Endotracheal Tube Placement Confirmation with Bedside Ultrasonography in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit: A Validation Study.

Critically ill patients who are intubated undergo multiple chest X-rays (CXRs) to determine endotracheal tube position; however, other modalities can save time, medical expenses, and radiation exposure. In this article, we evaluated the validity and interrater reliability of ultrasound to confirm endotracheal tube (ETT) position in patients. A prospective study was performed on intubated patients with cuffed ETTs. The accuracy of ultrasound to confirm correct ETT placement in 92 patients was 97.8%. Sensitivity, positive predictive value, and agreement of 97.7, 93.3, and 91.3% were found on comparing ultrasound to CXR findings. Ultrasound is feasible, reliable, and has good interrater reliability in assessing correct ETT position in children.

Methodological background and strategy for the 2012-2013 updated consensus definitions and clinical practice guidelines from the abdominal compartment society.

The Abdominal Compartment Society (www.wsacs.org) previously created highly cited Consensus Definitions/Management Guidelines related to intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS). Implicit in this previous work, was a commitment to regularly reassess and update in relation to evolving research. Two years preceding the Fifth World Congress on Abdominal Compartment Syndrome, an International Guidelines committee began preparation. An oversight/steering committee formulated key clinical questions regarding IAH/ /ACS based on polling of the Executive to redundancy, structured according to the Patient, Intervention, Comparator, and Outcome (PICO) format. Scientific consultations were obtained from Methodological GRADE experts and a series of educational teleconferences were conducted to educate scientific review teams from among the wscacs. org membership. Each team conducted systematic or structured reviews to identify relevant studies and prepared evidence summaries and draft Grades of Recommendation Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) recommendations. The evidence and draft recommendations were presented and debated in person over four days. Updated consensus definitions and management statements were derived using a modified Delphi method. A writingcommittee subsequently compiled the results utilizing frequent Internet discussion and Delphi voting methods to compile a robust online Master Report and a concise peer-reviewed summarizing publication. A dedicated Paediatric Guidelines Subcommittee reviewed all recommendations and either accepted or revised them for appropriateness in children. Of the original 12 IAH/ACS definitions proposed in 2006, three (25%) were accepted unanimously, with four (33%) accepted by > 80%, and four (33%) accepted by > 50%, but required discussion to produce revised definitions. One (8%) was rejected by > 50%. In addition to previous 2006 definitions, the panel also defined the open abdomen, lateralization of the abdominal musculature, polycompartment syndrome, abdominal compliance, and suggested a refined open abdomen classification system. Recommendations were possible regarding intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) measurement, approach to sustained IAH, philosophy of protocolized IAP management and same-hospital-stay fascial closure, use of decompressive laparotomy, and negative pressure wound therapy. Consensus suggestions included use of non-invasive therapies for treating IAH/ACS, considering body position and IAP, damage control resuscitation, prophylactic open abdomen usage, and prudence in early biological mesh usage. No recommendations were made for the use of diuretics, albumin, renal replacement therapies, and utilizing abdominal perfusion pressure as a resuscitation-endpoint. Collaborating Methodological Guideline Development and Clinical Experts produced Consensus Definitions/Clinical Management statements encompassing the most contemporary evidence. Data summaries now exist for clinically relevant IAH/ACS questions, which will facilitate future scientific reanalysis.

Intra-abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome in pancreatitis, paediatrics, and trauma.

Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) is an important contributor to early organ dysfunction among patients with trauma and sepsis. However, the impact of increased intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) among pediatric, pregnant, non-septic medical patients, and those with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), obesity, and burns has been studied less extensively. The aim of this review is to outline the pathophysiologic implications and treatment options for IAH and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) for the above patient populations. We searched MEDLINE and PubMed to identify relevant studies. There is an increasing awareness of IAH in general medicine. The incidence of IAH and, to a lesser extent, ACS is high among patients with SAP. IAH should always be suspected and IAP measured routinely. In children, normal IAP in mechanically ventilated patients is approximately 7 ± 3 mm Hg. As an IAP of 10-15 mm Hg has been associated with organ damage in children, an IAP greater than 10 mm Hg should be considered IAH in these patients. Moreover, as ACS may occur in children at an IAP lower than 20 mm Hg, any elevation in IAP higher than 10 mm Hg associated with new organ dysfunction should be considered ACS in children until proven otherwise. Monitor IAP trends and be aware that specific interventions may need to be instituted at lower IAP than the current ACS definitions accommodate. Finally, IAH and ACS can occur both in abdominal trauma and extra-abdominal trauma patients. Early mechanical hemorrhage control and the avoidance of excessive fluid resuscitation are key elements in preventing IAH in trauma patients. IAH and ACS have been associated with many conditions beyond the general ICU patient. In adults and in children, the focus should be on the early recognition of IAH and the prevention of ACS. Patients at risk for IAH should be identified early during their treatment (with a low threshold to initiate IAP monitoring). Appropriate actions should be taken when IAP increases above 20 mm Hg, especially in patients developing difficulty with ventilation. Although on-operative measures should be instituted first, one should not hesitate to resort to surgical decompression if they fail.

Intra-abdominal hypertension and the abdominal compartment syndrome: updated consensus definitions and clinical practice guidelines from the World Society of the Abdominal Compartment Syndrome.

PURPOSE: To update the World Society of the Abdominal Compartment Syndrome (WSACS) consensus definitions and management statements relating to intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and the abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS). METHODS: We conducted systematic or structured reviews to identify relevant studies relating to IAH or ACS. Updated consensus definitions and management statements were then derived using a modified Delphi method and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) guidelines, respectively. Quality of evidence was graded from high (A) to very low (D) and management statements from strong RECOMMENDATIONS (desirable effects clearly outweigh potential undesirable ones) to weaker SUGGESTIONS (potential risks and benefits of the intervention are less clear). RESULTS: In addition to reviewing the consensus definitions proposed in 2006, the WSACS defined the open abdomen, lateralization of the abdominal musculature, polycompartment syndrome, and abdominal compliance, and proposed an open abdomen classification system. RECOMMENDATIONS included intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) measurement, avoidance of sustained IAH, protocolized IAP monitoring and management, decompressive laparotomy for overt ACS, and negative pressure wound therapy and efforts to achieve same-hospital-stay fascial closure among patients with an open abdomen. SUGGESTIONS included use of medical therapies and percutaneous catheter drainage for treatment of IAH/ACS, considering the association between body position and IAP, attempts to avoid a positive fluid balance after initial patient resuscitation, use of enhanced ratios of plasma to red blood cells and prophylactic open abdominal strategies, and avoidance of routine early biologic mesh use among patients with open abdominal wounds. NO RECOMMENDATIONS were possible regarding monitoring of abdominal perfusion pressure or the use of diuretics, renal replacement therapies, albumin, or acute component-parts separation. CONCLUSION: Although IAH and ACS are common and frequently associated with poor outcomes, the overall quality of evidence available to guide development of RECOMMENDATIONS was generally low. Appropriately designed intervention trials are urgently needed for patients with IAH and ACS.

Cerebral oxygenation in neonatal and pediatric patients during veno-arterial extracorporeal life support.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of right carotid artery ligation and variations in extracorporeal life support (ECLS) flow on regional cerebral oxygenation index (rSO2i) measured using near infrared spectroscopy. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Tertiary children's hospital. PATIENTS: Eleven neonatal and pediatric patients requiring veno-arterial ECLS support between June 2000 and March 2003. INTERVENTIONS: Near infrared spectroscopy probe placement on left and right frontal regions of patients undergoing ECLS, before vessel cannulation or within 24 hrs of initiation of ECLS. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Regional cerebral oxygenation was measured every minute for 72 hrs or until the patient was decannulated. The effect of cannulation on rSO2i from each hemisphere of the brain and the relationship between ECLS flow and rSO2i during ECLS support and "trialing off" periods were determined. Ligation of the right carotid artery resulted in a 12-25% decrease in rSO2i from baseline in the right frontal region for a duration ranging from 17 to 45 mins before returning toward baseline. No substantial change in the left frontal region rSO2i was detected during cannulation. Following this depression in rSO2i on the right, there was a transient increase above baseline in rSO2i observed in both hemispheres on initiating ECLS. No correlation between ECLS flow and rSO2i was found over the 72-hr period. Periods of "trialing off" ECLS were not related to any change in rSO2i in either hemisphere. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated no relationship between ECLS flow and rSO2i changes during the 72-hr observation period. A brief period of cerebral oxygen desaturation of the right frontal region at the time of right carotid ligation was seen in all three study patients examined during cannulation, followed by an increased rSO2i with initiation of ECLS flow. Near infrared spectroscopy measurement may offer an important adjunct for neurologic monitoring of ECLS patients.