Trends in Childhood Oncology Admissions to ICUs in Australia and New Zealand.

OBJECTIVES: There are few robust, national-level reports of contemporary trends in pediatric oncology admissions, resource use, and mortality. We aimed to describe national-level data on trends in intensive care admissions, interventions, and survival for children with cancer. DESIGN: Cohort study using a binational pediatric intensive care registry. SETTING: Australia and New Zealand. PATIENTS: Patients younger than 16 years, admitted to an ICU in Australia or New Zealand with an oncology diagnosis between January 1, 2003, and December 31, 2018. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We examined trends in oncology admissions, ICU interventions, and both crude and risk-adjusted patient-level mortality. Eight thousand four hundred ninety admissions were identified for 5,747 patients, accounting for 5.8% of PICU admissions. Absolute and population-indexed oncology admissions increased from 2003 to 2018, and median length of stay increased from 23.2 hours (interquartile range [IQR], 16.8-62 hr) to 38.8 hours (IQR, 20.9-81.1 hr) ( p < 0.001). Three hundred fifty-seven of 5,747 patients died (6.2%). There was a 45% reduction in risk-adjusted ICU mortality, which reduced from 3.3% (95% CI, 2.1-4.4) in 2003-2004 to 1.8% (95% CI, 1.1-2.5%) in 2017-2018 ( p trend = 0.02). The greatest reduction in mortality seen in hematological cancers and in nonelective admissions. Mechanical ventilation rates were unchanged from 2003 to 2018, while the use of high-flow nasal prong oxygen increased (incidence rate ratio, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.61-3.67 per 2 yr). CONCLUSIONS: In Australian and New Zealand PICUs, pediatric oncology admissions are increasing steadily and such admissions are staying longer, representing a considerable proportion of ICU activity. The mortality of children with cancer who are admitted to ICU is low and falling.

Quality measurement and surveillance platforms in critically ill children: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The objective of this study was to describe current surveillance platforms which support routine quality measurement in paediatric critical care. METHOD: Scoping review. The search strategy consisted of a traditional database and grey literature search as well as expert consultation. Surveillance platforms were eligible for inclusion if they collected measures of quality in critically ill children. RESULTS: The search strategy identified 21 surveillance platforms, collecting 57 unique outcome (70%), process (23%), and structural (7%) quality measures. Hospital-associated infections were the most commonly collected outcome measure across all platforms (n = 11; 52%). In general, case definitions were not harmonised across platforms, with the exception of nationally mandated hospital-associated infections (e.g., central line-associated blood stream infection). Data collection relied on manual coding. Platforms typically did not provide an evidence-based rationale for measures collected, with no identifiable reports of co-designed, consensus-derived measures or consumer involvement in measure selection or prioritisation. CONCLUSIONS: Quality measurement in critically ill children lacks uniformity in definition which limits local and international benchmarking. Current surveillance activities for critically ill children focus heavily on outcome measurement, with process, structural, and patient-reported measures largely overlooked. Long-term outcome measures were not routinely collected. Harmonisation of paediatric intensive care unit quality measures is needed and can be achieved using prioritisation and consensus/co-design methods.

Educational Outcomes of Childhood Survivors of Critical Illness-A Population-Based Linkage Study.

OBJECTIVES: Major postintensive care sequelae affect up to one in three adult survivors of critical illness. Large cohorts on educational outcomes after pediatric intensive care are lacking. We assessed primary school educational outcomes in a statewide cohort of children who survived PICU during childhood. DESIGN: Multicenter population-based study on children less than 5 years admitted to PICU. Using the National Assessment Program-Literacy and Numeracy database, the primary outcome was educational achievement below the National Minimum Standard (NMS) in year 3 of primary school. Cases were compared with controls matched for calendar year, grade, birth cohort, sex, socioeconomic status, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status, and school. Multivariable logistic regression models to predict educational outcomes were derived. SETTING: Tertiary PICUs and mixed ICUs in Queensland, Australia. PATIENTS: Children less than 5 years admitted to PICU between 1998 and 2016. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Year 3 primary school data were available for 5,017 PICU survivors (median age, 8.0 mo at first PICU admission; interquartile range, 1.9-25.2). PICU survivors scored significantly lower than controls across each domain (p < 0.001); 14.03% of PICU survivors did not meet the NMS compared with 8.96% of matched controls (p < 0.001). In multivariate analyses, socioeconomic status (odds ratio, 2.14; 95% CI, 1.67-2.74), weight (0.94; 0.90-0.97), logit of Pediatric Index of Mortality-2 score (1.11; 1.03-1.19), presence of a syndrome (11.58; 8.87-15.11), prematurity (1.54; 1.09-2.19), chronic neurologic conditions (4.38; 3.27-5.87), chronic respiratory conditions (1.65; 1.24-2.19), and continuous renal replacement therapy (4.20; 1.40-12.55) were independently associated with a higher risk of not meeting the NMS. CONCLUSIONS: In this population-based study of childhood PICU survivors, 14.03% did not meet NMSs in the standardized primary school assessment. Socioeconomic status, underlying diseases, and severity on presentation allow risk-stratification to identify children most likely to benefit from individual follow-up and support.

Early Peritoneal Dialysis and Postoperative Outcomes in Infants After Pediatric Cardiac Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is used in several cardiac surgical units after cardiac surgery, and early initiation of PD after surgery may have the potential to influence postoperative outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to summarize the evidence for the association between early PD after cardiac surgery and postoperative outcomes. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, Embase, and PubMed from 1981 to November 1, 2021. STUDY SELECTION: Observational studies and randomized trials reporting on early PD after pediatric cardiac surgery. DATA EXTRACTION: Random-effects meta-analysis was used to estimate the pooled odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% CIs for postoperative mortality and pooled mean difference (MD) (95% CI) for duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU length of stay. DATA SYNTHESIS: We identified nine studies from the systematic review, and five were considered suitable for meta-analysis. Early initiation of PD after cardiac surgery was associated with a reduction in postoperative mortality (OR, 0.43 (95% CI, 0.23-0.80); number of estimates = 4). Early commencement of PD shortened duration of mechanical ventilation (MD [95% CI], -1.09 d [-1.86 to -0.33 d]; I2 = 56.1%; p = 0.06) and intensive care length of stay (MD [95% CI], -2.46 d [-3.57 to -1.35 d]; I2 = 18.7%; p = 0.30], respectively. All three estimates had broad 95% prediction intervals (crossing null) denoting major heterogeneity between studies and wide range of possible study estimates in similar future studies. Overall, studies reporting on the effects of early PD included only a subset of infants undergoing cardiac surgery (typically high-risk infants), so selection bias may be a major issue in published studies. CONCLUSIONS: This review suggests that early initiation of PD may be associated with beneficial postoperative outcomes in infants after cardiac surgery. However, these results were based on studies of varying qualities and risk of bias. Early identification of high-risk infants after cardiac surgery is important so that prevention or early mitigation strategies can be applied to this cohort. Future prospective studies in high-risk populations are needed to study the role of early PD in influencing postoperative outcomes.

Association Between Centralization and Outcome for Children Admitted to Intensive Care in Australia and New Zealand: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: To describe regional differences and change over time in the degree of centralization of pediatric intensive care in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) and to compare the characteristics and ICU mortality of children admitted to specialist PICUs and general ICUs (GICUs). DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study using registry data for two epochs of ICU admissions, 2003-2005 and 2016-2018. SETTING: Population-based study in ANZ. PATIENTS: A total of 43,256 admissions of children aged younger than 16 years admitted to an ICU in ANZ were included. Infants aged younger than 28 days without cardiac conditions were excluded. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The primary outcome was risk-adjusted ICU mortality. Logistic regression was used to investigate the association of mortality with the exposure to ICU type, epoch, and their interaction. Compared with children admitted to GICUs, children admitted to PICUs were younger (median 25 vs 47 mo; p < 0.01) and stayed longer in ICU (median 1.6 vs 1.0 d; p < 0.01). For the study overall, 93% of admissions in Australia were to PICUs whereas in New Zealand only 63% of admissions were to PICUs. The adjusted odds of death in epoch 2 relative to epoch 1 decreased (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.50; 95% CI, 0.42-0.59). There was an interaction between unit type and epoch with increased odds of death associated with care in a GICU in epoch 2 (AOR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.05-2.53 for all admissions; 1.73, CI, 1.002-3.00 for high-risk admissions). CONCLUSIONS: Risk-adjusted mortality of children admitted to specialist PICUs decreased over a study period of 14 years; however, a similar association between time and outcome was not observed in high-risk children admitted to GICUs. The results support the continued use of a centralized model of delivering intensive care for critically ill children.

Increasing ICU capacity to accommodate higher demand during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the short term ability of Australian intensive care units (ICUs) to increase capacity in response to heightened demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN: Survey of ICU directors or delegated senior clinicians (disseminated 30 August 2021), supplemented by Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society (ANZICS) registry data. SETTING: All 194 public and private Australian ICUs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Numbers of currently available and potentially available ICU beds in case of a surge; available levels of ICU-relevant equipment and staff. RESULTS: All 194 ICUs responded to the survey. The total number of currently open staffed ICU beds was 2183. This was 195 fewer (8.2%) than in 2020; the decline was greater for rural/regional (18%) and private ICUs (18%). The reported maximal ICU bed capacity (5623) included 813 additional physical ICU bed spaces and 2627 in surge areas outside ICUs. The number of available ventilators (7196) exceeded the maximum number of ICU beds. The reported number of available additional nursing staff would facilitate the immediate opening of 383 additional physical ICU beds (47%), but not the additional bed spaces outside ICUs. CONCLUSIONS: The number of currently available staffed ICU beds is lower than in 2020. Equipment shortfalls have been remediated, with sufficient ventilators to equip every ICU bed. ICU capacity can be increased in response to demand, but is constrained by the availability of appropriately trained staff. Fewer than half the potentially additional physical ICU beds could be opened with currently available staff numbers while maintaining pre-pandemic models of care.

Milrinone Acts as a Vasodilator But Not an Inotrope in Children After Cardiac Surgery-Insights From Wave Intensity Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Milrinone is an inodilator widely used in the postoperative management of children undergoing cardiac surgery. The literature supporting its inotropic effect is sparse. We sought to study the effect of milrinone on the vasculature and its effects on the ventricular function using wave intensity analysis. We also intended to evaluate the feasibility of using wave intensity analysis by the bedside. DESIGN: prospective single-center observational study. SETTING: PICU of a tertiary children's hospital. PATIENTS: Children (< 18 yr) admitted to PICU following cardiac surgery who required to be commenced on a milrinone infusion. INTERVENTIONS: Echocardiography and Doppler ultrasound assessments for wave intensity analysis were performed prior to commencing milrinone and 4-6 hours after milrinone infusion. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Wave intensity analysis was successfully performed and analyzed in 15 of 16 patients (94%). We identified three waves-a forward compression wave, backward compression wave, and forward decompression wave. The waves were described with their cumulative intensity and wave-related pressure change. There was a 26% reduction in backward compression wave cumulative intensity following the introduction of milrinone. Other variables (backward compression wave cumulative intensity/forward compression wave cumulative intensity ratio, backward compression wave wave-related pressure change, backward compression wave wave-related pressure change/forward compression wave wave-related pressure change ratio) consistent with vasodilation also decreased after milrinone. It also decreased the vascular wavespeed by 7.1% and increased the distensibility of the vessels by 14.6%. However, it did not increase forward compression wave cumulative intensity, a variable indicating the systolic force generated by the ventricle. Forward decompression wave cumulative intensity indicating ventricular early diastolic relaxation also did not change. CONCLUSIONS: In a cohort of children recovering in PICU after having undergone cardiac surgery, we found that milrinone acted as a vasodilator but did not demonstrate an improvement in the contractility or an improved relaxation of the left ventricle as assessed by wave intensity analysis. We were able to demonstrate the feasibility and utility of wave intensity analysis to further understand ventriculo-vascular interactions in an intensive care setting.

Gestational Age and Risk of Mortality in Term-Born Critically Ill Neonates Admitted to PICUs in Australia and New Zealand.

OBJECTIVES: Gestational age at birth is declining, probably because more deliveries are being induced. Gestational age is an important modifiable risk factor for neonatal mortality and morbidity. We aimed to investigate the association between gestational age and mortality in hospital for term-born neonates (≥ 37 wk') admitted to PICUs in Australia and New Zealand. DESIGN: Observational multicenter cohort study. SETTING: PICUs in Australia and New Zealand. PATIENTS: Term-born neonates (≥ 37 wk) admitted to PICUs. INTERVENTIONS: None MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:: We studied 5,073 infants born with a gestational age greater than or equal to 37 weeks and were less than 28 days old when admitted to a PICU in Australia or New Zealand between 2007 and 2016. The association between gestational age and mortality was estimated using a multivariable logistic regression model, adjusting for age, sex, indigenous status, Pediatric Index of Mortality version 2, and site. The median gestational age was 39.1 weeks (interquartile range, 38.2-40 wk) and mortality in hospital was 6.6%. Risk of mortality declined log-linearly with gestational age. The adjusted analysis showed a 20% (95% CI, 11-28%) relative reduction in mortality for each extra week of gestation beyond 37 weeks. The effect of gestation was stronger among those who received extracorporeal life support: each extra week of gestation was associated with a 44% (95% CI, 25-57%) relative reduction in mortality. Longer gestation was also associated with reduced length of stay in hospital: each week increase in gestation, the average length of stay decreased by 4% (95% CI, 2-6%). CONCLUSIONS: Among neonates born at "term" who are admitted to a PICU, increasing gestational age at birth is associated with a substantial reduction in the risk of dying in hospital. The maturational influence on outcome was more strongly noted in the sickest neonates, such as those requiring extracorporeal life support. This information is important in view of the increasing proportion of planned births in both high- and low-/middle-income countries.

Surge capacity of intensive care units in case of acute increase in demand caused by COVID-19 in Australia.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the capacity of intensive care units (ICUs) in Australia to respond to the expected increase in demand associated with COVID-19. DESIGN: Analysis of Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society (ANZICS) registry data, supplemented by an ICU surge capability survey and veterinary facilities survey (both March 2020). SETTINGS: All Australian ICUs and veterinary facilities. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Baseline numbers of ICU beds, ventilators, dialysis machines, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machines, intravenous infusion pumps, and staff (senior medical staff, registered nurses); incremental capability to increase capacity (surge) by increasing ICU bed numbers; ventilator-to-bed ratios; number of ventilators in veterinary facilities. RESULTS: The 191 ICUs in Australia provide 2378 intensive care beds during baseline activity (9.3 ICU beds per 100 000 population). Of the 175 ICUs that responded to the surge survey (with 2228 intensive care beds), a maximal surge would add an additional 4258 intensive care beds (191% increase) and 2631 invasive ventilators (120% increase). This surge would require additional staffing of as many as 4092 senior doctors (245% increase over baseline) and 42 720 registered ICU nurses (269% increase over baseline). An additional 188 ventilators are available in veterinary facilities, including 179 human model ventilators. CONCLUSIONS: The directors of Australian ICUs report that intensive care bed capacity could be near tripled in response to the expected increase in demand caused by COVID-19. But maximal surge in bed numbers could be hampered by a shortfall in invasive ventilators and would also require a large increase in clinician and nursing staff numbers.

The Effect of Imputation of PaO2/FIO2 From SpO2/FIO2 on the Performance of the Pediatric Index of Mortality 3.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate if the performance of Pediatric Index of Mortality 3 is improved by including imputed values for the PaO2/FIO2 ratio where measurements of PaO2 or FIO2 are missing. DESIGN: A prospective observational study. SETTING: A bi-national pediatric intensive care registry. PATIENTS: The records of 37,983 admissions of children less than 16 years old admitted to 19 ICUs. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Seven published equations describing an association between PaO2/FIO2 and oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry (SpO2)/FIO2 were used to derive an alternative variable d100 × FIO2/PaO2 for the Pediatric Index of Mortality 3 variable 100 × FIO2/PaO2. Six equations exclude SpO2/FIO2 values if SpO2 is greater than 96-98%. 100 × FIO2/PaO2 was missing in 72% of patient records primarily due to missing PaO2, d100 × FIO2/PaO2 was missing in 71% of patient records if values of SpO2greater than 97% were excluded or in 17% of patient records if all measurements of SpO2 were included. Univariable analysis supported the inclusion of SpO2 values greater than 97%. Compared to the standard Pediatric Index of Mortality 3 model, two alternative models imputing 100 × FIO2/PaO2 from d100 × FIO2/PaO2 only if 100 × FIO2/PaO2 was missing, or using d100 × FIO2/PaO2 values exclusively, resulted in a small but statistically significant improvements in discrimination of Pediatric Index of Mortality 3 (area under the receiver operator curve 0.9068 [0. 8965-0. 9171]; 0.9083 [0.8981-0.9184]; 0.9087 [0.8987-0.9188], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Imputation of the PaO2/FIO2 ratio in cases where arterial sampling was not performed resulted in a large reduction in the rate of missing data if all values of SpO2 were included. The imputation technique improved the discrimination of Pediatric Index of Mortality 3; however, the magnitude of the increment in overall model performance was small. A possible benefit of the approach is reducing the potential for bias resulting from variation in practice for invasive monitoring of oxygenation.

Dexmedetomidine Sedation in Mechanically Ventilated Critically Ill Children: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of a sedation protocol using dexmedetomidine as the primary sedative in mechanically ventilated critically ill children. DESIGN: Open-label, pilot, prospective, multicenter, randomized, controlled trial. The primary outcome was the proportion of sedation scores in the target sedation range in the first 48 hours. Safety outcomes included device removal, adverse events, and vasopressor use. Feasibility outcomes included time to randomization and protocol fidelity. SETTING: Six tertiary PICUs in Australia and New Zealand. PATIENTS: Critically ill children, younger than 16 years old, requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation and expected to be mechanically ventilated for at least 24 hours. INTERVENTIONS: Children randomized to dexmedetomidine received a dexmedetomidine-based algorithm targeted to light sedation (State Behavioral Scale -1 to +1). Children randomized to usual care received sedation as determined by the treating clinician (but not dexmedetomidine), also targeted to light sedation. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Sedation with dexmedetomidine as the primary sedative resulted in a greater proportion of sedation measurements in the light sedation range (State Behavioral Scale -1 to +1) over the first 48 hours (229/325 [71%] vs 181/331 [58%]; p = 0.04) and the first 24 hours (66/103 [64%] vs 48/116 [41%]; p < 0.001) compared with usual care. Cumulative midazolam dosage was significantly reduced in the dexmedetomidine arm compared with usual care (p = 0.002).There were more episodes of hypotension and bradycardia with dexmedetomidine (including one serious adverse event) but no difference in vasopressor requirements. Median time to randomization after intubation was 6.0 hours (interquartile range, 2.0-9.0 hr) in the dexmedetomidine arm compared with 3.0 hours (interquartile range, 1.0-7.0 hr) in the usual care arm (p = 0.24). CONCLUSIONS: A sedation protocol using dexmedetomidine as the primary sedative was feasible, appeared safe, achieved early, light sedation, and reduced midazolam requirements. The findings of this pilot study justify further studies of sedative agents in critically ill children.

Early Peritoneal Dialysis and Major Adverse Events After Pediatric Cardiac Surgery: A Propensity Score Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Early peritoneal dialysis may have a role in modulating the inflammatory response after cardiopulmonary bypass. This study sought to test the effect of early peritoneal dialysis on major adverse events after pediatric cardiac surgery involving cardiopulmonary bypass. DESIGN: In this observational study, the outcomes in infants post cardiac surgery who received early peritoneal dialysis (within 6 hr of completing cardiopulmonary bypass) were compared with those who received late peritoneal dialysis. The primary outcome was a composite of one or more of cardiac arrest, emergency chest reopening, requirement for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or death. Secondary outcomes included duration of mechanical ventilation, length of intensive care, and hospital stay. A propensity score methodology utilizing inverse probability of treatment weighting was used to minimize selection bias due to timing of peritoneal dialysis. SETTING: Cardiac ICU, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. PATIENTS: From 2012 to 2015, infants who were commenced on peritoneal dialysis after cardiac surgery were included. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Among 239 eligible infants, 56 (23%) were commenced on early peritoneal dialysis and 183 (77%) on late peritoneal dialysis. At 90 days, early peritoneal dialysis as compared with late peritoneal dialysis was associated with a decreased risk of primary outcome (relative risk, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.05-0.47; p < 0.001 and absolute risk difference, -18.1%; 95% CI, -25.1 to -11.1; p < 0.001). Early peritoneal dialysis was also associated with a decrease in duration of mechanical ventilation and intensive care stay. Among infants with a cardiopulmonary bypass greater than 150 minutes, early peritoneal dialysis was also associated with a survival advantage (relative risk, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.03-0.84; p = 0.03 and absolute risk difference, -7.8; 95% CI, -13.6 to -2; p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Early peritoneal dialysis in infants post cardiac surgery is associated with a decrease in the rate of major adverse events. The role of early peritoneal dialysis warrants the conduct of randomized trials both in high and low-to-middle income countries; any beneficial effects if confirmed have the potential to strongly influence outcomes for children born with congenital heart disease.

Changing Risk of In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Children Following Cardiac Surgery in Victoria, Australia, 2007-2016.

BACKGROUND: Reported incidence of in hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) after paediatric cardiac surgery varies between 3-4% in high income countries and this risk may have changed over time. We sought to examine this trend in detail. METHODS: A retrospective observational study of 3,781 children who underwent 4,938 cardiac surgeries between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2016 in a tertiary children's hospital. IHCA was defined as cessation of cardiac mechanical activity requiring cardiac massage for ≥1minute. Surgical complexity was categorised using risk adjusted congenital heart surgery (RACHS-1) category. Poisson regression was used to analyse trends for every two-year period. RESULTS: There were a total of 211 (4.3%) IHCA events after surgery. These patients were younger, more likely to have had a premature birth, have a chromosomal or genetic syndrome association and have a high surgical complexity. Overall, there was a 52% reduction in IHCA rate over 10 years: reducing from 5.4 /100 surgeries in 2007-08 to 2.6/100 surgeries in 2015-16 (p-trend=<0.001). The reduction was mainly seen in low-to-moderate risk categories (RACHS-1 categories 1-4) and not in high risk categories (RACHS-1 category 5-6). Children in high risk categories were 13.6 times more likely to experience an IHCA (compared to low risk categories). Overall hospital mortality for children suffering IHCA decreased from 42.5/100 patients in 2007-08 to 11.1/100 patients in 2015-16 (p-trend=0.037). CONCLUSIONS: The IHCA rate following cardiac surgery has more than halved over the last decade; children who experience IHCA also have lower mortality than in previous years. High risk procedures still have a substantial rate of IHCA and efforts are needed to minimise the burden further in this population.

A Case-Control Analysis of Postoperative Fluid Balance and Mortality After Pediatric Cardiac Surgery.

OBJECTIVES: A positive fluid balance after cardiac surgery may be associated with poor outcomes; however, previous studies looking at this association have been limited by the number of deaths in the study population. Our primary aim was to determine the relationship between postoperative cumulative fluid balance and mortality in cardiac surgical patients. Secondary aims were to study the association between fluid balance and duration of mechanical ventilation, intensive care and hospital length of stay. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: A 30-bed multidisciplinary PICU. PATIENTS: All patients admitted to the PICU following cardiac surgery from 2010 to 2014. INTERVENTIONS: Deaths during PICU admission following cardiac surgery (cases) were matched 1:3 with children who survived to PICU discharge (controls) using the following criteria: age at surgery (within a 20% age range), Risk Adjusted Congenital Heart Surgery (RACHS-1) category, and year of admission. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of 1,996 eligible children, 46 died (2.3%) of whom 45 (98%) were successfully matched. Cumulative fluid balance on days 2 and 7 was not associated with PICU mortality. On multivariable analysis, factors associated with mortality were cardiopulmonary bypass time (per 10-min increase, odds ratio [95% CI], 1.06 [1.00-1.12]; p = 0.03), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation requirement within 3 days (46.6 [9.47-230.11]; p < 0.001), peak serum chloride (mmol/L) in the first 48 hours (1.12 [1.01-1.23]), and time to start peritoneal dialysis after surgery (in comparison to no peritoneal dialysis, odds ratio [95% CI] in those started on early peritoneal dialysis was 1.07 [0.33-3.41]; p = 0.90 and in late peritoneal dialysis 3.65 [1.21-10.99]; p = 0.02). Children with cumulative fluid balance greater than or equal to 5% by day 2 spent longer on mechanical ventilation (median [interquartile range], 211 hr [97-539] vs 93 hr [34-225]; p <0.001), in PICU (11 d [8-26] vs 6 [3-13]; p < 0.001) and in hospital (22 d [13-39] vs 14 d [8-30]; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Early fluid overload is not associated with mortality. However, it is associated with increased duration of mechanical ventilation and PICU length of stay. Early peritoneal dialysis commencement (compared with late peritoneal dialysis) after surgery was associated with decreased mortality.

Inter-hospital transport of the child with critical cardiac disease.

Centralisation of services such as cardiology, cardiac surgery, and intensive care in many parts of the world has resulted in the need to safely transport children with critical cardiac disease from local hospitals to specialist centres for diagnostic, surgical, and/or critical care intervention. The transport of this cohort of children, whether locally or internationally, can present specific clinical and logistical challenges. An international group of clinicians with expertise in cardiac care and critical care transport worked together to summarise current clinical practice relating to key areas of transport. This expert review covers the transport of the child with critical cardiac disease in terms of referral triage and advice, enabling optimal management of locally available resources, clinical stabilisation before transport, international air transport, transport considerations in low- and middle-income countries, and the transport of children with specific cardiac conditions. As specialist services are centralised to fewer large centres, the need for safe and timely inter-hospital transport of children with critical cardiac disease is only expected to rise in the future. The key principles outlined in this review will be helpful for practitioners in global settings who are, or might be, involved in transporting children between hospitals.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for Kawasaki disease: two case reports and the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization experience 1999-2015.

Kawasaki disease is usually a limited illness of early childhood. However, life-threatening cardiac manifestations can occur, either at acute presentation or as a consequence of coronary arterial involvement. We report the successful use of veno-arterial (VA) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for cardiac support in two children with Kawasaki disease: one with acute Kawasaki disease shock syndrome, the other with complications of coronary arteritis and subsequent surgery. We also reviewed the reported experience in the ELSO database and available literature.

Clonidine as a First-Line Sedative Agent After Neonatal Cardiac Surgery: Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the cardiovascular tolerance of clonidine used as a first-line sedative after cardiac surgery in small infants. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: A tertiary and quaternary referral cardiac PICU. PATIENTS: All infants younger than 2 months who received a clonidine infusion for sedation after cardiac surgery from October 2011 to July 2013. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULTS: Heart rate, blood pressure, central venous and left atrial pressure, vasoactive inotropic score, volume of fluid bolus, and lactate and central mixed venous saturation were assessed. Preinfusion values were compared with postinfusion values. Of 224 potentially eligible patients, only 23 infants met inclusion criteria, as most patients only received high doses of morphine and some received midazolam instead of clonidine. Clonidine administration was started at a median of 12 hours after surgery (Q1-Q3, 5-23), and infusion rate was 0.5-2 µg/kg/hr for a median duration of 30 hours (Q1-Q3, 12-54). Heart rate decreased (maximal mean decrease: 12% [149 beats/min (SD, 17) to 131 beats/min (SD, 17)]; p < 0.0001). Apart from a transient and limited drop in diastolic blood pressure of 13% (maximal mean decrease: from 42.8 mm Hg [SD, 5.9] to 37.1 mm Hg [SD, 4.0]; p = 0.018), all other cardiovascular variables were stable or improved. A contemporaneous cohort of patients who received midazolam, did so sooner after surgery, stayed longer in the PICU and showed less favorable hemodynamics. CONCLUSIONS: IV clonidine as sedative added to morphine in selected patients seems hemodynamically safe. The observed decrease in heart rate and diastolic blood pressure seems of minimal clinical importance as all other hemodynamic variables remained stable or improved. The safety of clonidine given early after cardiac surgery as alternative to midazolam merits further study.

A Comparative Analysis of Preemptive Versus Targeted Sedation on Cardiovascular Stability After High-Risk Cardiac Surgery in Infants.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of two sedation practices on cardiovascular stability during the early postoperative period in young infants following cardiac surgery: the routine early use of midazolam infusion (preemptive sedation) and the discretionary use of sedatives tailored to the patient's clinical condition (targeted sedation). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study with matched controls. SETTING: A 15-bedded pediatric cardiac ICU. PATIENTS: Sedation strategies were compared by matching patients before and after the introduction of a targeted sedation guideline, replacing the existing practice of preemptive sedation. Inclusion criteria were age less than 6 months and cardiopulmonary bypass time greater than 150 minutes. Matching criteria were surgical procedure, age, and duration of cardiopulmonary bypass and cross-clamp. The main outcome was cardiovascular instability, defined by the presence of one of the following criteria in the first 12 hours after PICU admission: 1) simultaneous administration of greater than or equal to two inotropic or vasopressor drugs; 2) administration of greater than 60 mL/kg fluid boluses. Secondary outcomes were: 1) markers of cardiac output adequacy (heart rate, blood pressure, vasoactive inotropic score, urine output, volume of fluid boluses, central venous oxygen saturation, lactate); 2) occurrence of adverse events (cardiac arrest, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, death); 3) sedatives administered and depth of sedation. INTERVENTIONS: Introduction of a guideline of targeted sedation. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Thirty-three patients with preemptive sedation were matched to 33 patients with targeted sedation. Targeted sedation resulted in less frequent oversedation, without compromising cardiovascular stability, as indicated by similar occurrence of cardiovascular instability (68.8% with preemptive sedation vs 62.5% with targeted sedation; p = 0.53) and adverse events, and similar markers of cardiac output adequacy. Although all preemptively sedated patients received an infusion of midazolam in the first 12 hours after surgery, only 19.4% of patients in the targeted sedation group received a sedative infusion (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that after high-risk cardiac surgery in young infants, routine sedation with midazolam may not prevent low cardiac output syndrome. When accompanied by a careful assessment of level of sedation, routine sedation of infants after high-risk cardiac surgery can be avoided without compromising hemodynamic stability or patient safety. The potential benefit of this approach is reduced exposure to sedative.

Five-Year Survival of Children With Chronic Critical Illness in Australia and New Zealand.

OBJECTIVE: Outcomes for children with chronic critical illness are not defined. We examined the long-term survival of these children in Australia and New Zealand. DESIGN: All cases of PICU chronic critical illness with length of stay more than 28 days and age 16 years old or younger in Australia and New Zealand from 2000 to 2011 were studied. Five-year survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meir estimates, and risk factors for mortality evaluated using Cox regression. SETTING: All PICUs in Australia and New Zealand. PATIENTS: Nine hundred twenty-four children with chronic critical illness. INTERVENTION: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Nine hundred twenty-four children were admitted to PICU for longer than 28 days on 1,056 occasions, accounting for 1.3% of total admissions and 23.5% of bed days. Survival was known for 883 of 924 patients (95.5%), with a median follow-up of 3.4 years. The proportion with primary cardiac diagnosis increased from 27% in 2000-2001 to 41% in 2010-2011. Survival was 81.4% (95% CI, 78.6-83.9) to PICU discharge, 70% (95% CI, 66.7-72.8) at 1 year, and 65.5% (95% CI, 62.1-68.6) at 5 years. Five-year survival was 64% (95% CI, 58.7-68.6) for children admitted in 2000-2005 and 66% (95% CI, 61.7-70) if admitted in 2006-2011 (log-rank test, p = 0.37). After adjusting for admission severity of illness using the Paediatric Index of Mortality 2 score, predictors for 5-year mortality included bone marrow transplant (hazard ratio, 3.66; 95% CI, 2.26-5.92) and single-ventricle physiology (hazard ratio, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.37-2.87). Five-year survival for single-ventricle physiology was 47.2% (95% CI, 34.3-59.1) and for bone marrow transplantation 22.8% (95% CI, 8.7-40.8). CONCLUSIONS: Two thirds of children with chronic critical illness survive for at-least 5 years, but there was no improvement between 2000 and 2011. Cardiac disease constitutes an increasing proportion of pediatric chronic critical illness. Bone marrow transplant recipients and single-ventricle physiology have the poorest outcomes.

Trends in PICU Admission and Survival Rates in Children in Australia and New Zealand Following Cardiac Arrest.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the temporal trends in rates of PICU admissions and mortality for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests and in-hospital cardiac arrests admitted to PICU over the last decade. DESIGN: Multicenter, retrospective analysis of prospectively collected binational data of the Australian and New Zealand Paediatric Intensive Care Registry. All nine specialist PICUs in Australia and New Zealand were included. PATIENTS: All children admitted between 2003 and 2012 to PICU who were less than 16 years old at the time of admission. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: There were a total of 71,425 PICU admissions between 2003 and 2012. Overall, cardiac arrest accounted for 1.86% of all admissions (1,329 cases), including 677 cases of in-hospital cardiac arrest (51.0%) and 652 cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (49.0%). Over the last decade, there has been a 29.6% increase in the odds of PICU survival for all pediatric admissions (odds ratio, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.09-1.54). By contrast, there was no significant improvement in the risk-adjusted odds of survival for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest admissions (odds ratio, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.50-2.10; p = 0.94) or in-hospital cardiac arrest admissions (odds ratio, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.54-1.98; p = 0.92). CONCLUSIONS: Despite improvements in overall outcomes in children admitted to Australian and New Zealand PICUs, survival of children admitted with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest or in-hospital cardiac arrest did not change significantly over the past decade.