ADHD prescription patterns and medication adherence in children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic in an urban academic setting.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 impacted all students, especially those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), putting them at risk for disruption to their medication regimen and school performance. Our study aimed to identify if ADHD medication regimens were disrupted through analyzing prescription refills and if telehealth management demonstrated a higher rate of adherence. METHODS: A total of 396 patients from the General Academic Pediatrics (GAP) clinic at Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters (CHKD) were included in the study. Patients were between the ages of 8-18 with a history of ADHD for three or more years that was medically managed with four or more prescription refills between January 2019 and May 2022. A retrospective chart review collected age, sex, race, refill schedule, appointment schedule, and number of telehealth appointments. Data analysis compared the variables and defined "pre-pandemic months" as January 2019 through March 2020 and "pandemic months" as April 2020 through June 2022. RESULTS: The total percentage of patients who had their ADHD medications during pre-pandemic months ranged from 40 to 66% versus 31-44% during pandemic months. Additionally, the total percentage of patients who had quarterly ADHD management appointments during pre-pandemic months ranged between 59 and 70% versus 33-50% during pandemic months. The number of months with ADHD prescription refills over the last three years was significantly higher among those who had both virtual and in-person visits than those who had just in-person visits, p < 0.001. Regarding race, Black patients had a lower number of medication refills compared to White patients when controlled for appointment type. They also had a lower number of total appointments, but there was not a significant difference in the number of virtual appointments. CONCLUSIONS: Since the start of the pandemic, ADHD patients have both refilled their prescriptions and returned to clinic less frequently. This data suggests a need to re-evaluate the ADHD symptoms of GAP patients periodically and return them to a more consistent medication regimen. Telehealth appointments are a potential solution to increase adherence. However, racial inequities found in this study need to be addressed.

Decreased Cerebral Oxygenation in Premature Infants with Progressive Posthemorrhagic Ventricular Dilatation May Help with Timing of Intervention.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the degree of progressive posthemorrhagic ventricular dilatation (PHVD) that is associated with a significant decrease in regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rScO2) in premature infants at risk for periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (PIVH). STUDY DESIGN: Cranial ultrasound (US) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) measurements of rScO2 were performed on inborn infants with birth weights less than 1,250 g on admission and at 1, 4, and 8 weeks of age. Infants with severe PIVH were studied weekly. A 1-hour average of rScO2 was compared with the frontal-occipital horn ratio (FOHR) measured the same day. Generalized linear models were used to analyze the relationship between FOHR and rScO2, by severity of PIVH, and adjusted for gestational age. Cut-off points of 0.55 for FOHR and 45% for rScO2 were used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: The study cohort included 63 infants with normal US, 15 with grade-1 or -2 PIVH (mild group), and 21 with grade-3 or -4 PIVH (severe group). Increases in FOHR in the severe group were associated with decreases in rScO2 at 1 week (p = 0.036), 4 weeks (p = 0.013), and 8 weeks of life (p = 0.001) compared with the normal and mild groups. Infants with FOHR greater than 0.55 were 92% more likely to have rScO2 less than 45% when compared with infants with FOHR less than 0.55 (OR = 0.08, 95% CI: [0.04, 0.13], p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Progressive PHVD (FOHR > 0.55) is a strong predictor of compromised cerebral oxygenation. A combination of rScO2 and FOHR measurements may aid in identifying infants with PHVD that would benefit from early intervention. KEY POINTS: · Earlier intervention in PHVD may improve outcomes.. · PHVD is diagnosed with US measurements of ventricular size.. · FOHR > 0.55 is associated with decreased cerebral perfusion..

Transfers From a Pediatric Urgent Care to an Academic Pediatric Emergency Department.

OBJECTIVES: Patient transfers from outpatient urgent care centers are common occurrences in a pediatric emergency department (ED). A previous study done at our institution evaluated the clinical appropriateness of transfers from general urgent care centers into our pediatric ED, showing that a significant proportion (27%) of such transfers were discharged home with minimal ED resource utilization. This study investigated the hypothesis that transfers to a pediatric ED from a pediatric urgent care have higher rates of ED resource utilization when compared with patients transferred from general urgent care centers. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was completed during an 11-month period on all patients transferred from a pediatric urgent care center to the pediatric ED. Demographic, diagnoses, reason for transfer, ED resource utilization, ED disposition, and 72-hour ED return data were collected from the electronic medical record. Each encounter was classified as acute or nonacute based on previously established resource utilization criteria. This data were then compared with findings from a prior study of transfers from all urgent care centers to our institution's pediatric ED. RESULTS: A total of 240 patients met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 160 (66.7%) were discharged from the ED. Twenty-six (10.8%) of the transferred patients met the nonacute transfer criteria. The odds of nonacute transfer from pediatric urgent care were 0.66 times lower than from general urgent care (odds ratio, 0.34; 95% confidence interval, 0.18-0.93). CONCLUSIONS: A significantly lower proportion of transfers from the pediatric urgent care center were classified as nonacute, as compared with transfers from general urgent care centers. This suggests that the pediatric urgent care model may help to reduce the number of nonacute ED visits, thus producing cost savings and better patient care.

Evaluating the Implementation Barriers of an Intranasal Fentanyl Pain Pathway for Pediatric Long-Bone Fractures.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess physician comfort, knowledge, and implementation barriers regarding the use of intranasal fentanyl (INF) for pain management in patients with long-bone fractures in a pediatric emergency department (ED) with an INF pain pathway. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients, 3 to 21 years old, in our ED with an International Classification of Diseases-9th Revision code for a long-bone fracture from September 1, 2013, to August 31, 2015. Patients were divided into 4 groups: (1) received INF on the pathway appropriately; (2) "missed opportunities" to receive INF, defined as either INF was ordered and then subsequently canceled (for pain ratings, ≥6/10), or INF was ordered, cancelled, and intravenous (IV) morphine given, or INF was not ordered and a peripheral IV line was placed to give IV morphine as first-line medication; (3) peripheral IV established upon ED arrival; (4) no pain medication required. Additionally, a survey regarding practice habits for pain management was completed to evaluate physician barriers to utilization of the pathway. RESULTS: A total of 1374 patients met the inclusion criteria. Missed opportunities were identified 41% of the time. Neither younger patient age nor more years of physician experience in the ED were associated with increased rates of missed opportunities. The survey (95% response rate) revealed greater comfort with and preference for IV morphine over INF. CONCLUSIONS: The high rate of missed opportunities, despite the implementation of an INF pain pathway, indicates the need for further exploration of the barriers to utilization of the INF pain pathway.

Secondhand Smoke Exposure Measured in Urinary Cotinine Levels and Severity of Pediatric Sleep Apnea.

Importance: Exposure to secondhand smoke has been associated with numerous health problems in children, including obstructive sleep apnea. Secondhand smoke exposure may be a risk factor for increased pediatric sleep apnea severity. Objectives: To assess the association of secondhand smoke exposure (SHSe), quantified by urinary cotinine levels, with severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children. Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a prospective cohort trial including pediatric patients from 3 to 16 years of age with sleep-disordered breathing who underwent a polysomnogram at a tertiary-level children's hospital in the US in either March 2014 to October 2016 or March 2020 to March 2021. Urine specimens were analyzed for cotinine, an important metabolite of nicotine. Each child's caregiver completed a validated SHSe questionnaire. Data were analyzed from February to June 2023. Exposure: OSA and secondhand smoke. Main Outcome and Measures: SHSe and severity of pediatric OSA, quantified by urinary cotinine levels and obstructive apnea hypopnea index (AHI) scores. Secondary outcomes were association of urinary cotinine levels with nadir oxygen saturation, sleep-related quality of life measured by the OSA-18 questionnaire, and caregiver-reported smoking habits (collected through a questionnaire). Results: The study included 116 patients with a median (IQR) age of 6 (5-9) years, among whom 51 (45%) had obesity. The median (IQR) AHI was 3.0 (1.2-8.0), with 28 children (30.0%) having severe disease (AHI >10). Thirty-four children (29.0%) were found to have a positive result for urine cotinine screening, with a mean (SD) level of 11.7 (9.4) ng/mL. The percentage of children with SHSe was less than anticipated. There was no association identified between urinary cotinine levels and either AHI (ρ = -0.04; 95% CI, -0.22 to 0.15) or nadir oxygen saturation (ρ = -0.07; 95% CI, -0.26 to 0.11). Furthermore, SHSe was not associated with the presence of severe OSA (odds ratio, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.26 to 1.90). Children whose caregivers reported indoor SHSe were more likely to have a detectable urinary cotinine level (odds ratio, 20.3; 95% CI, 6.67 to 61.8). Conclusions and Relevance: This cohort study did not identify any clinically meaningful association between SHSe, quantified by urinary cotinine level, and pediatric OSA severity. Future research with a larger number of children with SHSe is needed to confirm these findings and determine whether SHSe affects OSA treatment outcomes in children.

Vitamin D Deficiency and Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea Severity.

Importance: Prior research has demonstrated an association between vitamin D deficiency and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults; however, its association with pediatric OSA is emerging. Objective: To evaluate the association of vitamin D levels with obstructive Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) in children with OSA. Design, Settings, and Participants: This was a cross-sectional study of children aged 2 to 16 years with severe obstructive OSA (AHI ≥20 on polysomnogram) who were undergoing adenotonsillectomy at a tertiary care pediatric otolaryngology clinic from 2017 to 2022. Age, sex, race, body mass index, history of asthma, and season were considered in the analyses. Data were analyzed from September 3, 2021, to October 8, 2021. Main Outcomes and Measures: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels were measured and assessed for correlation with polysomnography metrics. Fasting blood samples were collected and vitamin D deficiency was defined as 25(OH)D level less than 20 ng/mL. Results: The consecutive sample included 72 patients (mean [SD] age, 6.7 [3.9] years; 34 [47.2%] females and 38 [52.8%] males). The mean (SD) AHI was 42.8 (25.5), and 35 participants (49.0%) had obesity. Vitamin D deficiency was present in 27 participants (37.5%). In univariate analysis, vitamin D deficiency was associated with younger age (difference, -5.0; 95% CI, -7.2 to -2.8), Black race (odds ratio [OR], 4.3; 95% CI, 1.4 to 14.3), female sex (OR, 4.8; 95% CI, 1.7 to 12.5), and higher obstructive AHI (difference, 13.8; 95% CI, 1.2 to 26.4). In multivariable analysis, vitamin D deficiency remained significantly associated with AHI. A 1.0-unit decrease in serum 25(OH)D levels was associated with an AHI increase of 0.7 (95% CI, 0.04 to 1.40). Conclusions: The findings of this cross-sectional study indicate that vitamin D deficiency was common in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy for severe OSA and is significantly associated with increased OSA severity. Future research is needed on vitamin D supplementation and its association with any improvements in pediatric OSA treatment outcomes.

A Multidisciplinary Assessment of Standard Low Dose Versus Ultra-low Dose Chest CT Scans for Pectus Excavatum Imaging.

AIM: Evaluation of ultra-low dose chest CT imaging for the assessment of pectus excavatum severity as determined by pediatric radiologists and pediatric surgeons using Haller (HI) and Correction indices (CI). METHODS: A single institution, prospective evaluation of patients being evaluated for pectus excavatum were scanned with a standard low-dose chest CT protocol (CARE) followed by a consecutive ultra-low dose CT scan (ULTRA). 3 surgeons and 4 radiologists were instructed to determine HI and CI in each series. The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) was used to calculate the agreement level between CARE and ULTRA. Bland-Altman (BA) and scatter plots were also performed to determine bias of each approach. RESULTS: 32 patients had CARE and ULTRA consecutively. The ICC for HI demonstrated good reliability with a value of 0.89 and excellent reliability for CI with a value of 0.91. The reliability for HI was greater in the surgeon group (0.89) compared to the radiologist group (0.88). The reliability for CI was greater in the radiologist group (0.92) compared to the surgeon group (0.90). The Bland Altman plots for the HI and CI demonstrate no consistent bias for CARE or ULTRA approach when evaluating HI and CI. CONCLUSION: Ultra-low dose CT scan imaging compared to standard low-dose CT appears to be a reliable alternative for evaluating PE severity as assessed by HI and CI. This work supports the evaluation and potential development of a standardized CT imaging protocol capable of reducing radiation exposure without sacrificing imaging for PE patients.

Penile diameter during puberty in boys: a retrospective analysis of longitudinally obtained data.

OBJECTIVES: Tanner staging is the standard for rating sexual maturation (SMR) in boys (pubic hair (PH) and genital (G) development). G staging is tripartite in nature and is prone to ambiguity because it is based upon somewhat vague visual cues that may lead to erroneous assessments and medical errors. Measurement of penile growth (penile girth or diameter) may provide an additional tool (in addition to the orchidometer) to make G staging more valid. Although studies on penile growth (either circumference of width) have been reported, none were longitudinal. Therefore, our objective was to compare penile development in boys - measured as penile diameter (PD) - to PH stage and testicular volume (TV) and secondarily to G stage; moreover, to do so on a longitudinal basis. METHODS: Charts of 61 boys, ages 6-21 years of age, who were seen longitudinally, were reviewed. Each boy had his PD and TV measured along with his PH and G stage assessed on a quarterly to semi-annual basis. RESULTS: PD increased significantly among PH stages II, III, and IV only. PD increased significantly among G stages I, II, III and IV only. PD correlated well with TV. There were significant correlations between PD and TV in all PH stages. However, for G stage correlations were not significant for stages II, III, and IV. PH stage was a better predictor of PD than G stage. CONCLUSIONS: Measuring PD may be another tool to help in objectifying male SMR during puberty and overcome the vagueness encountered with the visual SMR G stage scales.

Symptoms of Cerebrospinal Shunt Malfunction in Young Children: A National Caregiver Survey.

Objective: This study aimed to describe shunt malfunction symptoms in children ≤5 years old. Results: In a national survey of 228 caregivers, vomiting (23.1%), irritability (20.8%), and sleepiness (17.2%) were the most frequent symptoms of malfunction. These symptoms also occurred in over 1/3 of "false alarms" experienced by 75% of respondents. Compared with malfunctions, irritability (OR = 1.39, 95% CI [1.05, 1.85], p = 0.022) and fever (OR = 2.22, 95% CI [1.44, 3.44], p < 0.001) were more likely false alarms. Caregivers counseled about "most" symptoms were more confident detecting malfunctions than those informed of "some" (p = 0.036). The majority of caregivers (85%) first contacted a neurosurgeon with concerns about malfunction, followed by neurologists (22%) and family/friends (19%). Most (85%) struggled to differentiate malfunction from regular development. Conclusions: Vomiting, irritability, and sleepiness were the most common symptoms of shunt malfunction and false alarms for children ≤5 years. Most caregivers reported challenges differentiating malfunctions from their child's development.

Life on the Frontlines: Caregiver Experience of Pediatric Cerebrospinal Shunt Malfunction.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to characterize the caregiver experience in the detection and evaluation of pediatric cerebrospinal shunt malfunction. METHODS: In this descriptive qualitative study, we recruited English-speaking caregivers of children aged five years or less in collaboration with a stakeholder organization. Semistructured interviews were completed; content targeted the caregiver experience of shunt malfunction. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and deidentified. Qualitative data were analyzed using a conventional content analysis approach. RESULTS: We enrolled 20 caregivers (n = 20 mothers). The median child age at the time of the interview was 2.8 years; about half (n = 11) were born prematurely and the majority (n = 15) had shunts placed at age less than six months. Caregiver experiences of shunt malfunction were grouped into three major themes: (1) my error could be life or death: the high stakes of shunt malfunction and the ambiguity of malfunction symptoms exacerbated baseline caregiver vigilance; (2) finding and engaging people who can help: hurdles during malfunction evaluation included locating trusted clinicians and advocating for parental intuition; and (3) how the shunt defines our family: caregivers described evolving expertise and modifications made to everyday life due to the threat of malfunction. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, caregivers highlighted the challenges associated with recognizing shunt malfunction, accessing necessary treatment, and the impact of their child's shunt on family life. Future work should leverage these findings to inform counseling about shunt malfunction, develop interventions to better support families in shunt malfunction identification, and educate medical providers.

Reducing physical restraints in pediatrics: A quality improvement mixed-methods analysis of implementing a clinical debriefing process after behavioural health emergencies in a Children's Hospital.

INTRODUCTION: An increasing number of pediatric patients with mental and behavioral health (MBH) conditions present to Emergency Department (ED) and inpatient settings with behavioral events that require physical restraint (PR). PR usage is associated with adverse outcomes. Clinical debriefing (CD) programs have been associated with improved performance but have not been studied in this population. After implementing an MBH-CD program in our Children's Hospital, we aimed to decrease the baseline (7/2018-3/2021) rate of a second PR episode (2PR) by 50 % in the ED and inpatient settings over two years. METHODS: A multidisciplinary team implemented an MBH-CD process in April 2021 for hospital teams to use immediately after behavioral events. We included patients ≤18 years old, with an ED or inpatient discharge MBH diagnosis, between July 2018 and June 2023. Pre- and post-implementation secondary outcomes included the ED median duration of PR and the ED PR time per 1000 h of ED care. ED and inpatient mean length of stay (LOS) and mean monthly visits (MMV) in pre- and post-implementation were also compared. Qualitative analysis identified major themes. RESULTS: Post-implementation, the ED significantly decreased 2PR rate by 67 %; in inpatients, no significant change was demonstrated. Median duration of ED PR decreased from 112 to 71 min (p = 0.006) and ED PR time significantly decreased by 82 % (14.8 to 2.7 h per 1000 h). In the post-implementation period, mean LOS (ED and inpatient) and MMV (ED only) were significantly higher. Fifty-one percent of 494 behavioral alerts were debriefed. Median debriefing duration was 6 min (IQR 4,10). Common themes included cooperation and coordination (23 %) and clinical standards (14 %). DISCUSSION: Clinical debriefing implementation was associated with significant improvement in ED patient outcomes. Inpatient outcomes were unchanged, but debriefings in both settings should enable frontline teams to continuously identify opportunities to improve future outcomes.

Changing temporal trends in patient volumes in a pediatric emergency department during a COVID-19 pandemic lockdown: A retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Emergency department (ED) teams have had to adjust limited staffing resources to meet the fluctuating levels of patient volume and acuity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Historically, Mondays have had the highest reported ED volumes. We are unaware of any studies reporting on the change of this Monday effect during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This retrospective, observational study of a single pediatric ED compared a pandemic lockdown period (3/23/2020-11/1/2020) with a seasonally comparative period (3/25/2019-11/3/2019). We compared the mean number of patients who arrived on Monday versus any other specific weekday (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday) and the aggregate of other weekdays (Tuesday to Friday) for both study periods. Secondary analyses investigated overall mean volumes, admission rates, and differences in triage acuity levels. RESULTS: There were 31,377 and 18,098 patients in the comparative and pandemic periods. The mean number of ED visits on Mondays in the comparative period was significantly more than any other weekday and the aggregate of weekdays (latter p<0.001). In contrast, there were no significant differences in the mean number of ED visits on Mondays in the pandemic period relative to any other weekday and the aggregate of weekdays (all p>0.05). The pandemic period had significantly lower mean volumes, higher admission rates, and more patients with higher acuity levels. CONCLUSION: The previously experienced Monday effect of increased relative ED patient volumes was not seen during the pandemic period. This change has operational implications for scheduling ED staffing resources. Larger database studies are needed to determine the generalizability of these findings.

Adenotonsillectomy outcomes in obese adolescents with obstructive sleep apnea.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: (1) To assess adenotonsillectomy (AT) outcomes in adolescents with obesity and with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA); (2) To identify clinical factors predicting OSA in adolescents following AT. METHODS: Adolescents 12 to 18 years old with obesity who underwent AT for OSA were included. Subjects had pre-AT and post-AT polysomnogram. Nonobese adolescents with OSA that underwent AT were included as a comparison. RESULTS: Seventy adolescents with obesity with a mean age of 14.2 years and a mean body mass index of 38.0 kg/m2 were included. Patients in the nonobese group (n = 32) were similar demographically to the obese group, with the exception of body mass index. The majority of adolescents with obesity (74%) had severe OSA (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] ≥ 10 events/h) with a mean baseline AHI of 33.9 events/h (standard deviation 28.5). The obese and control groups experienced clinically meaningful improvements in AHI following AT, with median change scores of 18.3 (95% confidence interval -29.2, -11.2, P < .001) and 14.6 (95% confidence interval -25.5, -8.5, P < .001), respectively. In the adolescents with obesity, 48% had an AHI < 5 events/h on postoperative PSG. However, adolescents with obesity were 7 times more likely (odds ratio = 7.1, 95% confidence interval [2.24, 22.48], P = .001) to have moderate or severe persistent OSA (AHI > 5 events/h) after AT compared with patients who were not obese. The need for post-AT positive airway pressure therapy was significantly higher in adolescents with obesity, with 37.1% of participants requiring this therapy (odds ratio = 8.3, 95% confidence interval 1.8, 37.6, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: AT results in improvement in polysomnogram parameters in adolescents with obesity and OSA. However, patients with obesity are at high risk for persistent OSA. Future research should include prospective trials to compare outcomes between AT and positive airway pressure therapy for adolescents with obesity. CITATION: Kearney TC, Vazifedan T, Baldassari CM. Adenotonsillectomy outcomes in obese adolescents with obstructive sleep apnea. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022;18(12):2855-2860.

Association of Apnea vs Hypopnea Predominance With Pediatric Sleep Apnea Outcomes: A Secondary Analysis of the Childhood Adenotonsillectomy Trial.

Importance: Children with apnea-predominant obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are hypothesized to have a more severe form of the disease. However, research is lacking as to whether there is a significant difference in outcomes between children with apnea-predominant vs hypopnea-predominant OSA. Objective: To assess the association between baseline apnea-predominant or hypopnea-predominant OSA on polysomnography and quality of life (QOL) outcomes in children with obstructive sleep apnea managed by watchful waiting with supportive care (WWSC) or adenotonsillectomy (AT). Design, Setting, and Participants: This case-control study is a secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial, the Childhood Adenotonsillectomy Trial, which was conducted at multiple tertiary children's hospitals from October 2007 to June 2012. Children aged 5.0 to 9.9 years with OSA were randomized to WWSC or AT and underwent polysomnography and completed validated QOL and symptom assessments at baseline and 7 months. The current data analysis was performed from October 2020 to February 2022. Main Outcomes and Measures: Apnea-predominant OSA was defined as an apnea hypopnea index (AHI) greater than 2 with more than 50% of the obstructive events being apneas. Patients were considered to have hypopnea-predominant OSA if they had an AHI greater than 2 and more than 50% of the obstructive events were hypopneas. Results: A total of 386 children (185 boys [48%]; mean [SD] age, 6.56 [1.4] years) were analyzed. The mean (SD) obstructive AHI for patients was 6.98 (5.62), with 198 patients (51%) having mild disease. Thirty-seven children (10%) had apnea-predominant OSA at baseline. Black children were at increased risk for apnea-predominant OSA vs White children (odds ratio [OR], 13.40; 95% CI, 5.70-33.90). Children with apnea predominance were more likely to have severe OSA (AHI >10) compared with children with hypopnea predominance (OR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.03-5.03); baseline Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire and OSA-18 QOL scores were similar between the 2 groups. Among children undergoing AT, those with baseline apnea predominance were more likely to have a Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire score greater than 0.33 at follow-up (OR, 3.30; 95% CI, 1.01-10.80). Rates of OSA resolution and improvements in QOL scores following AT or WWSC were similar between the apnea-predominant and hypopnea-predominant groups. Conclusions and Relevance: In children with OSA, apnea-predominant disease is uncommon. Apnea predominance was not associated with symptom resolution and cure rates in children undergoing AT or WWSC for OSA. Further research is needed to assess how apnea predominance affects AT outcomes in children with more severe disease.

Potassium-Containing Fluids for Diabetic Ketoacidosis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this process improvement project was to determine the appropriate potassium concentration of stocked IV fluids used in the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at the Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters (CHKD) Emergency Department. METHODS: This is a retrospective chart review from July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019. Patients ≤21 years of age with laboratory-confirmed DKA were included. The primary outcome was to determine the most used potassium concentration (20 mEq/L or 40 mEq/L) for stocked IV fluids. Secondary efficacy and safety outcomes included the percent of appropriately ordered fluids per the DKA treatment protocol, percent of patients who maintained goal serum potassium concentration, comparison of time from physician ordering to administration of prescribed IV fluids (t-elapsed), and comparison of serum potassium concentrations between the point of care (POC) test and basic metabolic panel (BMP). RESULTS: Of the 113 patients included, 73 (64.6%) received 40 mEq/L, 7 of whom received half potassium acetate plus half potassium phosphate, and 40 (35.4%) received 20 mEq/L potassium IV fluids. In 101 patients (89.4%), fluids were ordered appropriately per protocol. Of these patients, 53 (52.5%) maintained goal serum potassium concentration. The t-elapsed from physician ordering to administration of the prescribed fluid concentrations was not statistically significant. The mean POC versus BMP potassium concentration was statistically significant (4.56 mmol/L versus 4.96 mmol/L, respectively; 95% CI: -0.49 to -0.30; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The CHKD pharmacy should stock the most used 40 mEq/L potassium IV fluids for DKA treatment.

Evaluation of Nocturnal Enuresis After Adenotonsillectomy in Children With Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are at increased risk for nocturnal enuresis (NE). However, randomized clinical trials assessing NE outcomes in children randomized to adenotonsillectomy (AT) vs watchful waiting are lacking. Objective: To assess the outcomes of AT vs watchful waiting in children with nonsevere OSA who experience NE. Design, Setting, and Participants: Secondary analysis of data from a multicenter randomized clinical trial conducted at tertiary children's hospitals was performed. Participants included 453 children aged 5.0 to 9.9 years with nonsevere OSA who were randomized to either watchful waiting or AT as part of the multicenter Childhood Adenotonsillectomy Trial. Caregivers completed the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire, which includes a binary item on bed-wetting, at baseline and 7-month follow-up. The trial was conducted between October 2007 and June 2012. Evaluation in this secondary analysis involving NE occurred from October 2019 to March 2021. Interventions: Adenotonsillectomy vs watchful waiting in children with NE. Main Outcomes and Measures: Prevalence of NE as defined by parental response to the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire bed-wetting item at baseline and 7-month follow-up. Results: Of the 453 children enrolled, 393 were included in analysis; of these, 201 were girls (51.1%). Mean (SD) age at baseline was 6.54 (1.40) years. At baseline, the number of children with NE was similar (2.6%; 95% CI, -0.12% to 0.07%) between the AT (59 [30.7%]) and watchful-waiting (67 [33.3%]) groups. The odds of NE in the watchful-waiting group were approximately 2 times higher than the AT group after 7 months (odds ratio, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.3 to 3.1). Following AT, there was a decrease (-11.0%; 95% CI, -16.3% to -5.7%) in the number of children with NE (n = 38). The prevalence of NE did not change significantly (-0.5%; 95% CI, -5.4% to 6.4%) in the watchful-waiting group (n = 66) at follow-up. Although NE was less frequent in girls (adjusted odds ratio, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.33-0.85), other clinical factors, such as age, race and ethnicity, obesity, and apnea-hypopnea index, were not associated with improvement of NE. Conclusions and Relevance: In this secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial, AT for the treatment of pediatric OSA appears to result in improvement in NE. Further research is needed to assess whether AT is associated with long-term benefits for NE compared with watchful waiting. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00560859.

Efficacy of Adenoidectomy for the Treatment of Mild Sleep Apnea in Children.

OBJECTIVES: (1) To assess outcomes in children undergoing adenoidectomy for the treatment of mild obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). (2) To identify clinical factors that predict which children will have persistent obstruction following adenoidectomy. STUDY DESIGN: Case series with chart review over a 10-year period. SETTING: Tertiary children's hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Children between 2 and 17 years old undergoing adenoidectomy for treatment of mild OSA (obstructive apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] between 1 and 5 on polysomnogram) were included. The need for additional medical or surgical intervention following adenoidectomy was recorded. When available, postoperative polysomnogram data were reviewed. RESULTS: In total, 134 children with a mean age of 5.4 years were included. Fifty-three percent (n = 71) were female and 57% (n = 76) were black. The mean (SD) baseline AHI was 2.2 (1.09). Caregivers reported a moderate impact of sleep disturbance on quality of life with a mean (SD) preoperative total OSA-18 score of 64.1 (19.28). Postadenoidectomy outcomes were reported for 105 patients (78%) with a mean follow-up time of 6 months. Sixty-nine percent (n = 72) of children had resolution of obstructive symptoms. While 31% (n = 33) of children required additional intervention following adenoidectomy, only 6.8% (n = 9) underwent a subsequent tonsillectomy. Demographic factors such as age and baseline AHI did not predict which children required additional treatment following adenoidectomy. CONCLUSION: Adenoidectomy may be an effective treatment for mild OSA. A randomized trial comparing outcomes for adenoidectomy and adenotonsillectomy is needed to determine the ideal surgical treatment for nonsevere OSA in children.

Implementation of an Intrahospital Transport Checklist for Emergency Department Admissions to Intensive Care.

INTRODUCTION: Intrahospital transports (IHTs) are high-risk activities with the potential for adverse outcomes. Suboptimal care of a patient in our emergency department (ED) needing IHT to the pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) identified improvement opportunities. We describe implementing a novel checklist (Briefing ED-to-ICU Transport To Exit Ready: BETTER) for improving the IHT safety of pediatric ED patients admitted to the pediatric ICU. METHODS: A multidisciplinary team used the Model for Improvement to create a key driver diagram and process map. An evidence-based IHT checklist was implemented on July 23, 2019 after multiple plan-do-study-act checklist revisions. The specific aim was a ≥80% checklist completion rate for 6 months and maintaining that rate for 6 months. An anonymous, voluntary survey of ED nurses and physicians, 9 months postimplementation, evaluated perceived improvements in IHT safety. The outcome measure was the proportion of IHT-related incident reports, per ED-to-pediatric ICU admission, comparing baseline (2-year preimplementation) and intervention (1-year postimplementation) periods. Balancing measures included a quantitative assessment for any throughput measure delays and a survey question on perceived delays. RESULTS: From July 23, 2019 to July 22, 2020, 335 (84%) of 400 ED-to-ICU admissions had completed IHT checklists. Ninety percent of survey respondents (84% response rate) agreed that the checklist improved IHT safety. The incident report rate was lower in the intervention period (0.5% versus 2.3%; P = 0.03), with special cause improvement on T-chart analysis. Balancing measures did not indicate any delays secondary to checklist implementation. CONCLUSIONS: This IHT checklist was feasible and associated with improvements in perceived safety and incident event reporting. Further studies are needed to assess generalizability.

Helping Mothers Survive: Program Evaluation and Early Outcomes of Maternal Care Training in the Dominican Republic.

Introduction: In 2017, approximately 295,000 women died during and immediately following pregnancy and childbirth worldwide, with 94% of these deaths occurring in low-resource settings. The Dominican Republic (DR) exhibits one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in the region of Latin America and the Caribbean despite the fact that 99% of registered births in the country are reportedly attended by a skilled birth attendant. This paradox implies that programs to support healthcare worker knowledge and skills improvement are vital to improving maternal health outcomes in the DR. Helping Mothers Survive (HMS) is a provider training program developed by Jhpiego and global partners. The goal of HMS is to combat maternal mortality by contributing to quality improvement efforts that reinforce maternal health skills of local healthcare workers. Methods: An international, multisectoral group of stakeholders collaborated in the implementation of two HMS curricula, Bleeding After Birth (BAB) and pre-eclampsia & eclampsia (PE&E). Demographic information as well as pre- and post-training knowledge scores were recorded for each participant. Knowledge score improvement was assessed in order to support effectiveness of the program on knowledge acquisition of healthcare workers. Results: Three hundred and twenty healthcare workers participated in the HMS training workshops between October 2016-August 2020. Of the 320 participants, 132 were trained as master trainers. The majority of participants identified as attending physicians, followed by residents/interns, nurses, students, and "other." A significant improvement in knowledge scores was observed for both the BAB and PE&E curricula, with a 21.24 and 30.25% change in average score (pre- to post-test), respectively. In response to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, flexibility of the local team led to a PE&E virtual training pilot workshop in August 2020. Discussion/Conclusions: Simulation-based training improved the knowledge levels of healthcare workers for both HMS curricula. These results suggest that simulation-based workshops have an impact on knowledge acquisition and skills of healthcare workers immediately following training. For the PE&E curriculum, no significant difference in knowledge acquisition was observed between in-person and virtual training sessions. The ongoing pandemic poses challenges to program implementation; however, these preliminary results provide evidence that conducting virtual workshops may be a viable alternative to in-person training.

Peptide inhibition of acute lung injury in a novel two-hit rat model.

Acute lung injury (ALI) often causes severe trauma that may progress to significant morbidity and mortality. ALI results from a combination of the underlying clinical condition of the patient (e.g., inflammation) with a secondary insult such as viral pneumonia or a blood transfusion. While the secondary insult may be variable, the rapidly progressive disease process leading to pulmonary failure is typically mediated by an overwhelming innate immunological or inflammatory reaction driven by excessive complement and neutrophil-mediated inflammatory responses. We recently developed a 'two-hit' ALI rat model mediated by lipopolysaccharide followed by transfusion of incompatible human erythrocytes resulting in complement activation, neutrophil-mediated ALI and free DNA in the blood indicative of neutrophil extracellular trap formation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of peptide inhibitor of complement C1 (RLS-0071), a classical complement pathway inhibitor and neutrophil modulator in this animal model. Adolescent male Wistar rats were infused with lipopolysaccharide followed by transfusion of incompatible erythrocytes in the presence or absence of RLS-0071. Blood was collected at various time points to assess complement C5a levels, free DNA and cytokines in isolated plasma. Four hours following erythrocyte transfusion, lung tissue was recovered and assayed for ALI by histology. Compared to animals not receiving RLS-0071, lungs of animals treated with a single dose of RLS-0071 showed significant reduction in ALI as well as reduced levels of C5a, free DNA and inflammatory cytokines in the blood. These results demonstrate that RLS-0071 can modulate neutrophil-mediated ALI in this novel rat model.