Use of Continuous Ketamine Infusion as an Adjunctive Agent in Young Infants With Refractory and Super Refractory Status Epilepticus: A Case Series.

Continuous ketamine infusions have been studied as an adjunctive agent for refractory status epilepticus (RSE) and super refractory status epilepticus (SRSE) in older children and adults. However, minimal information exists on the efficacy, safety, and dosing for continuous ketamine in young infants. We present the clinical course of 3 young infants with RSE and SRSE who received continuous ketamine in conjunction with other antiseizure medications. The condition of these patients was refractory to an average of 6 antiseizure medications before initiation of continuous ketamine infusion. For each patient, a continuous ketamine infusion was initiated at a rate of 1 mg/kg/hr with 1 patient requiring titration to a maximum of 6 mg/kg/hr. In 1 case, the concomitant use of continuous ketamine allowed for a reduction in the benzodiazepine continuous infusion rate. In all cases, ketamine was well tolerated especially in the setting of hemodynamic instability. Ketamine may provide a safe adjunct in the acute setting in severe RSE and SRSE. This is the first case series to document the use of continuous ketamine as a treatment modality in young infants with RSE or SRSE secondary to various underlying etiologies, without adverse events. Further studies are needed to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of continuous ketamine in this patient population.

Evaluation of Heparin Anti-Factor Xa Levels Following Antithrombin Supplementation in Pediatric Patients Supported With Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

OBJECTIVE: Thrombotic events are potential complications in patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) necessitating the use of systemic anticoagulation with heparin. Heparin works by potentiating the effects of antithrombin (AT), which may be deficient in critically ill patients and can be replaced. The clinical benefits and risks of AT replacement in children on ECMO remain incompletely understood. METHODS: This single-center, retrospective study reviewed 28 neonatal and pediatric patients supported on ECMO at a tertiary care hospital between April 1, 2013, and October 31, 2014, who received at least 1 dose of AT during their ECMO course. The primary outcome of the study was the change in anti-factor Xa levels after pooled human AT supplementation. Secondary outcomes included the percentage of anti-factor Xa levels within the therapeutic range surrounding AT administration; survival to decannulation; 30 days after cannulation and discharge; time to first circuit change; and incidence of bleeding and thrombotic events. RESULTS: A total of 78 doses of AT were administered during the study period. The mean increase in anti-factor Xa level following AT administration in patients without a ≥10% concurrent change in heparin was 0.075 ± 0.13 international units/mL. A greater percentage of anti-factor Xa levels were therapeutic for the 48 hours following AT administration (64.2% vs 38.6%). Survival and adverse events were similar to Extracorporeal Life Support Organization averages, with the exception of a higher incidence of intracranial hemorrhage. CONCLUSIONS: Patients experienced a small but significant increase in anti-factor Xa level and a greater percentage of therapeutic anti-factor Xa levels following AT supplementation.

Correlation Among Antifactor Xa, Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time, and Heparin Dose and Association with Pediatric Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Complications.

Anticoagulation is essential during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to prevent catastrophic circuit clotting. Several assays exist to monitor unfractionated heparin (UFH), the most commonly used anticoagulant during ECMO, but no single test or combination of tests has consistently been proven to be superior. This retrospective observational study examines the correlation among antifactor Xa level, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and UFH dose and the association between antifactor Xa level and aPTT with survival and hemorrhagic and thrombotic complications. Sixty-nine consecutive neonatal and pediatric ECMO patients from September 2012 to December 2014 at a single institution were included. Spearman rank correlation was used to compare antifactor Xa level, aPTT, and UFH dose. Significant but poor correlation exists between antifactor Xa level and UFH dose ρ = 0.1 (p < 0.0001) and aPTT and UFH dose ρ = 0.26 (p < 0.0001). Antifactor Xa level and aPTT were weakly correlated to each other ρ = 0.38 (p < 0.0001). In an univariate analysis, there was no difference between survival and antifactor Xa level, aPTT, or UFH dose. Multiple anticoagulation tests may be superior to a single test during ECMO.