"God gives me hope!": Hospitalized children's perception of the influence of religion in coping with chronic illness.

PURPOSE: The mechanism of the impact of religion on health is still unclear, especially in children and adolescents with chronic illness who live in religious contexts. This study aimed to understand the influence of religion on coping with chronic diseases from the perspective of hospitalized children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer, type 1 diabetes mellitus and cystic fibrosis. DESIGN AND METHODS: Qualitative descriptive research used photo-elicitation interviews with 35 Brazilian children and adolescents with cancer, type 1 diabetes mellitus and cystic fibrosis, aged between 7 and 17 years old. A thematic analysis approach was used to analyze qualitative data. RESULTS: Participants were diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (14.3%), cancer (57.1%), and type 1 diabetes mellitus (28.6%) and 82.9% had a religious affiliation. Three themes were constructed: finding strength and support in the relationship with the divine, religion as an important source of meaning, and religious practice as a promoter of well-being. These themes demonstrate that children and adolescents themselves perceived their illness as a journey through which their faith grew. CONCLUSIONS: This research shows the influence of religion on the positive coping of chronic illness, being a source of strength and support from the relationship with the divine, as well as offering a source of meaning, purpose and well-being based on religious practices. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: This study supports clinical practice, based on the recognition of the patient as a religious and spiritualized person who has spiritual beliefs and needs that are capable of influencing treatment.

Psychological and Psychiatric Outcomes Following PICU Admission: A Systematic Review of Cohort Studies.

OBJECTIVE: Admissions to PICU places pediatric patients at increased risk of persistent psychological and psychiatric morbidity. This systematic review aimed to summarize and critically examine literature regarding psychological and psychiatric outcomes of pediatric patients following PICU admission. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, PsycInfo, CINAHL, LILACS, and SciELO were searched up to May 2016. STUDY SELECTION: Cohort studies about psychological and psychiatric outcomes of pediatric patients following PICU admission; full-text records published in English, Spanish, or Portuguese in peer-reviewed journals from 2000 to 2015 were included. Neonatal patient population (age, <1 mo), follow-up after PICU discharge (<3 mo), and nonprimary literature were excluded. Two reviewers independently screened studies based on the predetermined exclusion criteria. DATA EXTRACTION: Data were extracted using an adapted tool. The internal validity and risk of bias were assessed using Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. DATA SYNTHESIS: The search yielded 1,825 studies after the removal of duplications, of which eight met the inclusion criteria. Methodologic quality of the studies ranged from low to high, with an average score of five of nine. Of all the studies, half had a control group. Regarding the length of follow-up, most of the studies ranged from 3 to 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological and psychiatric outcomes after pediatric critical illness appear to be substantial issues that need to be further studied. Our review highlights the need for psychological screening of pediatric patients and their parents following PICU admission since these patients are a vulnerable population at risk for developing psychiatric responses.

Puppets as a strategy for communication with Brazilian children with cancer.

Children are considered competent social actors. Although they are able to express their opinions, they may have some difficulties in answering direct verbal questions, requiring researchers and health professionals to enter their world by using auxiliary resources for communication. This study presents the experience of using finger puppets as a playful strategy for improving interaction and communication with hospitalized children with cancer, aged seven to 12. It describes the strategy of making and using puppets as an auxiliary tool to communicate with children with cancer and presents the results and limitations of using puppets in clinical practice. The use of the puppets, creatively and in accordance with the children's motor, cognitive, and emotional development, showed benefits, such as allowing the children to freely express themselves; respecting their autonomy; and minimizing the hierarchical adult-child relationship. The use of puppets is an appropriate strategy to communicate with hospitalized children. This tool can also enrich clinical practice, as it encourages children with cancer to report their experience of being ill and also helps the health team during evaluation and intervention.

Difficulties and challenges in reviewing ethical aspects of research in Brazil. / Dificuldades e desafios em revisar aspectos éticos das pesquisas no Brasil.

Objective To reflect on the problems faced by researchers from different areas, especially of Humanities and Social Sciences, when submitting research projects for evaluation by the research ethics committees in Brazil. Method A theoretical and reflective study based on international literature and the critical analysis of the authors. Results Although Resolution 466/2012, which addresses human research, contains some innovations, issues related to the research participants remain obscure and the project evaluation process is time-consuming. Conclusion The difficulties faced by researchers, especially in the fields of Humanities and Social Sciences, must be transposed to ensure that the ethical guidelines are applicable, in terms of principles and procedures, to the different research traditions. Appropriate human research standards must be managed by a system with a satisfactory operational capacity, according to the specificities of the different areas of knowledge.

Compassion Fatigue: A Comprehensive Discussion on its Development and Repercussions Among Oncology Nurses.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to discuss how compassion fatigue (CF) develops and its repercussions on the personal and professional lives of oncology nurses. METHODS: A discursive article, with systematic searches were performed in seven databases to find publications on CF in oncology nurses. RESULTS: So as to better organize the findings, three categories were developed to present and discuss issues related to CF: (1) Characteristics of CF and its developments: describes the components related to CF and the manifestation of this phenomenon; (2) Repercussions of compassion fatigue: reports on the impact of CF on the personal and professional life of oncology nurses; and (3) Resources for dealing with compassion fatigue: lists interventions, sources of support, professional personal training, qualified nursing care in the face of adversity, and gratitude and recognition. CONCLUSION: the factors that trigger or protect CF are multifactorial, with the need for collective and individual interventions as a way of helping oncology nurses to protect themselves, to avoid or manage this phenomenon. CF has a direct clinical impact on the life of the oncology nurse, causing several changes. It also indirectly impacts the patient's life clinically, as it is a phenomenon that has repercussions on the provision of care. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: CF affects the personal and professional lives of oncology nurses, so nurses need to seek resources to deal with it. Nursing staff employers and managers can use the evidence from this research to help nurses manage and protect themselves from compassion fatigue.

Effectiveness of complementary therapies for the management of symptom clusters in palliative care in pediatric oncology: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of complementary therapies in the management of symptom clusters in children and adolescents with cancer undergoing palliative care. METHOD: Systematic review guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, resorting to the databases MEDLINE, Web of Science, Central Cochrane, and PsycINFO. The identification, selection, inclusion, extraction, and methodological assessment were conducted by two independent reviewers. RESULTS: Five quasi-experiments met the eligibility criteria. The heterogeneous characteristics of the studies made meta-analysis impossible. Two studies used therapeutic massage, one used Reiki, one used boswellic acid, and one used Cannabis sativa; three of them (therapeutic massage and Reiki) presented statistically significant results for the management of the cluster pain-anxiety-worry-dyspnea. Most studies presented a moderate risk of bias as per ROBINS-I tool. CONCLUSION: Therapeutic massage and Reiki may be effective for the symptom clusters management, especially the pain-anxiety-worry-dyspnea cluster in children and adolescents undergoing palliative care.

[The interview in qualitative research of pediatric nursing]. / A entrevista nas pesquisas qualitativas de enfermagem pediátrica.

This systematic review aimed to explore the contributions of Brazilian nursing literature about the use of interviews as a data collection technique in research with children. Articles were searched in the Virtual Health Library, using Health Terminology, between 1998 and 2008. Thirteen articles were selected, whose analysis allowed for reflections on the type of study, investigated age range, ethical considerations, data collection techniques, among others. Data indicated that nurses have used interviews isolated or associated with other techniques. Studies need to present the data collection phase in further detail, so as to indicate ways to improve the interview technique with children in nursing research.

(In)visibility of children with special health needs and their families in primary care.

OBJECTIVES: to discuss the (in)visibility of children with special healthcare needs and their families in the Primary Health Care scenario. METHODS: experience report about the difficulties faced by researchers from different regions of Brazil to locate children with special healthcare needs in the scope of primary care. RESULTS: the main reason for these children and their families to be "unknown" and, therefore, not assisted in PHC, is the fact that they are followed-up by institutions/outpatient clinics and specialized and/or public rehabilitation clinics, or even because they have private health insurance. Final Considerations: transferring care responsibility to the Primary Health Care teams to specialized and rehabilitation institutions may be related to the lack of knowledge of the care demands of this group, as well as to the relevance of care centered on rehabilitation and the specialty instead of the long-term care, one of the features of primary health care.

The hospital designed by hospitalized children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: to identify, through the contributions of hospitalized children and adolescents, the characteristics they consider necessary for a hospital that promotes well-being and development. METHOD: descriptive and exploratory study, with qualitative data analysis, carried out with a total of 30 hospitalized children and adolescents. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, mediated by drawing, and analyzed by inductive thematic analysis, supported by the theoretical framework of the humanization of health care and the Florence Nightingale's Environmental Theory. RESULTS: the designed hospital takes up the principles of Florence Nightingale's Environmental Theory, as well as one of the guidelines of the National Humanization Policy, the environment, from two perspectives: elements and material resources from the physical environment; elements of comfort and well-being environment. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: hospitals such as the projected institution corroborate what is recommended in public policies, as they qualify health care.

Treatment adherence: the experience of adolescents with HIV/AIDS.

Living with a chronic condition is difficult at any stage of life, especially when considering HIV/AIDS, a stigmatized condition that elicits so much discrimination and which may become an aggravating factor when it occurs during adolescence. This study aimed to understand the experience of adolescents with HIV/AIDS concerning medication adherence. This is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach. Nine adolescents aged between 12 and 18 years and six caregivers participated in the study. The organization of data focused on positive and negative aspects related to adherence. The results showed that adolescents have difficulties in medication adherence especially due to their side effects; they try to normalize their lives in such a way that stigma and discrimination do not compromise their quality of life and treatment adherence. Recommendations to encourage treatment adherence are presented.

[Palliative care to adolescents with cancer: a literature review]. / Cuidados paliativos para adolescentes com câncer: uma revisão da literatura.

Providing care to adolescents with cancer in the process of death and dying has been a great challenge for health professionals. This challenge is marked by a high emotional burden and specificities of this stage of human development. The purpose of the present study was to review the scientific literature regarding palliative care to adolescents with cancer. This study is a literature review, which data collection was performed using Lilacs, Medline, and PsycInfo, in addition to non-systematic databases. An analysis of the manuscripts revealed three themes: adolescence and its different definitions; the particularities of adolescents with cancer; and palliative care to adolescents with cancer. The study showed there is a scarcity of evidenced-based research defining the panorama of symptoms affecting the quality of life during palliative care and an absence of specific programs in the stage of fast changes that, alone, demand for adaptive efforts.

Accessibility of children with special health needs to the health care network.

OBJECTIVE: To know how children with special health needs access the health care network. METHOD: This is a qualitative research of descriptive-exploratory type, developed using semi-structured interviews mediated by the Talking Map design. Participants were 19 family caregivers of these children in two Brazilian municipalities. Data were submitted to inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Difficulties were mentioned from the diagnosis moment to the specialized follow-up, something represented by the itinerary of the c hild and his/her family in the search for the definition of the medical diagnosis and the access to a specialized professional; a gap between the children's needs and the care offered was observed in primary health care. CONCLUSION: The access of children with special health needs is filled with obstacles such as slowness in the process of defining the child's diagnosis and referral to a specialist. Primary health care services were replaced by care in emergency care units.

School experience of the child and adolescent with visual impairment: family experience.

OBJECTIVE: to understand the experience of families about school experiences of children and adolescents with visual impairment. METHOD: a qualitative study developed through the Symbolic Interactionism and narrative research. Data were collected through a semi-structured recorded interview, with eleven families of children/adolescents with visual impairment, totaling 40 participants. RESULTS: two phenomena emerged: "exclusion context" and "impaired school performance". Prejudice experienced at school brings devastating consequences to the life of the visually impaired child/adolescent and his family. Isolation occurs, difficulty adapting to the support resource and deficits in school performance. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: production contributes to awakening professionals involved with the assistance of these people. Effective participation of health professionals in this area is required to develop actions with students, teachers and families, aimed at meeting the needs of learning and health promotion, inclusion, and respect for differences.

Pain and the challenge of interdisciplinarity in child care.

In the light of the multiple dimensions involving the phenomenon of pain in children and adolescents with cancer, this study aimed to present a reflection on interdisciplinary practice as a healthcare resource for these patients. The study focused on the aspects related to the need for this practice in the aforementioned context and the challenges of its implementation. These reflections support the acknowledgement that the articulation among several aspects of knowledge in a common project is essential to contemplate the multiple dimensions that compose healthcare for children and adolescents with cancer in pain situations. However, these articulations should not only be theoretical, but also built by the professionals involved in this practice.

Qualidade de vida da população infantojuvenil oncológica com e sem fadiga / Calidad de vida de la población infantojuvenil oncológica con y sin fatiga / Quality of life of cancer children-adolescents with and without fatigue

Resumo Objetivo Comparar os escores de qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde (QVRS) de crianças e adolescentes hospitalizados com câncer que apresentaram e não apresentaram fadiga e correlacionar fadiga e QVRS. Método Estudo transversal realizado durante 48 meses no setor de onco-hematologia de hospital público localizado no interior paulista, com 63 crianças e adolescentes com câncer. Para mensurar a fadiga e a QVRS, os participantes preencheram, respectivamente, os instrumentos Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ Escala Multidimensional do Cansaço e Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ Inventário Pediátrico de Qualidade de Vida, versão acute, no módulo genérico e módulo câncer. Os dados foram analisados por meio de estatística descritiva, bivariada e multivariada. Resultados As médias dos escores total de fadiga (61,2±16,3) e QVRS (genérica: 61,5±20,5; câncer: 61,2±16,3) foram baixas, demonstrando que as crianças e os adolescentes com câncer se apresentam fadigados (p=0,000) e com baixa qualidade de vida (p=0,000). No modelo de regressão, a fadiga pôde ser explicada em 61,25% pelas variáveis funcionamento emocional (p=0,0110), funcionamento escolar (p=0,0004) e dificuldades cognitivas (p=0,0017). Participantes sem fadiga apresentaram melhor escore médio de QVRS quando comparado ao grupo com fadiga. Conclusão Crianças e adolescentes hospitalizados com câncer apresentam baixa qualidade de vida e altos níveis de fadiga. Ainda, é positiva a relação entre algumas dimensões da QVRS com a fadiga, indicando que, quanto pior for o funcionamento escolar e emocional e maiores forem as dificuldades cognitivas, maior também será a fadiga.

Resumen Objetivo Comparar las puntuaciones de calidad de vida relacionadas con la salud (CVRS) de niños y de adolescentes hospitalizados con cáncer que presentaron y que no presentaron fatiga y correlacionar la fatiga y la CVRS. Métodos Estudio transversal realizado durante 48 meses en el sector de oncohematología de un hospital público ubicado en el interior del estado de São Paulo, con 63 niños y adolescentes con cáncer. Para medir la fatiga y la CVRS, los participantes rellenaron, respectivamente, los instrumentos Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ Escala Multidimensional del Cansacio y Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ Cuestionario de Calidad de Vida Pediátrica, versión acute, en el módulo genérico y en el módulo cáncer. Los datos fueron analizados por medio de estadística descriptiva, bivariada y multivariada. Resultados Los promedios de las puntuaciones total de fatiga (61,2±16,3) y CVRS (genérica: 61,5±20,5; cáncer: 61,2±16,3) fueron bajas, demostrando que los niños y los adolescentes con cáncer se muestran fatigados (p=0,000) y con baja calidad de vida (p=0,000). En el modelo de regresión, se puede explicar la fatiga en el 61,25 % por las variables funcionamiento emocional (p=0,0110), funcionamiento escolar (p=0,0004) y dificultades cognitivas (p=0,0017). Participantes sin fatiga presentaron mejor puntuación promedio de CVRS al compararlos con el grupo sin fatiga. Conclusión Niños y adolescentes hospitalizados con cáncer presentan baja calidad de vida y altos niveles de fatiga. Aun así, es positiva la relación entre algunas dimensiones de la CVRS con la fatiga, indicando que, cuanto peor sea el funcionamiento escolar y emocional y mayores sean las dificultades cognitivas, mayor será también la fatiga.

Abstract Objective To compare the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) scores of children and adolescents hospitalized with cancer who had and did not have fatigue and to correlate fatigue and HRQoL. Method This is a cross-sectional study carried out for 48 months in the onco-hematology sector of a public hospital located in the interior of São Paulo, with 63 children and adolescents with cancer. To measure fatigue and HRQoL, participants completed the instruments Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory - acute version - in the generic module and cancer module. Data were analyzed using descriptive, bivariate and multivariate statistics. Results The means of the total fatigue scores (61.2±16.3) and HRQoL (generic: 61.5±20.5; cancer: 61.2±16.3) were low, demonstrating that children and adolescents with cancer are fatigued (p=0.000) and with low quality of life (p=0.000). In the regression model, fatigue could be explained in 61.25% by the variables emotional functioning (p=0.0110), school functioning (p=0.0004) and cognitive difficulties (p=0.0017). Participants without fatigue had better mean HRQoL score when compared to the group with fatigue. Conclusion Children and adolescents hospitalized with cancer have a low quality of life and high levels of fatigue. Furthermore, the relationship between some HRQoL dimensions and fatigue is positive, indicating that the worse the school and emotional functioning and the greater the cognitive difficulties, the greater the fatigue.

The power of play in pediatric nursing: the perspectives of nurses participating in focal groups / La fuerza del jugar-cuidar en la enfermería pediátrica: perspectivas de enfermeros en grupos de enfoque / A força brincar-cuidar na enfermagem pediátrica: perspectivas de enfermeiros em grupos focais

ABSTRACT Objective: to understand how nurses assess the implementation of therapeutic play by the nursing staff in the care provided to children. Method: qualitative study addressing nurses providing pediatric care in hospitals located in five Brazilian regions. Face-to-face meetings were held with nine focal groups between January and August 2018. The sessions lasted two hours on average and were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed through inductive thematic analysis. Results: 52 nurses reported their perspectives regarding play and therapeutic play implemented in the care provided to children, which revealed The power of Play-Care implemented in nursing care: advancements and challenges and its subthemes: using puppets/dolls and dramatizing procedures; using distraction strategies to perform the procedures; wearing colorful and fun uniforms; recognizing the power of play in nursing care; and barriers challenging the connection between play and care in nursing practice. Conclusion: the power of Play-Care is manifested in the routine of nursing care through playful attitudes; however, these attitudes appear to be individual initiatives rather than systematized in the nursing process. Hence, there is a need to expand the possibilities of teaching this topic by promoting training programs, including practical activities and virtual learning environments.

RESUMEN Objetivo: comprender cómo los enfermeros evalúan la utilización del jugar e del juguete terapéutico, en el equipo de enfermería en el cuidado a niños. Método: estudio cualitativo con enfermeros actuantes en el cuidado pediátrico hospitalario de las cinco regiones de Brasil. Nueve grupos de enfoque presenciales fueron realizados entre enero y agosto de 2018. Las sesiones tuvieron duración media de dos horas, que fueron grabadas en audio, transcritas y analizadas según el análisis temático inductivo. Resultados: 52 enfermeros relataron sus perspectivas sobre el jugar y el juguete terapéutico en el cuidado a niños, revelando La fuerza del Jugar-Cuidar en el cuidado de enfermería: avances y desafíos y, sus subtemas: uso de muñecos y la dramatización de procedimientos; uso de la distracción para realización de procedimientos; uso de uniformes coloridos y divertidos; reconocimiento de la potencia del jugar en el cuidado de enfermería y barreras desafiadoras de la conexión jugar-cuidar en enfermería. Conclusión: la fuerza del jugar-cuidar se revela en lo cotidiano del cuidar de la enfermería, por medio de actitudes lúdicas; sin embargo, fueron identificadas como individuales y no sistematizadas en el proceso de enfermería. Se revela la necesidad de ampliar las posibilidades de la enseñanza de la temática, en la forma de capacitaciones, incluyendo actividades prácticas o además, que se hagan disponibles cursos en ambientes virtuales de aprendizaje.

RESUMO Objetivo: compreender como os enfermeiros avaliam a utilização do brincar e do brinquedo terapêutico pela equipe de enfermagem no cuidado à criança. Método: estudo qualitativo com enfermeiros atuantes no cuidado pediátrico hospitalar das cinco regiões do Brasil. O total de nove grupos focais presenciais foi realizado entre janeiro e agosto de 2018. As sessões tiveram duração média de duas horas, foram audiogravadas, transcritas e analisadas segundo a análise temática indutiva. Resultados: 52 enfermeiros relataram suas perspectivas sobre o brincar e o brinquedo terapêutico no cuidado à criança, revelando A força do Brincar-Cuidar no cuidado de enfermagem: avanços e desafios e, seus subtemas: uso de bonecos e a dramatização de procedimentos; uso da distração para realização de procedimentos; uso de uniformes coloridos e divertidos; reconhecendo a potência do brincar no cuidado de enfermagem e barreiras desafiadoras da conexão brincar-cuidar em enfermagem. Conclusão: a força do brincar-cuidar se revela no cotidiano do cuidado de enfermagem por meio de atitudes lúdicas, no entanto, são identificadas como individuais e não sistematizadas no processo de enfermagem. Revela-se a necessidade de ampliação das possibilidades de ensino da temática na forma de capacitações, incluindo atividades práticas ou ainda, que sejam disponibilizados cursos em ambientes virtuais de aprendizagem.

Fatigue in children and adolescents with cancer from the perspective of health professionals.

OBJECTIVE: to investigate health professionals' knowledge about the concept, assessment and intervention in fatigue in children and adolescents with cancer. METHOD: exploratory study with qualitative approach, with 53 health professionals (10 nurses, 33 assistant nurses, 3 physicians, 3 nutritionists, 2 psychologists and 2 physical therapists). Semi structured interviews were held, which were recorded and analyzed by means of inductive thematic content analysis. RESULTS: the data were organized around three themes: knowledge of health professionals about fatigue; identification of fatigue and interventions to relieve fatigue. CONCLUSION: the results indicate the health professionals' limited knowledge about fatigue, as well as the lack of investment in their training and continuing education. Most of all, the lack of research on the theme in the Brazilian context remains a barrier to support improvements in care for this symptom in children and adolescents with cancer.

Health needs and nursing care. / Necessidades de saúde e o cuidado de enfermagem.

OBJECTIVE:: to present the concept of needs according to different approaches to discuss the possibility of health care that incorporates a broader view of human vulnerabilities in health services. METHODS:: the arguments are founded on nursing theorists who worked on the construction of frameworks relevant to care, based on needs and on philosophers who show the possibility of identifying the vulnerabilities of human beings, defending art as a therapeutic instrument that can promote health care. CONCLUSION:: although care can acquire a new dimension with the introduction of art, according to certain perspectives, philosophical studies on ethics and aesthetics should be resumed to identify human vulnerabilities that can in fact be compensated by sensible understanding of the outer world. To incorporate art in nursing care requires studies from theorists to be recovered, deepening concepts and working on empirical investigations for their adequate use.

Biomarcadores associados à defechos clínicos pós-cirurgia cardíaca em terapia intensiva pediátrica / Biomarcadores relacionados con resultados clínicos en el posoperatorio de cirugía cardíaca en cuidados intensivos pediátricos / Biomarkers associated with postoperative cardiac surgery clinical outcomes in pediatric intensive care

Resumo Objetivo: Sintetizar e analisar criticamente a literatura a respeito de potenciais biomarcadores associados à desfechos clínicos no pós-operatório de cirurgia cardíaca em lactentes e crianças em cuidados intensivos. Métodos: Revisão integrativa, cuja busca ocorreu nos meses de setembro e dezembro de 2019, nas bases de dados MEDLINE, ISI of Knowledge, CENTRAL Cochrane, EMBASE, CINAHL, Science Direct e LILACS para responder à questão norteadora: "Quais as evidências científicas acerca de potenciais biomarcadores relacionados à desfechos clínicos no pós-operatório de cirurgia cardíaca de lactentes e crianças em cuidado intensivo?" Foram incluídos artigos originais publicados entre 2000 e 2019, nos idiomas inglês, português ou espanhol. Excluiu-se toda a literatura cinzenta. Resultados: A amostra final foi constituída por oito artigos, sendo seis estudos observacionais prospectivos descritivos e dois coortes prospectivas. Na maioria dos estudos os pacientes pediátricos foram submetidos à técnica de Bypass Cardiopulmonar (BCP) intraoperatória durante cirurgia de cardiopatia congênita. Os potenciais biomarcadores analisados foram moléculas participantes de processos imune-inflamatórios, predominantemente citocinas pró-inflamatórias tais como IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 e o fator de necrose tumoral-α (TNF-α) e seu receptor, ou citocinas anti-inflamatórias como a IL-10. Conclusão: As citocinas IL-6, IL-8 e IL-10, o cortisol e o lactato, apresentaram-se como moléculas promissoras para elucidação de mecanismos subjacentes a desfechos clínicos no pós-operatório de cirurgia cardíaca em lactentes e/ou crianças em cuidado intensivo. Tais moléculas podem assumir um caráter preventivo, podendo futuramente ser utilizadas como ferramentas diagnósticas e prognósticas alternativas para um regime que permita identificar pacientes sob alto risco de desenvolver complicações clínicas nos pós-operatórios.

Resumen Objetivo: Sintetizar y analizar críticamente la literatura sobre potenciales biomarcadores relacionados con resultados clínicos en el posoperatorio de cirugía cardíaca de lactantes y niños en cuidados intensivos. Métodos: Revisión integradora, cuya búsqueda ocurrió en los meses de septiembre y diciembre de 2019, en las bases de datos MEDLINE, ISI of Knowledge, CENTRAL Cochrane, EMBASE, CINAHL, Science Direct y LILACS para responder la pregunta orientadora: "¿Cuáles son las evidencias científicas sobre potenciales biomarcadores relacionados con resultados clínicos en el posoperatorio de cirugía cardíaca de lactantes y niños en cuidados intensivos?". Se incluyeron artículos originales publicados entre los años 2000 y 2019, en idioma inglés, portugués o español. Se excluyó toda la literatura gris. Resultados: La muestra final fue formada por ocho artículos, de los cuales seis eran estudios observacionales prospectivos y dos cohortes prospectivas. En la mayoría de los estudios, los pacientes pediátricos fueron sometidos a la técnica de bypass cardiopulmonar (BCP) intraoperatoria durante la cirugía de cardiopatía congénita. Los potenciales biomarcadores analizados fueron moléculas participantes de procesos inmunoinflamatorios, predominantemente citocinas proinflamatorias tales como IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 y el factor de necrosis tumoral-α (TNF-α) y su receptor, o citocinas antinflamatorias como la IL-10. Conclusión: Las citocinas IL-6, IL-8 e IL-10, el cortisol y el lactato, se presentaron como moléculas promisorias para explicar mecanismos subyacentes de los resultados clínicos en el posoperatorio de cirugía cardíaca de lactantes o niños en cuidados intensivos. Estas moléculas pueden asumir un carácter preventivo y, en un futuro, pueden utilizarse como herramientas alternativas de diagnóstico y pronóstico para un régimen que permita identificar pacientes con alto riesgo de presentar complicaciones clínicas en el posoperatorio.

Abstract Objective: To summarize and critically analyze the literature on potential biomarkers associated with clinical outcomes in the postoperative cardiac surgery period in infants and children under intensive care. Methods: Integrative review, whose search was carried out in September and December 2019 in the databases MEDLINE, ISI Web of Knowledge, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Science Direct, and Latin America and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information to answer the following guiding question: "What is the scientific evidence on potential biomarkers associated with clinical outcomes in the postoperative cardiac surgery period in infants and children under intensive care?". Original articles published between 2000 and 2019 in English, Spanish, or Portuguese were included. Gray literature was excluded. Results: Eight articles made up the final sample (six descriptive observational prospective studies and two prospective cohort studies). Most studies, pediatric patients were submitted to the intraoperative cardiopulmonary bypass technique during congenital heart disease surgeries. The potential biomarkers analyzed were molecules that participate in immune-inflammatory processes, mainly proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha and its receptor, as well as anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10. Conclusion: The IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 cytokines, cortisol, and lactate showed as promising molecules for elucidating mechanisms underlying clinical outcomes in the postoperative cardiac surgery period in infants and/or children under intensive care. These molecules can take on a preventive role by being used as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in the future in a protocol that allows to identify patients with high risk to develop clinical complications during the postoperative period.