Pediatr Crit Care Me
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Jul 2023
Multicenter StudyEarly Changes in Arterial Partial Pressure of Carbon Dioxide and Blood Pressure After Starting Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Children: Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Database Study of Neurologic Complications.
Neurologic complications in pediatric patients supported by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) are common and lead to morbidity and mortality; however, few modifiable factors are known. ⋯ In pediatric patients, a large decrease in Pa co2 and increase in MAP following ECMO initiation are both associated with neurologic complications. Future research focusing on managing these issues carefully soon after ECMO deployment can potentially help to reduce neurologic complications.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Jul 2023
Biomarker-Based Risk Stratification in Pediatric Sepsis From a Low-Middle Income Country.
Most biomarker studies of sepsis originate from high-income countries, whereas mortality risk is higher in low- and middle-income countries. The second version of the Pediatric Sepsis Biomarker Risk Model (PERSEVERE-II) has been validated in multiple North American PICUs for prognosis. Given differences in epidemiology, we assessed the performance of PERSEVERE-II in septic children from Pakistan, a low-middle income country. Due to uncertainty regarding how well PERSEVERE-II would perform, we also assessed the utility of other select biomarkers reflecting endotheliopathy, coagulopathy, and lung injury. ⋯ PERSEVERE-II performs well in septic children from Aga Khan University Hospital, representing the first validation of PERSEVERE-II in a low-middle income country. Patients possessed a biomarker profile comparable to that of sepsis from high-income countries, suggesting that biomarker-based enrichment strategies may be effective in this setting.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Jul 2023
Prevalence and Incidence of Pediatric Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in a Tertiary Academic PICU in South Africa.
To determine the prevalence and incidence of pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (pARDS) among infants and children admitted to the PICU. ⋯ The prevalence and incidence of pARDS in a South African PICU appears substantially higher than findings described in international reports. Further investigation of risk factors and outcomes is warranted.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Jul 2023
Sedation Weaning Initiative Targeting Methadone Exposure: Single Center Improvements in Withdrawal Symptoms and Hospital Length of Stay for Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care.
Sedation and pain medications are necessary in the management of postoperative pediatric cardiac patients. Prolonged exposure to these medications can lead to negative side effects including withdrawal. We hypothesized that standardized weaning guidelines would decrease exposure to sedation medications and decrease withdrawal symptoms. The primary aim was to decrease average days of methadone exposure to within goal for moderate- and high-risk patients within 6 months. ⋯ A quality improvement initiative to standardize sedation weaning in a Pediatric Cardiac ICU was successfully implemented and was correlated with decreased duration of sedation medications, decreased withdrawal scores, and decreased length of stay.
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This is another excellent issue of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine (PCCM) for July; congratulations to our authors and many thanks to all reviewers. This month, my Editor's Choice articles cover three topics: clinical pathophysiology in pediatric patients supported using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO); unplanned extubation of endotracheal tubes in pediatric cardiac ICU (CICU) patients; and sepsis biomarkers in the low-middle income (LMIC) resource setting. The PCCM Connections for Readers focuses on a novel pediatric theme in lung mechanics physiology, i.e., mechanical power in pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS).