Ebru Atike Ongun

Abstract Background Mechanical power is a composite variable for energy transmitted to the respiratory system over time that may better capture risk for ventilator-induced lung injury than individual ventilator management components. We sought to evaluate if mechanical ventilation management with a high mechanical power is associated with fewer ventilator-free days (VFD) in children with pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS). Methods Retrospective analysis of a prospective observational international cohort study. Results There were 306 children from 55 pediatric intensive care units included. High mechanical power was associated with younger age, higher oxygenation index, a comorbid condition of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, higher tidal volume, higher delta pressure (peak inspiratory pressure—positive end-expiratory pressure), and higher respiratory rate. Higher mechanical power was associated with fewer 28-day VFD after controlling for confounding variables (per 0.1 J·min −1 ·Kg −1 Subdistribution Hazard Ratio (SHR) 0.93 (0.87, 0.98), p = 0.013). Higher mechanical power was not associated with higher intensive care unit mortality in multivariable analysis in the entire cohort (per 0.1 J·min −1 ·Kg −1 OR 1.12 [0.94, 1.32], p = 0.20). But was associated with higher mortality when excluding children who died due to neurologic reasons (per 0.1 J·min −1 ·Kg −1 OR 1.22 [1.01, 1.46], p = 0.036). In subgroup analyses by age, the association between higher mechanical power and fewer 28-day VFD remained only in children < 2-years-old (per 0.1 J·min −1 ·Kg −1 SHR 0.89 (0.82, 0.96), p = 0.005). Younger children were managed with lower tidal volume, higher delta pressure, higher respiratory rate, lower positive end-expiratory pressure, and higher PCO 2 than older children. No individual ventilator management component mediated the effect of mechanical power on 28-day VFD. Conclusions Higher mechanical power is associated with fewer 28-day VFDs in children with PARDS. This association is strongest in children < 2-years-old in whom there are notable differences in mechanical ventilation management. While further validation is needed, these data highlight that ventilator management is associated with outcome in children with PARDS, and there may be subgroups of children with higher potential benefit from strategies to improve lung-protective ventilation. Take Home Message : Higher mechanical power is associated with fewer 28-day ventilator-free days in children with pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome. This association is strongest in children <2-years-old in whom there are notable differences in mechanical ventilation management.

BACKGROUND: Implementation of checklists has been shown to be effective in improving patient safety. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of implementation of a checklist for daily care processes into clinical practice of pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) with limited resources. METHODS: Prospective before-after study in eight PICUs from China, Congo, Croatia, Fiji, and India after implementation of a daily checklist into the ICU rounds. RESULTS: Seven hundred and thirty-five patients from eight centers were enrolled between 2015 and 2017. Baseline stage had 292 patients and post-implementation 443. The ICU length of stay post-implementation decreased significantly [9.4 (4-15.5) vs. 7.3 (3.4-13.4) days, p = 0.01], with a nominal improvement in the hospital length of stay [15.4 (8.4-25) vs. 12.6 (7.5-24.4) days, p = 0.055]. The hospital mortality and ICU mortality between baseline group and post-implementation group did not show a significant difference, 14.4% vs. 11.3%; p = 0.22 for each. There was a variable impact of checklist implementation on adherence to various processes of care recommendations. A decreased exposure in days was noticed for; mechanical ventilation from 42.6% to 33.8%, p < 0.01; central line from 31.3% to 25.3%, p < 0.01; and urinary catheter from 30.6% to 24.4%, p < 0.01. Although there was an increased utilization of antimicrobials (89.9-93.2%, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Checklists for the treatment of acute illness and injury in the PICU setting marginally impacted the outcome and processes of care. The intervention led to increasing adherence with guidelines in multiple ICU processes and led to decreased length of stay.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated of clinical characteristics, outcomes, and mortality risk factors of a severe multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children admitted to a the pediatric intensive care unit. METHODS: A retrospective multicenter cohort study was conducted between March 2020 and April 2021 at 41 PICUs in Turkey. The study population comprised 322 children diagnosed with multisystem inflammatory syndrome. RESULTS: The organ systems most commonly involved were the cardiovascular and hematological systems. Intravenous immunoglobulin was used in 294 (91.3%) patients and corticosteroids in 266 (82.6%). Seventy-five (23.3%) children received therapeutic plasma exchange treatment. Patients with a longer duration of the PICU stay had more frequent respiratory, hematological, or renal involvement, and also had higher D-dimer, CK-MB, and procalcitonin levels. A total of 16 patients died, with mortality higher in patients with renal, respiratory, or neurological involvement, with severe cardiac impairment or shock. The non-surviving group also had higher leukocyte counts, lactate and ferritin levels, and a need for mechanical ventilation. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of MIS-C, high levels of D-dimer and CK-MB are associated with a longer duration of PICU stay. Non-survival correlates with elevated leukocyte counts and lactate and ferritin levels. We were unable to show any positive effect of therapeutic plasma exchange therapy on mortality. IMPACT: MIS-C is a life-threatening condition. Patients need to be followed up in the intensive care unit. Early detection of factors associated with mortality can improve outcomes. Determining the factors associated with mortality and length of stay will help clinicians in patient management. High D-dimer and CK-MB levels were associated with longer PICU stay, and higher leukocyte counts, ferritin and lactate levels, and mechanical ventilation were associated with mortality in MIS-C patients. We were unable to show any positive effect of therapeutic plasma exchange therapy on mortality.

BACKGROUND: To explore the mortality risk factors of traumatic brain injury in pediatric intensive care unit admissions. METHODS: Eighty-eight children (categorized using the Glasgow Coma Scale) between September 2014 and December 2016 were analyzed. Emergency department and intensive care course, treatment strategies, axonal injury, intubation and tracheostomy rates, length of intensive care and hospitalization, Rotterdam-CT scores, injury severity scores, and PRISM-III scores were recorded. RESULTS: Older age was associated with trauma severity (p=0.010). Target serum osmolality was reached at 8.5 (3.5-40) hours in patients undergoing anti-edema therapy. ICP-monitoring rates was 8%; in absence of ICP-monitorization clinical follow-up was performed through repeated brain tomographies. Axonal injury was associated with prolonged intubation, intensive care and hospital stay (p<0.001, p<0.001, p=0.030). Six children required tracheostomy at 14.33±1.03 days; decannulations were performed within 6 months in five children. CONCLUSION: Mortality rate was 12.5%; six patients progressed to brain death with organ donor approvals in five. Initial hypotension, lung contusion, injury severity scores and Rotterdam-CT scores were related with mortality. Rotterdam-CT score was determined as the independent risk factor for mortality; one increment in the score increased the odd of recovery by 20.334 times (%95 CI 1.999-206.879). ISS score was also borderline significant (p=0.052; OR:1.195 %95 CI 0.999-1.430).

AIM: To analyze the impact of Tranexamic acid (TXA) on perioperative hemodynamics in craniosynostosis surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data of thirty-six children (operated between 2014-2017) were categorized into two groups depending on TXA delivery. Patient demographics, preoperative, intraoperative, postoperative data on hemostasis and metabolic outcomes were recorded. Blood loss from the drains, estimated blood loss (EBV loss), volume of blood transfusions, hemodynamic alerations and complications were extracted. Postoperative outcome involved variables at admission, 2 < sup > nd < /sup > , 6 < sup > th < /sup > , 12 < sup > th < /sup > , 24 < sup > th < /sup > hours. A multiple logistic regression analysis was also performed. RESULTS: Demographics presented mean age of 8.14 ± 3.53 months, male/female ratio:1.76/1, procedure length 3.98 ± 0.78 hours. Intraoperative analysis indicated TXA deliveries manifested fewer blood transfusion volumes (p=0.002) due to lower EBV loss (4.02 ± 1.19 ml/kg vs. 5.97 ± 1.61 ml/kg, p < 0.001) with better metabolic outcome. Postoperative outcomes presented all children manifested hematocrit decline after surgey. TXA did not influence postoperative hemodynamic alterations (p=0.090, p=0.112), despite reduced blood loss from the drains and transfusion necessity (p=0.015, p=0.0175). Intraoperative transfusion volumes and EBV loss were associated with postoperative hemodynamics (OR: 3.033, 95% CI: 1.286-7.154; p=0.011; OR: 0.280, 95% CI: 0.081-0.972; p=0.045, respectively). ROC analysis indicated 10.13 ml/kg of intraoperative blood transfusion requirement as the cut off value for hemodynamic instability with 91% sensitivity and 80% specificity. One unit increase in intraoperative transfused blood volume increased the odds of developing hemodynamic alterations by 3.033 times. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative TXA is crucial for successful surgical management; however postoperative period carries out paramount importance due to excessive bleeding after surgery. In case of severe intraoperative transfusion necessity, postoperative TXA utilization might be considered to minimize potential risks by balancing the pros and cons of the drug.