Predictors of Intensive Care Admission in Hypoxemic Bronchiolitis Infants, Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Trial.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate in a preplanned secondary analysis of our parent randomized controlled trial predictors of intensive care unit (ICU) admission in infants with bronchiolitis and analyze if these predictors are equally robust for children receiving high-flow or standard-oxygen. STUDY DESIGN: A secondary analysis of a multicenter, randomized trial of infants aged <12 months with bronchiolitis and an oxygen requirement was performed using admission and outcome data of all 1472 enrolled infants. The primary outcome was ICU admission. The predictors evaluated were baseline characteristics including physiological data and medical history. RESULTS: Of the 1472 enrolled infants, 146 were admitted to intensive care. Multivariate predictors of ICU admission were age (weeks) (OR: 0.98 [95% CI: 0.96-0.99]), pre-enrolment heart rate >160/min (OR: 1.80 [95% CI: 1.23-2.63]), pre-enrolment SpO2 (transcutaneous oxygen saturation) (%) (OR: 0.91 [95% CI: 0.86-0.95]), previous ICU admission (OR: 2.16 [95% CI: 1.07-4.40]), and time of onset of illness to hospital presentation (OR: 0.78 [95% CI: 0.65-0.94]). The predictors were equally robust for infants on high-flow nasal cannula therapy or standard-oxygen therapy. CONCLUSION: Age <2 months, pre-enrolment heart rate >160/min, pre-enrolment SpO2 of <87%, previous ICU admission and time of onset of ≤2 days to presentation are predictive of an ICU admission during the current hospital admission of infants with bronchiolitis independent of oxygenation method used. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ACTRN12613000388718.

Nasogastric Hydration in Infants with Bronchiolitis Less Than 2 Months of Age.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether nasogastric hydration can be used in infants less than 2 months of age with bronchiolitis, and characterize the adverse events profile of these infants compared with infants given intravenous (IV) fluid hydration. STUDY DESIGN: A descriptive retrospective cohort study of children with bronchiolitis under 2 months of age admitted for hydration at 3 centers over 3 bronchiolitis seasons was done. We determined type of hydration (nasogastric vs IV fluid hydration) and adverse events, intensive care unit admission, and respiratory support. RESULTS: Of 491 infants under 2 months of age admitted with bronchiolitis, 211 (43%) received nonoral hydration: 146 (69%) via nasogastric hydration and 65 (31%) via IV fluid hydration. Adverse events occurred in 27.4% (nasogastric hydration) and 23.1% (IV fluid hydration), difference of 4.3%; 95%CI (-8.2 to 16.9), P = .51. The majority of adverse events were desaturations (21.9% nasogastric hydration vs 21.5% IV fluid hydration, difference 0.4%; [-11.7 to 12.4], P = .95). There were no pulmonary aspirations in either group. Apneas and bradycardias were similar in each group. IV fluid hydration use was positively associated with intensive care unit admission (38.5% IV fluid hydration vs 19.9% nasogastric hydration; difference 18.6%, [5.1-32.1], P = .004); and use of ventilation support (27.7% IV fluid hydration vs 15.1% nasogastric hydration; difference 12.6 [0.3-23], P = .03). Fewer infants changed from nasogastric hydration to IV fluid hydration than from IV fluid hydration to nasogastric hydration (12.3% vs 47.7%; difference -35.4% [-49 to -22], P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Nasogastric hydration can be used in the majority of young infants admitted with bronchiolitis. Nasogastric hydration and IV fluid hydration had similar rates of complications.

Psychosocial Care for Injured Children: Worldwide Survey among Hospital Emergency Department Staff.

OBJECTIVE: To examine emergency department (ED) staff's knowledge of traumatic stress in children, attitudes toward providing psychosocial care, and confidence in doing so, and also to examine differences in these outcomes according to demographic, professional, and organizational characteristics, and training preferences. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted an online survey among staff in ED and equivalent hospital departments, based on the Psychological First Aid and Distress-Emotional Support-Family protocols. Main analyses involved descriptive statistics and multiple regressions. Respondents were 2648 ED staff from 87 countries (62.2% physicians and 37.8% nurses; mean years of experience in emergency care was 9.5 years with an SD of 7.5 years; 25.2% worked in a low- or middle-income country). RESULTS: Of the respondents, 1.2% correctly answered all 7 knowledge questions, with 24.7% providing at least 4 correct answers. Almost all respondents (90.1%) saw all 18 identified aspects of psychosocial care as part of their job. Knowledge and confidence scores were associated with respondent characteristics (eg, years of experience, low/middle vs high-income country), although these explained no more than 11%-18% of the variance. Almost all respondents (93.1%) wished to receive training, predominantly through an interactive website or one-off group training. A small minority (11.1%) had previously received training. CONCLUSIONS: More education of ED staff regarding child traumatic stress and psychosocial care appears needed and would be welcomed. Universal education packages that are readily available can be modified for use in the ED.

Stroke and nonstroke brain attacks in children.

OBJECTIVES: To determine symptoms, signs, and etiology of brain attacks in children presenting to the emergency department (ED) as a first step for developing a pediatric brain attack pathway. METHODS: Prospective observational study of children aged 1 month to 18 years with brain attacks (defined as apparently abrupt-onset focal brain dysfunction) and ongoing symptoms or signs on arrival to the ED. Exclusion criteria included epilepsy, hydrocephalus, head trauma, and isolated headache. Etiology was determined after review of clinical data, neuroimaging, and other investigations. A random-effects meta-analysis of similar adult studies was compared with the current study. RESULTS: There were 287 children (46% male) with 301 presentations over 17 months. Thirty-five percent arrived by ambulance. Median symptom duration before arrival was 6 hours (interquartile range 2-28 hours). Median time from triage to medical assessment was 22 minutes (interquartile range 6-55 minutes). Common symptoms included headache (56%), vomiting (36%), focal weakness (35%), numbness (24%), visual disturbance (23%), seizures (21%), and altered consciousness (21%). Common signs included focal weakness (31%), numbness (13%), ataxia (10%), or speech disturbance (8%). Neuroimaging included CT imaging (30%), which was abnormal in 27%, and MRI (31%), which was abnormal in 62%. The most common diagnoses included migraine (28%), seizures (15%), Bell palsy (10%), stroke (7%), and conversion disorders (6%). Relative proportions of conditions in children significantly differed from adults for stroke, migraine, seizures, and conversion disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Brain attack etiologies differ from adults, with stroke being the fourth most common diagnosis. These findings will inform development of ED clinical pathways for pediatric brain attacks.