Ventilator-Weaning Pathway Associated With Decreased Ventilator Days in Pediatric Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: There is limited evidence on the impact of protocolized ventilator weaning in pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome, despite utilization in clinical trials and clinical care. We aimed to determine whether protocolized ventilator weaning shortens mechanical ventilation duration and PICU length of stay in pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome survivors. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of a prospective pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (Berlin definition) cohort from July 2011 to June 2019 analyzed using interrupted time series analysis pre- and postimplementations of a ventilator-weaning pathway. We compared duration of invasive ventilation and PICU length of stay in survivors before and after implementation of a ventilator-weaning pathway. We excluded PICU nonsurvivors and subjects with greater than 100 ventilator days. SETTING: Large academic tertiary-care PICU. PATIENTS: Children with acute respiratory distress syndrome who survived to PICU discharge with less than or equal to 100 days of invasive mechanical ventilation. INTERVENTIONS: Implementation of a ventilator-weaning pathway on May 2016. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of 723 children with acute respiratory distress syndrome, 132 subjects died and six subjects with ventilation greater than 100 days were excluded. Of the remaining 585 subjects, 375 subjects had acute respiratory distress syndrome prior to pathway intervention and 210 after. Patients in the preintervention epoch were younger, more likely to have infectious acute respiratory distress syndrome, and had increased use of alternative ventilator modes. Pathway adoption was rapid and sustained. Controlling for temporality, pathway implementation was associated with a decrease of a median 3.6 ventilator days (95% CI, -5.4 to -1.7; p < 0.001). There was no change in the reintubation rates. Results were robust to multiple sensitivity analyses adjusting for confounders. CONCLUSIONS: Ventilator-weaning pathway implementation shortened invasive ventilation duration in pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome survivors with no change in reintubation. The effect size of this intervention was comparable with those targeted in acute respiratory distress syndrome trials.

High-frequency percussive ventilation improves oxygenation and ventilation in pediatric patients with acute respiratory failure.

PURPOSE: High-frequency percussive ventilation (HFPV) in pediatrics has been described predominantly in burned patients. We aimed to describe its effectiveness and safety in noninhalational pediatric acute respiratory failure (ARF). METHODS: We conducted an observational study in a tertiary care pediatric intensive care unit on 31 patients with ARF failing conventional ventilation transitioned to HFPV. Demographics, ventilator settings, oxygenation index, oxygen saturation index, oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry/fraction of inspired oxygen (Fio2), and Pao2/Fio2 were recorded before and during HFPV. RESULTS: Initiation of HFPV was associated with improvements in oxygenation index, oxygen saturation index, Pao2/Fio2, and oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry/Fio2 as early as 12 hours (P < .05), which continued through 48 hours after transition. Improved oxygenation occurred without an increase in mean airway pressures. Reductions in Paco2 occurred 6 hours after initiation of HFPV and continued through 48 hours (P < .01). Improved gas exchange was accompanied by reduced peak-inflating pressures at all time intervals after initiation of HPFV (P < .01). Vasopressor scores were similar before and after initiation of HFPV in patients requiring vasoactive support. Twenty-six (83.9%) of 31 patients survived to hospital discharge. CONCLUSIONS: In a heterogeneous population of pediatric ARF failing conventional ventilation, HFPV efficiently improves gas exchange in a lung-protective manner.