Equilibration Time Required for Respiratory System Compliance and Oxygenation Response Following Changes in Positive End-Expiratory Pressure in Mechanically Ventilated Children.

OBJECTIVES: Increases in positive end-expiratory pressure are implemented to improve oxygenation through the recruitment and stabilization of collapsed alveoli. However, the time it takes for a positive end-expiratory pressure change to have maximum effect upon oxygenation and pulmonary compliance has not been adequately described in children. Therefore, we sought to quantify the time required for oxygenation and pulmonary system compliance changes in children requiring mechanical ventilation. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of continuous data. SETTINGS: Multidisciplinary ICU of a pediatric university hospital. PATIENTS: Mechanically ventilated pediatric subjects. INTERVENTIONS: A case was eligible for analysis if during a 90-minute window following an increase in positive end-expiratory pressure, no other changes to the ventilator were made, ventilator and physiologic data were continuously available and a positive oxygenation response was observed. Time to 90% (T90) of the maximum change in oxygenation and compliance was computed. Differences between oxygenation and compliance T90 were compared using a paired t test. The effect of severity of illness (by oxygen saturation index) upon oxygenation and compliance was analyzed. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 200 subjects were enrolled and 1,150 positive end-expiratory pressure change cases were analyzed. Of these, 54 subjects with 171 positive end-expiratory pressure change case were included in the analysis (67% were responders).Changes in dynamic compliance (T90 = 38 min) preceded changes in oxygenation (T90 = 71 min; p < 0.001). Oxygenation response differed depending on severity of illness quantified by oxygen saturation index; lung dysfunction was associated with a longer response time (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: T90 requires 38 and 71 minutes for dynamic pulmonary compliance and oxygenation, respectively; the latter was directly observed to be dependent upon severity of illness. To our knowledge, this is the first report of oxygenation and compliance equilibration data following positive end-expiratory pressure increases in pediatric mechanically ventilated subjects.

Noninvasive Cardiac Output Estimation by Inert Gas Rebreathing in Mechanically Ventilated Pediatric Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility and accuracy of inert gas rebreathing (IGR) pulmonary blood flow (Qp) estimation in mechanically ventilated pediatric patients, potentially providing real-time noninvasive estimates of cardiac output. STUDY DESIGN: In mechanically ventilated patients in the pediatric catheterization laboratory, we compared IGR Qp with Qp estimates based upon the Fick equation using measured oxygen consumption (VO2) (FickTrue); for context, we compared FickTrue with a standard clinical short-cut, replacing measured with assumed VO2 in the Fick equation (FickLaFarge, FickLundell, FickSeckeler). IGR Qp and breath-by-breath VO2 were measured using the Innocor device. Sampled pulmonary arterial and venous saturations and hemoglobin concentration were used for Fick calculations. Qp estimates were compared using Bland-Altman agreement and Spearman correlation. RESULTS: The final analysis included 18 patients aged 4-23 years with weight >15 kg. Compared with the reference FickTrue, IGR Qp estimates correlated best and had the least systematic bias and narrowest 95% limits of agreement (results presented as mean bias ±95% limits of agreement): IGR -0.2 ± 1.1 L/min, r = 0.90; FickLaFarge +0.7 ± 2.2 L/min, r = 0.80; FickLundell +1.6 ± 2.9 L/min, r = 0.83; FickSeckeler +0.8 ± 2.5 L/min, r = 0.83. CONCLUSIONS: IGR estimation of Qp is feasible in mechanically ventilated patients weighing >15 kg, and agreement with FickTrue Qp estimates is better for IGR than for other Fick Qp estimates commonly used in pediatric catheterization. IGR is an attractive option for bedside monitoring of Qp in mechanically ventilated children.

High-Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation in Pediatric Acute Lung Injury: A Multicenter International Experience.

OBJECTIVE: We aim to describe current clinical practice, the past decade of experience and factors related to improved outcomes for pediatric patients receiving high-frequency oscillatory ventilation. We have also modeled predictive factors that could help stratify mortality risk and guide future high-frequency oscillatory ventilation practice. DESIGN: Multicenter retrospective, observational questionnaire study. SETTING: Seven PICUs. PATIENTS: Demographic, disease factor, and ventilatory and outcome data were collected, and 328 patients from 2009 to 2010 were included in this analysis. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULTS: Patients were classified into six cohorts based on underlying diagnosis. We used univariate analysis to identify factors associated with mortality risk and multivariate logistic regression to identify independent predictors of mortality risk. An oxygenation index greater than 35 and immunocompromise exhibited the greatest predictive power (p < 0.0001) for increased mortality risk, and respiratory syncytial virus was associated with lowest mortality risk (p = 0.003). Differences in mortality risk as a function of oxygenation index were highly dependent on primary underlying condition. A trend toward an increase in oscillator amplitude and frequency was observed when compared with historical data. CONCLUSIONS: Given the number of centers and subjects included in the database, these findings provide a robust description of current practice regarding the use of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation for pediatric hypoxic respiratory failure. Patients with severe hypoxic respiratory failure and immunocompromise had the highest mortality risk, and those with respiratory syncytial virus had the lowest. A means of identifying the risk of 30-day mortality for subjects can be obtained by identifying the underlying disease and oxygenation index on conventional ventilation preceding the initiation of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation.

Management of difficult airway patients and the use of a difficult airway registry at a tertiary care pediatric hospital.

BACKGROUND: Appropriate recognition and management of the pediatric difficult airway is essential. Two patient deaths in a 2-year period involving children with a known difficult airway led to the formation of the institution's multidisciplinary Difficult Airway Committee. METHODS: Patients with a suspected difficult airway or a known difficult airway are entered into a registry of difficult airway patients. A note describing the airway and any experiences at airway manipulation is entered as part of a difficult airway note in the patient's electronic medical record as soon as the patient is recognized as having a difficult airway. A call system has been developed to mobilize expert emergency airway assistance for these patients. Multiple additional methods are employed to ensure that all hospital personnel are aware that these patients are difficult to intubate. RESULTS: Since inception almost 6 years ago, 164 patients (mean age 9.2 years) have been enrolled in the difficult airway registry. Eighty-seven patients (53%) had one of 28 identified syndromes or diagnoses. The most common reasons for airway obstruction were mandibular hypoplasia/micrognathia, decreased neck extension, and limited temporomandibular joint mobility. One hundred sixty-one patients (98%) in the registry were predicted by history or physical to have a difficult airway. The mortality of registry patients was 9.8% (n = 16) and was most commonly due to co-existing diseases. During the time period reviewed, there was one in-hospital death of a known difficult airway patient, in which expert airway assistance was not obtained in a timely fashion. CONCLUSION: The institution's difficult airway registry identifies patients with a suspected or known difficult airway. The presence of a difficult airway in children can usually be predicted based on history and physical examination by anesthesiologists and otolaryngologists. Providers without advanced airway skills, however, may not appreciate that an airway is difficult to intubate until multiple attempts have failed. Both redundant notification methods and a call system optimize medical care of these fragile patients.

Reversal of dependent lung collapse predicts response to lung recruitment in children with early acute lung injury.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the resolution of regional atelectasis and the development of regional lung overdistension during a lung-recruitment protocol in children with acute lung injury. DESIGN: Prospective interventional trial. SETTING: Pediatric intensive care unit. PATIENTS: Ten children with early (<72 hrs) acute lung injury. INTERVENTIONS: Sustained inflation maneuver (positive airway pressure of 40 cm H2O for 40 secs), followed by a stepwise recruitment maneuver (escalating plateau pressures by 5 cm H2O every 15 mins) until physiologic lung recruitment, defined by PaO2 + PaCO2 ≥400 mm Hg, was achieved. Regional lung volumes and mechanics were measured using electrical impedance tomography. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patients that responded to the stepwise lung-recruitment maneuver had atelectasis in 54% of the dependent lung regions, while nonresponders had atelectasis in 10% of the dependent lung regions (p = .032). In the pressure step preceding physiologic lung recruitment, a significant reversal of atelectasis occurred in 17% of the dependent lung regions (p = .016). Stepwise recruitment overdistended 8% of the dependent lung regions in responders, but 58% of the same regions in nonresponders (p < .001). Lung compliance in dependent lung regions increased in responders, while compliance in nonresponders did not improve. In contrast to the stepwise recruitment maneuver, the sustained inflation did not produce significant changes in atelectasis or oxygenation: atelectasis was only reversed in 12% of the lung (p = .122), and there was only a modest improvement in oxygenation (27 ± 14 mm Hg, p = .088). CONCLUSIONS: Reversal of atelectasis in the most dependent lung region preceded improvements in gas exchange during a stepwise lung-recruitment strategy. Lung recruitment of dependent lung areas was accompanied by considerable overdistension of nondependent lung regions. Larger amounts of atelectasis in dependent lung areas were associated with a positive response to a stepwise lung-recruitment maneuver.

Humidification during invasive and noninvasive mechanical ventilation: 2012.

We searched the MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library databases for articles published between January 1990 and December 2011. The update of this clinical practice guideline is based on 184 clinical trials and systematic reviews, and 10 articles investigating humidification during invasive and noninvasive mechanical ventilation. The following recommendations are made following the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) scoring system: 1. Humidification is recommended on every patient receiving invasive mechanical ventilation. 2. Active humidification is suggested for noninvasive mechanical ventilation, as it may improve adherence and comfort. 3. When providing active humidification to patients who are invasively ventilated, it is suggested that the device provide a humidity level between 33 mg H(2)O/L and 44 mg H(2)O/L and gas temperature between 34°C and 41°C at the circuit Y-piece, with a relative humidity of 100%. 4. When providing passive humidification to patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation, it is suggested that the HME provide a minimum of 30 mg H(2)O/L. 5. Passive humidification is not recommended for noninvasive mechanical ventilation. 6. When providing humidification to patients with low tidal volumes, such as when lung-protective ventilation strategies are used, HMEs are not recommended because they contribute additional dead space, which can increase the ventilation requirement and P(aCO(2)). 7. It is suggested that HMEs are not used as a prevention strategy for ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Effect of Vibrating Mesh Nebulizer Aerosol Technology on the In Vitro Activity of Ribavirin Against Respiratory Syncytial Virus.

BACKGROUND: Ribavirin is an antiviral drug that for many years has been administered to the lungs by aerosolization. Despite advancements in oral delivery routes, there has been a renewed interested in delivering ribavirin via the pulmonary system in select patients and the severely ill. The vibrating mesh nebulizer was previously demonstrated to be an effective alternative to the small-particle aerosol generator in particle size, chemical makeup, and concentrations of the ribavirin before and after nebulization. However, the antiviral activity of ribavirin has never been examined. We sought to study ribavirin's activity before and after nebulization via vibrating mesh nebulizer. METHODS: We grew and infected human epithelial type 2 cells and primary airway epithelial cells with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). We then compared the antiviral effect of non-nebulized (control) and aerosolized ribavirin to untreated controls. We used traditional plaque assay and real-time polymerase chain reaction to determine the quantity of virus. RESULTS: Both non-nebulized (control) and nebulized ribavirin reduced the size of RSV plaques compared to untreated controls. Additionally, the non-nebulized and nebulized ribavirin equally inhibited RSV replication. There were no statistically significant differences between the non-nebulized and nebulized ribavirin across all time points. CONCLUSIONS: The vibrating mesh nebulizer did not affect the antiviral properties of nebulized ribavirin when compared to non-nebulized drug. Our findings add supporting evidence for the use of the vibrating mesh nebulizer in the administration of inhaled ribavirin.

In-line miniature 3D-printed pressure-cycled ventilator maintains respiratory homeostasis in swine with induced acute pulmonary injury.

The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the need for inexpensive, easy-to-use, rapidly mass-produced resuscitation devices that could be quickly distributed in areas of critical need. In-line miniature ventilators based on principles of fluidics ventilate patients by automatically oscillating between forced inspiration and assisted expiration as airway pressure changes, requiring only a continuous supply of pressurized oxygen. Here, we designed three miniature ventilator models to operate in specific pressure ranges along a continuum of clinical lung injury (mild, moderate, and severe injury). Three-dimensional (3D)-printed prototype devices evaluated in a lung simulator generated airway pressures, tidal volumes, and minute ventilation within the targeted range for the state of lung disease each was designed to support. In testing in domestic swine before and after induction of pulmonary injury, the ventilators for mild and moderate injury met the design criteria when matched with the appropriate degree of lung injury. Although the ventilator for severe injury provided the specified design pressures, respiratory rate was elevated with reduced minute ventilation, a result of lung compliance below design parameters. Respiratory rate reflected how well each ventilator matched the injury state of the lungs and could guide selection of ventilator models in clinical use. This simple device could help mitigate shortages of conventional ventilators during pandemics and other disasters requiring rapid access to advanced airway management, or in transport applications for hands-free ventilation.

A spontaneous breathing trial with pressure support overestimates readiness for extubation in children.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the performance of an extubation readiness test based on a spontaneous breathing trial using pressure support. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: Pediatric intensive care unit. PATIENTS: All infants and children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit requiring intubation from July 2007 to December 2008 were eligible for this study. INTERVENTIONS: Routine use of an extubation readiness test using pressure support set according to endotracheal tube size to determine completion of weaning and readiness for extubation. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 755 extubation readiness tests were performed in 538 patients with a pass rate of 83%. Of 500 children who passed the extubation readiness test and were extubated without planned noninvasive ventilation use, the extubation failure rate was 11.2% (5.8% required reintubation). Extubation failure was defined as need for noninvasive ventilation or reintubation within 24 hrs of planned extubation. Logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between duration of mechanical ventilation and extubation failure. Children ventilated for over 48 hrs had an 18.5% failure rate despite passing an extubation readiness test before extubation and the extubation readiness test was not a significant predictor of extubation success. Most extubation failures were the result of inadequate gas exchange attributable to lower respiratory tract dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: A spontaneous breathing trial using pressure support set at higher levels for smaller endotracheal tubes overestimates readiness for extubation in children and contributes to a higher failed extubation rate. The objective data obtained during an extubation readiness test may help to identify patients who will benefit from extubation to noninvasive ventilation.

Electrical activity of the diaphragm during extubation readiness testing in critically ill children.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the electrical activity of the diaphragm during extubation readiness testing. DESIGN: Prospective observational trial. SETTING: A 29-bed medical-surgical pediatric intensive care unit. PATIENTS: Mechanically ventilated children between 1 month and 18 yrs of age. INTERVENTIONS: Twenty patients underwent a standardized extubation readiness test using a minimal pressure support ventilation strategy. A size-appropriate multiple-array esophageal electrode (electrical diaphragmatic activity catheter), which doubled as a feeding tube, was inserted. The electrical diaphragmatic activity, ventilatory parameters, and spirometry measurements were recorded with the Servo-i ventilator (Maquet, Solna, Sweden). Measurements were obtained before the extubation readiness test and 1 hr into the extubation readiness test. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: During extubation readiness testing, the ratio of tidal volume to delta electrical diaphragmatic activity was significantly lower in those patients who passed the extubation readiness test compared to those who failed the extubation readiness test (extubation readiness test, pass: 24.8 ± 20.9 mL/µV vs. extubation readiness test, fail: 67.2 ± 27 mL/µV, respectively; p = .02). Delta electrical diaphragmatic activity correlated significantly with neuromuscular drive assessed by airway opening pressure at 0.1 secs (before extubation readiness test: r = .591, p < .001; during extubation readiness test: r = .682, p < .001). Eight out of 20 patients had ventilator dys-synchrony identified with electrical diaphragmatic activity during extubation readiness testing. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who generate higher diaphragmatic activity in relation to tidal volume may have better preserved diaphragmatic function and a better chance of passing the extubation readiness test as opposed to patients who generate lower diaphragmatic activity in relation to tidal volume, indicating diaphragmatic weakness. Electrical activity of the diaphragm also may be a useful adjunct to assess neuromuscular drive in ventilated children.

Pediatric airway maintenance and clearance in the acute care setting: how to stay out of trouble.

Traditional airway maintenance and clearance therapy and principles of application are similar for neonates, children, and adults. Yet there are distinct differences in physiology and pathology between children and adults that limit the routine application of adult-derived airway-clearance techniques in children. This paper focuses on airway-clearance techniques and airway maintenance in the pediatric patient with acute respiratory disease, specifically, those used in the hospital environment, prevailing lung characteristics that may arise during exacerbations, and the differences in physiologic processes unique to infants and children. One of the staples of respiratory care has been chest physiotherapy and postural drainage. Many new airway clearance and maintenance techniques have evolved, but few have demonstrated true efficacy in the pediatric patient population. Much of this is probably due to the limited ability to assess outcome and/or choose a proper disease-specific or age-specific modality. Airway-clearance techniques consume a substantial amount of time and equipment. Available disease-specific evidence of airway-clearance techniques and airway maintenance will be discussed whenever possible. Unfortunately, more questions than answers remain.

Capnography/Capnometry during mechanical ventilation: 2011.

We searched the MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library databases for articles published between January 1990 and November 2010. The update of this clinical practice guideline is based on 234 clinical studies and systematic reviews, 19 review articles that investigated capnography/capnometry during mechanical ventilation, and the 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. The following recommendations are made following the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) scoring system: (1) Continuous-waveform capnography is recommended, in addition to clinical assessment to confirm and monitor correct placement of an endotracheal tube. (2) If waveform capnography is not available, a non-waveform exhaled CO(2) monitor, in addition to clinical assessment, is suggested as the initial method for confirming correct tube placement in a patient in cardiac arrest. (3) End-tidal CO(2) (P(ETCO(2))) is suggested to guide ventilator management. (4) Continuous capnometry during transport of the mechanically ventilated patients is suggested. (5) Capnography is suggested to identify abnormalities of exhaled air flow. (6) Volumetric capnography is suggested to assess CO(2) elimination and the ratio of dead-space volume to tidal volume (V(D)/V(T)) to optimize mechanical ventilation. (7) Quantitative waveform capnography is suggested in intubated patients to monitor cardiopulmonary quality, optimize chest compressions, and detect return of spontaneous circulation during chest compressions or when rhythm check reveals an organized rhythm.

Orienting new respiratory therapists into the neonatal/pediatric environment: a survey of educators and managers.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal/pediatric respiratory care is recognized as a unique and complex area of clinical practice. Despite the substantial effort and costs associated with orienting neonatal/pediatric practitioners, few data exist related to the process of training respiratory therapists (RTs) in the acute neonatal/pediatric environment. To gain insight into the adequacy of preparation of RTs entering the neonatal/pediatric environment, the length of orientation necessary to achieve a base level of competency, and the methods used to train new neonatal/pediatric practitioners, we surveyed neonatal/pediatric respiratory care educators and managers. METHODS: The invitation to participate in the survey was distributed via e-mail to 1,259 members of the AARC education specialty section and 1,828 members of the AARC managers specialty section. The survey included 15 questions (not including the demographics questions), scored on 5-point Likert scale, and asked about: what type of degree program (associate's degree or bachelor's degree) better prepares new RTs for the neonatal/pediatric environment; experience requirements for orientation of neonatal/pediatric RTs; the role of simulation in training neonatal/pediatric RTs; and whether the neonatal/pediatric specialty credentialing exam should be used as a method of competency testing. There were 4 questions regarding simulation (the use of interactive full-body manikins in a realistic patient care environment), orientation times based on experience, and where the majority of the orientation time was spent. RESULTS: We received 251 responses (response rate 8%). The majority of respondents were either affiliated with or worked for urban, not-for-profit, non-government organizations. Sixty-three percent disagreed that an associate's degree respiratory therapy program, and 42% disagreed that a bachelor's degree program adequately prepares a new RT to work in the neonatal/pediatric critical care environment immediately after graduation. Seventy-one percent strongly agreed that children's hospital respiratory care departments should have a dedicated respiratory therapy educator. Seventy-six percent agreed that simulation is an effective tool for training RTs for neonatal/pediatric critical care. Sixty-five percent agreed that RTs should be required to take an exam at the end of the orientation period to verify competency. Fifty-nine percent strongly agreed that neonatal/pediatric RTs should have the National Board for Respiratory Care Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential. CONCLUSIONS: There appears to be a discrepancy in the educational preparation expected prior to entering the acute-care neonatal/pediatric environment and what training methods are most appropriate and cost-effective for orienting new RTs to this specialized environment. A dedicated respiratory therapy educator is valued. Simulation is considered an effective tool for training RTs and provides training opportunities that otherwise would not be available. The neonatal/pediatric specialty certification exam appears to be recognized as a valid method of determining mastery and verifying competence.

Electrocardiographic guidance for the placement of gastric feeding tubes: a pediatric case series.

BACKGROUND: The placement of nasal or oral gastric tubes is one of the most frequently performed procedures in critically ill children; tube malposition, particularly in the trachea, is an important complication. Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA) ventilation (available only on the Servo-i ventilator, Maquet Critical Care, Solna, Sweden) requires a proprietary-design catheter (Maquet Critical Care, Solna, Sweden) with embedded electrodes that detect the electrical activity of the diaphragm (EA(di)). The EA(di) catheter has the potential benefit of confirming proper positioning of a gastric catheter, based on and the EA(di) waveforms. METHODS: In a case series study, our multidisciplinary team used EA(di) guidance for immediate, real-time confirmation of proper nasal or oral gastric tube placement in 20 mechanically ventilated pediatric patients who underwent 23 oral or nasal gastric tube placements. The catheters were placed with our standard practice, with the addition of a team member monitoring the EA(di) waveforms. As the tube passes down the esophagus and posterior to the heart, a characteristic EA(di) pattern is identified and the position of the atrial signal confirms correct placement of the gastric tube. If the EA(di) waveforms indicate incorrect placement, the tube is repositioned until the proper EA(di) waveform pattern is obtained. Then proper tube placement is reconfirmed via auscultation over the stomach while air is injected into the catheter, checking the pH of fluid suctioned from the catheter (gastric pH indicates correct positioning), and/or radiograph. RESULTS: The group's median age was 3 years (range 4 d to 16 y). All 20 patients had successful gastric catheter placement. The EA(di) catheter provided characteristic patterns for correctly placed tubes, tubes malpositioned above or below the gastroesophageal junction, and curled tubes. Proper catheter position was confirmed via radiograph and/or gastric pH in all 20 patients. CONCLUSIONS: EA(di) guidance helps confirm proper gastric catheter position, is equivalent to our standard practice for confirming gastric catheter placement, and may reduce the need for radiographs and improve patient safety by avoiding catheter malpositions.

Non-invasive cardiac output and oxygen delivery measurement in an infant with critical anemia.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the combination of a non-invasive blood oxygen content (CaO(2)) monitor and a non-invasive cardiac output (CO) monitor to continuously measure oxygen delivery (DO(2); DO(2) = CaO(2) × CO). METHODS: DO(2) was assessed during blood transfusions in an infant with acute hemolytic anemia following admission (~48 h). CaO(2) was measured by Pulse Co-Oximetry, which also provides estimates of hemoglobin (Hgb) concentration and percent oxygen saturation. CO was measured by Electrical Velocimetry, which also provides an estimate of stroke volume (SV). Lactate levels, an indirect measure of adequate DO(2), were assessed during the initial 8 h following admission. RESULTS: Incremental blood transfusions during the first 36 h increased Hgb from 2.7 to 9.5 g/dL during which time heart rate (HR) normalized from 156 to 115 beats/min. Lactate levels decreased from 20 to 0.8 mmol/L in the first 7 h. Non-invasive Hgb and CaO(2) measurements were well correlated with invasive Hgb and CaO(2) measures (r (2) = 0.88; P = 0.019; r (2) = 0.86; P = 0.0074, respectively). CO decreased from 2.47 ± 0.06 to 1.28 ± 0.02 L/min and SV decreased from 15.9 ± 0.4 to 11.1 ± 0.2 mL/beat. Mean arterial blood pressure was stable throughout the admission with systemic vascular resistance increasing from 407.6 ± 15.2 to 887.7 ± 30.1 dynes-s/cm(5). DO(2) was estimated to increase from 120.2 ± 18.9 to 182.4 ± 5.6 mL O(2)/min. CONCLUSIONS: Non-invasive continuous CO and CaO(2) monitors are shown in this single case to provide continuous DO(2) measurement. The ability to assess DO(2) may improve hemodynamic monitoring during goal directed therapies.

AARC Clinical Practice Guideline: Management of Pediatric Patients With Oxygen in the Acute Care Setting.

Oxygen therapy is one of the most important therapeutics offered in the clinical management of pediatric patients with cardiopulmonary disease. As the medical community seeks to ensure evidence-based management of clinical interventions, we conducted a systematic review with the goal of providing evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to answer questions surrounding the use of simple oxygen therapy to improve oxygenation, including a comparison of delivery devices, the efficacy of humidification, comparison of flows, and goals for use in children. Using a modification of the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method, we developed 4 recommendations to assist clinicians in the utilization of oxygen therapy in hospitalized children: (1) the use of an oxygen hood or tent in lieu of a low-flow oxygen device for consistent oxygen delivery is not recommended; (2) the use of high-flow nasal cannula therapy is safe and more effective than low-flow oxygen to treat infants with moderate to severe bronchiolitis; (3) the application of humidification with low-flow oxygen delivery is not recommended; (4) targeting [Formula: see text] 90-97% for infants and children with bronchiolitis is recommended; however, no specific target can be recommended for pediatric patients with respiratory diseases outside of bronchiolitis, and establishing a patient/disease oxygen therapy target upon admission is considered best practice.

AARC Clinical Practice Guideline: Management of Pediatric Patients With Tracheostomy in the Acute Care Setting.

Children requiring a tracheostomy to maintain airway patency or to facilitate long-term mechanical ventilatory support require comprehensive care and committed, trained, direct caregivers to manage their complex needs safely. These guidelines were developed from a comprehensive review of the literature to provide guidance for the selection of the type of tracheostomy tube (cuffed vs uncuffed), use of communication devices, implementation of daily care bundles, timing of first tracheostomy change, type of humidification used (active vs passive), timing of oral feedings, care coordination, and routine cleaning. Cuffed tracheostomy tubes should only be used for positive-pressure ventilation or to prevent aspiration. Manufacturer guidelines should be followed for cuff management and tracheostomy tube hygiene. Daily care bundles, skin care, and the use of moisture-wicking materials reduce device-associated complications. Tracheostomy tubes may be safely changed at postoperative day 3, and they should be changed with some regularity (at a minimum of every 1-2 weeks) as well as on an as-needed basis, such as when an obstruction within the lumen occurs. Care coordination can reduce length of hospital and ICU stay. Published evidence is insufficient to support recommendations for a specific device to humidify the inspired gas, the use of a communication device, or timing for the initiation of feedings.

Multidisciplinary Safety Recommendations After Tracheostomy During COVID-19 Pandemic: State of the Art Review.

OBJECTIVE: In the chronic phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, questions have arisen regarding the care of patients with a tracheostomy and downstream management. This review addresses gaps in the literature regarding posttracheostomy care, emphasizing safety of multidisciplinary teams, coordinating complex care needs, and identifying and managing late complications of prolonged intubation and tracheostomy. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Google Scholar, institutional guidance documents. REVIEW METHODS: Literature through June 2020 on the care of patients with a tracheostomy was reviewed, including consensus statements, clinical practice guidelines, institutional guidance, and scientific literature on COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 virology and immunology. Where data were lacking, expert opinions were aggregated and adjudicated to arrive at consensus recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: Best practices in caring for patients after a tracheostomy during the COVID-19 pandemic are multifaceted, encompassing precautions during aerosol-generating procedures; minimizing exposure risks to health care workers, caregivers, and patients; ensuring safe, timely tracheostomy care; and identifying and managing laryngotracheal injury, such as vocal fold injury, posterior glottic stenosis, and subglottic stenosis that may affect speech, swallowing, and airway protection. We present recommended approaches to tracheostomy care, outlining modifications to conventional algorithms, raising vigilance for heightened risks of bleeding or other complications, and offering recommendations for personal protective equipment, equipment, care protocols, and personnel. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Treatment of patients with a tracheostomy in the COVID-19 pandemic requires foresight and may rival procedural considerations in tracheostomy in their complexity. By considering patient-specific factors, mitigating transmission risks, optimizing the clinical environment, and detecting late manifestations of severe COVID-19, clinicians can ensure due vigilance and quality care.

Respiratory distress associated with inadequate mechanical ventilator flow response in a neonate with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

The incidence of congenital diaphragmatic hernia has been reported as 0.17-0.66 per 1,000 births. Despite advances in neonatal intensive care, congenital diaphragmatic hernia is associated with high mortality and morbidity. We report a neonate who was born with a left congenital diaphragmatic hernia and underwent surgical repair. The lack of ventilator flow response and flow cycling was identified via interpretation of the ventilator graphic and clinical assessment. Presumably, the ventilator failed to respond to the patient's peak inspiratory flow demand, despite the clinician's setting the highest peak flow available. A time-cycled pressure-limited mode with adjustable peak flow rate was the only option that met the infant's flow requirement, and alleviated the respiratory distress. This clinical finding follows bench research that raises the concern that so called "cradle-to-grave" ventilators may not optimally support all neonates.

Inhaled Pulmonary Vasodilators in the Neonatal and Pediatric ICU.

Inhaled pulmonary vasodilators are a powerful tool in the arsenal of therapies designed to treat pulmonary hypertension in pediatrics. Yet only 1 inhaled vasodilator, inhaled nitric oxide (INO), has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in neonates > 34 weeks gestational age with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn. Off-label use of inhaled vasodilators is common in the neonatal and pediatric population despite a lack of evidence. Growing focus on providing evidence-based therapies combined with the increasing cost of INO has led to the exploration of other inhaled pulmonary vasoactive agents. Advancements in technology have led to the creation of nitric oxide generation devices that do not require tanks. This review evaluates the current evidence regarding the use of inhaled vasodilators and INO delivery devices in the neonatal and pediatric intensive care population.