Journal of hospital medicine : an official publication of the Society of Hospital Medicine
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Treatment of postoperative pain for children with severe neurologic impairment (SNI) is challenging. We describe the type, number of classes, and duration of postoperative pain medications for procedures common among children with SNI, as well as the variability across children's hospitals in pain management with an emphasis on opioid prescribing. ⋯ There is substantial variability in the postoperative delivery of pain medications for children with SNI. A standardized approach may decrease the variability in postoperative pain control and enhance care for children with SNI.
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Decreased severe respiratory illness was observed during the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a relatively smaller decrease among children with medical complexity (CMC) compared to non-CMC. We extended this analysis to the third pandemic year (April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023) when pandemic public health measures were loosened. ⋯ Increased intensive care unit admissions for respiratory illness were also observed (CMC: RR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.31-1.59; non-CMC: RR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.89-2.16). Understanding respiratory surge drivers may provide insights to protect at-risk children from respiratory morbidity.