Latin American Consensus for Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation 2017: Latin American Pediatric Critical Care Society Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Committee.

OBJECTIVES: To develop a Latin American Consensus about Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. To clarify, reinforce, and adapt some specific recommendations for pediatric patients and to stimulate the implementation of these recommendations in clinical practice. DESIGN: Expert consensus recommendations with Delphi methodology. SETTING: Latin American countries. SUBJECTS: Experts in pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation from 19 Latin American countries. INTERVENTIONS: Delphi methodology for expert consensus. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The goal was to reach consensus with all the participating experts for every recommendation. An agreement of at least 80% of the participating experts had to exist in order to deliver a recommendation. Two Delphi voting rounds were sent out electronically. The experts were asked to score between 1 and 9 their level of agreement for each recommendation. The score was then classified into three groups: strong agreement (score 7-9), moderate agreement (score 4-6), and disagreement (score 1-3). Nineteen experts from 19 countries participated in both voting rounds and in the whole process of drafting the recommendations. Sixteen recommendations about organization of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, prevention, basic resuscitation, advanced resuscitation, and postresuscitation measures were approved. Ten of them had a consensus of 100%. Four of them were agreed by all the participants except one (94.7% consensus). One recommendation was agreed by all except two experts (89.4%), and finally, one was agreed by all except three experts (84.2%). All the recommendations reached a level of agreement. CONCLUSIONS: This consensus adapts 16 international recommendations to Latin America in order to improve the practice of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in children. Studies should be conducted to analyze the effectiveness of the implementation of these recommendations.

Paediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation training program in Latin-America: the RIBEPCI experience.

BACKGROUND: To describe the design and to present the results of a paediatric and neonatal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training program adapted to Latin-America. METHODS: A paediatric CPR coordinated training project was set up in several Latin-American countries with the instructional and scientific support of the Spanish Group for Paediatric and Neonatal CPR. The program was divided into four phases: CPR training and preparation of instructors; training for instructors; supervised teaching; and independent teaching. Instructors from each country participated in the development of the next group in the following country. Paediatric Basic Life Support (BLS), Paediatric Intermediate (ILS) and Paediatric Advanced (ALS) courses were organized in each country adapted to local characteristics. RESULTS: Five Paediatric Resuscitation groups were created sequentially in Honduras (2), Guatemala, Dominican Republican and Mexico. During 5 years, 6 instructors courses (94 students), 64 Paediatric BLS Courses (1409 students), 29 Paediatrics ILS courses (626 students) and 89 Paediatric ALS courses (1804 students) were given. At the end of the program all five groups are autonomous and organize their own instructor courses. CONCLUSIONS: Training of autonomous Paediatric CPR groups with the collaboration and scientific assessment of an expert group is a good model program to develop Paediatric CPR training in low- and middle income countries. Participation of groups of different countries in the educational activities is an important method to establish a cooperation network.

Long-term evolution after in-hospital cardiac arrest in children: Prospective multicenter multinational study.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective was to study survival and neurologic evolution of children who suffered in-hospital pediatric cardiac arrest (CA). The secondary objective was to analyze the influence of risk factors on the long term outcome after CA. METHODS: prospective, international, observational, multicentric study in 48 hospitals of 12 countries. CA in children between 1 month and 18 years were analyzed using the Utstein template. Survival and neurological state measured by Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category (PCPC) scale one year after hospital discharge was evaluated. RESULTS: 502 patients with in-hospital CA were evaluated. 197 of them (39.2%) survived to hospital discharge. PCPC at hospital discharge was available in 156 of survivors (79.2%). 76.9% had good neurologic state (PCPC 1-2) and 23.1% poor PCPC values (3-6). One year after cardiac arrest we could obtain data from 144 patients (28.6%). PCPC was available in 116 patients. 88 (75.9%) had a good neurologic evaluation and 28 (24.1%) a poor one. A neurological deterioration evaluated by PCPC scale was observed in 40 patients (7.9%). One year after cardiac arrest PCPC scores compared to hospital discharge had worsen in 7 patients (6%), remained constant in 103 patients (88.8%) and had improved in 6 patients (5.2%). CONCLUSION: Survival one year after cardiac arrest in children after in-hospital cardiac arrest is high. Neurologic outcome of these children a year after cardiac arrest is mostly the same as after hospital discharge. The factors associated with a worst long-term neurological outcome are the etiology of arrest being a traumatic or neurologic illness, and the persistency of higher lactic acid values 24h after ROSC. A standardised basic protocol even practicable for lower developed countries would be a first step for the new multicenter studies.

In-hospital pediatric cardiac arrest in Honduras.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to analyze the characteristic and the prognostic factors of in-hospital pediatric cardiac arrest (CA) in a public hospital Honduras. METHODS: A prospective observational study was performed on pediatric in-hospital CA as a part of a multicenter international study. One hundred forty-six children were studied. The primary end point was survival at hospital discharge. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the influence of each factor on mortality. RESULTS: Cardiac arrest occurred in the emergency department in 66.9%. Respiratory diseases and sepsis were predominant causes of CA. Return of spontaneous circulation was achieved in 60% of patients, and 22.6% survived to hospital discharge. The factors related with mortality were nonrespiratory cause of CA (odds ratio [OR], 2.55; P = 0.045), adrenaline administration (OR, 4.96; P = 0.008), and a duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation more than 10 minutes (OR, 3.40; P = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: In-hospital CA in children in a developing country has low survival. Patients with nonrespiratory causes and those who need adrenaline administration and prolonged resuscitation had worse prognosis.

Cardiac arrest and resuscitation in the pediatric intensive care unit: a prospective multicenter multinational study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to analyze the mortality and neurological outcome factors of in-pediatric intensive care unit (in-PICU) cardiac arrest (CA) in a multicenter international study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: It was a prospective observational multicenter study in Latin-American countries, Spain, Portugal, and Italy. A total of 250 children aged from 1 month to 18 years who suffered in-PICU CA were studied. Countries and patient-related variables, arrest life, support-related variables, procedures, and clinical and neurological status at hospital discharge according to the Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category (PCPC) scale were registered. The primary endpoint was survival at hospital discharge and neurological outcome at the same time was the secondary endpoint. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Return of spontaneous circulation maintained longer than 20 min was achieved in 172 patients (69.1%) and 101 (40.4%) survived to hospital discharge. In the univariate analysis, oncohematologic diseases, inotropic infusion at the time of CA, sepsis and neurologic causes of CA, primary cardiac arrest, need of adrenaline, bicarbonate or volume expansion during resuscitation, and long duration of resuscitation were related with mortality. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, factors related to mortality were hemato-oncologic illness and previous treatment with vasoactive drugs at the time of CA event, neurological etiology of CA, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) duration for more than 10 min. One year after CA, neurological status was assessed in 65 patients; among them, 81.5% had mild disabilities or none. CONCLUSIONS: Survival with good neurological outcome of CA in the PICU is improving. The most important prognostic indicator is the duration of resuscitation.

Post return of spontaneous circulation factors associated with mortality in pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrest: a prospective multicenter multinational observational study.

INTRODUCTION: Most studies have analyzed pre-arrest and resuscitation factors associated with mortality after cardiac arrest (CA) in children, but many patients that reach return of spontaneous circulation die within the next days or weeks. The objective of our study was to analyze post-return of spontaneous circulation factors associated with in-hospital mortality after cardiac arrest in children. METHODS: A prospective multicenter, multinational, observational study in 48 hospitals from 12 countries was performed. A total of 502 children aged between 1 month and 18 years with in-hospital cardiac arrest were analyzed. The primary endpoint was survival to hospital discharge. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the influence of each post-return of spontaneous circulation factor on mortality. RESULTS: Return of spontaneous circulation was achieved in 69.5% of patients; 39.2% survived to hospital discharge and 88.9% of survivors had good neurological outcome. In the univariate analysis, post- return of spontaneous circulation factors related with mortality were pH, base deficit, lactic acid, bicarbonate, FiO2, need for inotropic support, inotropic index, dose of dopamine and dobutamine at 1 hour and at 24 hours after return of spontaneous circulation as well as Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and total hospital length of stay. In the multivariate analysis factors associated with mortality at 1 hour after return of spontaneous circulation were PaCO2 < 30 mmHg and >50 mmHg, inotropic index >14 and lactic acid >5 mmol/L. Factors associated with mortality at 24 hours after return of spontaneous circulation were PaCO2 > 50 mmHg, inotropic index >14 and FiO2 ≥ 0.80. CONCLUSIONS: Secondary in-hospital mortality among the initial survivors of CA is high. Hypoventilation, hyperventilation, FiO2 ≥ 0.80, the need for high doses of inotropic support, and high levels of lactic acid were the most important post-return of spontaneous circulation factors associated with in-hospital mortality in children in our population.

Factors associated with mortality in pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrest: a prospective multicenter multinational observational study.

PURPOSE: To analyze prognostic factors associated with in-hospital cardiac arrest (CA) in children. METHODS: A prospective, multicenter, multinational, observational study was performed on pediatric in-hospital CA in 12 countries and included 502 children between 1 month and 18 years. The primary endpoint was survival at hospital discharge. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the influence of each factor on mortality. RESULTS: Return of spontaneous circulation was achieved in 69.5 % of patients; 39.2 % survived to hospital discharge and 88.9 % of survivors had good neurological outcome. The pre-arrest factors related to mortality were lower Human Development Index [odds ratio (OR) 2.32, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.28-4.21], oncohematologic disease (OR 3.33, 95 % CI 1.60-6.98), and treatment with inotropic drugs at the time of CA (OR 2.35, 95 % CI 1.55-3.56). CA and resuscitation factors related to mortality were CA due to neurological disease (OR 5.19, 95 % CI 1.49-18.73) and duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation greater than 10 min (OR 4.00, 95 % CI 1.49-18.73). Factors related to survival were CA occurring in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) (OR 0.38, 95 % CI 0.16-0.86) and shockable rhythm (OR 0.26, 95 % CI 0.09-0.73). CONCLUSIONS: In-hospital CA in children has a low survival but most of the survivors have a good neurological outcome. Some prognostic risk factors cannot be modified, making it important to focus efforts on improving hospital organization to care for children at risk of CA in the PICU and, in particular, in other hospital areas.

Hyperoxia, hypocapnia and hypercapnia as outcome factors after cardiac arrest in children.

PURPOSE: Arterial hyperoxia after resuscitation has been associated with increased mortality in adults. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that post-resuscitation hyperoxia and hypocapnia are associated with increased mortality after resuscitation in pediatric patients. METHODS: We performed a prospective observational multicenter hospital-based study including 223 children aged between 1 month and 18 years who achieved return of spontaneous circulation after in-hospital cardiac arrest and for whom arterial blood gas analysis data were available. RESULTS: After return of spontaneous circulation, 8.5% of patients had hyperoxia (defined as PaO(2)>300 mm Hg) and 26.5% hypoxia (defined as PaO(2)<60 mm Hg). No statistical differences in mortality were observed when patients with hyperoxia (52.6%), hypoxia (42.4%), or normoxia (40.7%) (p=0.61). Hypocapnia (defined as PaCO(2)<30 mm Hg) was observed in 13.5% of patients and hypercapnia (defined as PaCO(2)>50 mm Hg) in 27.6%. Patients with hypercapnia or hypocapnia had significantly higher mortality (59.0% and 50.0%, respectively) than patients with normocapnia (33.1%) (p=0.002). At 24h after return of spontaneous circulation, neither PaO(2) nor PaCO(2) values were associated with mortality. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that hypercapnia (OR, 3.27; 95% CI, 1.62-6.61; p=0.001) and hypocapnia (OR, 2.71; 95% CI, 1.04-7.05; p=0.04) after return of spontaneous circulation were significant mortality factors. CONCLUSIONS: In children resuscitated from cardiac arrest, hyperoxemia after return of spontaneous circulation or 24h later was not associated with mortality. On the other hand, hypercapnia and hypocapnia were associated with higher mortality than normocapnia.

A paediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation training project in Honduras.

OBJECTIVES: It is possible that the exportation of North American and European models has hindered the creation of a structured cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training programme in developing countries. The objective of this paper is to describe the design and present the results of a European paediatric and neonatal CPR training programme adapted to Honduras. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A paediatric CPR training project was set up in Honduras with the instructional and scientific support of the Spanish Group for Paediatric and Neonatal CPR. The programme was divided into four phases: CPR training and preparation of instructors; training for instructors; supervised teaching; and independent teaching. RESULTS: During the first phase, 24 Honduran doctors from paediatric intensive care, paediatric emergency and anaesthesiology departments attended the paediatric CPR course and 16 of them the course for preparation as instructors. The Honduran Paediatric and Neonatal CPR Group was formed. In the second phase, workshops were given by Honduran instructors and four of them attended a CPR course in Spain as trainee instructors. In the third phase, a CPR course was given in Honduras by the Honduran instructors, supervised by the Spanish team. In the final phase of independent teaching, eight courses were given, providing 177 students with training in CPR. CONCLUSIONS: The training of independent paediatric CPR groups with the collaboration and scientific assessment of an expert group could be a suitable model on which to base paediatric CPR training in Latin American developing countries.