Pediatr Crit Care Me
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · May 2015
Cardiac Dysfunction Following Brain Death in Children: Prevalence, Normalization, and Transplantation.
Cardiac dysfunction has been reported to occur in as much as 42% of adults with brain death, and may limit cardiac donation after brain death. Knowledge of the prevalence and natural course of cardiac dysfunction after brain death may help to improve screening and transplant practices but adequately sized studies in pediatric brain death are lacking. The aims of our study are to describe the prevalence and course of cardiac dysfunction after pediatric brain death. ⋯ The frequency of cardiac dysfunction in children with brain death is high. Serial transthoracic echocardiograms in patients with cardiac dysfunction showed improvement of cardiac function in most patients, suggesting that initial decisions to procure should not solely depend on the initial transthoracic echocardiogram examination results.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · May 2015
Therapeutic Plasma Exchange May Improve Hemodynamics and Organ Failure Among Children With Sepsis-Induced Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome Receiving Extracorporeal Life Support.
To determine the effect of therapeutic plasma exchange on hemodynamics, organ failure, and survival in children with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome due to sepsis requiring extracorporeal life support. ⋯ The use of therapeutic plasma exchange in children on extracorporeal life support with sepsis-induced multiple organ dysfunction syndrome is associated with organ failure recovery and improved hemodynamic status. Initiating therapeutic plasma exchange early in the hospital course was associated with greater improvement in organ dysfunction and decreased requirement for vasoactive and/or inotropic agents.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · May 2015
Pediatric Delirium and Associated Risk Factors: A Single-Center Prospective Observational Study.
To describe a single-institution pilot study regarding prevalence and risk factors for delirium in critically ill children. ⋯ In our institution, pediatric delirium is a prevalent problem, with identifiable risk factors. Further large-scale prospective studies are required to explore multi-institutional prevalence, modifiable risk factors, therapeutic interventions, and effect on long-term outcomes.
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To determine the accuracy of paper cardiopulmonary resuscitation records. ⋯ Eyewitness accounts of cardiopulmonary resuscitation are often inaccurate and incomplete. Review of information from video and electronically stored vital sign and waveform data provides more accurate information than review of paper-based cardiopulmonary resuscitation records and may provide the insight necessary to improving cardiopulmonary resuscitation.