interval: 0.21-0.55), without significant heterogeneity seen among the studies. Similar results were observed for femoral and internal jugular veins. LIMITATIONS: Potential publication bias for cannulation failure and arterial puncture was detected among the studies. However, no publication bias was observed when analyzing only the subgroup of randomized clinical trials. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided techniques are associated with a reduced incidence of failures and inadvertent arterial punctures in pediatric central venous catheterization when compared with the anatomic landmark technique.

Ultrasound guidance for internal jugular vein cannulation in PICU: a randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether ultrasound guidance was advantageous over the anatomical landmark technique when performed by inexperienced paediatricians. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: A paediatric intensive care unit of a teaching hospital. PATIENTS: 80 children (aged 28 days to <14 years). INTERVENTIONS: Internal jugular vein cannulation with ultrasound guidance in real time or the anatomical landmark technique. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Success rate, success rate on the first attempt, success rate within three attempts, puncture time, number of attempts required for success and occurrence of complications. RESULTS: We found a higher success rate in the ultrasound guidance than in the control group (95% vs 61%, respectively; p<0.001; relative risk (RR)=0.64, 95% CI (CI) 0.50 to 0.83). Success on the first attempt was seen in 95% and 34% of venous punctures in the US guidance and control groups, respectively (p<0.001; RR=0.35, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.54). Fewer than three attempts were required to achieve success in 95% of patients in the US guidance group but only 44% in the control group (p<0.001; RR=0.46, 95% CI 0.32 to 0.66). Haematomas, inadvertent arterial punctures, the number of attempts and the puncture time were all significantly lower in the ultrasound guidance than in the control group (p<0.015 for all). CONCLUSIONS: Critically ill children may benefit from the ultrasound guidance for internal jugular cannulation, even when the procedure is performed by operators with limited experience. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: RBR-4t35tk.