The outcome of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation in pediatric patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome in an intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: In adults with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) has been associated with higher mortality rates. Therefore, its use in children with ARDS is still controversial. OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the overall mortality of HFOV in children with ARDS and explore mortality-related risk factors; compare the outcome of using HFOV post-endotracheal intubation early (≤24 hours) versus late (≤24 hours). DESIGN: Retrospective (medical record review) SETTING: Pediatric intensive care unit in a tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data were collected from medical records of all pediatric patients with ARDS aged one week to 14 years, who were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) from January 2016-June 2019 and who required HFOV. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: PICU mortality. SAMPLE SIZE AND CHARACTERISTICS: 135 ARDS patients including 74 females (54.8%), and 61 males (45.2%), with a median age (interquar-tile range) of 35 (72) months. RESULTS: The overall mortality rate was 60.0% (81/135), and most died in the first 28 days in the PICU (91.3%, 74/8). Of non-survivors, 75.3% (61/81) were immunocompromised, and 24.7% (20/81) were immuno-competent patients, 52 (64.2%) received inotropic support, 40 (49.4%) had a bone-marrow transplant (BMT) before HFOV initiation. Although the prone position was used in 20.7% (28/135) to improve the survival rate post-HFOV ventilation, only 28.6% (8/28) survived. In addition, altered code status or chemotherapy reported a significant association with mortality (P<.05). Interestingly, early HFOV initiation (≤24 hours) did not seem to have a high impact on survival compared to late initiation (>24 hours); (57.4% vs. 42.6%, P=.721). CONCLUSION: Immunocompromised and oncology patients, including post-BMT, reported poorer outcomes, and neither the prone position nor early use of HFOV improved outcomes. However, it is recommended to replicate the study in a larger cohort to generalize the results. LIMITATIONS: Retrospective single-center study.

Outcome of continuous renal replacement therapy in critically ill children: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) has become the preferred mode of dialysis to support critically ill children with acute kidney injury. However, there are limited pediatric data on CRRT use, especially in our region. OBJECTIVE: Determine the outcome of CRRT among critically ill children. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Pediatric intensive care unit. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included critically ill children 1-14 years of age who underwent CRRT from July 2009 to June 2015. We report the underlying diagnosis, demographics, indications and modality of CRRT, and associated risk factors. Statistical analyses were used to identify risk factors associated with mortality. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mortality and associated risk factors with use of CRRT. SAMPLE SIZE: 96 RESULTS: The mean age was 6.0 (standard deviation, 4.4) years, with a male preponderance in the age group from 1-10 years which comprised almost 60% of the study group. The most common primary diagnoses were malignancies [37.5% (36/96)] followed by primary renal diseases [19.8% (19/96)], and immunodeficiency [16.7% (16/96)]. The most common indication for CRRT was fluid overload [67.2% (65/96)] followed by tumor lysis syndrome [18.8%(18/96)], and metabolic encephalopathy [9.4%(9/96)]. The median length of CRRT was 66 hours (IQR, 35.5-161.4), with a median average circuit life of 30.9 hours (IQR, 16.4-45.0). The most common CRRT catheter site was the internal jugular vein [77.1% (74/96)], followed by the femoral vein [18.8%(18/96)] with continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration [82.3%(79/96)] being the most common CRRT modality used. The mortality rate among critically ill children requiring CRRT was 50% (48/96). There was an increased mortality rate among children with hematological diseases (100%, 10/10), immunodeficiency (86.6%, 13/16) and in children who had undergone stem cell transplantation (90.0%, 27/30), with the least mortality in primary renal disease (15.8% (3/19). We identified septic shock and use of inotropic support as being independently associated with mortality in a multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: The overall mortality rate among critically ill children who un.derwent CRRT was 50% with significantly increased mortality among patients with hematological diseases, immunodeficiency, and in children who had undergone stem cell transplantation. Septic shock and use of inotropic support were associated with mortality. LIMITATIONS: Retrospective and single center data that is not generalizable. CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None.

Do not resuscitate orders in a Saudi pediatric intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the percentage of deaths in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) attributed to do not resuscitate (DNR) orders, and to compare our DNR practice with the international experience. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of all children less than 14 years of age who died in the PICU at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from January 2007 to June 2009 (n=154). RESULTS: The main mode of death was attributed to DNR orders in 79 cases (51%), failed cardiopulmonary resuscitation in 60 cases (39%), and brain death in 15 cases (10%). Of the 79 DNR orders, 46 (58%) were related to withdrawal of life support measures. CONCLUSION: The DNR is the most common cause of death in the PICU in tertiary hospitals in Saudi Arabia. To minimize the suffering of the dying child, life support limitation should be considered for children with terminal or untreatable diseases with low chances of survival.

Lethal Legionella infection in an immunocompromised child: first reported case in the Middle East.

Legionnaires disease continues to be underreported in the Middle East--a reflection of underdiagnosis, both clinically and by laboratory investigations. We draw the attention to this unusual cause of occasionally fatal, yet severe, pneumonia by reporting an immunocompromised infant who succumbed to Legionella pneumophila pneumonia. The urinary test for Legionella antigen was positive, and this was then confirmed by a bronchoalveolar fluid culture. Moreover we have reviewed the incidence, pathophysiology, association with immunodeficiency, diagnostic tools, and treatment in this case report.

Minimal exhaled nitric oxide production in the lower respiratory tract of healthy children aged 2 to 7 years.

BACKGROUND: Exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) is elevated in inflammatory airway conditions, e.g. asthma. We measured eNO levels in normal preschool children for whom there is little data available and in whom the prevalence of asthma is high. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Fifty children, 2-7 years old, undergoing elective surgery, excluding airway procedures, were recruited. Children with known respiratory disease or acute viral infections were excluded. Gas for eNO measurement was collected in a non-diffusion bag via 1) the mask after inhalation induction of anesthesia, 2) endotreacheal tube (ETT) or laryngeal mask airway (LMA), and 3) during emergence. Measurement was off-line by chemiluminescent analyzer. RESULTS: Mean eNO level by mask was 10.23 ppb (mean value+/-SD of 8.8-11.1 ppb) after induction and 8.35 ppb (mean value+/-SD of 5.9-10.8 ppb) on emergence. Mean eNO for the intubated group (n=25) was 0.75 ppb (mean value+/-SD of 0.4-1 ppb) (P<0.0001 vs mask); mean eNO for the LMA group (n=25) was 2.6 ppb (mean value+/-SD of 2-3.2 ppb), which differed from the mask (P<0.0001), and from ETT values (P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Most eNO is produced by the upper airway in healthy pre-school children. The lower airway constitutive eNO production is very low. The LMA does not completely isolate the upper airway and current mask collection techniques allow significant contamination of samples by sino-nasal eNO production in young children.

A case of propofol toxicity: further evidence for a causal mechanism.

A 5-month-old boy required sedation after a cleft lip repair. He was sedated with propofol and intermittent fentanyl, requiring escalating doses over the subsequent 48 h. On the second post-operative day he developed a metabolic acidosis followed by multiple cardiac dysrhythmias, hepatic and renal failure. Propofol was stopped. His multisystem organ failure gradually resolved after initiation of charcoal haemoperfusion. Further investigation demonstrated an abnormality in acylcarnitine metabolism, similar to that found in one previous case report.