Pediatric Blood Management Protocol in Cranial Vault Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Cranial vault surgeries are invasive, extensive procedures with blood transfusions being frequently required. Previous interventions have been described to attempt to decrease the transfusion burden. The objective of this study is to determine if a Pediatric Blood Management (PBM) team can reduce transfusion requirements in children undergoing cranial vault surgery. METHODS: A protocol was developed which involved preoperative optimization of hemoglobin (Hb), intraoperative use of tranexamic acid, cell saver technology, and blood sparing operative techniques. Patients were preoperatively screened with basic laboratory testing. Retrospective data on 20 consecutive patients who underwent craniofacial surgery prior were used as controls. Prospective data on patients was collected. RESULTS: Groups were similar in age and weight. Postoperative Hb measurements were similar, with the control group 10.9 ±â€Š2.2 g/dL and the intervention arm 9.6 + 2.7 g/dL. Discharge Hb concentrations also were similar with 9.6 ±â€Š1.6 g/dL and 9.7 ±â€Š2.5 g/dL in the control and PBM group, respectively. The rate of transfusion decreased from 80% to 42% after protocol implementation (P = 0.007). During the last 6 months of data collection, the transfusion rate decreased further to 17%. Furthermore, 4 patients were found to have von Willebrand disease preoperatively with only 1 requiring a transfusion. CONCLUSIONS: The authors found that the institution of a PBM team reduced the transfusion burden of patients, including complex patients with von Willebrand disease. The use of a multimodal approach to hematologic management optimized patients for their procedures and helped minimize exposure to transfusion associated complications.

Comparative Effectiveness of Intranasal Dexmedetomidine-Midazolam versus Oral Chloral Hydrate Targeting Moderate Sedation during Pediatric Transthoracic Echocardiograms.

Objective To compare efficacy and safety of two moderate sedation regimens for transthoracic echocardiography (TTE): intranasal dexmedetomidine-midazolam (DM) versus oral chloral hydrate (CH) syrup. Method This was a retrospective cohort of 93 children under 4 years of age receiving moderate sedation with either DM or CH for TTE from January 2011 through December 2014. Measurements and Main Results Forty-nine patients received oral CH and 44 received the intranasal combination of DM. The demographics between groups were similar except the DM patients were slightly older and heavier (each p < 0.05). Failure rate between groups did not reach statistical significance (CH 14.3% vs. DM 6.8%; p = 0.324). Total sedation to discharge time was similar between groups (CH 89.4 minutes vs. DM 89.6 minute; p = 0.97). Cardiopulmonary data did reveal a significantly lower heart rate (101.9 vs. 91.7; p < 0.001) and respiratory rate (23.4 vs. 21.0, p = 0.03) in the DM group, but no difference in blood pressure measurements or echo determined shortening fraction. Conclusion These data support the use of intranasal DM as a safe and efficacious method of moderate sedation for children undergoing TTE.

A multicentered prospective analysis of diagnosis, risk factors, and outcomes associated with pediatric ventilator-associated pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE: To assess risk factors and outcomes associated with pediatric ventilator-associated pneumonia. DESIGN: Multicentered prospective observational cohort. SETTING: Children's hospitals in the United States. PATIENTS: Mechanically ventilated patients less than 18 years old. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Prospective evaluation of the prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes of pediatric ventilator-associated pneumonia along with evaluation of diagnostic criterion for pediatric ventilator-associated pneumonia. The prevalence of pediatric ventilator-associated pneumonia was 5.2% (n = 2,082), for a rate of 7.1/1,000 ventilator days. Patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia had a longer unadjusted ICU length of stay (p < 0.0001) and increased length of mechanical ventilation by more than 11 days (p < 0.0001). After adjustment for patient factors, ICU length of stay (p = 0.03) and mechanical ventilation days (p = 0.001) remained significant. Patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia were almost three times more likely to die (p = 0.007). Independent risk factors for ventilator-associated pneumonia were reintubation and part-time ventilation. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric ventilator-associated pneumonia is common in mechanically ventilated pediatric patients. These patients have longer length of stay, longer duration of mechanical ventilation, and increased risk for mortality.