Effect of apneic oxygenation with intubation to reduce severe desaturation and adverse tracheal intubation-associated events in critically ill children.

BACKGROUND: Determine if apneic oxygenation (AO) delivered via nasal cannula during the apneic phase of tracheal intubation (TI), reduces adverse TI-associated events (TIAEs) in children. METHODS: AO was implemented across 14 pediatric intensive care units as a quality improvement intervention during 2016-2020. Implementation consisted of an intubation safety checklist, leadership endorsement, local champion, and data feedback to frontline clinicians. Standardized oxygen flow via nasal cannula for AO was as follows: 5 L/min for infants (< 1 year), 10 L/min for young children (1-7 years), and 15 L/min for older children (≥ 8 years). Outcomes were the occurrence of adverse TIAEs (primary) and hypoxemia (SpO2 < 80%, secondary). RESULTS: Of 6549 TIs during the study period, 2554 (39.0%) occurred during the pre-implementation phase and 3995 (61.0%) during post-implementation phase. AO utilization increased from 23 to 68%, p < 0.001. AO was utilized less often when intubating infants, those with a primary cardiac diagnosis or difficult airway features, and patient intubated due to respiratory or neurological failure or shock. Conversely, AO was used more often in TIs done for procedures and those assisted by video laryngoscopy. AO utilization was associated with a lower incidence of adverse TIAEs (AO 10.5% vs. without AO 13.5%, p < 0.001), aOR 0.75 (95% CI 0.58-0.98, p = 0.03) after adjusting for site clustering (primary analysis). However, after further adjusting for patient and provider characteristics (secondary analysis), AO utilization was not independently associated with the occurrence of adverse TIAEs: aOR 0.90, 95% CI 0.72-1.12, p = 0.33 and the occurrence of hypoxemia was not different: AO 14.2% versus without AO 15.2%, p = 0.43. CONCLUSION: While AO use was associated with a lower occurrence of adverse TIAEs in children who required TI in the pediatric ICU after accounting for site-level clustering, this result may be explained by differences in patient, provider, and practice factors. Trial Registration Trial not registered.

Facilitators and Barriers to Implementing Two Quality Improvement Interventions Across 10 Pediatric Intensive Care Units: Video Laryngoscopy-Assisted Coaching and Apneic Oxygenation.

To better understand facilitators and barriers to implementation of quality improvement (QI) efforts, this study examined 2 evidence-based interventions, video laryngoscopy (VL)-assisted coaching, and apneic oxygenation (AO). One focus group with frontline clinicians was held at each of the 10 participating pediatric intensive care units. Qualitative analysis identified common and unique themes. Intervention fidelity was monitored with a priori defined success as >50% VL-assisted coaching or >80% AO use for 3 consecutive months. Eighty percent of intensive care units with VL-assisted coaching and 20% with AO met this criteria during the study period. Common facilitator themes were adequate device accessibility, having a QI culture, and strong leadership. Common barrier themes included poor device accessibility and perception of delay in care. A consistently identified theme in the successful sites was strong QI leadership, while unsuccessful sites consistently identified insufficient education. These facilitators and barriers should be proactively addressed during dissemination of these interventions.