Pediatr Crit Care Me
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Jan 2012
Comparative StudyIdentifying factors to minimize phlebotomy-induced blood loss in the pediatric intensive care unit.
Phlebotomy-induced blood loss in critically ill children is common, contributes to anemia, and may be avoidable. We aimed to identify factors associated with phlebotomy-induced blood loss. ⋯ Blood drawn in excess of phlebotomy requirements exceeds the blood volume loss drawn for phlebotomy by two fold. Using indwelling catheters for phlebotomy often requires a discard volume to be drawn before obtaining the laboratory sample. Consolidating phlebotomy tests and using a closed system may decrease the amount of blood overdrawn and minimize overall phlebotomy-induced blood loss.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Jan 2012
Comparative StudyNutrition support and deficiencies in children with severe traumatic brain injury.
Adequate nutrition support is considered important to recovery after pediatric traumatic brain injury. The 2003 Pediatric Guidelines recommend initiation of nutrition within 72 hrs after traumatic brain injury. We examined our local experience with nutritional support in severe pediatric traumatic brain injury patients (cases) and non-traumatic brain injury patients (controls). ⋯ Nutritional support was initiated in most patients within 72 hrs of pediatric intensive care unit admission. Although daily caloric and protein goals were not achieved in the first 2 wks of pediatric intensive care unit stay and nutritional deficiencies were common, earlier start of nutritional support was associated with involvement of a nutritionist and with meeting both caloric and protein goals by pediatric intensive care unit day 7.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Jan 2012
Comparative StudyThe association between the end tidal alveolar dead space fraction and mortality in pediatric acute hypoxemic respiratory failure.
To investigate the relationship of markers of oxygenation, PaO2/FIO2 ratio, SpO2/FIO2 ratio, oxygenation index, oxygen saturation index, and dead space (end tidal alveolar dead space fraction) with mortality in children with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. ⋯ In pediatric acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, easily obtainable pulmonary specific markers of disease severity (SpO2/FIO2 ratio, oxygen saturation index, and the end tidal alveolar dead space fraction) may be useful for the early identification of children at high risk of death. Furthermore, the end tidal alveolar dead space fraction should be considered for risk stratification of children with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, given that it was independently associated with mortality.
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Hyperlactatemia and lactic acidosis are common in adults with acute severe asthma however only a few cases have been reported in children. Type A lactic acidosis is associated with impaired oxygen delivery; type B occurs in the presence of normal oxygen delivery and has been described to occur with excessive adrenergic stimulation. Type A and B lactic acidosis can be distinguished by the blood lactate/pyruvate ratio. Our objectives are to 1) investigate the incidence of hyperlactatemia and lactic acidosis in children with acute severe asthma, and 2) determine whether lactate elevation is type A or B. ⋯ Lactic acidosis is common in children with acute severe asthma and is primarily type B occurring in the presence of normal oxygen delivery.
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To determine the incidence of perfusion-related complications associated with indwelling femoral artery monitoring catheters in neonates and infants following introduction of a 2.5-F diameter, 5-cm length, polyethylene catheter (Cook Medical, Bloomington, IN) to our unit. ⋯ Loss of pedal pulse distal to small-bore monitoring femoral artery catheters in neonates and infants is directly related to the duration of catheterization and is less frequent when 2.5-F, 5-cm polyethylene catheters are used instead of larger catheters.