Resource Use and Outcomes for Children Hospitalized With Severe Sepsis or Septic Shock.

OBJECTIVE: To describe patient and hospital characteristics associated with in-hospital mortality, length of stay (LOS), and charges for children with severe sepsis or septic shock who often require specialized organ-supportive technology to enhance outcomes, availability of which might vary across hospitals. DESIGN: Retrospective study among children hospitalized for severe sepsis or septic shock, using the 2012 Kids' Inpatient Database. Multivariate regression methods identified factors associated with mortality, LOS, and charges. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of an estimated 11 972 hospitalizations for pediatric severe sepsis or septic shock, most hospitalizations (85%) were to urban teaching hospitals. Hospitalizations were more frequent among neonates and older adolescents than other age groups. Mortality was 17%, average LOS was 24 days, and average hospital charges were US$314 950. Higher mortality was associated with neonates, cumulative organ dysfunction, more comorbidities, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Longer hospitalization and higher charges were associated with neonates, more comorbidities, higher illness severity, invasive medical technology, and urban hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to mitigate the substantial in-hospital mortality and resource use observed in pediatric severe sepsis or septic shock should be age-specific and focused on the influence of comorbidities and organ dysfunction on outcomes. Future research should elucidate reasons for higher resource use at urban hospitals.

Venogram before long-interval repeat cannulation for pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

It is rare for children to receive more than one course of support with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and in those who do undergo multiple episodes, the interval is usually days to weeks between events. Little data exists on re-cannulation years after an initial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation run, and late repeat cannulation can pose unique challenges. We report the case of a 10-year-old male patient with right jugular vein occlusion due to a previous course of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a neonate, who was successfully supported via central cannulation. This case demonstrates the importance of adequate imaging of target vasculature prior to attempting re-cannulation of a previously used vessel. Establishing a thoughtful strategy for late repeat cannulation is essential to achieve safe access in unusual and challenging situations.

Outcomes and Resource Use Among Overweight and Obese Children With Sepsis in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of overweight and obesity on outcomes and resource use among patients with sepsis in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of clinical characteristics, resource use, and mortality among children 0 to 20 years of age admitted to the C.S. MottChildren's Hospital PICU (University of Michigan) between January 2009 and December 2015, with a diagnostic code for sepsis at admission (based on International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision-Clinical Modification codes) and with weight and height measurements at PICU admission. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 454 participants met the inclusion criteria. Seventy-six were categorized as underweight (body mass index [BMI] percentile <5th) and were excluded, which left a final sample size of 378 participants. Children with a BMI >5th and <85th percentiles for age were categorized as normal weight and those with a BMI >85th percentile as overweight/obese. After descriptive and bivariate analyses, multivariate regression methods were used to assess the independent effect of obesity status on mortality and the use of PICU technology after adjustment for patient age and illness severity at admission. Of the 378 patients studied, 41.3% were overweight/obese. There was no difference in microbiologic etiology of sepsis (P = .36), median PICU length of stay in days (5.4 vs 5.6; P = .61), or PICU mortality (6.4% vs 7.2%; P = .76) by weight status. The use of specialized PICU technology including extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (odds ratio [OR]: 2.77, 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.13-6.79) and continuous renal replacement therapy (OR: 4.58, 95% CI: 1.16-18.0) was higher among overweight/obese patients, compared with normal weight patients. CONCLUSIONS: Although PICU mortality and length of stay were similar for obese-overweight patients and normal weight critically ill children with sepsis, there was significantly higher use of specialized organ-supportive technology among obese patients, likely indicating higher occurrence of multiple organ dysfunction.

Establishing the Knowledge and Skills Necessary in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine: A Systematic Approach to Practice Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the practice analysis undertaken by a task force convened by the American Board of Pediatrics Pediatric Critical Care Medicine Sub-board to create a comprehensive document to guide learning and assessment within Pediatric Critical Care Medicine. DESIGN: An in-depth practice analysis with a mixed-methods design involving a descriptive review of practice, a modified Delphi process, and a survey. SETTING: Not applicable. SUBJECTS: Seventy-five Pediatric Critical Care Medicine program directors and 2,535 American Board of Pediatrics Pediatric Critical Care Medicine diplomates. INTERVENTIONS: A practice analysis document, which identifies the full breadth of knowledge and skill required for the practice of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, was developed by a task force made up of seven pediatric intensivists and a psychometrician. The document was circulated to all 75 Pediatric Critical Care Medicine fellowship program directors for review and comment and their feedback informed modifications to the draft document. Concurrently, data from creation of the practice analysis draft document were also used to update the Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, was developed by a task force made up of seven pediatric intensivists and a psychometrician. The document was circulated to all 75 Pediatrics Pediatric Critical Care Medicine fellowship program directors for review and comment and their feedback informed modifications to the draft document. Concurrently, data from creation of the practice analysis draft document were also used to update the Pediatric Critical Care Medicine content outline, which was sent to all 2,535 American Board of Pediatrics Pediatric Critical Care Medicine diplomates for review during an open-comment period between January 2019 and February 2019, and diplomate feedback was used to make updates to both the content outline and the practice analysis document. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: After review and comment by 25 Pediatric Critical Care Medicine program directors (33.3%) and 619 board-certified diplomates (24.4%), a comprehensive practice analysis document was created through a two-stage process. The final practice analysis includes 10 performance domains which parallel previously published Entrustable Professional Activities in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine. These performance domains are made up of between three and eight specific tasks, with each task including the critical knowledge and skills that are necessary for successful completion. The final practice analysis document was also used by the American Board of Pediatrics Pediatric Critical Care Medicine Sub-board to update the Pediatric Critical Care Medicine content outline. CONCLUSIONS: A systematic approach to practice analysis, with stakeholder engagement, is essential for an accurate definition of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine practice in its totality. This collaborative process resulted in a dynamic document useful in guiding curriculum development for training programs, maintenance of certification, and lifetime professional development to enable safe and efficient patient care.

Transfer hospitalizations for pediatric severe sepsis or septic shock: resource use and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is a major cause of child mortality and morbidity. To enhance outcomes, children with severe sepsis or septic shock often require escalated care for organ support, sometimes necessitating interhospital transfer. The association between transfer admission for the care of pediatric severe sepsis or septic shock and in-hospital patient survival and resource use is poorly understood. METHODS: Retrospective study of children 0-20 years old hospitalized for severe sepsis or septic shock, using the 2012 Kids' Inpatient Database. After descriptive and bivariate analysis, multivariate regression methods assessed the independent relationship between transfer status and outcomes of in-hospital mortality, duration of hospitalization, and hospital charges, after adjustment for potential confounders including illness severity. RESULTS: Of an estimated 11,922 hospitalizations (with transfer information) for pediatric severe sepsis and septic shock nationally in 2012, 25% were transferred, most often to urban teaching hospitals. Compared to non-transferred children, transferred children were younger, and had a higher frequency of extreme illness severity (84% vs. 75%, p < .01), and of multiple organ dysfunction (32% vs. 24%, p < .01). They also had higher use of invasive medical devices including arterial catheters, invasive mechanical ventilation, and central venous catheters; and of specialized technology, including renal replacement therapy (6.2% vs. 4.6%, p < .01) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (5.7% vs. 1.8%, p < .01). Transferred children had longer hospitalization and accrued higher charges than non-transferred children (p < .01). Crude mortality was higher among transferred than non-transferred children (21.4% vs.15.0%, p < .01), a difference no longer statistically significant after multivariate adjustment for potential confounders (Odds Ratio:1.04, 95% Confidence interval: 0.88-1.24). Similarly, adjusted length of hospital stay and hospital charges were not statistically different by transfer status. CONCLUSION: One in four children with severe sepsis or septic shock required interhospital transfer for specialized care associated with greater use of invasive medical devices and specialized technology. Despite higher crude mortality and resource consumption among transferred children, adjusted mortality and resource use did not differ by transfer status. Further research should identify quality-of-care factors at the receiving hospitals that influence clinical outcomes and resource use.

Interhospital Transfer of Children in Septic Shock: A Clinician Interview Qualitative Study.

OBJECTIVE:: To determine the factors that influence the decision to transfer children in septic shock from level II to level I pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) care. DESIGN:: Interviews with level II PICU physicians in Michigan and Northwest Ohio. A hypothetical scenario of a 14-year-old boy in septic shock was presented. BASELINE:: 40 mL/kg fluid resuscitation, central venous and peripheral arterial access, and high-dose vasopressor infusions were provided. ESCALATION POINT:: After 2 hours. When the patient is in catecholamine-resistant shock and oliguric, invasive mechanical ventilation is initiated. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:: All 19 eligible physicians participated. At baseline, respondents would assess measures of perfusion and hemodynamics: blood pressure (BP; 15 [79%]), lactate (12 [63%]), and central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2; 10 [53%]). Poor clinical response was signified by low BP (11 [58%]), elevated lactate (9 [47%]), low urine output (8 [42%]), and low ScvO2 (6 [32%]). At the escalation point, 13 of 18 respondents felt there was <50% probability of clinical turnaround without escalating treatment, though only 3 (16%) would call to discuss transfer. Seven (37%) respondents would give more fluid, whereas 8 (42%) would use central venous pressure to guide fluid resuscitation. Ultimately, 15 (79%) respondents would transfer for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or renal replacement therapy if there was no response to escalated care. Four (21%) respondents would not transfer the patient: 1 felt appropriate care could be provided in the level II PICU, 2 felt transfer was unconventional, and 1 was unaware ECMO could be provided in refractory septic shock. CONCLUSIONS:: Level II to level I PICU transfer of children with septic shock is triggered by perceived nonresponse to locally available therapies. Few referring physicians do not transfer children in refractory septic shock. This study provides new insight into decision-making that influences the interhospital transfer of children with septic shock.

Should Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Be Offered? An International Survey.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the current attitudes of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) program directors regarding eligibility for ECMO among children with cardiopulmonary failure. STUDY DESIGN: Electronic cross-sectional survey of ECMO program directors at ECMO centers worldwide within the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization directory (October 2015-December 2015). RESULTS: Of 733 eligible respondents, 226 (31%) completed the survey, 65% of whom routinely cared for pediatric patients. There was wide variability in whether respondents would offer ECMO to any of the 5 scenario patients, ranging from 31% who would offer ECMO to a child with trisomy 18 to 76% who would offer ECMO to a child with prolonged cardiac arrest and indeterminate neurologic status. Even physicians practicing the same specialty sometimes held widely divergent opinions, with 50% of pediatric intensivists stating they would offer ECMO to a child with severe developmental delay and 50% stating they would not. Factors such as quality of life and neurologic status influenced decision making and were used to support decisions for and against offering ECMO. CONCLUSIONS: ECMO program directors vary widely in whether they would offer ECMO to various children with cardiopulmonary failure. This heterogeneity in physician decision making underscores the need for more evidence that could eventually inform interinstitutional guidelines regarding patient selection for ECMO.

Epidemiology and Outcomes of Pediatric Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the epidemiology and outcomes of children with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome as part of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development multiple organ dysfunction syndrome workshop (March 26-27, 2015). DATA SOURCES: Literature review, research data, and expert opinion. STUDY SELECTION: Not applicable. DATA EXTRACTION: Moderated by an experienced expert from the field, issues relevant to the epidemiology and outcomes of children with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome were presented, discussed, and debated with a focus on identifying knowledge gaps and research priorities. DATA SYNTHESIS: Summary of presentations and discussion supported and supplemented by the relevant literature. CONCLUSIONS: A full understanding the epidemiology and outcome of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in children is limited by inconsistent definitions and populations studied. Nonetheless, pediatric multiple organ dysfunction syndrome is common among PICU patients, occurring in up to 57% depending on the population studied; sepsis remains its leading cause. Pediatric multiple organ dysfunction syndrome leads to considerable short-term morbidity and mortality. Long-term outcomes of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in children have not been well studied; however, studies of adults and children with other critical illnesses suggest that the risk of long-term adverse sequelae is high. Characterization of the long-term outcomes of pediatric multiple organ dysfunction syndrome is crucial to identify opportunities for improved treatment and recovery strategies that will improve the quality of life of critically ill children and their families. The workshop identified important knowledge gaps and research priorities intended to promote the development of standard definitions and the identification of modifiable factors related to its occurrence and outcome.

Availability of Automated External Defibrillators in Public High Schools.

OBJECTIVES: To assess automated external defibrillator (AED) distribution and cardiac emergency preparedness in Michigan secondary schools and investigate for association with school sociodemographic characteristics. STUDY DESIGN: Surveys were sent via electronic mail to representatives from all public high schools in 30 randomly selected Michigan counties, stratified by population. Association of AED-related factors with school sociodemographic characteristics were evaluated using Wilcoxon rank sum test and χ(2) test, as appropriate. RESULTS: Of 188 schools, 133 (71%) responded to the survey and all had AEDs. Larger student population was associated with fewer AEDs per 100 students (P < .0001) and fewer staff with AED training per AED (P = .02), compared with smaller schools. Schools with >20% students from racial minority groups had significantly fewer AEDs available per 100 students than schools with less racial diversity (P = .03). Schools with more students eligible for free and reduced lunch were less likely to have a cardiac emergency response plan (P = .02) and demonstrated less frequent AED maintenance (P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Although AEDs are available at public high schools across Michigan, the number of AEDs per student varies inversely with minority student population and school size. Unequal distribution of AEDs and lack of cardiac emergency preparedness may contribute to outcomes of sudden cardiac arrest among youth.

Association of hospital-level volume of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cases and mortality. Analysis of the extracorporeal life support organization registry.

RATIONALE: Recent pediatric studies suggest a survival benefit exists for higher-volume extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) centers. OBJECTIVES: To determine if higher annual ECMO patient volume is associated with lower case-mix-adjusted hospital mortality rate. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed an international registry of ECMO support from 1989 to 2013. Patients were separated into three age groups: neonatal (0-28 d), pediatric (29 d to <18 yr), and adult (≥18 yr). The measure of hospital ECMO volume was age group-specific and adjusted for patient-level case-mix and hospital-level variance using multivariable hierarchical logistic regression modeling. The primary outcome was death before hospital discharge. A subgroup analysis was conducted for 2008-2013. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: From 1989 to 2013, a total of 290 centers provided ECMO support to 56,222 patients (30,909 neonates, 14,725 children, and 10,588 adults). Annual ECMO mortality rates varied widely across ECMO centers: the interquartile range was 18-50% for neonates, 25-66% for pediatrics, and 33-92% for adults. For 1989-2013, higher age group-specific ECMO volume was associated with lower odds of ECMO mortality for neonates and adults but not for pediatric cases. In 2008-2013, the volume-outcome association remained statistically significant only among adults. Patients receiving ECMO at hospitals with more than 30 adult annual ECMO cases had significantly lower odds of mortality (adjusted odds ratio, 0.61; 95% confidence interval, 0.46-0.80) compared with adults receiving ECMO at hospitals with less than six annual cases. CONCLUSIONS: In this international, case-mix-adjusted analysis, higher annual hospital ECMO volume was associated with lower mortality in 1989-2013 for neonates and adults; the association among adults persisted in 2008-2013.

Therapeutic plasma exchange may improve hemodynamics and organ failure among children with sepsis-induced multiple organ dysfunction syndrome receiving extracorporeal life support.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of therapeutic plasma exchange on hemodynamics, organ failure, and survival in children with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome due to sepsis requiring extracorporeal life support. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis. SETTING: A PICU in an academic children's hospital. PATIENTS: Fourteen consecutive children with sepsis and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome who received therapeutic plasma exchange while on extracorporeal life support from 2005 to 2013. INTERVENTIONS: Median of three cycles of therapeutic plasma exchange with median of 1.0 times the estimated plasma volume per exchange. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Organ Failure Index and Vasoactive-Inotropic Score were measured before and after therapeutic plasma exchange use. PICU survival in our cohort was 71.4%. Organ Failure Index decreased in patients following therapeutic plasma exchange (mean ± SD: pre, 4.1 ± 0.7 vs post, 2.9 ± 0.9; p = 0.0004). Patients showed improved Vasoactive-Inotropic Score following therapeutic plasma exchange (median [25th-75th]: pre, 24.5 [13.0-69.8] vs post, 5.0 [1.5-7.0]; p = 0.0002). Among all patients, the change in Organ Failure Index was greater for early therapeutic plasma exchange use than late use (early, -1.7 ± 1.2 vs late, -0.9 ± 0.6; p = 0.14), similar to the change in Vasoactive-Inotropic Score (early, -67.5 [28.0-171.2] vs late, -12.0 [7.2-18.5]; p = 0.02). Among survivors, the change in Organ Failure Index was greater among early therapeutic plasma exchange use than late use (early, -2.3 ± 1.0 vs late, -0.8 ± 0.8; p = 0.03), as was the change in Vasoactive-Inotropic Score (early, -42.0 [16.0-76.3] vs late, -12.0 [5.3-29.0]; p = 0.17). The mean duration of extracorporeal life support after therapeutic plasma exchange according to timing of therapeutic plasma exchange was not statistically different among all patients or among survivors. CONCLUSIONS: The use of therapeutic plasma exchange in children on extracorporeal life support with sepsis-induced multiple organ dysfunction syndrome is associated with organ failure recovery and improved hemodynamic status. Initiating therapeutic plasma exchange early in the hospital course was associated with greater improvement in organ dysfunction and decreased requirement for vasoactive and/or inotropic agents.

Epidemiology of Acute Respiratory Failure in US Children: Outcomes and Resource Use.

OBJECTIVE: Acute respiratory failure recalcitrant to conventional management often requires specialized organ-supportive technologies to optimize outcomes. Variation in the availability of these technologies prompted testing of the hypothesis that outcomes and resource use will vary by not only patient characteristics but also hospital characteristics and receipt of organ-supportive technology. METHODS: Retrospective study of children 0 to 20 years old hospitalized for acute respiratory failure using the 2019 Kids' Inpatient Database. Multivariable regression models identified factors associated with mortality, length of hospitalization, and costs. RESULTS: Of an estimated 75 365 hospitalizations nationally, 97% were to urban teaching hospitals, 57% were of children < 6 years, and 58% were of males. Complex chronic conditions (CCC) existed in 62%, multiorgan dysfunction in 35%, and extreme illness severity in 54%. Mortality was 7%, length of stay 15 days, and hospital costs $77 168. Elevated mortality was associated with cumulative organ dysfunction (odds ratio [OR]:2.31, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.22-2.42), CCC (OR: 5.49, 95% CI: 4.73-6.37), transfer, higher illness severity, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Lower mortality was associated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (OR: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.28-0.47) and new tracheostomy (OR: 0.30, 95% CI: 0.25-0.35). Longer hospitalization was associated with transfer, infancy, CCC, higher illness severity, cumulative organ dysfunction, and urban hospitals. Higher costs accrued with noninfants, cumulative organ dysfunction, private insurance, and urban teaching hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalizations for pediatric acute respiratory failure incurred substantial mortality and resource consumption. Efforts to reduce mortality and resource consumption should address interhospital transfer, access to organ-supportive technology, and drivers of higher severity-adjusted resource consumption at urban hospitals.

The 2022-2023 Pediatric Respiratory Illness Surge: Survey of Acute and Critical Care Resource Use.

OBJECTIVE: A surge of pediatric respiratory illnesses beset the United States in late 2022 and early 2023. This study evaluated within-surge hospital acute and critical care resource availability and utilization. The study aimed to determine pediatric hospital acute and critical care resource use during a respiratory illness surge. METHODS: Between January and February 2023, an online survey was sent to the sections of hospital medicine and critical care of the American Academy of Pediatrics, community discussion forums of the Children's Hospital Association, and PedSCCM-a pediatric critical care website. Data were summarized with median values and interquartile range. RESULTS: Across 35 hospitals with pediatric intensive care units (PICU), increase in critical care resource use was significant. In the month preceding the survey, 26 (74%) hospitals diverted patients away from their emergency department (ED) to other hospitals, with 46% diverting 1-5 patients, 23% diverting 6-10 patients, and 31% diverting more than 10 patients. One in 5 hospitals reported moving patients on mechanical ventilation from the PICU to other settings, including the ED (n = 2), intermediate care unit (n = 2), cardiac ICU (n = 1), ward converted to an ICU (n = 1), and a ward (n = 1). Utilization of human critical care resources was high, with PICU faculty, nurses, and respiratory therapists working at 100% capacity. CONCLUSIONS: The respiratory illness surge triggered significant hospital resource use and diversion of patients away from hospitals. Pediatric public health emergency-preparedness should innovate around resource capacity.

A Tale of 8 Cities: Pediatric Critical Care Redeployment to Adult Care During Wave 1 of COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric hospital resources including critical care faculty (intensivists) redeployed to provide care to adults in adult ICUs or repurposed PICUs during wave 1 of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. OBJECTIVES: To determine the magnitude of pediatric hospital resource redeployment and the experience of pediatric intensivists who redeployed to provide critical care to adults with COVID-19. METHODS: A mixed methods study was conducted at 9 hospitals in 8 United States cities where pediatric resources were redeployed to provide care to critically ill adults with COVID-19. A survey of redeployed pediatric hospital resources and semistructured interviews of 40 redeployed pediatric intensivists were simultaneously conducted. Quantitative data were summarized as median (interquartile range) values. RESULTS: At study hospitals, there was expansion in adult ICU beds from a baseline median of 100 (86-107) to 205 (108-250). The median proportion (%) of redeployed faculty (88; 66-100), nurses (46; 10-100), respiratory therapists (48; 18-100), invasive ventilators (72; 0-100), and PICU beds (71; 0-100) was substantial. Though driven by a desire to help, faculty were challenged by unfamiliar ICU settings and culture, lack of knowledge of COVID-19 and fear of contracting it, limited supplies, exhaustion, and restricted family visitation. They recommended deliberate preparedness with interprofessional collaboration and cross-training, and establishment of a robust supply chain infrastructure for future public health emergencies and will redeploy again if asked. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric resource redeployment was substantial and pediatric intensivists faced formidable challenges yet would readily redeploy again.

Pediatric high-impact conditions in the United States: retrospective analysis of hospitalizations and associated resource use.

BACKGROUND: Child mortality in the United States has decreased over time, with advance in biomedicine. Little is known about patterns of current pediatric health care delivery for children with the leading causes of child death (high-impact conditions). We described patient and hospital characteristics, and hospital resource use, among children hospitalized with high-impact conditions, according to illness severity. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of children 0-18 years of age, hospitalized with discharge diagnoses of the ten leading causes of child death, excluding diagnoses not amenable to hospital care, using the 2006 version of the Kid's Inpatient Database. National estimates of average and cumulative hospital length of stay and total charges were compared between types of hospitals according to patient illness severity, which was measured using all-patient refined diagnosis related group severity classification into minor-moderate, major, and extreme severity. RESULTS: There were an estimated 3,084,548 child hospitalizations nationally for high-impact conditions in 2006, distributed evenly among hospital types. Most (84.4%) had minor-moderate illness severity, 12.2% major severity, and 3.4% were extremely ill. Most (64%) of the extremely ill were hospitalized at children's hospitals. Mean hospital stay was longest among the extremely ill (32.8 days), compared with major (9.8 days, p < 0.0001), or minor-moderate (3.4 days, p < 0.001) illness severity. Mean total hospital charges for the extremely ill were also significantly higher than for hospitalizations with major or minor-moderate severity. Among the extremely ill, more frequent hospitalization at children's hospitals resulted in higher annual cumulative charges among children's hospitals ($ 7.4 billion), compared with non-children teaching hospitals ($ 3.2 billion, p = 0.023), and non-children's non-teaching hospitals ($ 1.5 billion, p < 0.001). Cumulative annual length of hospital stay followed the same pattern, according to hospital type. CONCLUSION: Gradation of increasing illness severity among children hospitalized for high-impact conditions was associated with concomitantly increased resource consumption. These findings have significant implications for children's hospitals which appear to accrue the highest resource use burden due to preferential hospitalization of the most severely ill at these hospitals.

Intracranial pressure/cerebral perfusion pressure-targeted management of life-threatening intracranial hypertension complicating diabetic ketoacidosis-associated cerebral edema: a case report.

Symptomatic cerebral edema from diabetic ketoacidosis occurs infrequently but carries a high rate of mortality and morbidity owing to complications from intracranial hypertension. Treatment options are limited but include hyperosmolar therapy with mannitol or hypertonic saline, tracheal intubation for airway protection, and hyperventilation via mechanical ventilation. We describe here the successful use of an intracranial pressure/cerebral perfusion pressure-targeted management strategy through ventriculostomy catheter placement with intracranial pressure monitoring and cerebrospinal fluid drainage, hyperosmolar therapy with hypertonic saline, and controlled hyperventilation to treat life-threatening complications of cerebral edema in a pediatric patient with severe diabetic ketoacidosis.

Patterns of Organ Dysfunction in Critically Ill Children Based on PODIUM Criteria.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to determine the incidence, prognostic performance, and generalizability of the Pediatric Organ Dysfunction Information Update Mandate (PODIUM) organ dysfunction criteria using electronic health record (EHR) data. Additionally, we sought to compare the performance of the PODIUM criteria with the organ dysfunction criteria proposed by the 2005 International Pediatric Sepsis Consensus Conference (IPSCC). METHODS: Retrospective observational cohort study of critically ill children at 2 medical centers in the United States between 2010 and 2018. We assessed prevalence of organ dysfunction based on the PODIUM and IPSCC criteria for each 24-hour period from admission to 28 days. We studied the prognostic performance of the criteria to discriminate in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: Overall, 22 427 PICU admissions met inclusion criteria, and in-hospital mortality was 2.3%. The cumulative incidence of each PODIUM organ dysfunction ranged from 15% to 30%, with an in-hospital mortality of 6% to 10% for most organ systems. The number of concurrent PODIUM organ dysfunctions demonstrated good-to-excellent discrimination for in-hospital mortality (area under the curve 0.87-0.93 for day 1 through 28) and compared favorably to the IPSCC criteria (area under the curve 0.84-0.92, P < .001 to P = .06). CONCLUSIONS: We present the first evaluation of the PODIUM organ dysfunction criteria in 2 EHR databases. The use of the PODIUM organ dysfunction criteria appears promising for epidemiologic and clinical research studies using EHR data. More studies are needed to evaluate the PODIUM criteria that are not routinely collected in structured format in EHR databases.

Intracranial pressure monitoring in childhood meningitis with coma: a national survey of neurosurgeons in the United States.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the beliefs and attitudes of U.S. neurosurgeons regarding the use of intracranial pressure monitors among comatose children with meningitis. DESIGN AND SETTING: A questionnaire was administered by mail between March and July 2009, to a random sample of 500 adult neurosurgeons and to all 228 pediatric neurosurgeons in the Congress of Neurologic Surgeons. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The response rate was 60%. Abnormal computed tomography scans, either with brain swelling or hydrocephalus, and older child age were likely to prompt neurosurgeons to consider monitoring intracranial pressure, whereas etiology of meningitis did not impact the decision to monitor intracranial pressure. Fifty-two percent of neurosurgeons believed computed tomography scans were inaccurate in detecting elevated intracranial pressure in comatose children with meningitis, 22% believed otherwise, and 26% were uncertain. Only 25% of neurosurgeons felt there was sufficient medical evidence to monitor intracranial pressure in comatose children with meningitis, with higher frequency among adult than pediatric (30% vs. 16%; p < .01) neurosurgeons. Eighty-one percent of neurosurgeons disagreed with the notion that comatose children with meningitis were too ill to benefit from placement of intracranial pressure monitors. Pediatric neurosurgeons reported a higher frequency than adult neurosurgeons of having placed more (more than five) intracranial pressure monitors in comatose children with meningitis (42% vs. 28%; p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Most neurosurgeons are willing to consider monitoring intracranial pressure among comatose children with meningitis in the presence of abnormal findings on computed tomography scan and with older patient age. These findings are instructive in view of the current uncertainty and equipoise in clinical practice regarding intracranial pressure monitoring in these critically ill children.

Comorbid illnesses among critically ill hospitalized children: Impact on hospital resource use and mortality, 1997-2006.

OBJECTIVES: To describe and compare hospital resource use and in-hospital mortality among critically ill hospitalized children according to comorbid illness status. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of administrative data with generation of national estimates. SETTING: None. PATIENTS: Hospitalized children 0 to 18 yrs old with receipt of critical care services between 1997 and 2006. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: There were 24,954 and 45,521 child hospitalizations with receipt of critical care services nationally in 1997 and 2006, respectively. In 1997, 35% of these hospitalizations had comorbid illnesses and 65% of these were in teaching hospitals. In 2006, 41% of critical care hospitalizations had comorbid illnesses, and 82% were in teaching hospitals. Cardiovascular diseases were the most common comorbid illnesses in 1997 (18%) and 2006 (22%). Mortality was significantly higher among patients with comorbid illness versus those without in 1997 (12.5% vs. 8.6%; p < .01) and in 2006 (10.8% vs. 7.8%; p < .01). Critically ill patients with comorbid illness vs. those without had significantly longer hospital stay in 1997 (30 days vs. 15 days; p < .01) and in 2006 (26 days vs. 14 days; p < .01). Corresponding charges were also significantly higher in the presence of comorbid illnesses vs. without, in 1997 ($131,203 vs. $62,070; p < .01) and in 2006 ($141,586 vs. $70,532; p < .01), expressed in 2006 U.S dollars. Across the 10-yr study period, hospital mortality was higher and hospital resource use greater among children with comorbid illness than children without. CONCLUSIONS: Among pediatric hospitalizations requiring use of critical care services, comorbid illness was associated with significantly higher in-hospital mortality and significantly greater hospital resource use pattern predominantly occurring in teaching hospitals. Policymaking regarding child critical care service delivery should anticipate exacerbation of these trends in the future, which have implications for bed availability and the overall acuity level in critical care settings.