Assessment of adherence to the 2020 Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines for fluid resuscitation in children with suspected septic shock in paediatric emergency departments: a prospective multicentre study.

BACKGROUND: Paediatric sepsis is the leading cause of death in children under 5 years. No studies have evaluated the application of the Surviving Sepsis Campaign 2020 (SSC-2020) guidelines in paediatric emergency departments (PEDs). OBJECTIVE: To assess physician adherence to the SSC-2020 fluid resuscitation guidelines in children with suspected septic shock in PEDs. METHODS: This was a prospective multicentre observational study conducted in 21 French hospitals over 5 sequential weeks, between November 2021 and March 2022. Children with suspected septic shock and who received antimicrobial therapy within 72 hours were included. Primary outcome was SSC-2020 fluid resuscitation guidelines adherence (low 0-24%; moderate 25-74%; high 75-100%) according to: bolus volume of 10-20 mL/kg each, exclusive administration of balanced crystalloids at 1 and 24 hours of management, and initiation of fluid resuscitation within 1 hour of septic shock recognition. RESULTS: 63 children were included. 10 (16%) children had severe sepsis and 2 (3%) met the definition of septic shock. Compared with the SSC-2020 guidelines, 43 (68%) patients received boluses of 10-20 mL/kg; fluid resuscitation was initiated within 1 hour of septic shock recognition in 42 (76%) cases; balanced crystalloids were the only fluids administrated in 35 (56%) and 34 (55%) children at 1 and 24 hours of management, respectively. Main barriers reported by physicians were difficult intravenous access (43%), lack of team training (29%), workload constraints (28%), and absence or out-of-date protocols (24%). CONCLUSIONS: This study found high adherence for fluid resuscitation initiation but moderate adherence for bolus volume and fluid choice. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05066464.

Comparison of telerobotic and conventional ultrasonography in children: a crossover bicentric pilot study.

Background: The MELODY system allows for performing ultrasonography on a patient remotely and has been proposed to assess disease characteristics in the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The aim of this interventional crossover study was to address the feasibility of the system in children aged 1 to 10 years old. Methods: Children underwent ultrasonography with a telerobotic ultrasound system followed by a second conventional examination by a different sonographer. Results: In total, 38 children were enrolled, and 76 examinations were performed, with 76 scans analyzed. The mean [standard deviation (SD)] age of participants was 5.7 (2.7) years (range, 1-10 years). We found substantial agreement between telerobotic and conventional ultrasonography [κ=0.74 (95% CI: 0.53-0.94), P<0.005]. The mean (SD) duration was longer for telerobotic than conventional examinations [26.0 (2.5) vs. 13.9 (11.2) min, P<0.0001]. Abdominal organs and abnormalities were similarly visualized on telerobotic and conventional ultrasonography. Cardiac echocardiography provided reliable diagnoses, with non-significantly different measurements with both techniques, although the visualization score was significantly higher with conventional than telerobotic ultrasonography (P<0.05). On lung analysis, both examinations identified consolidations and pleural effusion, whereas visualization and total lung score were similar with the 2 techniques. Overall, 45% of parents reported that their children felt less pressure with the telerobotic system. Conclusions: Telerobotic ultrasonography may be effective, feasible, and well-tolerated in children.

Subcutaneous implantable pleural port catheter in the management of malignant pleural effusions in young patients with solid tumors: A new option in the armamentarium of symptomatic treatment.

The contribution of subcutaneous implantable pleural port catheter (SIPP) for malignant pleural effusions (MPE) management in young patients with cancer, in a palliative care setting is not well explored. This monocentric series analyzed 38 patients, median age 18 years (range 3-25) with significant pleural effusion. SIPP were considered efficient for eight of 12 evaluable patients (67%) and allowed MPE outpatient management in five cases. SIPPs are safe and efficient device to manage MPE patients with solid tumors, in the palliative care setting. This original tool could help health care providers for thoracic symptom management in alternative to iterative pleural punctures.