Cerebral Oximetry During Pediatric In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Multicenter Study of Survival and Neurologic Outcome.

OBJECTIVES: To determine if near-infrared spectroscopy measuring cerebral regional oxygen saturation (crS o2 ) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation is associated with return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and survival to hospital discharge (SHD) in children. DESIGN: Multicenter, observational study. SETTING: Three hospitals in the pediatric Resuscitation Quality (pediRES-Q) collaborative from 2015 to 2022. PATIENTS: Children younger than 18 years, gestational age 37 weeks old or older with in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation greater than or equal to 1 minute and intra-arrest crS o2 monitoring. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Primary outcome was ROSC greater than or equal to 20 minutes without extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Secondary outcomes included SHD and favorable neurologic outcome (FNO) (Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category 1-2 or no change from prearrest). Among 3212 IHCA events (index and nonindex), 123 met inclusion criteria in 93 patients. Median age was 0.3 years (0.1-1.4 yr) and 31% (38/123) of the cardiopulmonary resuscitation events occurred in patients with cyanotic heart disease. Median cardiopulmonary resuscitation duration was 8 minutes (3-28 min) and ROSC was achieved in 65% (80/123). For index events, SHD was achieved in 59% (54/91) and FNO in 41% (37/91). We determined the association of median intra-arrest crS o2 and percent of crS o2 values above a priori thresholds during the: 1) entire cardiopulmonary resuscitation event, 2) first 5 minutes, and 3) last 5 minutes with ROSC, SHD, and FNO. Higher crS o2 for the entire cardiopulmonary resuscitation event, first 5 minutes, and last 5 minutes were associated with higher likelihood of ROSC, SHD, and FNO. In multivariable analysis of the infant group (age < 1 yr), higher crS o2 was associated with ROSC (odds ratio [OR], 1.06; 95% CI, 1.03-1.10), SHD (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01-1.07), and FNO (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02-1.08) after adjusting for presence of cyanotic heart disease. CONCLUSIONS: Higher crS o2 during pediatric IHCA was associated with increased rate of ROSC, SHD, and FNO. Intra-arrest crS o2 may have a role as a real-time, noninvasive predictor of ROSC.

Clinical Outcomes After Tracheostomy in Children With Single Ventricle Physiology: Collaborative Research From the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society Multicenter Cohort, 2010-2021.

OBJECTIVES: Multicenter studies reporting outcomes following tracheostomy in children with congenital heart disease are limited, particularly in patients with single ventricle physiology. We aimed to describe clinical characteristics and outcomes in a multicenter cohort of patients with single ventricle physiology who underwent tracheostomy before Fontan operation. DESIGN: Multicenter retrospective cohort study.SETTING: Twenty-one tertiary care pediatric institutions participating in the Collaborative Research from the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society. PATIENTS: We reviewed 99 children with single ventricle physiology who underwent tracheostomy before the Fontan operation at 21 institutions participating in Collaborative Research from the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society between January 2010 and December 2020, with follow-up through December 31, 2021. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Death occurred in 51 of 99 patients (52%). Cox proportional hazard analysis was performed to determine factors associated with death after tracheostomy. Results are presented as hazard ratio (HR) with 95% CIs. Nonrespiratory indication(s) for tracheostomy (HR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.14-4.32) and number of weeks receiving mechanical ventilation before tracheostomy (HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.02-1.11) were independently associated with greater hazard of death. In contrast, diagnosis of tricuspid atresia or Ebstein's anomaly was associated with less hazard of death (HR, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.04-0.69). Favorable outcome, defined as survival to Fontan operation or decannulation while awaiting Fontan operation with viable cardiopulmonary physiology, occurred in 29 of 99 patients (29%). Median duration of mechanical ventilation before tracheostomy was shorter in patients who survived to favorable outcome (6.1 vs. 12.1 wk; p < 0.001), and only one of 16 patients with neurologic indications for tracheostomy and 0 of ten patients with cardiac indications for tracheostomy survived to favorable outcome. CONCLUSIONS: For children with single ventricle physiology who undergo tracheostomy, mortality risk is high and should be carefully considered when discussing tracheostomy as an option for these children. Favorable outcomes are possible, although thoughtful attention to patient selection and tracheostomy timing are likely necessary to achieve this goal.

Child Opportunity Index and Pediatric Intensive Care Outcomes: A Multicenter Retrospective Study in the United States.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate for associations between a child's neighborhood, as categorized by Child Opportunity Index (COI 2.0), and 1) PICU mortality, 2) severity of illness at PICU admission, and 3) PICU length of stay (LOS). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Fifteen PICUs in the United States. PATIENTS: Children younger than 18 years admitted from 2019 to 2020, excluding those after cardiac procedures. Nationally-normed COI category (very low, low, moderate, high, very high) was determined for each admission by census tract, and clinical features were obtained from the Virtual Pediatric Systems LLC (Los Angeles, CA) data from each site. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Among 33,901 index PICU admissions during the time period, median patient age was 4.9 years and PICU mortality was 2.1%. There was a higher percentage of admissions from the very low COI category (27.3%) than other COI categories (17.2-19.5%, p < 0.0001). Patient admissions from the high and very high COI categories had a lower median Pediatric Index of Mortality 3 risk of mortality (0.70) than those from the very low, low, and moderate COI groups (0.71) ( p < 0.001). PICU mortality was lowest in the very high (1.7%) and high (1.9%) COI groups and highest in the moderate group (2.5%), followed by very low (2.3%) and low (2.2%) ( p = 0.001 across categories). Median PICU LOS was between 1.37 and 1.50 days in all COI categories. Multivariable regression revealed adjusted odds of PICU mortality of 1.30 (95% CI, 0.94-1.79; p = 0.11) for children from a very low versus very high COI neighborhood, with an odds ratio [OR] of 0.996 (95% CI, 0.993-1.00; p = 0.05) for mortality for COI as an ordinal value from 0 to 100. Children without insurance coverage had an OR for mortality of 3.58 (95% CI, 2.46-5.20; p < 0.0001) as compared with those with commercial insurance. CONCLUSIONS: Children admitted to a cohort of U.S. PICUs were often from very low COI neighborhoods. Children from very high COI neighborhoods had the lowest risk of mortality and observed mortality; however, odds of mortality were not statistically different by COI category in a multivariable model. Children without insurance coverage had significantly higher odds of PICU mortality regardless of neighborhood.

Use and Outcomes of Nasotracheal Intubation Among Patients Requiring Mechanical Ventilation Across U.S. PICUs.

OBJECTIVES: The use and outcomes of nasotracheal intubation in pediatric patients requiring mechanical ventilation have not been quantified. Our goal is to identify prevalence of use, associated factors, and outcomes of nasotracheal versus orotracheal intubation in patients requiring mechanical ventilation. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study using deidentified data from the Virtual Pediatric Systems database. Data from PICU admissions from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2016 were analyzed. SETTING: One hundred twenty-one PICUs located within the United States. PATIENTS: PICU admissions requiring an endotracheal tube-either nasotracheal or orotracheal-were included. Those with a tracheostomy tube present at admission were excluded from the study. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Among the 121 PICUs included in the study, 64 PICUs (53%) had zero nasotracheal intubations during the reviewed time period. There were 12,088 endotracheal intubations analyzed, and 680 of them (5.6%) were nasotracheal. Of those patients nasotracheally intubated, most were under 2 years old (88.1%), and 82.2% of them were classified as a cardiac patient. Among these young cardiac patients, the rate of unplanned extubation was 0% in the nasotracheal intubated versus 2.1% in the orotracheal intubated group (p < 0.001) CONCLUSIONS:: Nasotracheal intubation is used in a minority of U.S. PICUs and mainly among young cardiac patients. Nasotracheal intubation is associated with a lower rate of unplanned extubations in this patient population. Future prospective studies analyzing the benefits and complications of nasotracheal versus orotracheal intubation in pediatric patients requiring mechanical ventilation are indicated.

Criteria for Critical Care Infants and Children: PICU Admission, Discharge, and Triage Practice Statement and Levels of Care Guidance.

OBJECTIVES: To update the American Academy of Pediatrics and Society of Critical Care Medicine's 2004 Guidelines and levels of care for PICU. DESIGN: A task force was appointed by the American College of Critical Care Medicine to follow a standardized and systematic review of the literature using an evidence-based approach. The 2004 Admission, Discharge and Triage Guidelines served as the starting point, and searches in Medline (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), and PubMed resulted in 329 articles published from 2004 to 2016. Only 21 pediatric studies evaluating outcomes related to pediatric level of care, specialized PICU, patient volume, or personnel. Of these, 13 studies were large retrospective registry data analyses, six small single-center studies, and two multicenter survey analyses. Limited high-quality evidence was found, and therefore, a modified Delphi process was used. Liaisons from the American Academy of Pediatrics were included in the panel representing critical care, surgical, and hospital medicine expertise for the development of this practice guidance. The title was amended to "practice statement" and "guidance" because Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology was not possible in this administrative work and to align with requirements put forth by the American Academy of Pediatrics. METHODS: The panel consisted of two groups: a voting group and a writing group. The panel used an iterative collaborative approach to formulate statements on the basis of the literature review and common practice of the pediatric critical care bedside experts and administrators on the task force. Statements were then formulated and presented via an online anonymous voting tool to a voting group using a three-cycle interactive forecasting Delphi method. With each cycle of voting, statements were refined on the basis of votes received and on comments. Voting was conducted between the months of January 2017 and March 2017. The consensus was deemed achieved once 80% or higher scores from the voting group were recorded on any given statement or where there was consensus upon review of comments provided by voters. The Voting Panel was required to vote in all three forecasting events for the final evaluation of the data and inclusion in this work. The writing panel developed admission recommendations by level of care on the basis of voting results. RESULTS: The panel voted on 30 statements, five of which were multicomponent statements addressing characteristics specific to PICU level of care including team structure, technology, education and training, academic pursuits, and indications for transfer to tertiary or quaternary PICU. Of the remaining 25 statements, 17 reached consensus cutoff score. Following a review of the Delphi results and consensus, the recommendations were written. CONCLUSIONS: This practice statement and level of care guidance manuscript addresses important specifications for each PICU level of care, including the team structure and resources, technology and equipment, education and training, quality metrics, admission and discharge criteria, and indications for transfer to a higher level of care. The sparse high-quality evidence led the panel to use a modified Delphi process to seek expert opinion to develop consensus-based recommendations where gaps in the evidence exist. Despite this limitation, the members of the Task Force believe that these recommendations will provide guidance to practitioners in making informed decisions regarding pediatric admission or transfer to the appropriate level of care to achieve best outcomes.

Classification and Nutrition Management of Acute Pancreatitis in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

The aims of this retrospective cohort study were to classify the severity of patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) with acute pancreatitis (AP) and to identify how many patients received appropriate nutritional management in accordance with more recent guidelines and the outcomes of those patients. Of the 54 children with AP, 12 (22.2%) had a primary diagnosis of AP (50% severe, 17% moderate) whereas 42 (77.8%) had a secondary diagnosis of AP (81% severe, 11.9% moderate). Just under half of the patients (48.1%) had enteral nutrition commenced before the third day of admission (50% with primary AP, 47.6% with secondary AP). The average time to initiation of enteral feeds was 2.3 days for those that received enteral nutrition. 51.8% of patients received parenteral nutrition (25% with primary AP, 59.5% with secondary AP). Most patients received enteral nutrition late and parenteral nutrition was overused in patients with AP admitted to the PICU.

Acute Pancreatitis in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

AIM: The aim of this study is to describe the demographics and outcomes of children with a discharge diagnosis of acute pancreatitis (AP) from the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). METHODS: Data for this retrospective cohort study were obtained from a multisite, clinical PICU database. PICU discharges with a primary or secondary diagnosis of AP (SAP) between 2009 and 2013 from 113 centers were reviewed. We also obtained the Pediatric Index of Mortality 2 Risk of Mortality (PIM2ROM), an indicator of the severity of illness. RESULTS: Of 360,162 PICU discharges, 2026 with a diagnosis of AP were analyzed further (0.56%)-331 had a primary diagnosis of AP, whereas 1695 had a SAP. Among children with primary AP, median PIM2ROM was 1.0% (interquartile range [IQR] 0.8%-1.4%). Fifty-five children with primary AP (16.6%) required mechanical ventilation (MV) for a median of 3.8 days (IQR 1.0-9.3). The length of stay (LOS) in PICU was a median of 2.95 days (IQR 1.53-5.90). Only 1 patient died (mortality 0.3%). Among children with secondary AP, median PIM2ROM was 1.1% (IQR 0.8%-4.0%). A total of 711 children (42.0%) with secondary AP required MV for a median of 5.8 days (IQR 1.8-14.0). PICU LOS was a median of 4.43 days (IQR 1.84-11.22). There were 115 deaths in this group (mortality 6.8%). Median PIM2ROM, PICU LOS, mortality (all P < 0.001), and length of MV (P = 0.035) were significantly greater in children with secondary AP than with primary AP. CONCLUSIONS: Unlike in adult series, children with AP rarely die. Patients with secondary AP experience more morbidity and mortality than patients with primary AP.

Is Early Extubation Associated with Better Outcomes After Neonatal Congenital Heart Disease Surgery?

Early extubation (EE) of children after surgery (occurring within the operating room or ≤ 6 hours postadmission) for congenital heart disease (CHD) has been advocated to improve postoperative care. The objective of this study is to compare outcomes of neonates undergoing EE following CHD surgical repair with those extubated more than 6 hours after surgery. Retrospective cohort study utilizes data from the Virtual Pediatric Systems database. Data from neonates undergoing surgical repair for six common CHD lesions and admitted to 57 pediatric intensive care units (ICUs) between July 1, 2010, and June 30, 2015, were analyzed. A total of 1,274 neonates were analyzed; 100 (7.8%) had EE, and 146 (11.5%) were extubated > 6 hours but ≤ 24 hours. Most patients (80.4%) were extubated > 24 hours. The EE group had higher ( p < 0.001) failed extubation rate than patients extubated at any other time; a multivariate analysis of linear regression showed no advantage in length of stay (LOS) of EE compared with those subjects who were extubated in the first 24 hours ( p -value: 0.178). Extubation failure was found to impact ICU LOS in this analysis. The ICU LOS was increased by 3.5 days for every failed extubation attempt ( p -value: <0.001, 95% confidence interval: 1.6-5.5 days). EE after CHD surgery is possible. Though it appears as an attractive option to decrease potential mechanical ventilation complications, this study of neonates shows that EE might result in worse outcomes than when performing extubation between 6 and 24 hours postoperatively.

Development of a Standardized Clinical Assessment and Management Plan for Pediatric Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS) is one of the most challenging patient populations for a clinician to manage with mortality between 8 and 31%. The project was designed to identify patients with PARDS, implement management guidelines with the goal of standardizing practice. Our objectives were to describe the development and implementation of a protocolized approach to identify patients with PARDS and institute ventilator management guidelines. Patients who met criteria for moderate or severe PARDS as per the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury Consensus Conference (PALICC) definitions were identified using the best practice alert (BPA) in the electronic health record (EHR). Patients who did not meet exclusion criteria qualified for management using the Standardized Clinical Assessment and Management Plan (SCAMP), a quality improvement (QI) methodology with iterative cycles. The creation of a BPA enabled identification of patients with PARDS. With our second cycle, the number of false BPA alerts due to incorrect data decreased from 66.7 (68/102) to 29.2% (19/65; p < 0.001) and enrollment increased from 48.3 (14/29) to 73.2% (30/41; p = 0.03). Evaluation of our statistical process control chart (SPC) demonstrated a shift in the adherence with the tidal volume guideline. Overall, we found that SCAMP methodology, when used in the development of institutional PARDS management guidelines, allows for development of a process to aid identification of patients and monitor adherence to management guidelines. This should eventually allow assessment of impact of deviations from clinical practice guidelines.

Interventions Associated With Treatment of Low Cardiac Output After Stage 1 Norwood Palliation.

BACKGROUND: Mortality after stage 1 palliation of hypoplastic left heart syndrome remains significant. Both cardiac output (CO) and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) contribute to hemodynamic vulnerability. Simultaneous measures of mean arterial pressure and somatic regional near infrared spectroscopy saturation can classify complex hemodynamics into 4 distinct states, with a low-CO state of higher risk. We sought to identify interventions associated with low-CO state occupancy and transition. METHODS: Perioperative data were prospectively collected in an institutional review board-approved database. Hemodynamic state was classified as high CO, high SVR, low SVR, and low CO using bivariate analysis. Associations of static and dynamic support levels and state classifications over 48 postoperative hours were tested between states and across transitions using mixed regression methods in a quasi-experimental design. RESULTS: Data from 10,272 hours in 214 patients were analyzed. A low-CO state was observed in 142 patients for 1107 hours. Both low CO and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation had increased mortality risk. The low-CO state was characterized by lower milrinone but higher catecholamine dose. Successful transition out of low CO was associated with increased milrinone dose and hemoglobin concentration. Increasing milrinone and hemoglobin levels predicted reduced risk of low CO in future states. CONCLUSIONS: Bivariate classification objectively defines hemodynamic states and transitions with distinct support profiles. Maintaining or increasing inodilator and hemoglobin levels were associated with improved hemodynamic conditions and were predictive of successful future transitions from the low-CO state.

Executive Summary: Criteria for Critical Care of Infants and Children: PICU Admission, Discharge, and Triage Practice Statement and Levels of Care Guidance.

This is an executive summary of the 2019 update of the 2004 guidelines and levels of care for PICU. Since previous guidelines, there has been a tremendous transformation of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine with advancements in pediatric cardiovascular medicine, transplant, neurology, trauma, and oncology as well as improvements of care in general PICUs. This has led to the evolution of resources and training in the provision of care through the PICU. Outcome and quality research related to admission, transfer, and discharge criteria as well as literature regarding PICU levels of care to include volume, staffing, and structure were reviewed and included in this statement as appropriate. Consequently, the purposes of this significant update are to address the transformation of the field and codify a revised set of guidelines that will enable hospitals, institutions, and individuals in developing the appropriate PICU for their community needs. The target audiences of the practice statement and guidance are broad and include critical care professionals; pediatricians; pediatric subspecialists; pediatric surgeons; pediatric surgical subspecialists; pediatric imaging physicians; and other members of the patient care team such as nurses, therapists, dieticians, pharmacists, social workers, care coordinators, and hospital administrators who make daily administrative and clinical decisions in all PICU levels of care.

Predictors of need for mechanical ventilation at discharge after tracheostomy in the PICU.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine factors predictive of need for mechanical ventilation (MV) upon discharge from the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) among patients who receive a tracheostomy during their stay. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study using the Virtual PICU Systems (VPS) database. Patients <18 years old admitted between 2009-2011 who required MV for at least 3 days and received a tracheostomy during their PICU stay were included. RESULTS: A total of 680 pediatric patients from 74 PICUs were included, of whom 347 (51%) remained on MV at the time of PICU discharge. Neonates (30/38, 79%) and infants (129/203, 64%) required MV at PICU discharge after tracheostomy more often than adolescents (66/141, 47%) and children (122/298, 41%). Time on MV pre-tracheostomy was longer among those who required MV at discharge (median 18.3 vs. 13.8 days, P < 0.0001); however, number of failed extubations was similar (median 1 for both groups, P = 0.97). On mixed-effects multivariable regression analysis, the age categories of neonate (OR 2.9, 95%CI 1.1-7.6, P = 0.03), and infant (OR 1.7, 95%CI 1.1-2.8, P = 0.03), and ventilator days prior to tracheostomy (OR 1.01, 95%CI 1.0-1.02, P = 0.01) were significantly associated with increased odds of MV upon PICU discharge, while being a trauma admission was associated with decreased odds (OR 0.45, 95%CI 0.28-0.73, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Younger patients and those with prolonged courses of MV prior to tracheostomy are more likely to continue to need MV upon PICU discharge.

Safety of Enteral Feedings in Critically Ill Children Receiving Vasoactive Agents.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the safety of enteral feeding in children receiving vasoactive agents (VAs). METHODS: Patients aged 1 month to 18 years with a pediatric intensive care unit stay for ≥96 hours during 2007 and 2008 who received any VA (epinephrine, norepinephrine, vasopressin, milrinone, dopamine, and dobutamine) were included and categorized into fed and nonfed groups. Their demographics, clinical characteristics, type and dose of VA, and presence of gastrointestinal (GI) outcomes were obtained. GI outcomes were compared between the groups by the χ(2) test, Mann-Whitney test, and logistic regression. RESULTS: In total, 339 patients were included. Of these, 55% were in the fed group and 45% in the nonfed group. Patients in the fed group were younger (median age, 1.05 vs 2.75 years, respectively; P < .001) and tended to have a lower Pediatric Index of Mortality 2 (PIM2) risk of mortality (ROM) than those in the nonfed group (median, 3.33% vs 3.52%, respectively; P = .106). Mortality was lower in the fed group than the nonfed group (6.9% vs 15.9%, respectively; odds ratio [OR], 0.39; 0.18-0.84; P < .01, 95% CI), while GI outcomes did not differ between the groups. The vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS) did not differ between the groups except on day 1 (P = .017). The ROM did not differ between the groups after adjusting for age, PIM2 ROM, and VIS on day 1 (OR, 0.58; 0.26-1.28; P = .18, 95% CI). CONCLUSIONS: Enteral feeding in patients receiving VAs is associated with no difference in GI outcomes and a tendency towards lower mortality. Prospective studies are required to confirm the safety of enteral feedings in patients receiving VAs.

Long-term treatment of plastic bronchitis with aerosolized tissue plasminogen activator in a Fontan patient.

OBJECTIVE: To report the successful treatment of plastic bronchitis with aerosolized tissue plasminogen activator. DESIGN: Case report. PATIENTS: A 4-yr-old boy with congenital heart disease, who developed plastic bronchitis 33 months after a Fontan operation INTERVENTIONS: Long-term treatment with aerosolized tissue plasminogen activator. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We describe the case of a boy who developed recurrent episodes of life-threatening airway obstruction secondary to plastic bronchitis. Following the failure of multiple therapeutic interventions, his condition improved significantly with aerosolized tissue plasminogen activator. Several attempts to wean him off this treatment resulted in clinical deterioration. He has remained on long-term aerosolized tissue plasminogen activator. CONCLUSION: Treatment of plastic bronchitis with aerosolized tissue plasminogen activator may benefit patients in whom other therapies have failed.

Current concepts in acute respiratory support for neonates and children.

Current trends in mechanical respiratory support are evolving toward gentle approaches to avoid short- and long-term problems that are historically associated with mechanical ventilation. These ventilator-associated issues include the need for long-term sedation, muscle deconditioning, ventilator-associated lung injury (VALI), and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). This article will describe recent trends of ventilatory support in neonates and children: (1) utilization of volume ventilation in infants, (2) synchrony and improving patient-ventilator interaction specifically using neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA), and (3) use of noninvasive ventilation techniques. When applicable, their uses in the surgical newborn and pediatric patients are described.

Use of tracheostomy in the PICU among patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study is to describe the use of tracheostomy, specifically frequency, timing (in relation to initiation of mechanical ventilation), and associated factors, in a large cohort of children admitted to North American pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) and requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study. De-identified data were obtained from the VPS(LLC) database, a multi-site, clinical PICU database. Admissions between 1 July 2009 and 30 June 2011 were enrolled in the study if the patient required mechanical ventilation for at least 72 h and did not have a tracheostomy tube at initiation of mechanical ventilation. RESULTS: A total of 13,232 PICU admissions from 82 PICUs were analyzed in the study; of these, 872 (6.6 %) had a tracheostomy tube inserted after initiation of mechanical ventilation. The rate varied significantly (0-13.4 %, p < 0.001) among the 45 PICUs that had 100 or more admissions included in the study. The median time to insertion of a tracheostomy tube was 14.4 days (IQR 7.4-25.7), and it also varied significantly by unit (4.3-30.4 days, p < 0.001) among those that performed at least ten tracheostomies included in the study. CONCLUSIONS: There is significant variation in both the frequency and time to tracheostomy between the studied PICUs for patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation; among those who received a tracheostomy, the majority did so after two or more weeks of mechanical ventilation. Future studies examining tracheostomy benefits, disadvantages, outcomes, and resource utilization of this patient subgroup are indicated.

Early enteral nutrition is associated with lower mortality in critically ill children.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the association of early enteral nutrition (EEN), defined as the provision of 25% of goal calories enterally over the first 48 hours of admission, with mortality and morbidity in critically ill children. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter retrospective study of patients in 12 pediatric intensive care units (PICUs). We included patients aged 1 month to 18 years who had a PICU length of stay (LOS) of ≥96 hours for the years 2007-2008. We obtained patients' demographics, weight, Pediatric Index of Mortality-2 (PIM2) score, LOS, duration of mechanical ventilation (MV), mortality data, and nutrition intake data in the first 4 days after admission. RESULTS: We identified 5105 patients (53.8% male; median age, 2.4 years). Mortality was 5.3%. EEN was achieved by 27.1% of patients. Children receiving EEN were less likely to die than those who did not (odds ratio, 0.51; 95% confidence interval, 0.34-0.76; P = .001 [adjusted for propensity score, PIM2 score, age, and center]). Comparing those who received EEN to those who did not, adjusted for PIM2 score, age, and center, LOS did not differ (P = .59), and the duration of MV for those receiving EEN tended to be longer than for those who did not, but the difference was not significant (P = .058). CONCLUSIONS: EEN is strongly associated with lower mortality in patients with PICU LOS of ≥96 hours. LOS and duration of MV are slightly longer in patients receiving EEN, but the differences are not statistically significant.

Obesity is not associated with increased mortality and morbidity in critically ill children.

AIM: To evaluate the effect of obesity on mortality, length of mechanical ventilation, and length of stay (LOS) in critically ill children. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study in 2- to 18-year-olds, admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin from 2005-2009 who required invasive ventilation. Weight z score was used to categorize patients as normal (-1.89 to 1.04), overweight (1.05-1.65), obese (1.66-2.33), and severely obese (>2.33). Underweight patients were excluded. Age, gender, admission type, Pediatric Index of Mortality 2 score, operative status, trauma status, admission Pediatric Outcome Performance Category, and diagnosis categories were also collected. The outcomes were mortality, total ventilator days, and PICU LOS. Univariate analysis was used to compare the groups, and multivariate logistic regression was used to compare mortality. Total ventilation days and LOS were modeled with linear regression. RESULTS: In total, 1030 patients were included in the study, with 753 normal weight, 137 overweight, 76 obese, and 64 severely obese. The risk-adjusted mortality rates in overweight (odds ratio [OR], 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.62-1.82), obese (OR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.31-1.48), and severely obese patients (OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.45-2.34) were not significantly different compared with the normal-weight group. Total ventilation days (P = .9628) and PICU LOS (P = .8431) were not significantly different between the groups after adjusting for risk factors. CONCLUSION: Critically ill overweight, obese, and severely obese children who require invasive mechanical ventilation have similar mortality, length of stay in the PICU, and ventilator days as compared with normal-weight children.