Comparacao dos niveis de sedacao graduados pela escala Comfort-B e pelo indice biespectral de criancas em ventilacao mecanica na unidade de terapia intensiva pediatrica / A comparison of gradual sedation levels using the Comfort-B scale and bispectral index in children on mechanical ventilation in the pediatric intensive care unit

Objetivo: Comparar os escores resultantes da escala Comfort-B com o índice biespectral, em crianças de uma unidade de terapia intensiva. Métodos: Onze crianças com idades entre 1 mês e 16 anos, submetidas a ventilação mecânica e sedação, foram classificadas pelo índice biespectral e pela escala Comfort-B, simultaneamente. Foi obtido registro de seus comportamentos por filmagem digital; posteriormente tal registro foi avaliado por três observadores independentes e foram aplicados testes de concordância (Bland-Altman e Kappa). Foi testada a correlação entre os dois métodos (correlação de Pearson). Resultados: Foram realizadas 35 observações em 11 pacientes. A concordância entre os avaliadores, segundo o coeficiente de Kappa, variou de 0,56 a 0,75 (p<0,001). Houve associação positiva e regular entre índice biespectral e Comfort-B, com r=0,424 (p=0,011) até r=0,498 (p=0,002). Conclusão: Devido à alta concordância entre os avaliadores independentes e a correlação regular entre os dois métodos, conclui-se que a escala Comfort-B é reprodutível e útil na classificação do nível de sedação de crianças em ventilação mecânica. .

Objective: Compare the scores resulting from the Comfort-B scale with the bispectral index in children in an intensive care unit. Methods: Eleven children between the ages of 1 month and 16 years requiring mechanical ventilation and sedation were simultaneously classified based on the bispectral index and the Comfort-B scale. Their behavior was recorded using digital photography, and the record was later evaluated by three independent evaluators. Agreement tests (Bland-Altman and Kappa) were then performed. The correlation between the two methods (Pearson correlation) was tested. Results: In total, 35 observations were performed on 11 patients. Based on the Kappa coefficient, the agreement among evaluators ranged from 0.56 to 0.75 (p<0.001). There was a positive and consistent association between the bispectral index and the Comfort-B scale [r=0.424 (p=0.011) to r=0.498 (p=0.002)]. Conclusion: Due to the strong correlation between the independent evaluators and the consistent correlation between the two methods, the results suggest that the Comfort-B scale is reproducible and useful in classifying the level of sedation in children requiring mechanical ventilation. .

Acute kidney injury according to pediatric RIFLE criteria is associated with negative outcomes after heart surgery in children.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the occurrence of acute kidney injury (AKI) according to pediatric RIFLE (pRIFLE) criteria and adverse outcomes in children after heart surgery. METHODS: Children undergoing heart surgery in a tertiary hospital in Southern Brazil were followed during their stay in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) or until death. The exposure variable was occurrence of AKI according to pRIFLE criteria which place AKI in three categories: R (risk), I (injury), and F (failure). The outcomes studied were death, length of mechanical ventilation (MV), and length of PICU stay. RESULTS: Eighty-five children were enrolled in the study. Of these, 47 (55.3 %) did not have AKI, while 22 (25.9 %), seven (8.2 %), and nine (10.6 %) were classified into pRIFLE categories R, I, and F, respectively. The incidence of death was 18.4 and 4.2 % in patients with and without AKI, respectively. Compared to children who did not develop AKI, the adjusted odds ratio for death was 1.05 [95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.09-11.11], 8.36 (95 % CI 1.32-52.63), and 7.85 (95 % CI 1.53-40.29) in the R, I, and F groups, respectively (p = 0.022). Duration of MV and of PICU stay were significantly higher in those children with AKI. CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of AKI according to pRIFLE criteria is associated to adverse outcomes in children after heart surgery.

A comparison of gradual sedation levels using the Comfort-B scale and bispectral index in children on mechanical ventilation in the pediatric intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVE: Compare the scores resulting from the Comfort-B scale with the bispectral index in children in an intensive care unit. METHODS: Eleven children between the ages of 1 month and 16 years requiring mechanical ventilation and sedation were simultaneously classified based on the bispectral index and the Comfort-B scale. Their behavior was recorded using digital photography, and the record was later evaluated by three independent evaluators. Agreement tests (Bland-Altman and Kappa) were then performed. The correlation between the two methods (Pearson correlation) was tested. RESULTS: In total, 35 observations were performed on 11 patients. Based on the Kappa coefficient, the agreement among evaluators ranged from 0.56 to 0.75 (p<0.001). There was a positive and consistent association between the bispectral index and the Comfort-B scale [r=0.424 (p=0.011) to r=0.498 (p=0.002)]. CONCLUSION: Due to the strong correlation between the independent evaluators and the consistent correlation between the two methods, the results suggest that the Comfort-B scale is reproducible and useful in classifying the level of sedation in children requiring mechanical ventilation.

Admission source and mortality in a pediatric intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Studies carried out in different countries have shown that source of patient admission in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) is associated to death. Patients admitted from wards show a greater ICU mortality. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between admission source and outcome in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied all PICU admissions that took place between January 2002 and December 2005 in a tertiary hospital in Brazil. The major outcome studied was death while in the PICU. The independent variable analyzed was admission source, defined either as pediatric emergency room (PER), wards, operating room (OR) of the same hospital or other sources. RESULTS: A total of 1823 admissions were studied. The overall expected mortality based on the Pediatric Index of Mortality 2 was 6.5% and the observed mortality was 10.3%. In adjusted analysis, the mortality was doubled in patients admitted from wards when compared with the PER patients. CONCLUSIONS: Observed mortality rates were higher in patients admitted from wards within the same hospital, even after adjustment.

Nurses' participation in the end-of-life process in two paediatric intensive care units in Brazil.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the medical and nursing care provided to children in the last 24 hours of life in two Brazilian paediatric intensive care units and analyse the nurses' participation in the decision-making process for life support limitation (LSL). The study was based on an analysis of the patients' medical charts, looking at the medical and nursing care provided in the last 24 hours of life during a 6-month period in the two units, and on semi-structured interviews with 20 nurses to evaluate their participation in LSL decisions. The children were classified into two groups: those who were to receive full cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and a non-CPR group. A total of 34 deaths occurred during the study period. Of these, 17 (50%) were children that had been in the non-CPR group; there were only 10 recorded LSL plans in their medical charts. In the interviews, only 30% of the nurses mentioned active participation in LSL decisions. In conclusion, the paediatric intensive care nurses in these two Brazilian units did not participate much in LSL decisions, and the care offered in the last hours of life to children with terminal and irreversible illness was not primarily directed toward comfort and alleviating suffering.