Pediatr Crit Care Me
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Aug 2016
ReviewNear Infrared Spectroscopy as a Hemodynamic Monitor in Critical Illness.
The objectives of this review are to discuss the technology and clinical interpretation of near infrared spectroscopy oximetry and its clinical application in patients with congenital heart disease. ⋯ Near infrared spectroscopy provides a continuous noninvasive assessment of tissue oxygenation. Over 20 years ago, near infrared spectroscopy was introduced into clinical practice for monitoring cerebral oxygenation during cardiopulmonary bypass in adults. Since that time, the utilization of near infrared spectroscopy has extended into the realm of pediatric cardiac surgery and is increasingly being used in the cardiac ICU to monitor tissue oxygenation perioperatively.
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The objectives of this review are to discuss the spectrum of coronary artery anomalies and the evidence behind current treatment strategies. ⋯ Coronary artery anomalies exist in up to 1% of the population and most of these do not cause symptoms or ischemia and do not require any surgical intervention whereas others are potentially fatal. The type of surgical intervention is often dictated by the type of lesion, and upon the unique anatomic and physiologic variables associated with each lesion. Postoperative care can be challenging particularly after surgical repair of anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Aug 2016
Observational StudyMultisite Tissue Oxygenation Monitoring Indicates Organ-Specific Flow Distribution and Oxygen Delivery Related to Low Cardiac Output in Preterm Infants With Clinical Sepsis.
Cardiac output may be compromised in preterm infants with sepsis. Whether low cardiac output is associated with low tissue oxygen supply in these patients is unclear. The aim of the current study was to assess the association between cardiac output, assessed by echocardiography, and tissue oxygenation, measured with multisite near-infrared spectroscopy, in a cohort of preterm infants with clinical sepsis. ⋯ Right ventricular output corrected for patent foramen ovale and left ventricular output corrected for ductus arteriosus flow, indicators of systemic blood flow in preterm infants with shunts, were negatively associated with intestinal fractional tissue oxygen extraction, but not with renal and cerebral fractional tissue oxygen extraction. These findings suggest that during low output states due to clinical sepsis intestinal perfusion is most at risk.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Aug 2016
Clinical TrialScreening Criteria Improve Access to Palliative Care in the PICU.
To test the ability of palliative care screening criteria to improve access to palliative care services in the PICU and examine the association between palliative care team involvement and ICU and hospital length of stay. ⋯ Palliative care screening criteria are effective tools for improving access to palliative care services in the PICU; however, widespread adoption may produce a significant increase in palliative care demand. The association between an existing palliative care relationship and reduction in resource utilization deserves further investigation as does the perceived benefit of palliative care involvement in the patient, family, and staff experience.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Aug 2016
Decreasing IV Potassium in Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care: Quality Improvement Project.
IV potassium supplementation is commonly used in the pediatric cardiovascular ICU. However, concentrated IV potassium chloride doses can lead to life-threatening complications. We report results of a quality improvement project aimed at decreasing concentrated IV potassium chloride exposure. ⋯ Protocolized potassium management in pediatric cardiac intensive care patients decreased concentrated IV potassium chloride exposure and incidence of hyperkalemia. Lower potassium treatment threshold for IV potassium chloride was not associated with increased arrhythmias.