The effect of myocardial dysfunction on mortality in children with septic shock: a prospective observational study.

Pediatric septic shock is defined as progressive multi-organ dysfunction and cardiovascular dysfunction accompanying sepsis. Studies showing myocardial dysfunction associated with pediatric septic shock are very limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between myocardial functions calculated by echocardiography, disease severity, and clinical outcomes in children with septic shock. This observational prospective study was conducted in a pediatric intensive care at a university-affiliated tertiary hospital. The patients diagnosed with septic shock between January 2021 and February 2022 were included in the study. The study was conducted with 56 patients. The rate of myocardial dysfunction (systolic and/or diastolic dysfunction) was 50%. Of these, 39.3% (n = 22) had systolic dysfunction, 17.9% (n = 10) had diastolic dysfunction, and 8.9% (n = 5) had both systolic and diastolic dysfunction. PRISM III score (p = 0.004), VIS (p < 0.001), lactate (p = 0.002), CK-MB (p = 0.023), troponin (p = 0.038), EF (p = 0.004) EF z-score (p = 0.003), MAPSE z-score (p = 0.049), TAPSE (p = 0.010), TAPSE z-score (p = 0.003), and mitral valve E/e ´z-score (p = 0.028) were statistically significant difference with mortality. No significant difference was found for mortality with MAPSE (p = 0.090), mitral valve E/A (p = 0.624), and mitral valve E/A z-score (p = 0.327). EF z-score was found to be associated with 30-day mortality (OR = 0,681, 95% CI 0,480 to 0.991, p = 0,045). We found the TAPSE z-score to be the most significant parameter with 30-day mortality (OR = 0,690, 95% CI 0,489 to 0.998, p = 0,032).  Conclusion: We found left ventricular dysfunction associated factor with mortality. TAPSE showing right ventricular dysfunction was found to be the independent risk factor most associated with mortality. What is Known: • Studies showing myocardial dysfunction associated with pediatric septic shock are limited. • Little is known about the use of echocardiography in pediatric septic shock, and there are no specific guidelines for treatment and follow-up in pediatric patients. What is New: • Characteristics, echocardiographic measurements, and outcomes were comprehensively assessed in children with septic shock. • As a result of our analysis, we found that TAPSE, which is easily measured at the bedside, is the most critical parameter in relation to mortality. • We offer recommendations for its use in the follow-up of children with septic shock.

Clinical Features and Management of Status Epilepticus in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

OBJECTIVES: Status epilepticus (SE) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in children. SE in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) are not well characterized. The aim of this study is to retrospectively investigate the clinical features and treatment of seizures in children admitted to the PICU of our hospital. METHODS: We retrospectively examined the clinical characteristics of patients aged between 1 month and 18 years who were admitted to our hospital with SE or who were diagnosed with SE after hospitalization and were followed up with continuous electroencephalographic monitoring between January 2015 and December 2019. RESULTS: A total of 88 patients with SE, 50 (56.8%) boys and 38 (43.2%) girls, were included. The median age was 24 months (interquartile range, 12-80 months). When we evaluate the continuous electroencephalographic monitoring data, 27 (30.7%) were lateralized, 20 (22.7%) were multifocal, 30 (34.1%) were generalized, and 11 (12.5%) were bilateral independent epileptic activity. Seventy nine patients (89.8%) were evaluated as convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) and 9 (10.2%) as nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE). Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM III) score and mortality of patients with NCSE were higher ( P = 0.004 and P = 0.046, respectively). Thirteen eight patients (43.1%) were diagnosed as SE, 38 patients (43.1%) as refractory SE, and 12 patients (13.6%) as super-refractory SE. The overall mortality rate was 10.2%. CONCLUSIONS: Status epilepticus is a neurological emergency that causes mortality and morbidity. Electroencephalographic monitoring is important for the recognition of seizures and rapid intervention. No superiority of second-line treatments or combined treatments was demonstrated in patients with SE.

Evaluation of renal near-infrared spectroscopy for predicting extubation outcomes in the pediatric intensive care setting.

Background: In pediatric intensive care units, extubation failure following invasive mechanical ventilation poses significant health risks. Determining readiness for extubation in children can minimize associated morbidity and mortality. This study investigates the potential role of renal near-infrared spectroscopy (RrSO2) in predicting extubation failure in pediatric patients. Methods: A total of 84 patients aged between 1 month and 18 years, mechanically ventilated for at least 24 h, were included in this prospective study. RrSO2 levels were measured using near-infrared spectroscopy before and during an extubation readiness test (ERT). The primary outcome measure was extubation failure, defined as a need for reintubation within 48 h. Results: Of the 84 patients, 71 (84.6%) were successfully extubated, while 13 (15.4%) failed extubation. RrSO2 was found to be lower in the failed extubation group, also decrease in RrSO2 values during ERT was significantly greater in patients with extubation failure. ROC analysis indicated a decrease in ΔRrSO2 of more than 6.15% from baseline as a significant predictor of extubation failure, with a sensitivity of 0.984 and a specificity of 0.889. Conclusion: Monitoring changes in RrSO2 values may serve as a helpful tool to predict extubation failure in pediatric patients. Further multi-center research is warranted to improve the generalizability and reliability of these findings.

Closed-loop oxygen control improves oxygenation in pediatric patients under high-flow nasal oxygen-A randomized crossover study.

Background: We assessed the effect of a closed-loop oxygen control system in pediatric patients receiving high-flow nasal oxygen therapy (HFNO). Methods: A multicentre, single-blinded, randomized, and cross-over study. Patients aged between 1 month and 18 years of age receiving HFNO for acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF) were randomly assigned to start with a 2-h period of closed-loop oxygen control or a 2-h period of manual oxygen titrations, after which the patient switched to the alternative therapy. The endpoints were the percentage of time spent in predefined SpO2 ranges (primary), FiO2, SpO2/FiO2, and the number of manual adjustments. Findings: We included 23 patients, aged a median of 18 (3-26) months. Patients spent more time in a predefined optimal SpO2 range when the closed-loop oxygen controller was activated compared to manual oxygen titrations [91⋅3% (IQR 78⋅4-95⋅1%) vs. 63⋅0% (IQR 44⋅4-70⋅7%)], mean difference [28⋅2% (95%-CI 20⋅6-37⋅8%); P < 0.001]. Median FiO2 was lower [33⋅3% (IQR 26⋅6-44⋅6%) vs. 42⋅6% (IQR 33⋅6-49⋅9%); P = 0.07], but median SpO2/FiO2 was higher [289 (IQR 207-348) vs. 194 (IQR 98-317); P = 0.023] with closed-loop oxygen control. The median number of manual adjustments was lower with closed-loop oxygen control [0⋅0 (IQR 0⋅0-0⋅0) vs. 0⋅5 (IQR 0⋅0-1⋅0); P < 0.001]. Conclusion: Closed-loop oxygen control improves oxygenation therapy in pediatric patients receiving HFNO for AHRF and potentially leads to more efficient oxygen use. It reduces the number of manual adjustments, which may translate into decreased workloads of healthcare providers. Clinical trial registration: [www.ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [NCT05032365].

Pediatric Status Epilepticus Severity Score (STEPSS): Predictive Performance of Functional Outcomes: A Prospective Single-Center Study.

Objective: To prospectively investigate the predictive value of the modified Status Epilepticus Severity Score (STESS) for pediatric use (STEPSS) regarding unfavorable outcomes in the short term. Methods: Patients diagnosed as status epilepticus in the emergency department between January 2019 and June 2021 at a tertiary center of the University of Health Sciences, Dr. Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, were included in the study. The patients were followed up in the emergency department, neurology clinic, and pediatric intensive care unit until discharge. Demographic and clinical characteristics, STEPSS, and Pediatric Overall Performance Category Scale (POPC) scores were calculated. We defined a Pediatric Overall Performance Category Scale score ≥3 as an unfavorable outcome. We compared the effect of STEPSS on unfavorable outcomes and mortality. Results: 124 children were included. The median age was 33 months (interquartile range 16.2-84.7). Seventy-two (58.1%) patients had acute symptomatic etiology. We found that the STEPSS score with the receiver operating characteristic curve (area under the curve = 0.917, P < .001) could predict unfavorable outcomes (Pediatric Overall Performance Category Scale score ≥3) in children with status epilepticus. The Youden index (0.76) showed that a STEPSS score >2 was the optimal cutoff point for an unfavorable outcome. We found STEPSS useful in predicting mortality (area under the curve = 0.853, P < .001). The Youden index (0.58) indicated that a STEPSS >2 was the optimal cutoff for mortality: sensitivity 0.90 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.58-0.99), specificity 0.67 (95% CI 0.57-0.77), positive predictive value 0.21, negative predictive value 0.98, positive likelihood ratio 2.7, negative likelihood ratio 0.14. Conclusion: We determined that STEPSS can be predicted unfavorable outcomes and mortality. We think that STEPSS can be used as a useful clinical score with further studies and external validations.

Automated closed-loop FiO2 titration increases the percentage of time spent in optimal zones of oxygen saturation in pediatric patients-A randomized crossover clinical trial.

Introduction: We aimed to compare automated ventilation with closed-loop control of the fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) to automated ventilation with manual titrations of the FiO2 with respect to time spent in predefined pulse oximetry (SpO2) zones in pediatric critically ill patients. Methods: This was a randomized crossover clinical trial comparing Adaptive Support Ventilation (ASV) 1.1 with use of a closed-loop FiO2 system vs. ASV 1.1 with manual FiO2 titrations. The primary endpoint was the percentage of time spent in optimal SpO2 zones. Secondary endpoints included the percentage of time spent in acceptable, suboptimal and unacceptable SpO2 zones, and the total number of FiO2 changes per patient. Results: We included 30 children with a median age of 21 (11-48) months; 12 (40%) children had pediatric ARDS. The percentage of time spent in optimal SpO2 zones increased with use of the closed-loop FiO2 controller vs. manual oxygen control [96.1 (93.7-98.6) vs. 78.4 (51.3-94.8); P < 0.001]. The percentage of time spent in acceptable, suboptimal and unacceptable zones decreased. Findings were similar with the use of closed-loop FiO2 controller compared to manual titration in patients with ARDS [95.9 (81.6-98.8) vs. 78 (49.5-94.8) %; P = 0.027]. The total number of closed-loop FiO2 changes per patient was 52 (11.8-67), vs. the number of manual changes 1 (0-2), (P < 0.001). Conclusion: In this randomized crossover trial in pediatric critically ill patients under invasive ventilation with ASV, use of a closed-loop control of FiO2 titration increased the percentage of time spent within in optimal SpO2 zones, and increased the total number of FiO2 changes per patient. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT04568642.

Increased Severe Cases and New-Onset Type 1 Diabetes Among Children Presenting With Diabetic Ketoacidosis During First Year of COVID-19 Pandemic in Turkey.

Introduction: There have been some significant changes regarding healthcare utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic. Majority of the reports about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on diabetes care are from the first wave of the pandemic. We aim to evaluate the potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the severity of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and new onset Type 1 diabetes presenting with DKA, and also evaluate children with DKA and acute COVID-19 infection. Methods: This is a retrospective multi-center study among 997 children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes who were admitted with DKA to 27 pediatric intensive care units in Turkey between the first year of pandemic and pre-pandemic year. Results: The percentage of children with new-onset Type 1 diabetes presenting with DKA was higher during the COVID-19 pandemic (p < 0.0001). The incidence of severe DKA was also higher during the COVID-19 pandemic (p < 0.0001) and also higher among children with new onset Type 1 diabetes (p < 0.0001). HbA1c levels, duration of insulin infusion, and length of PICU stay were significantly higher/longer during the pandemic period. Eleven patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, eight were positive for new onset Type 1 diabetes, and nine tested positive for severe DKA at admission. Discussion: The frequency of new onset of Type 1 diabetes and severe cases among children with DKA during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the cause of the increased severe presentation might be related to restrictions related to the pandemic; however, need to evaluate the potential effects of SARS-CoV-2 on the increased percentage of new onset Type 1 diabetes.

The association between N-acetylcysteine treatment and hepatic healing in patients with non-acetaminophen-induced liver injury in pediatric intensive care: A single-center retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the association between the use of intravenous N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and hepatic healing in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients with non-acetaminophen-induced hepatic injury, except for acute liver failure. METHODS: The data of patients who received intravenous NAC as adjuvant therapy for transaminase levels more than sixfold normal values during their PICU stay between 2010 and 2014 were retrospectively collected from the medical records database. The patients who did not receive NAC with elevated transaminase levels during their PICU stay between 2014 and 2018 were also collected as the standard of care (SOC) cohort. RESULTS: More than 50% of the liver injuries were secondary to acute hypoxia, hypotension, sepsis, and inflammation. The median number of elevated transaminase period (ETP) days of the NAC and SOC groups were 5 (IQR: 4) and 4 (IQR: 4), respectively (p = 0.17). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of minimum and maximum laboratory values during ETP. There was no significant difference in terms of ETP and maximum ALT levels between the NAC and SOC groups in the hypoxia-hypotension subgroup. CONCLUSION: This study did not show an association between indirect measures of hepatic healing and post-insult use of NAC in pediatric liver injury in the PICU setting.

Could lactate clearance be a marker of mortality in pediatric intensive care unit?

BACKGROUND: Hyperlactatemia is a common finding in critically ill patients and has significant prognostic implications. However, a single lactate measurement has not been correlated to mortality consistently. In this study, we aimed to correlate the clinical efficacy of lactate clearance for the prediction of mortality in pediatric intensive care unit patients. METHODS: This retrospective observational study was performed in the pediatric intensive care unit in patients with lactate level >3 mmol/lt. Initial, 6th h, and 24th h lactate levels were recorded and lactate clearance was calculated using these values (lactate level at admission - level 6 h later × 100/lactate level at admission). RESULTS: A total of 172 patients were included in the study. Forty-four out of 172 patients died. Median (IQR) lactate (mmol/L) at admission was low in those who survived in comparison to nonsurvivors 4.4 (3.1) vs. 5.75 (7.7) (p = 0.002). Clearance at 6th h was significantly lower in those who died (11.7%) than those who survived (36.7) (p = 0.001). 6th h lactate clearance level <20.7% predicted mortality with a sensitivity of 63.6% and specificity of 69.5% along with a positive predictive value of 41.8 and a negative predictive value of 84.8 (p = 0.004). Both lactate levels and lactate clearance values were significantly predictive factors for mortality (p < 0.05). Only a positive moderate correlation was found between the percentage of PRISM-IV % and 6th h lactate level. DISCUSSION: The present study revealed that lactate clearance is a simple and rapid risk-stratification tool holding to be a potential biomarker of managing the treatment efficacy of children in the pediatric intensive care unit.

Randomized crossover trial to compare driving pressures in a closed-loop and a conventional mechanical ventilation mode in pediatric patients.

INTRODUCTION: In mechanically ventilated patients, driving pressure (ΔP) represents the dynamic stress applied to the respiratory system and is related to ICU mortality. An evolution of the Adaptive Support Ventilation algorithm (ASV® 1.1) minimizes inspiratory pressure in addition to minimizing the work of breathing. We hypothesized that ASV 1.1 would result in lower ΔP than the ΔP measured in APV-CMV (controlled mandatory ventilation with adaptive pressure ventilation) mode with physician-tailored settings. The aim of this randomized crossover trial was therefore to compare ΔP in ASV 1.1 with ΔP in physician-tailored APV-CMV mode. METHODS: Pediatric patients admitted to the PICU with heterogeneous-lung disease were enrolled if they were ventilated invasively with no detectable respiratory effort, hemodynamic instability, or significant airway leak around the endotracheal tube. We compared two 60-min periods of ventilation in APV-CMV and ASV 1.1, which were determined by randomization and separated by 30-min washout periods. Settings were adjusted to reach the same minute ventilation in both modes. ΔP was calculated as the difference between plateau pressure and total PEEP measured using end-inspiratory and end-expiratory occlusions, respectively. RESULTS: There were 26 patients enrolled with a median age of 16 (9-25 [IQR]) months. The median ΔP for these patients was 10.4 (8.5-12.1 [IQR]) and 12.4 (10.5-15.3 [IQR]) cmH2O in the ASV 1.1 and APV-CMV periods, respectively (p < .001). The median tidal volume (VT) selected by the ASV 1.1 algorithm was 6.4 (5.1-7.3 [IQR]) ml/kg and RR was 41 (33 50 [IQR]) b/min, whereas the median of the same values for the APV-CMV period was 7.9 (6.8-8.3 [IQR]) ml/kg and 31 (26-41[IQR]) b/min, respectively. In both ASV 1.1 and APV-CMV modes, the highest ΔP was used to ventilate those patients with restrictive lung conditions at baseline. CONCLUSION: In this randomized crossover trial, ΔP in ASV 1.1 was lower compared to ΔP in physician-tailored APV-CMV mode in pediatric patients with different lung conditions. The use of ASV 1.1 may therefore result in continued, safe ventilation in a heterogeneous pediatric patient group.

The Effect of COVID-19 Outbreak on the Mental Status of Health Care Professionals in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may affect the mental status of health care professionals. The purpose of our study is to evaluate the mental health effects of the COVID-19 epidemic on health care professionals in the pediatric intensive care units (PICUs). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Our study was conducted prospectively between 01.04.20 and 10.04.20. The created questionnaire was applied to health care professionals through online platforms. Thus it was involved in 5 different institutions that participated from different regions of Turkey. With the questionnaire, we applied; the participants' age, gender, the general status of contamination and the level of COVID-19 knowledge were questioned. Besides; Beck Anxiety Scale, Acute Stress Scale (PCL-5), STAI-1 and STAI-2 (State and Trait Anxiety Inventory 1-2) scales were used to determine the anxiety levels. RESULTS: A survey of 210 participants, 86 (41%) doctors, 124 (59%) nurses, were included in our study. When we evaluate the Beck anxiety levels, the majority of the participants (44%) were normal, while about one third had mild anxiety. When we evaluated the acute stress scale, all participants had a certain amount of stress levels. The majority (80 people each (38%)) experienced mild and moderate acute stress. Being female and having chronic disease poses a high risk for anxiety (OR, 0.330; 95% CI, 0.087-1.250, p<0.05 and OR, 0.246; 95% CI, 0.068-1.116, p<0.05), preoccupation (OR, 0.603; 95% CI 0.261-1.395, p<0.05 and OR, 0.433; 95% CI, 0.122-1.538, p<0.05) and acute stress (OR, 0.294; 95% CI, 0.033-2.649, p<0.05 and OR, 0.317; 95% CI 0.060-1.679, p<0.05). Professional definition, marital status and having a child do not pose any risk factors. CONCLUSION: Our study has shown that the COVID-19 outbreak affects the mental status of health care professionals working at PICU at various levels.

The effect of tracheotomy on ventilator-associated pneumonia rate in children.

OBJECTIVES: Data on the relationship between tracheotomy and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in children is very limited. We planned to evaluate the effect of tracheotomy on VAP rates in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated patients who underwent tracheotomy during follow-up at the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of our hospital. Patients who were diagnosed as VAP at least once and followed by a mechanical ventilation (MV) for at least 30 days before and after tracheotomy were included in our study. The underlying diagnoses of the patients and the number of VAP diagnosis, VAP rates (VAP number x1000/day of MV) before and after tracheotomy were recorded. Logistic regression analysis was used to compare VAP rates before and following a tracheotomy. RESULTS: There were a total of 47 patients including 28 (59.6%) girls and 19 (40.4%) boys in our study. The duration of MV before tracheotomy was 74.9 ± 48.9 (31-295) days and after tracheotomy, it was 103.3 ± 102.8 (30-586) days. The number of VAP before tracheotomy was 0.9 ± 1.2 (0-8) and after tracheotomy, it was 0.6 ± 0.6 (0-3). The VAP rate before tracheotomy was 5.9 ± 6.3 (0-26.5) and the VAP rate after tracheotomy was 3.2 ± 3.8 (0-11.4). Ventilator-associated pneumonia rates were lower following tracheotomy (OR:0.91,95%CI:0.826-0.981,p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: Tracheotomy decreased the VAP rate in children receiving long-term mechanical ventilatory support.