Perioperative nutritional assessment and support in visceral surgery.

Malnutrition in visceral surgery is frequent; it calls for screening prior to an operation, and its postoperative occurrence should be sought out and prevented, if possible. Organization of an individualized nutritional support strategy is based on systematic nutritional assessment and adapted to the type of surgery, the objectives being to forestall malnutrition and to reduce induced morbidity (immunosuppression, delayed wound healing, anastomotic fistulas…). Nutritional support is part and parcel of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS), and has shown effectiveness in the field of visceral surgery. Oral feeding should always be privileged to the greatest possible extent, complemented if necessary by nutritional supplements. If nutritional support is required, enteral nutrition should be favored over parenteral nutrition. As for the role of pharmaco-nutrition or immuno-nutrition, it remains ill-defined. Lastly, each type of visceral surgery entails specific modifications of the anatomy of the digestive system and is liable to have specific functional consequences, which should be known and taken into account in view of effectively tailoring nutritional support.

Interest of the preventive and curative use of defibrotide on the occurrence and severity of sinusoidal obstruction syndrome after hematopoietic stem cell transplant in children.

Defibrotide (DF) is indicated for the treatment of severe sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), but its prophylactic use against SOS is not recommended yet. This study describes the impact of the preventive and curative use of DF on reducing the incidence and severity of SOS in children. Patients aged 0-19 years, who received allogenic HSCT after myeloablative conditioning regimen with busulfan or total body irradiation in our comprehensive cancer center, between 2013 and 2017, were included. The Baltimore or modified Seattle criteria were used for SOS diagnosis. SOS was graded using the 2017 European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation classification defining severity criteria of SOS in children. SOS occurrence tended to decrease with prophylactic DF, but no significant difference was observed in terms of severity. When not treated with preventive DF, 50% (19/38) of the patients with SOS were graded severe to very severe, but only 37% (7/19) had organ dysfunction. Curative DF was administered at a median of 2 days post-HSCT, for a median of 6.5 days. The absence of fatal SOS supports the use of early curative DF with acceptable toxicities and questions the optimal duration of DF treatment.

Gastric Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Acutely and Critically Ill Children (POCUS-ped): A Scoping Review.

Introduction: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) use is increasing in pediatric clinical settings. However, gastric POCUS is rarely used, despite its potential value in optimizing the diagnosis and management in several clinical scenarios (i.e., assessing gastric emptying and gastric volume/content, gastric foreign bodies, confirming nasogastric tube placement, and hypertrophic pyloric stenosis). This review aimed to assess how gastric POCUS may be used in acute and critically ill children. Materials and Methods: An international expert group was established, composed of pediatricians, pediatric intensivists, anesthesiologists, radiologists, nurses, and a methodologist. A scoping review was conducted with an aim to describe the use of gastric POCUS in pediatrics in acute and critical care settings. A literature search was conducted in three databases, to identify studies published between 1998 and 2022. Abstracts and relevant full texts were screened for eligibility, and data were extracted, according to the JBI methodology (Johanna Briggs Institute). Results: A total of 70 studies were included. Most studies (n = 47; 67%) were conducted to assess gastric emptying and gastric volume/contents. The studies assessed gastric volume, the impact of different feed types (breast milk, fortifiers, and thickeners) and feed administration modes on gastric emptying, and gastric volume/content prior to sedation or anesthesia or during surgery. Other studies described the use of gastric POCUS in foreign body ingestion (n = 6), nasogastric tube placement (n = 5), hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (n = 8), and gastric insufflation during mechanical ventilatory support (n = 4). POCUS was performed by neonatologists, anesthesiologists, emergency department physicians, and surgeons. Their learning curve was rapid, and the accuracy was high when compared to that of the ultrasound performed by radiologists (RADUS) or other gold standards (e.g., endoscopy, radiography, and MRI). No study conducted in critically ill children was found apart from that in neonatal intensive care in preterms. Discussion: Gastric POCUS appears useful and reliable in a variety of pediatric clinical settings. It may help optimize induction in emergency sedation/anesthesia, diagnose foreign bodies and hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, and assist in confirming nasogastric tube placement, avoiding delays in obtaining confirmatory examinations (RADUS, x-rays, etc.) and reducing radiation exposure. It may be useful in pediatric intensive care but requires further investigation.

PICU mortality of children with cancer admitted to pediatric intensive care unit a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Outcomes for children diagnosed with cancer have improved dramatically over the past 20 years. However, although 40% of pediatric cancer patients require at least one intensive care admission throughout their disease course, PICU outcomes and resource utilization by this population have not been rigorously studied in this specific group. METHODS: Using a systematic strategy, we searched Medline, Embase, and CINAHL databases for articles describing PICU mortality of pediatric cancer patients admitted to PICU. Two investigators independently applied eligibility criteria, assessed data quality, and extracted data. We pooled PICU mortality estimates using random-effects models and examined mortality trends over time using meta-regression models. RESULTS: Out of 1218 identified manuscripts, 31 studies were included covering 16,853 PICU admissions with the majority being retrospective in nature. Overall pooled weighted mortality was 27.8% (95% confidence interval (CI), 23.7-31.9%). Mortality decreased slightly over time when post-operative patients were excluded. The use of mechanical ventilation (odds ratio (OR): 18.49 [95% CI 13.79-24.78], p < 0.001), inotropic support (OR: 14.05 [95% CI 9.16-21.57], p < 0.001), or continuous renal replacement therapy (OR: 3.24 [95% CI 1.31-8.04], p = 0.01) was significantly associated with PICU mortality. CONCLUSIONS: PICU mortality rates of pediatric cancer patients are far higher when compared to current mortality rates of the general PICU population. PICU mortality has remained relatively unchanged over the past decades, a slight decrease was only seen when post-operative patients were excluded. This compared infavorably with the improved mortality seen in adults with cancer admitted to ICU, where research-led improvements have led to the paradigm of unlimited, aggressive ICU management without any limitations on resuscitations status, for a time-limited trial.

Multiple Micronutrient Plasma Level Changes Are Related to Oxidative Stress Intensity in Critically Ill Children.

OBJECTIVES: Micronutrient supplementation in critically ill adults remains controversial. In the pediatric setting, the impact of oxidative stress on the overall micronutrient status has been poorly explored, due to the limited number of studies and to confounding factors (i.e., malnutrition or extra losses). In order to better understand this phenomenon, we aim to describe micronutrient status, focusing on seven micronutrients, in well-nourished critically ill children presenting with severe oxidative stress. DESIGN: Prospective, transversal, observational, single-center study. SETTING: PICU, and anesthesiology department, Lyon, France. PATIENTS: Three groups of patients were clinically defined: severe oxidative stress PICU group (at least two organ dysfunctions), moderate oxidative stress PICU group (single organ dysfunction), and healthy control group (prior to elective surgery); oxidative stress intensity was controlled by measuring plasma levels of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione. Children presenting any former condition leading to micronutrient deficiency were excluded (malnutrition, external losses). INTERVENTIONS: Plasma levels of selenium, zinc, copper, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin C, and ß-carotene were measured in PICU oxidative stress conditions and compared with those of healthy children. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Two hundred one patients were enrolled (51, 48, and 102 in severe, moderate, and healthy control groups, respectively). Median age was 7.1 years (interquartile range, 2.1-13.8 yr). There was a significant trend (p < 0.02) toward plasma level decrease of six micronutrients (selenium, zinc, copper, vitamin E, vitamin C, and ß-carotene) while oxidative stress intensity increased. Biological markers of oxidative stress (glutathione peroxidase and glutathione) were in accordance with the clinical definition of the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: A multiple micronutrient deficiency or redistribution occurs in critically ill children presenting with severe oxidative stress. These findings will help to better identify children who might benefit from micronutrient supplementation and to design adapted supplementation trials in this particular setting.

A Nursing Survey on Nutritional Care Practices in French-Speaking Pediatric Intensive Care Units: NutriRéa-Ped 2014.

OBJECTIVES: Malnutrition in critically ill children contributes to morbidity and mortality. The French-speaking pediatric intensive care nutrition group (NutriSIP) aims to promote optimal nutrition through education and research. METHODS: The NutriSIP-designed NutriRéa-Ped study included a cross-sectional survey. This 62-item survey was sent to the nursing teams of all of the French-speaking pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) to evaluate nurses' nutrition knowledge and practices. One nurse per PICU was asked to answer and describe the practices of their team. RESULTS: Of 44 PICUs, 40 responded in Algeria, Belgium, Canada, France, Lebanon, Luxemburg, and Switzerland. The majority considered nutrition as a priority care but only 12 of the 40 (30%) had a nutrition support team, 26 of the 40 (65%) had written nutrition protocols, and 19 of 39 (49%) nursing teams felt confident with the nutrition goals. Nursing staff generally did not know how to determine nutritional requirements or to interpret malnutrition indices. They were also unaware of reduced preoperative fasting times and fast-track concepts. In 17 of 35 (49%) PICUs, the target start time for enteral feeding was within the first 24 hours; however, frequent interruptions occurred because of neuromuscular blockade, fasting for extubation or surgery, and high gastric residual volumes. Combined pediatric neonatal intensive care units were less likely to perform systematic nutritional assessment and to start enteral nutrition rapidly. CONCLUSIONS: We found a large variation in nursing practices around nutrition, exacerbated by the lack of nutritional guidelines but also because of the inadequate nursing knowledge around nutritional factors. These findings encourage the NutriSIP to improve nutrition through focused education programs and research.

Subarachnoid-pleural fistula in an infant treated with mechanical positive-pressure ventilation.

OBJECTIVE: To report a pediatric case of subarachnoid-pleural fistula, its diagnosis, and its treatment. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: Pediatric intensive care unit. PATIENT: A 9-month-old boy, presenting with severe pleural effusion after posterior chest wall surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Subarachnoid-pleural fistula was confirmed by isolating beta2-transferrin in the pleural fluid and with magnetic resonance cisternography revealing the location. The patient had a healthy outcome, and the fistula dried without surgery, using positive-pressure ventilation and a chest drain. CONCLUSIONS: We used beta2-transferrin to confirm the diagnosis of clinically suspected subarachnoid-pleural fistula. High-resolution computed tomographic and magnetic resonance cisternography are the best techniques to localize the fistula. The currently recommended treatment is surgery; we suggest that bilevel positive-pressure ventilation, especially with noninvasive techniques, could be a treatment alternative, reducing the flow of cerebral spinal fluid through the fistula and allowing spontaneous closure.