Experience With the Crescent• Right Atrial Jugular Dual Lumen Catheter for Pediatric Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A Case Series.

The Crescent dual lumen right atrial (RA) cannula has recently been introduced for the support of pediatric patients in need of venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) support. We present the first pediatric case series illustrating utility of the Crescent RA cannula in the pediatric patient population at a single institution over a 10 month period. From December 2021 to August 2022, six pediatric patients were adequately supported on seven VV ECMO runs at our institution with the Crescent RA cannula. ECMO cannulation, circuit design, anticoagulation management, ECMO circuit pressures, flow rates, and recirculation were similar to our standard of care for VV ECMO. The Crescent RA cannula can be used safely and effectively to provide adequate support for pediatric patients requiring VV ECMO.

Tissue Oxygenation Changes After Transfusion and Outcomes in Preterm Infants: A Secondary Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Study of the Transfusion of Prematures Randomized Clinical Trial (TOP NIRS).

Importance: Preterm infants with varying degrees of anemia have different tissue oxygen saturation responses to red blood cell (RBC) transfusion, and low cerebral saturation may be associated with adverse outcomes. Objective: To determine whether RBC transfusion in preterm infants is associated with increases in cerebral and mesenteric tissue saturation (Csat and Msat, respectively) or decreases in cerebral and mesenteric fractional tissue oxygen extraction (cFTOE and mFTOE, respectively) and whether associations vary based on degree of anemia, and to investigate the association of Csat with death or neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) at 22 to 26 months corrected age. Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a prospective observational secondary study conducted among a subset of infants between August 2015 and April 2017 in the Transfusion of Prematures (TOP) multicenter randomized clinical trial at 16 neonatal intensive care units of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network. Preterm neonates with gestational age 22 to 28 weeks and birth weight 1000 g or less were randomized to higher or lower hemoglobin thresholds for transfusion. Data were analyzed between October 2020 and May 2022. Interventions: Near-infrared spectroscopy monitoring of Csat and Msat. Main Outcomes and Measures: Primary outcomes were changes in Csat, Msat, cFTOE, and mFTOE after transfusion between hemoglobin threshold groups, adjusting for age at transfusion, gestational age, birth weight stratum, and center. Secondary outcome at 22 to 26 months was death or NDI defined as cognitive delay (Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-III score <85), cerebral palsy with Gross Motor Function Classification System level II or greater, or severe vision or hearing impairment. Results: A total of 179 infants (45 [44.6%] male) with mean (SD) gestational age 25.9 (1.5) weeks were enrolled, and valid data were captured from 101 infants during 237 transfusion events. Transfusion was associated with a significant increase in mean Csat of 4.8% (95% CI, 2.7%-6.9%) in the lower-hemoglobin threshold group compared to 2.7% (95% CI, 1.2%-4.2%) in the higher-hemoglobin threshold group, while mean Msat increased 6.7% (95% CI, 2.4%-11.0%) vs 5.6% (95% CI, 2.7%-8.5%). Mean cFTOE and mFTOE decreased in both groups to a similar extent. There was no significant change in peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) in either group (0.2% vs -0.2%). NDI or death occurred in 36 infants (37%). Number of transfusions with mean pretransfusion Csat less than 50% was associated with NDI or death (odds ratio, 2.41; 95% CI, 1.08-5.41; P = .03). Conclusions and Relevance: In this secondary study of the TOP randomized clinical trial, Csat and Msat were increased after transfusion despite no change in SpO2. Lower pretransfusion Csat may be associated with adverse outcomes, supporting further investigation of targeted tissue saturation monitoring in preterm infants with anemia. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01702805.

A Systematic Review of Clinical Outcomes After Carotid Artery Ligation Versus Carotid Artery Reconstruction Following Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Infants and Children.

INTRODUCTION: In pediatric and neonatal populations, the carotid artery is commonly cannulated for venoarterial (VA) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The decision to ligate (carotid artery ligation [CAL]) versus reconstruct (carotid artery reconstruction [CAR]) the artery at decannulation remains controversial as long-term neurologic outcomes remain unknown. The objective of this study was to summarize current literature on clinical outcomes following CAL and CAR after Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (VA-ECMO). METHODS: PubMed (MEDLINE), Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases were searched using keywords from January 1950 to October 2020. Studies examining clinical outcomes following CAL and CAR for VA-ECMO in patients <18 y of age were included. Prospective and retrospective cohort studies, case series, case-control studies, and case reports were included. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were performed independently by two reviewers. Assessment of risk of bias was performed. RESULTS: Eighty studies were included and classified into four categories: noncomparative clinical outcomes after CAL (n = 23, 28.8%), noncomparative clinical outcomes after CAR (n = 12, 15.0%), comparative clinical outcomes after CAL and/or CAR (n = 28, 35.0%), and case reports of clinical outcomes after CAL and/or CAR (n = 17, 21.3%). Follow-up ranged from 0 to 11 y. CAR patency rates ranged from 44 to 100%. There was no substantial evidence supporting an association between CAL versus CAR and short-term neurologic outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Studies evaluating outcomes after CAL versus CAR for VA-ECMO are heterogeneous with limited generalizability. Further studies are needed to evaluate long-term consequences of CAL versus CAR, especially as the first survivors of pediatric/neonatal ECMO approach an age of increased risk of carotid stenosis and stroke.

Evidence-Based Guidelines for Acute Stabilization and Management of Neonates with Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn.

Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, or PPHN, represents a challenging condition associated with high morbidity and mortality. Management is complicated by complex pathophysiology and limited neonatal specific evidence-based literature, leading to a lack of universal contemporary clinical guidelines for the care of these patients. To address this need and to provide consistent high-quality clinical care for this challenging population in our neonatal intensive care unit, we sought to develop a comprehensive clinical guideline for the acute stabilization and management of neonates with PPHN. Utilizing cross-disciplinary expertise and incorporating an extensive literature search to guide best practice, we present an approachable, pragmatic, and clinically relevant guide for the bedside management of acute PPHN. KEY POINTS: · PPHN is associated with several unique diagnoses; the associated pathophysiology is different for each unique diagnosis.. · PPHN is a challenging, dynamic, and labile process for which optimal care requires frequent reassessment.. · Key management goals are adequate tissue oxygen delivery, avoiding harm..

Ventilation Strategies During Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Neonatal Respiratory Failure: Current Approaches Among Level IV Neonatal ICUs.

To describe ventilation strategies used during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for neonatal respiratory failure among level IV neonatal ICUs (NICUs). DESIGN: Cross-sectional electronic survey. SETTING: Email-based Research Electronic Data Capture survey. PATIENTS: Neonates undergoing ECMO for respiratory failure at level IV NICUs. INTERVENTIONS: A 40-question survey was sent to site sponsors of regional referral neonatal ECMO centers participating in the Children's Hospitals Neonatal Consortium. Reminder emails were sent at 2- and 4-week intervals. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Twenty ECMO centers responded to the survey. Most primarily use venoarterial ECMO (65%); this percentage is higher (90%) for congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Sixty-five percent reported following protocol-based guidelines, with neonatologists primarily responsible for ventilator management (80%). The primary mode of ventilation was pressure control (90%), with synchronized intermittent mechanical ventilation (SIMV) comprising 80%. Common settings included peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) of 16-20 cm H2O (55%), positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) of 9-10 cm H2O (40%), I-time 0.5 seconds (55%), rate of 10-15 (60%), and Fio2 22-30% (65%). A minority of sites use high-frequency ventilation (HFV) as the primary mode (5%). During ECMO, 55% of sites target some degree of lung aeration to avoid complete atelectasis. Fifty-five percent discontinue inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) during ECMO, while 60% use iNO when trialing off ECMO. Nonventilator practices to facilitate decannulation include bronchoscopy (50%), exogenous surfactant (25%), and noninhaled pulmonary vasodilators (50%). Common ventilator thresholds for decannulation include PEEP of 6-7 (45%), PIP of 21-25 (55%), and tidal volume 5-5.9 mL/kg (50%). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of level IV NICUs follow internal protocols for ventilator management during neonatal respiratory ECMO, and neonatologists primarily direct management in the NICU. While most centers use pressure-controlled SIMV, there is considerable variability in the range of settings used, with few centers using HFV primarily. Future studies should focus on identifying respiratory management practices that improve outcomes for neonatal ECMO patients.

Early brain and abdominal oxygenation in extremely low birth weight infants.

BACKGROUND: Extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants are at risk for end-organ hypoxia and ischemia. Regional tissue oxygenation of the brain and gut as monitored with near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) may change with postnatal age, but normal ranges are not well defined. METHODS: A prospective study of ELBW preterm infants utilized NIRS monitoring to assess changes in cerebral and mesenteric saturation (Csat and Msat) over the first week after birth. This secondary study of a multicenter trial comparing hemoglobin transfusion thresholds assessed cerebral and mesenteric fractional tissue oxygen extraction (cFTOE and mFTOE) and relationships with perinatal variables. RESULTS: In 124 infants, both Csat and Msat declined over the first week, with a corresponding increase in oxygen extraction. With lower gestational age, lower birth weight, and 5-min Apgar score ≤5, there was a greater increase in oxygen extraction in the brain compared to the gut. Infants managed with a lower hemoglobin transfusion threshold receiving ≥2 transfusions in the first week had the lowest Csat and highest cFTOE (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Brain oxygen extraction preferentially increased in more immature and anemic preterm infants. NIRS monitoring may enhance understanding of cerebral and mesenteric oxygenation patterns and inform future protective strategies in the preterm ELBW population. IMPACT: Simultaneous monitoring of cerebral and mesenteric tissue saturation demonstrates the balance of oxygenation between preterm brain and gut and may inform protective strategies. Over the first week, oxygen saturation of the brain and gut declines as oxygen extraction increases. A low hemoglobin transfusion threshold is associated with lower cerebral saturation and higher cerebral oxygen extraction compared to a high hemoglobin transfusion threshold, although this did not translate into clinically relevant differences in the TOP trial primary outcome. Greater oxygen extraction by the brain compared to the gut occurs with lower gestational age, lower birth weight, and 5-min Apgar score ≤5.

Venovenous versus venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation among infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy: is there a difference in outcome?

OBJECTIVE: Our hypothesis was that among infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), venoarterial (VA), compared to venovenous (VV), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is associated with an increased risk of mortality or intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). DESIGN/METHODS: Retrospective cohort analysis of infants in the Children's Hospitals Neonatal Database from 2010 to 2016 with moderate or severe HIE, gestational age ≥36 weeks, and ECMO initiation <7 days of age. The primary outcome was mortality or ICH. RESULTS: Severe HIE was more common in the VA ECMO group (n = 57), compared to the VV ECMO group (n = 53) (47.4% vs. 26.4%, P = 0.02). VA ECMO was associated with a significantly higher risk of death or ICH [57.9% vs. 34.0%, aOR 2.39 (1.08-5.28)] and mortality [31.6% vs. 11.3%, aOR 3.06 (1.08-8.68)], after adjusting for HIE severity. CONCLUSIONS: In HIE, VA ECMO was associated with a higher incidence of mortality or ICH. VV ECMO may be beneficial in this population.

Treatment of pulmonary hypertension during initial hospitalization in a multicenter cohort of infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).

OBJECTIVE: Describe inpatient pulmonary hypertension (PH) treatment and factors associated with therapy at discharge in a multicenter cohort of infants with CDH. METHODS: Six years linked records from Children's Hospitals Neonatal Database and Pediatric Health Information System were used to describe associations between prenatal/perinatal factors, clinical outcomes, echocardiographic findings and PH medications (PHM), during hospitalization and at discharge. RESULTS: Of 1106 CDH infants from 23 centers, 62.8% of infants received PHM, and 11.6% of survivors were discharged on PHM. Survivors discharged on PHM more frequently had intrathoracic liver, small for gestational age, and low 5 min APGARs compared with those discharged without PHM (p < 0.0001). Nearly one-third of infants discharged without PHM had PH on last inpatient echo. CONCLUSIONS: PH medication use is common in CDH. Identification of infants at risk for persistent PH may impact ongoing management. Post-discharge follow-up of all CDH infants with echocardiographic evidence of PH is warranted.

Development of a Structured Regional Analgesia Program for Postoperative Pain Management.

OBJECTIVES: We pursued the use of regional analgesia (RA) to minimize the use of postoperative opioids. Our aim was to increase the use of postoperative RA for eligible surgical procedures in the NICU from 0% to 80% by June 30, 2019. METHODS: A multidisciplinary team determined the eligibility criteria, developed an extensive process map, implemented comprehensive education, and a structured process for communication of postoperative pain management plans. Daily pain team rounds provided an opportunity for collaborative comanagement. An additional 30 minutes for catheter placement was added in operating room (OR) scheduling so that it would not affect the surgeon OR time. RESULTS: There were 21 eligible surgeries in the baseline period and 34 in the intervention period. In total, 30 of 34 infants in eligible surgeries (88%) received RA. The average total opioid exposure in intravenous morphine milligram equivalents decreased from 5.0 to 1.1 mg/kg in the intervention group. The average time to extubation was 45 hours in the baseline period and 19.9 hours in the intervention group. After interventions, 75% of infants were extubated in the OR, as compared with 10.5% in the baseline period. No difference was seen in postoperative pain scores or postoperative hypothermia between the baseline and intervention groups. CONCLUSIONS: We used quality improvement methodology to develop a structured RA program. We demonstrated a significant reduction in opioid requirements and need for mechanical ventilation postoperatively for those infants who received RA. Our findings support safe and effective use of RA, and provide a framework for implementation of a similar program.

Noninvasive neurocritical care monitoring for neonates on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: where do we stand?

OBJECTIVE: To determine practice variation in the utilization of neuromonitoring modalities in neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) patients across Level IV neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey design using electronic surveys sent to site sponsors of a multicenter collaborative of 34 Level IV NICUs of the Children's Hospitals Neonatal Consortium (CHNC) from June to August 2018. RESULTS: We had 22 survey respondents from CHNC ECMO centers. Twenty-seven percent of respondents routinely monitored for seizures using electroencephalogram. Cerebral near infrared spectroscopy was used by 50%. Head ultrasound was performed by 95% but the frequency, duration, and type of views varied. Post ECMO screening brain MRI prior to hospital discharge was routinely performed by 77% of respondents. A majority of centers (95%) performed neurodevelopmental follow-up after hospital discharge. CONCLUSIONS: There is variation in neuromonitoring practices in Level IV NICUs performing ECMO. Lack of evidence and clear outcome benefits has contributed to practice variation across institutions.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and bloodstream infection in congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the risk of bloodstream (BSI) and urinary tract infection (UTI) and describe antibiotic use in infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). STUDY DESIGN: The Children's Hospitals Neonatal Database was queried for infants with CDH and ECMO treatment from 2010 to 2016. The outcomes included BSI, UTI, and antimicrobial medication. Member institutions completed a survey on infection practices. RESULT: Eighteen of the 338 patients identified (5.3%) had ≥1 BSI during their ECMO course. The likelihood of BSI increased with time: 1.2/1000 ECMO days; 0.6% (2/315) in the first week and rising to 14.6/1000; 8.6% (5/58) after 21 days (p = 0.002). More than 95% of patients received antibiotics each week on ECMO. CONCLUSIONS: Confirmed BSI is rare in infants with CDH treated with ECMO in the first week, but increases with the duration of ECMO. Use of antibiotics was extensive and did not correspond to infection frequency.