After the Türkiye Earthquake: The Experience of a Pediatric Emergency Department in a University Hospital Distant from the Disaster Area.

INTRODUCTION: Earthquakes rank among the most deadly natural disasters, and children are particularly affected due to their inherent vulnerability. Following an earthquake, there is a substantial increase in visits to emergency services. These visits stem not only from patients seeking care for physical traumas resulting from the earthquake and its subsequent complications, but also from individuals affected by the circumstances created by the disaster. STUDY OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine the characteristics and outcomes of children who presented to the pediatric emergency department (PED) after the earthquake and to evaluate children who had crush injuries at a referral tertiary university hospital away from the earthquake area. METHODS: The medical records of children who presented to the PED from the earthquake area from February 6 through March 7, 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. Children rescued from under rubble were categorized as Group 1, those affected by earthquake conditions as Group 2, and patients seeking medical attention due to the follow-up of chronic illnesses were considered as Group 3. Patient data, including sociodemographic characteristics, time period under rubble (TPR), laboratory findings, and details of medical and surgical procedures, developing acute kidney injury (AKI), and the requirement for hemodialysis were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 252 children were enrolled in the study, with 52 (20.6%) in Group 1, 180 (71.4%) in Group 2, and 16 (6.0%) in Group 3. The median age was six (IQR = 1.7-12.1) years. In the first group (n = 52), 46 (85.2%) children experienced crush injuries, 25 children (46.3%) developed crush syndrome, and 14 of them (14/25; 56.0%) required dialysis. In the second group, the most common diagnoses were upper respiratory tract infections (n = 69; 37.9%), acute gastroenteritis (n = 23; 12.6%), simple physical trauma (n = 16; 8.8%), and lower respiratory tract infections (n = 13; 7.1%). For children in the third group, pediatric neurology (n = 5; 33.3%), pediatric oncology (n = 4; 25.0%), and pediatric nephrology (n = 3; 18.8%) were the most frequently referred specialties. CONCLUSION: Crush injuries, crush syndrome, and AKI were the most common problems in the early days following the earthquake. Along with these patients, children who were affected by the environmental conditions caused by the earthquake, as well as children with chronic illnesses, also accounted for a significant portion of visits to the PED, even if they were distant from the disaster area.

Pediatric AKI in the real world: changing outcomes through education and advocacy-a report from the 26th Acute Disease Quality Initiative (ADQI) consensus conference.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is independently associated with increased morbidity and mortality across the life course, yet care for AKI remains mostly supportive. Raising awareness of this life-threatening clinical syndrome through education and advocacy efforts is the key to improving patient outcomes. Here, we describe the unique roles education and advocacy play in the care of children with AKI, discuss the importance of customizing educational outreach efforts to individual groups and contexts, and highlight the opportunities created through innovations and partnerships to optimize lifelong health outcomes. METHODS: During the 26th Acute Disease Quality Initiative (ADQI) consensus conference, a multidisciplinary group of experts discussed the evidence and used a modified Delphi process to achieve consensus on recommendations on AKI research, education, practice, and advocacy in children. RESULTS: The consensus statements developed in response to three critical questions about the role of education and advocacy in pediatric AKI care are presented here along with a summary of available evidence and recommendations for both clinical care and research. CONCLUSIONS: These consensus statements emphasize that high-quality care for patients with AKI begins in the community with education and awareness campaigns to identify those at risk for AKI. Education is the key across all healthcare and non-healthcare settings to enhance early diagnosis and develop mitigation strategies, thereby improving outcomes for children with AKI. Strong advocacy efforts are essential for implementing these programs and building critical collaborations across all stakeholders and settings.

Programs and processes for advancing pediatric acute kidney support therapy in hospitalized and critically ill children: a report from the 26th Acute Disease Quality Initiative (ADQI) consensus conference.

Pediatric acute kidney support therapy (paKST) programs aim to reliably provide safe, effective, and timely extracorporeal supportive care for acutely and critically ill pediatric patients with acute kidney injury (AKI), fluid and electrolyte derangements, and/or toxin accumulation with a goal of improving both hospital-based and lifelong outcomes. Little is known about optimal ways to configure paKST teams and programs, pediatric-specific aspects of delivering high-quality paKST, strategies for transitioning from acute continuous modes of paKST to facilitate rehabilitation, or providing effective short- and long-term follow-up. As part of the 26th Acute Disease Quality Initiative Conference, the first to focus on a pediatric population, we summarize here the current state of knowledge in paKST programs and technology, identify key knowledge gaps in the field, and propose a framework for current best practices and future research in paKST.

Effect of cardiopulmonary bypass on thiol/disulfide homeostasis in congenital heart surgery.

Background: This study aims to investigate whether thiol/disulfide homeostasis parameters measurements could be used as a new biomarker to predict the pre- and post-cardiopulmonary bypass oxidative status of pediatric patients undergoing congenital heart surgery. Methods: A total of 40 children with congenital heart disease (17 males, 23 females; mean age: 39.6±40.0 months; range, 2 to 216 months) who underwent open-heart surgery were included. The control group consisted of 40 age- and sex-matched healthy children (18 males, 22 females; mean age: 42.8±46.6 months; range, 12 to 156 months). The patients with congenital heart disease were divided into two groups as cyanotic patients (n=18) and acyanotic patients (n=22). Thiol/disulfide parameters were compared among the cyanotic, acyanotic congenital heart disease patients, and control group preoperatively (pre-CPB). The effects of cardiopulmonary bypass on thiol/disulfide parameters, pre-CBP, immediately after cardiopulmonary bypass (post-CPB0), and 24 h after cardiopulmonary bypass (post-CPB24) were investigated. Results: The mean native and total thiol levels in the cyanotic patients were significantly lower than those in the acyanotic patients and control group (p<0.0001). The cyanotic group exhibited higher disulfide levels than the acyanotic group (p<0.01). The mean native thiol and total thiol levels significantly decreased in the post-CPB0 (p<0.0001). The mean disulfide levels significantly increased in the post-CPB0 than the pre-CPB values (p<0.001). Post-CPB24 native and total thiol levels were elevated compared to post-CPB0 (p<0.0001). The mean disulfide levels significantly increased in the post-CPB24 period than the post-CPB0 values (p<0.001). The survivor patients responded better to oxidative stress than non-survivor patients. Conclusion: Thiol/disulfide measurement is a promising biomarker in determining the pre- and post-cardiopulmonary bypass oxidative status of pediatric patients undergoing congenital heart surgery. The interpretation of thiol/disulfide levels, pre- and postoperatively, may be used in predicting mortality and outcomes of these patients earlier.

Fatal thrombotic microangiopathy in an infant with COVID-19: a case report.

BACKGROUND: While macrovascular thrombosis is common in adult COVID-19 patients, thrombotic microangiopathy as a part of endothelitis might play an important role in severe organ dysfunction. Thrombocytopenia-associated multiple organ failure (TAMOF) is a thrombotic microangiopathy syndrome that is associated with endothelial damage. Herein, we aim to report a pediatric TAMOF case related to SARS-CoV-2 infection which has been scarcely reported to date. CASE: A 7-month-old boy who became severely ill after being infected with SARS-CoV-2 required advanced critical care treatments such as continuous renal replacement therapy, therapeutic plasma exchange, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. A heart and lung biopsy obtained during sternotomy showed thrombotic microangiopathy. Despite early plasma exchange, mortality was inevitable because of severe liver failure. CONCLUSIONS: This case report implies that SARS-CoV-2 infection could cause TAMOF in children. To the best of our knowledge, this is the second SARS-CoV-2-induced pediatric TAMOF case. More studies are needed to determine alternative treatments for patients with TAMOF who are resistant to conventional therapies.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of continuous renal replacement therapy performed on younger children weighing up to 10 kg.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the clinical features, modality, complications, and effecting factors on the survival of children weighing up to 10 kg who received continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). METHODS: This study was a retrospective observational study conducted in five pediatric intensive care units in tertiary hospitals in Turkey between January 2015 and December 2019. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-one children who underwent CRRT were enrolled in the study. The median age was 6 (range, 2-12)months, and 74 (52.5%) were male. The median weight of the patients was 6 (range, 4-8.35) kg and 52 (36.9%) weighed less than 5 kg. The most common indication for CRRT was fluid overload in 75 (53.2%) patients, and sepsis together with multiorgan failure in 62 (44%). The overall mortality was 48.2%. DISCUSSION: Despite its complexity, CRRT in children weighing less than 10 kg is a beneficial, lifesaving extracorporeal treatment modality.

Long-term kidney follow-up after pediatric acute kidney support therapy for children less than 15 kg.

BACKGROUND: In small children, acute dialysis (pediatric acute kidney support therapy (paKST)) is increasingly used; however, it is challenging for many reasons. We compared clinical characteristics and predictors of long-term outcomes of patients < 15 kg on peritoneal dialysis (PD), hemodialysis (HD), and continuous kidney replacement therapy (CKRT). METHODS: Patients with history of paKST (CKRT, HD, PD) weighing < 15 kg and ≥ 6 months of follow-up at Hacettepe University were included. Surviving patients were evaluated at last visit. RESULTS: 109 patients (57 females) were included. Median age at paKST was 10.1 months (IQR: 2-27 months). In total, 43 (39.4%) patients received HD, 37 (34%) PD, and 29 (26.6%) CKRT. 64 (58.7%) patients died a median 3 days (IQR: 2-9.5 days) after paKST. Percentages of patients using vasopressor agents, with sepsis, and undergoing mechanical ventilation were lower in those who survived. After mean follow-up of 2.9 ± 2.1 years, 34 patients were evaluated at mean age 4.7 ± 2.4 years. Median spot urine protein/creatinine was 0.19 (IQR: 0.13-0.37) and 12 patients (35.3%) had non-nephrotic proteinuria. Three patients had estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 90 mL/min/1.73m2 and 2 (6%) had hyperfiltration. In total 22 patients (64.7%) had ≥ 1 kidney risk factor (elevated blood pressure/hypertension, hyperfiltration, eGFR < 90 ml/min/1.73m2, and/or proteinuria) at last visit. Among 28 patients on paKST < 32 months, 21 had ≥ 1 risk factor (75%), whereas among 6 patients who had paKST ≥ 32 months, one patient had ≥ 1 risk factor (16.7%), (p = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: Patients on paKST who undergo mechanical ventilation and vasopressor treatment should be followed-up more closely. After surviving the acute period, patients on paKST need to be followed-up closely during the chronic stage. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.

Optic nerve sheath diameter and pulsatility index for the diagnosis and follow-up in pediatric traumatic brain injury: a prospective observational cohort study.

PURPOSE: Invasive neuromonitoring could be difficult in children with traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study aimed to determine whether noninvasive intracranial pressure (nICP), calculated via pulsatility index (PI) and optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) had correlated with each other and patient outcome. METHODS: All moderate-severe TBI patients were eligible. Patients with a diagnosis of intoxication that did not affect the mental status or cardiovascular system were enrolled as controls. The PI measurements were routinely performed bilaterally on the middle cerebral artery. A software (QLAB's Q-Apps) was used to calculate PI, which further placed the ICP equation of Bellner et al. Linear probe with a 10 MHz frequency transducer to measure ONSD, which further placed the ICP equation of Robba et al. All measurements were performed by a point-of-care ultrasound certified pediatric intensivist under the supervision of a neurocritical care specialist, before and 30 min after a hypertonic saline (HTS) infusion for every 6 h when the patient's mean arterial pressure, heart rate, body temperature, hemoglobin, and blood CO2 levels were within normal ranges. The secondary outcome was the effect of hypertonic saline (HTS) on nICP. Delta-sodium values of each HTS infusion were calculated as a difference between pre- and post-measurements. RESULTS: Twenty-five TBI patients (200 measurements) and 19 controls (57 measurements) were included. Median nICP-PI and nICP-ONSD on admission were significantly higher in the TBI group (11.03 (9.98-12.63), p = 0.004, and 13.14 (12.27-14.64), p < 0.001, respectively). Median nICP-ONSD of severe TBI patients were higher than moderate TBI patients (13.58 (13.14-15.71) and 12.30 (9.83-13.14), respectively, p = 0.013). The median nICP-PI was the same across the type of injury (falls and motor vehicle accidents), while the median nICP-ONSD of the motor vehicle accident group was higher than falls. The first nICP-PI and nICP-ONSD measurements in PICU and admission pGCS were negatively correlated (r = - 0.562, p = 0.003 and r = - 0.582, p = 0.002, respectively). The mean nICP-ONSD during the study period and admission pGCS and GOS-E peds score significantly correlated. However, the Bland-Altman plots showed significant bias between the two methods of ICP except after 5th dose of HTS. All nICP values significantly decreased in time, and it was most obvious after the 5th dose of HTS. No significant correlations were found between delta sodium levels and nICP. CONCLUSION: Noninvasive estimation of ICP is helpful for the management of pediatric severe TBI patients. nICP driven by ONSD is more consistent with clinical findings of increased ICP but not useful as a follow-up tool in acute management because of slow circulation of CSF around the optic sheath. The correlation between admission GCS scores and GOS-E peds score favors ONSD as a good candidate for determining disease severity and predicting long-term outcomes.

Resuscitating the resuscitation: A single-centre experience on extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

AIM: Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is the rapid deployment of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) during active cardiopulmonary resuscitation or in patients with intermittent return of spontaneous circulation. This study aimed to describe the demographic characteristics and outcomes of patients undergoing ECPR to identify survival-associated factors. METHODS: The study was conducted in an extracorporeal life support centre of a tertiary hospital in Turkey and included all patients who underwent ECPR for in-hospital cardiac arrest between April 2013 and June 2021. Complications included bleeding, neurological injury, renal failure, hepatic failure, limb ischemia and bloodstream infections. The primary outcomes were survival of ECMO and survival to discharge. Neurological outcomes were assessed using the Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category Scale for children and the Category of Cerebral Performance Scale for adults. RESULTS: The study included 26 patients (24 paediatric, 2 adults), 22 (85%) of them had cardiac pathology. Bleeding was the most common complication. Twelve (46%) patients survived ECMO, 9 (35%) survived to discharge. Sex, age, primary diagnosis, cardiac arrest rhythm and ECMO duration were not significantly associated with the primary outcomes. Bleeding, neurological injury and renal failure were associated with poorer survival to discharge. The neurological outcomes of all survivors to discharge were good. CONCLUSIONS: ECPR is not commonly accessible. Sharing the experience of the few treating centres to date is crucial to accumulating sufficient knowledge about its efficiency and raising clinician awareness. This limited single-centre experience demonstrated the utility of ECPR.

Intravenous Lipid Emulsion Treatment for Calcium-Channel Blocker Intoxication: Pediatric Case Series and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Calcium-channel blocker (CCBs) intoxication remains the most lethal among all other drug overdoses (Arroyo and Kao. Pediatr Emerg Care 2009;25:533-538). This study aimed to describe the use and efficacy of intravenous lipid emulsion treatment in our CCB overdose patients in tandem with a comprehensive literature investigation. CASE REPORTS: Hereby we report 4 adolescent patients who arrived to the pediatric emergency department after intentional CCB ingestions. All patients were hospitalized in pediatric intensive care unit because of hypotension, and they were initially treated with fluid boluses, glucagon, calcium infusion, vasopressors, inotropes and insulin. Intravenous lipid emulsion (dose: 20% lipid emulsion given as a 1.5-mL/kg bolus followed by 0.25-0.5 mL/kg/min for 30-60 minutes) treatment was given to all patients unresponsive to initial treatments. Hemodynamic instability improved immediately after intravenous lipid emulsion treatment. All patients were discharged with complete recovery at the sixth day of pediatric intensive care unit admission. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous lipid emulsion therapy stands as a salvage treatment for CCB intoxications with cardiovascular failure unresponsive to standard supportive treatments.

Apnea Test on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: Step Forward with Carbon Dioxide.

Apnea test must be performed to confirm brain death in patients meet clinical criteria. But the increment of carbon dioxide is generally not achievable because of the diminished production of carbon dioxide and additional sweep in extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). We report three children with congenital heart disease treated with ECMO and had brain death during follow-up. All met clinical criteria but apnea test cannot be achieved in classical way because of prolonged duration and hemodynamic compromise. Therefore, we used external carbon dioxide to achieve desired levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide safely. Because of the lack of protocols for pediatric patients on ECMO, apnea test with exogenous carbon dioxide may be a reliable and rapid test in such patients. Especially cardiac patients, in whom classical apnea test can cause rapid deterioration, exogenous carbon dioxide may serve as an alternative.

Two tales of LPIN1 deficiency: from fatal rhabdomyolysis to favorable outcome of acute compartment syndrome.

LPIN1 deficiency is an autosomal recessive disease caused by biallelic mutations in LPIN1, where impaired fatty acid metabolism leads to stress in skeletal muscle, resulting in severe rhabdomyolysis, often triggered by fever, exercise, fasting, and anesthesia. It is the second most common cause of severe, recurrent episodes of rhabdomyolysis in early childhood which can result in serious morbidity and mortality. To date, 71 patients have been published in 20 clinical studies in the form of case series. We describe two previously unreported cases, one with a novel LPIN1 mutation that resulted in mortality, and another, to the best of our knowledge, with the first reported compartment syndrome managed with a favorable outcome in this disorder. Recognition of the complications including ventricular arrythmias, acute renal failure and compartment syndrome on the severe end of the spectrum may change the outcome and prognosis of this devastating condition.

Imaging spectrum of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation related neurologic events in children.

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can be associated with severe neurological complications increasing morbidity and mortality. We aimed to evaluate imaging findings in patients with neurological complications associated with ECMO. METHODS: Children ( < 18 years) who had ECMO support and received cross-sectional imaging (cranial CT and/ or MRI) were retrospectively evaluated. Age, gender, clinical and imaging findings were documented and the relation to ECMO duration and survival rates with imaging findings and imaging time (during ECMO or after weaning) were examined. RESULTS: Twenty children who had cranial CT/MRI during (n=6) ECMO and after weaning (n=14) were included in the study. The median duration of ECMO was 12.5 days (IQR=5-25 days) with a survival rate of 65%. Fourteen patients had positive imaging findings including ischemic stroke (n=4), hemorrhagic stroke (n=4), hypoxicischemic encephalopathy (n=2), posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) (n=3) and cerebral vein thrombosis (n=1). The duration of ECMO and survival rates did not significantly differ between patients with positive and unremarkable imaging findings. However, the survival rate was significantly higher (p < 0.001) and the duration of ECMO was significantly lower in patients scanned after weaning compared to patients imaged during ECMO support (p=0.033). CONCLUSIONS: Our series revealed PRES in ECMO-related neurologic events in addition to commonly reported thrombotic and hemorrhagic stroke in the literature. Availability of cross-sectional imaging and awareness of radiologists to these complications during ECMO or after weaning help in prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Comparison of high flow oxygen therapy versus noninvasive mechanical ventilation for successful weaning from invasive ventilation in children: An observational study.

Post-extubation respiratory failure is associated with a poor prognosis due to increased ventilator-associated pneumonia, and longer length of stay in the ICU and hospital. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) and noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) on extubation success in children. A total of 48 patients, aged between 1 month and 18 years, who were weaned to either NIMV or HFNC were included. Patients who had tracheostomy or were not weaned and underwent unplanned extubation were excluded. Age, gender, anthropometric parameters, Pediatric Risk of Mortality and Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction scores, oxygenation index, mechanical ventilation length of stay (LOS), HFNC/NIMV LOS, Modified Downes-Silverman score (MDS), and venous blood gas parameters, pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) LOS were recorded. 24 patients were extubated to NIMV, and 24 patients to HFNC. HFNC LOS and NIMV LOS were similar (P = .621). The failure rates at the 48th hour of HFNC and NIMV were 33% (n = 8), and 33% respectively (n = 8) (P = 1.0). PICU LOS and mortality rate was also similar (P = .06, P = .312 respectively). MDS decreased significantly in both groups (P < .001, P = .02 respectively). Changes in blood gas parameters and MDS within the first 48-hour of device application were similar between the 2 groups. HFNC is not inferior to NIMV in patients with extubation difficulty or those expected to have such difficulty in terms of treatment success, PICU LOS, and mortality. Therefore, HFNC appears to be a weaning technique alternative to NIMV after extubation.

Consensus-Based Recommendations on Priority Activities to Address Acute Kidney Injury in Children: A Modified Delphi Consensus Statement.

Importance: Increasing evidence indicates that acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs frequently in children and young adults and is associated with poor short-term and long-term outcomes. Guidance is required to focus efforts related to expansion of pediatric AKI knowledge. Objective: To develop expert-driven pediatric specific recommendations on needed AKI research, education, practice, and advocacy. Evidence Review: At the 26th Acute Disease Quality Initiative meeting conducted in November 2021 by 47 multiprofessional international experts in general pediatrics, nephrology, and critical care, the panel focused on 6 areas: (1) epidemiology; (2) diagnostics; (3) fluid overload; (4) kidney support therapies; (5) biology, pharmacology, and nutrition; and (6) education and advocacy. An objective scientific review and distillation of literature through September 2021 was performed of (1) epidemiology, (2) risk assessment and diagnosis, (3) fluid assessment, (4) kidney support and extracorporeal therapies, (5) pathobiology, nutrition, and pharmacology, and (6) education and advocacy. Using an established modified Delphi process based on existing data, workgroups derived consensus statements with recommendations. Findings: The meeting developed 12 consensus statements and 29 research recommendations. Principal suggestions were to address gaps of knowledge by including data from varying socioeconomic groups, broadening definition of AKI phenotypes, adjudicating fluid balance by disease severity, integrating biopathology of child growth and development, and partnering with families and communities in AKI advocacy. Conclusions and Relevance: Existing evidence across observational study supports further efforts to increase knowledge related to AKI in childhood. Significant gaps of knowledge may be addressed by focused efforts.

Reversible bronchiectasis caused by influenza virus mimicking Williams-Campbell syndrome.

The term bronchiectasis refers to permanent enlargement of the bronchi. It is increasingly diagnosed because of high-resolution computed investigations. It can be congenital or acquired, the latter mostly following infection. Williams-Campbell syndrome is a rare form of congenital non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. Here we report a 5-month-old girl with reversible bronchiectasis treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by influenza virus following surgery for congenital heart disease. Chest CT showed an abnormally large bronchial tree mimicking Williams-Campbell syndrome. At 9 months later, chest CT showed regression of bronchiectasis and normalized caliber of previously collapsed segments in both lungs. This atypical course illustrates that influenza virus can cause reversible bronchiectasis in infants and mimic congenital disease such as Williams-Campbell syndrome.

Prevalence and Time Course of Thiamine Deficiency in Critically Ill Children: A Multicenter, Prospective Cohort Study in Turkey.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and time course of thiamine deficiency (TD) in PICU patients. DESIGN: Multicenter, prospective, cohort study between May 2019 and November 2019. SETTING: Three university-based tertiary care, mixed medical-surgical PICUs in Ankara, Turkey. PATIENTS: PICU patients 1 month to 18 years old. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We studied 476 patients and grouped them by TD status on days 1 and 3 of the PICU admission. There might be a risk of unintended bias since we excluded 386 patients because of the absence of consent, inadequate blood samples, loss of identifier information, and recent vitamin supplementation. On day 1, TD was present in 53 of 476 patients (11.1%) and median (minimum-maximum) thiamine levels were 65.5 ng/mL (5-431 ng/mL). On day 3, TD was present in 27 of 199 patients (13.6%) with repeated measurement. The median (minimum-maximum) thiamine levels were 63 ng/mL (13-357 ng/mL). The time course of TD from day 1 to day 3 in these 199 patients was as follows. In 21 of 199 patients (10.6%) with TD on day 1, 11 of 21 (52%) continued to have TD on day 3 and the other 10 of 21 patients (48%) improved to no longer having TD. In 178 of 199 patients (89.4%) without TD on day 1, 16 of 178 (9%) went on to develop TD by day 3, and the other 162 of 178 (91%) continued to have normal thiamine status. CONCLUSIONS: In the PICU population in three centers in Turkey, the prevalence of TD in the sample of patients was 11.1%. In those TD patients who had serial studies, we also identified that by day 3 some continued to be TD, and some patients improved to normal thiamine status. Of concern, however, is the population who develop TD over the course of PICU stay.

Are platelet indices promising ratios for predicting pediatric septic shock prognosis?

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to determine the prognostic value of thrombocytopenia, platelet indices (MPV/PLT and PDW/PLT) in children with septic shock. BACKGROUND: Septic shock is one of the major causes of mortality among children worldwide. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was made of children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit between November 2010 and December 2019. Two hundred four children were included; they were diagnosed with septic shock according to the international pediatric sepsis consensus conference criteria. The MPV/platelet ratio and PDW/platelet ratios were estimated as the MPV and PDW values divided by the platelet count on the first three days of hospitalization. The clinical outcome was 28-day mortality. RESULTS: MPV/PLT and PDW/PLT ratios were found to be significantly higher in the non-survivors than survivor (p≤0.001). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, higher MPV/platelet ratios at 72h (OR: 7.41; 95% CI: 1.25-43.7; p=0.027) and PDW/platelet ratios at 72h (OR: 2.9; 95% CI: 1.13-7.50; p=0.027) were significant risk factors for mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Platelet indices are useful laboratory parameters in septic shock. MPV/PLT and PDW/PLT ratios can be promising reliable markers for 28-day mortality in children with septic shock (Tab. 4, Fig. 1, Ref. 29).

Early is superior to late plasma exchange for severe multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children.

BACKGROUND: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) can be life threatening in severe cases because of uncontrolled inflammation and multi-organ failure. In this study, we report the effect of plasma exchange in the treatment of MIS-C and to emphasize the effect of its early application on outcome. METHOD: In this retrospective observational study, the medical records of children with severe MIS-C admitted to pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) between April 2020 and January 2021 were reviewed. Severe MIS-C patients were treated according to protocol consisting of plasma exchange (PE), intravenous immune globulin, steroids, and anakinra which we called the "PISA" protocol referring to the initials. The patients were divided into two groups as early plasma exchange (E-PE) and late plasma exchange (L-PE) according to the elapse time between hospital admission and the administration of PE. Groups were compared in terms of outcome variables. Primary study outcome was 28-day mortality. Secondary outcome variables were acute phase response time, length of immunomodulatory treatment, frequency of patients requiring mechanical ventilation (MV) and inotropic support, length of inotropic support and MV, length of hospital and PICU stays. RESULTS: Eighteen pediatric patients with MIS-C were included in the study. Seventeen (95%) of the patients presented with decompensated shock and required inotropic support. One of the 17 patients needed extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support (ECMO) PISA protocol was used in all patients. There was no mortality in the E-PE group while the mortality rate was 20% in the L-PE group. Acute phase reactant response was faster in the E-PE group and immunomodulatory treatments could be reduced earlier; the frequency of patients requiring inotropic and mechanical ventilation (MV) support was lower in the E-PE group; the duration of inotropic support, duration of MV, and length of stay in hospital and PICU were significantly shorter in the E-PE group. CONCLUSION: We suggest that in selected cases, timely administration of PE is a beneficial rescue therapy for MIS-C related hyperinflammation presenting with severe cardiovascular collapse.