Mobilization practices in critically ill children: a European point prevalence study (EU PARK-PICU).

BACKGROUND: Early mobilization of adults receiving intensive care improves health outcomes, yet little is known about mobilization practices in paediatric intensive care units (PICUs). We aimed to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with physical rehabilitation in PICUs across Europe. METHODS: A 2-day, cross-sectional, multicentre point prevalence study was conducted in May and November 2018. The primary outcome was the prevalence of physical therapy (PT)- or occupational therapy (OT)-provided mobility. Clinical data and data on patient mobility, potential mobility safety events, and mobilization barriers were prospectively collected in patients admitted for ≥72 h. RESULTS: Data of 456 children admitted to one of 38 participating PICUs from 15 European countries were collected (456 patient days); 70% were under 3 years of age. The point prevalence of PT- and/or OT-provided mobility activities was 39% (179/456) (95% CI 34.7-43.9%) during the patient days, with significant differences between European regions. Nurses were involved in 72% (924/1283) of the mobility events; in the remaining 28%, PT/OT, physicians, family members, or other professionals were involved. Of the factors studied, family presence was most strongly positively associated with out-of-bed mobilization (aOR 7.83, 95% CI 3.09-19.79). Invasive mechanical ventilation with an endotracheal tube was negatively associated with out-of-bed mobility (aOR 0.28, 95% CI 0.12-0.68). Patients were completely immobile on 25% (115/456) of patient days. Barriers to mobilization were reported on 38% of patient days. The most common reported patient-related barriers were cardiovascular instability (n = 47, 10%), oversedation (n = 39, 9%), and medical contraindication (n = 37, 8%). Potential safety events occurred in 6% of all documented mobilization events. CONCLUSION: Therapists are infrequently consulted for mobilization of critically ill children in European PICUs. This study highlights the need for a systematic and interdisciplinary mobilization approach for critically ill children.

Safe pediatric procedural sedation and analgesia by anesthesiologists for elective procedures: A clinical practice statement from the European Society for Paediatric Anaesthesiology.

The growing number of medical procedures performed in children that require cooperation of patients, lack of movement, anxiolysis or/and analgesia triggers the increased need for procedural sedation. This document presents the consensus statement of the European Society for Paediatric Anaesthesiology about the principles connected with the safe management of procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA) by anaesthesiologists for elective procedures in children. It does not aim to provide a legal statement on how and by whom PSA should be performed. The document highlights that any staff taking part in sedation of children must be appropriately trained with the required competencies and must be able to demonstrate regularly that they have maintained their knowledge, skills and clinical experience. The main goal of creating this document was to reflect the opinions of the community of the paediatric anaesthesiologists in Europe regarding how PSA for paediatric patients should be organized to make it safe.

Ketamine augmentation rapidly improves depression scores in inpatients with treatment-resistant bipolar depression.

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical effect of a single ketamine infusion, 0.5 mg/kg body weight, in bipolar depressive patients receiving mood-stabilising drugs, not improving on antidepressants. Previously, in such patients, we had found a correlation between clinical efficacy, serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor and vitamin B12 levels and a rapid improvement in neurocognitive performance. METHODS: The study included 53 patients (13 men, 40 women), aged 22-81 years, receiving ≥1 mood-stabilising medications of the first and/or second generation. Pre-infusion depression intensity on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) was 23.4 ± 4.6 points and the assumed criterion for response was a reduction of ≥50% in the HDRS score after 7 days. RESULTS: Twenty-seven subjects (51%) met a criterion for response, more frequently males (77%) than females (43%). Responders did not differ from non-responders as to age, illness onset, duration of depressive episode, type of bipolar illness, family history of psychiatric illness, personal/family history of alcoholism or using lithium, quetiapine or a combination of these mood stabilisers. CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm a rapid antidepressant effect of ketamine infusion in a considerable proportion of those patients with bipolar depression receiving mood-stabilising drugs. Apart from male gender, no other clinical factors were predictors of response.

The pharmacokinetics of dexmedetomidine during long-term infusion in critically ill pediatric patients. A Bayesian approach with informative priors.

The purpose of this study was to assess the pharmacokinetics of dexmedetomidine in the ICU settings during the prolonged infusion and to compare it with the existing literature data using the Bayesian population modeling with literature-based informative priors. Thirty-eight patients were included in the analysis with concentration measurements obtained at two occasions: first from 0 to 24 h after infusion initiation and second from 0 to 8 h after infusion end. Data analysis was conducted using WinBUGS software. The prior information on dexmedetomidine pharmacokinetics was elicited from the literature study pooling results from a relatively large group of 95 children. A two compartment PK model, with allometrically scaled parameters, maturation of clearance and t-student residual distribution on a log-scale was used to describe the data. The incorporation of time-dependent (different between two occasions) PK parameters improved the model. It was observed that volume of distribution is 1.5-fold higher during the second occasion. There was also an evidence of increased (1.3-fold) clearance for the second occasion with posterior probability equal to 62 %. This work demonstrated the usefulness of Bayesian modeling with informative priors in analyzing pharmacokinetic data and comparing it with existing literature knowledge.

Ketamine Anesthesia, Efficacy of Electroconvulsive Therapy, and Cognitive Functions in Treatment-Resistant Depression.

OBJECTIVES: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the most effective treatment for drug-resistant depression (DRD). Because a single infusion of ketamine may exert both a rapid antidepressant effect and a quick improvement of cognition, the aim of the present study was to assess whether ketamine, as an anesthetic drug for ECT, can augment the antidepressant activity of the procedure and/or exert a beneficial effect on cognition. METHODS: A total of 11 male and 34 female patients with DRD, aged 21 to 75 years, were included in the study. Fifteen patients (group 1) received only thiopental anesthesia, 15 patients (group 2) had their second and third ECT sessions with ketamine, and 15 patients (group 3) had ketamine for the second, fourth, sixth, eighth, and tenth sessions. Depression intensity was measured by the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Cognitive functions were measured before and after ECT, assessing visual-spatial abilities, verbal auditory memory, working memory, and executive functions. RESULTS: Before the ECT, the mean (SD) intensity of depression was 32 (6) points on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the mean number of ECT sessions was 10.8 (1.5), with no difference between groups. After the last ECT session, the intensity of depression was significantly lower in group 3, compared with group 1. Cognitive assessments after ECT showed a more marked worsening in verbal memory in patients with added ketamine anesthesia. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of ketamine may be connected with better antidepressant efficacy of ECT, compared with only thiopental anesthesia. However, patients with added ketamine had worse results on some of the indices measuring verbal memory.

Endovascular treatment of an adolescent patient with a ruptured intracranial aneurysm - case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: The occurence of aneurysms in young patients, under 18 years of age, is estimated at 0.5-2% of all diagnosed aneurysms. CASE REPORT: We reported on a case of a 16-year-old patient with subarachnoid hemorrhage diagnosed due to a ruptured cerebral vessel aneurysm. The angio-CT revealed an aneurysm of the middle cerebral artery, in its distal branch. An ad hoc coil embolization was performed with angiographic success. After 6 months following the ictus, the patient underwent a control angiography which confirmed total occlusion of the aneurysm with no residual inflow. Clinical examination revealed no neurological deficits and the patient was rated 0 in mRS (modified Rankin Scale). CONCLUSIONS: In experienced departments of interventional neuroradiology the endovascular treatment should be the treatment of choice.

[Factors connected with efficacy of single ketamine infusion in bipolar depression]. / Czynniki skutecznosci jednorazowego wlewu ketaminy w depresji w przebiegu choroby afektywnej dwubiegunowej.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of single ketamine infusion and clinical and biochemical factors connected with such efficacy, in patients with bipolar depression, which had not improved on antidepressant treatment. METHODS: The study included 42 patients (32 women, 10 men), aged 22-67 years, with bipolar depression. They received > or = 1 mood-stabilizing medications of first and/or second generation. After discontinuation of antidepressants (> or = 7 days), intravenous infusion of ketamine (0.5 mg/kg body weight) was performed. The assessment of depression by the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale was made before, and after 1, 3, 7 and 14 days following administration of ketamine. The assumed criterion for clinical improvement was the reduction of > or = 50% score on the Hamilton scale after 7 days. In a subgroup of 20 patients, prior to administration of ketamine, serum concentrations of homocysteine, vitamin B12, folic acid, neurotrophins and inflammatory proteins were measured. RESULTS: In the whole group, the severity of depression on the Hamilton scale decreased significantly 24 hours after administration of ketamine from 22.6 +/- 5.1 to 15.6 +/- 7.4 points. After 7 days it was 13 +/- 7 and after 14 days - 11.8 +/- 7.8 points. Patients showing clinical improvement (n = 22) had significantly higher frequency of alcohol addiction and family history of alcoholism. Biochemical tests in the subset of 20 patients demonstrated that those with clinical improvement (n = 10) had higher serum concentrations of vitamin B12 and receptor-1 Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor before administration of ketamine. Ketamine infusion was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm a rapid antidepressant effect of ketamine infusion maintaining for 2 weeks, in a considerable proportion of patients with bipolar depression, and good clinical tolerance of such procedure. Also, some clinical and biochemical factors associated with ketamine efficacy were shown.

Cytomegalovirus pneumonia as the first manifestation of severe combined immunodeficiency.

Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is characterized by the absence of functional T lymphocytes and impairment of adaptive immunity. While heterogeneity of the genetic background in SCID leads to the variability of immune phenotypes, most of affected newborns appear healthy but within the first few months they develop life-threatening opportunistic respiratory or gastrointestinal tract infections. The objective of the study was to define the presenting features and etiology of infections in children with SCID. We retrospectively reviewed five children in whom the diagnosis of SCID had been established in our pediatric immunology clinic over the last 10-year period. A viral respiratory tract infection was the first manifestation of SCID in all the children studied. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonia was recognized in as many as 4 cases and coronavirus pulmonary infection was diagnosed in one case, whereas Pneumocystis jiroveci was identified as a co-pathogen in one CMV-infected patient. Severe combined immunodeficiency is a pediatric emergency condition and given the significant impact of pulmonary CMV infection in SCID children, establishing an accurate etiological diagnosis is of essential importance in instituting the specific treatment and improving the outcome.

Anisocytosis as a possible predictor of low cardiac output syndrome in children undergoing mitral valve surgery.

PURPOSE: Mitral valve surgery in children involves correcting congenital and acquired pathologies, with a reported mortality rate of 0.9%. Low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) is a serious complication with the incidence of 20-25%. The aim of the study was to estimate possible prognostic factors of LCOS in children undergoing mitral valve procedure. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This single-center retrospective analysis enrolled children aged <18 years who underwent mitral valve surgery during 24 year period. Preoperative clinical and laboratory parameters, and operative factors were analyzed. RESULTS: Thirty consecutive pediatric patients (11 (37%) males and 19 (63%) females) in median (Q1 - Q3) age of 57 (25-115) months, who underwent mitral valve replacement, were included. The 30-day mortality was 7% (2 patients) and was related to postoperative multiorgan failure. LCOS occurred in 8 (27%) children. The receiver operator curve (ROC) analysis established parameters that have predictive value for LCOS occurrence: cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time, with 89 â€‹min as optimal cut-off point (AUC â€‹= â€‹0.744, p â€‹= â€‹0.011) yielding sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 42.9%; left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) â€‹< â€‹60 % (AUC â€‹= â€‹0.824, okp â€‹= â€‹0.001) with sensitivity of 62.5% and specificity of 93.75%; and red blood cell distribution width (RDW) above 14.5 % (AUC â€‹= â€‹0.840, p â€‹< â€‹0.001; sensitivity of 87.5% and specificity of 75%). CONCLUSIONS: In mitral valve replacement in pediatric patients, CPBtime above 89 â€‹min, preoperative LVEF below 60% and preoperative RDW above 14.5% can be regarded as the potential predictors of LCOS.

Single ketamine infusion in bipolar depression resistant to antidepressants: are neurotrophins involved?

OBJECTIVES: We investigated serum brain-derived neurotrophin factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin-3 (NTF3), neurotrophin-4 (NTF4) and the glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), in relation to ketamine efficacy, in bipolar depressed patients resistant to treatment with antidepressants. METHODS: Twenty-five patients (4 male, 21 female), aged 27-67 years, with bipolar depression, receiving mood-stabilizing medications, were studied. Antidepressants were discontinued for at least 7 days before single intravenous ketamine infusion (0.5 mg/kg body weight). Response to ketamine was defined as ≥ 50% reduction on 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) after 1 week, and remission as HDRS score ≤ 7. Serum BDNF, NGF, NTF3, NTF4 and GDNF levels were estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: There were 13 ketamine responders and 12 non-responders. The remission was obtained in eight and 12 patients after seven and 14 days, respectively. At baseline, there were no differences between responders and non-responders in any of the neurotrophins. Serum BDNF was significantly reduced after 7 days in non-responders. Serum NGF, NT3, NT4 and GDNF did not significantly change. CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm an antidepressant effect of ketamine infusion as an add-on to mood-stabilizing drugs in bipolar depression resistant to antidepressant treatment. They may also suggest a possible involvement of BDNF in this effect.

Lazarus Phenomenon or the Return from the Afterlife-What We Know about Auto Resuscitation.

Autoresuscitation is a phenomenon of the heart during which it can resume its spontaneous activity and generate circulation. It was described for the first time by K. Linko in 1982 as a recovery after discontinued cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). J.G. Bray named the recovery from death the Lazarus phenomenon in 1993. It is based on a biblical story of Jesus' resurrection of Lazarus four days after confirmation of his death. Up to the end of 2022, 76 cases (coming from 27 countries) of spontaneous recovery after death were reported; among them, 10 occurred in children. The youngest patient was 9 months old, and the oldest was 97 years old. The longest resuscitation lasted 90 min, but the shortest was 6 min. Cardiac arrest occurred in and out of the hospital. The majority of the patients suffered from many diseases. In most cases of the Lazarus phenomenon, the observed rhythms at cardiac arrest were non-shockable (Asystole, PEA). Survival time after death ranged from minutes to hours, days, and even months. Six patients with the Lazarus phenomenon reached full recovery without neurological impairment. Some of the causes leading to autoresuscitation presented here are hyperventilation and alkalosis, auto-PEEP, delayed drug action, hypothermia, intoxication, metabolic disorders (hyperkalemia), and unobserved minimal vital signs. To avoid Lazarus Syndrome, it is recommended that the patient be monitored for 10 min after discontinuing CPR. Knowledge about this phenomenon should be disseminated in the medical community in order to improve the reporting of such cases. The probability of autoresuscitation among older people is possible.

Population Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Modeling and Probability of Target Attainment Analysis of Rocuronium and Sugammadex in Children Undergoing Surgery.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Probability of target attainment (PTA) curves are commonly used to support dose recommendations of antibiotics for different patient groups. In this study we propose PTA analysis to optimize sugammadex dosing in children. METHODS: This study involved data from an observational cohort study of 30 American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status I and II children undergoing surgery requiring muscle relaxation. All patients received 0.6 mg/kg rocuronium, with sugammadex administered at the end of surgery in three different doses (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/kg) to reverse the neuromuscular blockade. RESULTS: The data were analyzed using a population Bayesian-based approach. The developed model was used to simulate pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic profiles for different patient groups and dosing regimens before the PTA analysis was performed to translate these simulations into a clinically useful measure. The target was defined as neuromuscular blockade reversal measured by Train-of-Four (TOF ratio > 90%) at 1.5, 3, and 5 min post sugammadex dose. The sugammadex doses leading to 90% PTA were determined for different patients' body weights, rocuronium doses, and time gaps between rocuronium and sugammadex administration assuming the model, priors, and gathered data. For comparison, PTA curves for a range of clinical scenarios are provided to illustrate the usefulness of PTA analysis in selecting the appropriate dose for a given patient. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed PTA analysis is useful to support the sugammadex dose selection in different clinical scenarios. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered by ClinicalTrials.gov under number NCT04851574 on 21 April 2021.

COVID-19 in Pediatric Intensive Care Units in Poland, PAPITCO-19 Study (Polish Analysis of PICU Trends during COVID-19).

BACKGROUND: Children suffering from COVID-19 constitute about 10% of the entire population infected with the virus. In most of them, we observe asymptomatic or mild courses; however, about 1% of affected children require a stay in a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) due to the course of the disease becoming severely life-threatening. The risk of respiratory failure, as with adults, is associated with the coexistence of concomitant diseases. The aim of our study was to analyse patients admitted to PICUs due to the severe course of their SARS-CoV-2 infection. We studied epidemiological and laboratory parameters, as well as the endpoint (survival or death). METHODS: A retrospective multi-centre study, the analysis covered all children with a confirmed diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 virus infection who were admitted to PICUs in the period from November 2020 to August 2021. We studied epidemiological and laboratory parameters, as well as the endpoint (survival or death). RESULTS: The study analysed 45 patients (0.075% of all children hospitalised in Poland due to COVID-19 at that time). Mortality calculated in the entire study group was 40% (n = 18). Statistically significant differences between the compared groups (survived and died) concerned the parameters of the respiratory system. Lung Injury Score and the Paediatric Sequential Organ Failure Assessment were used. A significant correlation between disease severity and the patient's prognosis was shown by the liver function parameter AST (p = 0.028). During the analysis of patients requiring mechanical ventilation and assuming survival as the primary outcome, a significantly higher oxygen index on the first day of hospitalisation, lower pSOFA scores and lower AST levels (p: 0.007; 0.043; 0.020; 0.005; 0.039, respectively) were found. CONCLUSIONS: As with adults, children with comorbidities are most frequently at risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. Increasing symptoms of respiratory failure, the need for mechanical ventilation and persistently high values of aspartate aminotransferase are indicators of poor prognosis.

Do Different Sources of Knowledge and Multiculturalism of Dental and Medical Students Affect the Level of First Aid Education? Do Medical Stereotypes Exist?

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of having various sources of information in the field of first aid on the level of knowledge of dental and medical students, as well as to recognize if medical stereotypes exist in the domain of first aid. METHODS: We tested 818 Native-(N) and English (E)-speaking students of medicine (M) and dentistry (D). The questionnaire was constructed in a way that it could detect the issues which created the biggest challenges to the students. It consisted of both theoretical and clinical questions. The intention was to find out whether there were any medical stereotypes. The students were asked to provide the sources of their knowledge to each question, and information about the presence of first aid classes at school. RESULTS: We found medical stereotypes, but only in the questions pertaining to theory: questions concerning defibrillation, opening the airway in infants and the causes of airway obstruction of an unconscious adult. Correlations were found between the sources of knowledge with answers to the questions in each group of students and between the groups. The sources of knowledge in N students came mostly from school, or the students were not able (NA) to indicate the source of knowledge, but E groups gave out of school courses, mass media and their own knowledge (or from the others), as well as NA answers. Interestingly in ED group, among other answers, students also indicated schools as a source of their knowledge. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed that medical stereotypes among dental and medical students exist, and they were not related to multiculturalism or the use of different sources of knowledge.

Usefulness of two types of pain monitors in newborns treated in NICU, in the opinion of experts: Results of the survey.

Pain experienced in the neonatal period has been shown to have serious short- and long-term consequences. It is also known that painkillers have side effects and should not be abused. The basis of proper pain management is assessment of pain, which in newborns is very difficult due to the lack of verbal communication. In these patients, behavioural scales are used to assess pain, but they have numerous shortcomings. For this reason, many newborns treated in the ICU are at risk of pain, so instrumental methods of detecting and assessing the severity of pain are being sought. During three months, seven Polish NICUs conducted research with the use of NIPE and SCA monitors. After this time, the heads of these departments filled in questionnaires regarding their individual opinions on the usefulness of these devices. All respondents found pain monitors useful in the NICU. The NIPE monitor was rated slightly higher, as its usefulness in assessing the effectiveness of analgosedation and in the management of patients in the postoperative period was better rated. The high acceptance of both devices by legal guardians of newborns is noteworthy. It should be stated that in newborns, any way to improve pain monitoring is valuable. In the opinion of Polish experts, pain monitors are useful in NICU. The NIPE monitor was assessed a little higher and was considered useful in the assessment of analgosedation and in postoperative treatment. Pain monitors can provide valuable support for pain assessment in newborns treated in the NICU.

Guidelines for treatment of acute pain in children - the consensus statement of the Section of Paediatric Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy of the Polish Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy.

RATIONALE AND SCOPE OF THE GUIDELINES Pain is a subjective unpleasant sensory and emotional experience. Acute pain occurs irrespective of age and has a prevalence of about 5% of the general population. Surgical procedures and painful diagnostic procedures are the main causes of this unpleasant and dangerous phenomenon for hospitalized children. It should be remembered that maintaining homeostasis in a child undergoing surgery is also affected by provision of an adequate level of analgesia and sedation as well as nerve conduction block within the surgical site. Even though both paediatric anaesthesiologists and paediatric surgeons know that the therapeutic activities during the perioperative period should be focused on ensuring sufficient analgesia and haemodynamic stability in surgical patients, as many as 70% of children undergoing surgery may experience moderate to severe pain [1-7]. Moreover, pain management is one of the fundamental human rights, i.e. the right to relief of suffering. According to the declaration of the 13th World Congress on Pain in Montreal (September 2010), this right also includes children [8, 9]. In Poland, the law was amended in 2017, and now each patient is guaranteed the right to relief and treatment of pain (Journal of Laws of 2017, item 836). Unfortunately, this right is not always respected in paediatric patients. Many factors contribute to ineffective analgesia in paediatric patients, mainly insufficient knowledge and lack of experience (concerning the use of opioids in particular), as well as lack of management standards, the negative attitude of the personnel or poor organization [10-13]. In hospitals which, as a result of organizational changes, have implemented analgesic treatment regimens and regularly educate their personnel in these issues, both efficiency and effectiveness of pain relief in children are high [14]. For many years, Polish paediatric anaesthesio-logists have been promoting and streamlining the analgesic management of children, which has led to the development of the present publication. The regimens presented in it are based on both the latest medical reports and many years of the authors' experience. The classes of recommendations and levels of evidence have been prepared (Tables 1 and 2, respectively). The presented recommendations were formulated based on a survey of medical reports published in the last two decades.

Central Apneas Due to the CLIFAHDD Syndrome Successfully Treated with Pyridostigmine.

NALCN mutations lead to complex neurodevelopmental syndromes, including infantile hypotonia with psychomotor retardation and characteristic facies (IHPRF) and congenital contractures of limbs and face, hypotonia, and developmental delay (CLIFAHDD), which are recessively and dominantly inherited, respectively. We present a patient in whom congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS) was suspected due to the occurrence of hypotonia and apnea episodes requiring resuscitation. For this reason, treatment with pyridostigmine was introduced. After starting the treatment, a significant improvement was observed in reducing the apnea episodes and slight psychomotor progress. In the course of further diagnostics, CMS was excluded, and CLIFAHDD syndrome was confirmed. Thus, we try to explain a possible mechanism of clinical improvement after the introduction of treatment with pyridostigmine in a patient with a mutation in the NALCN gene.

Guidelines of the Polish Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy defining the rules of qualification and criteria for admitting patients to anaesthesiology and intensive care units.

Working Group: Prof. Lukasz Krzych, MD, PhD - Chairman of the Working Group, Chairman of the Intensive Care Section of the Polish Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy Assistant Prof. Alicja Bartkowska-Sniatkowska, MD, PhD - Deputy Chairwoman of the Paediatric Section of the Polish Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy Prof. Piotr Knapik, MD, PhD - Chairman of the Scientific and Educational Section of the Polish Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy Assistant Prof. Marzena Zielinska, MD, PhD - Chairwoman of the Paediatric Section of the Polish Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy Assistant Prof. Dariusz Maciejewski, MD, PhD - Intensive Therapy Section of the Polish Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy Maciej Cettler, MD - Paediatric Section of the Polish Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy Prof. Radoslaw Owczuk, MD, PhD - President-Elect of the Polish Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy Prof. Krzysztof Kusza, MD, PhD - Outgoing President of the Polish Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy Expert Group (in alphabetical order): Representatives of the Board of the Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy: Alicja Bartkowska-Sniatkowska, Piotr Knapik, Lukasz Krzych, Krzysztof Kusza, Romuald Lango, Agnieszka Misiewska-Kaczur, Mariusz Piechota Representatives of the sections and branches of the Polish Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy: Pawel Andruszkiewicz, Maciej Cettler, Tomasz Czarnik, Miroslaw Czuczwar, Michal Domagala, Anna Dylczyk-Sommer, Krzysztof Kobylarz, Waldemar Machala, Dariusz Maciejewski, Irena Ozóg-Zabolska, Andrzej Piotrowski, Beata Rybojad, Katarzyna Sierlikakowska, Wojciech Szczek, Bulat Tuyakov, Marzena Zielinska, Maciej Zukowski Regional consultants in the field of anaesthesiology and intensive therapy: Stanislaw Lech Czaban, Wojciech Dabrowski, Tomasz Gaszynski, Beata Koscialkowska, Lukasz Krzych, Andrzej Malek, Dariusz Onichimowski, Wojciech Serednicki, Karina Stefanska-Wronka, Wieslaw Switala, Janusz Trzebicki.

Clinical Picture and Risk Factors of Severe Respiratory Symptoms in COVID-19 in Children.

Children with COVID-19 develop moderate symptoms in most cases. Thus, a proportion of children requires hospital admission. The study aimed to assess the history, clinical and laboratory parameters in children with COVID-19 concerning the severity of respiratory symptoms. The study included 332 children (median age 57 months) with COVID-19. History data, clinical findings, laboratory parameters, treatment, and outcome, were evaluated. Children were compared in the groups that varied in the severity of symptoms of respiratory tract involvement. Children who required oxygen therapy represented 8.73%, and intensive care 1.5% of the whole cohort. Comorbidities were present in 126 patients (37.95%). Factors increasing the risk of oxygen therapy included comorbidities (odds ratio (OR) = 92.39; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = (4.19; 2036.90); p < 0.00001), dyspnea (OR = 45.81; 95% CI (4.05; 518.21); p < 0.00001), auscultation abnormalities (OR = 34.33; 95% CI (2.59; 454.64); p < 0.00001). Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) > 280 IU/L and creatinine kinase > 192 IU/L were parameters with a good area under the curve (0.804-LDH) and a positive predictive value (42.9%-CK). The clinical course of COVID-19 was mild to moderate in most patients. Children with comorbidities, dyspnea, or abnormalities on auscultation are at risk of oxygen therapy. Laboratory parameters potentially useful in patients evaluated for the severe course are LDH > 200 IU/L and CK > 192 IU/L.