Delayed tension hemothorax after chest trauma in children

Blunt chest injury is commonly observed in the Pediatric Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit since up to 30% of children with traumatic injury sustain injury to the thorax. Differently from adults, who present with concomitant rib or sternoclavicular fractures in 70% of cases, more than half of childhood chest injuries occur without any bone fracture, mostly causing lung contusions. This lower rate of rib fractures and near absence of flail chest in children may be due to greater elasticity of the pediatric cartilaginous and bony skeleton. Whenever a rib fracture is present, underlying complications should be evaluated carefully (i.e., air leaks or blood effusions). Depending on the trauma mechanism, even minor injuries should raise the suspicion of pathologic bone fractures.

Prevention of Surgical Site Infections in Neonates and Children: Non-Pharmacological Measures of Prevention

A surgical site infection (SSI) is an infection that occurs in the incision created by an invasive surgical procedure. Although most infections are treatable with antibiotics, SSIs remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality after surgery and have a significant economic impact on health systems. Preventive measures are essential to decrease the incidence of SSIs and antibiotic abuse, but data in the literature regarding risk factors for SSIs in the pediatric age group are scarce, and current guidelines for the prevention of the risk of developing SSIs are mainly focused on the adult population. This document describes the current knowledge on risk factors for SSIs in neonates and children undergoing surgery and has the purpose of providing guidance to health care professionals for the prevention of SSIs in this population. Our aim is to consider the possible non-pharmacological measures that can be adopted to prevent SSIs. To our knowledge, this is the first study to provide recommendations based on a careful review of the available scientific evidence for the non-pharmacological prevention of SSIs in neonates and children. The specific scenarios developed are intended to guide the healthcare professional in practice to ensure standardized management of the neonatal and pediatric patients, decrease the incidence of SSIs and reduce antibiotic abuse.

The effects of COVID-19 outbreak on pediatric emergency department admissions for acute wheezing

INTRODUCTION

Acute wheezing is a common clinical presentation of viral respiratory infections in children, which can also be caused by exposure to allergens and, rarely, by foreign body inhalation. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) outbreak, several public health interventions have been adopted to reduce viral spread. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown measures on Pediatric Emergency Department (ED) admission for acute wheezing.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We compared demographics and clinical data of patients admitted to the ED for acute wheezing during the COVID-19 outbreak and in the 5 previous years through a retrospective cross-sectional study.

RESULTS

During the COVID-19 outbreak we observed an average drop of 83% in pediatric ED admission for acute wheezing, compared to the 5 previous years. In this period, 121 (80.7%) children presented with wheezing and 29 (19.3%) with bronchiolitis. The mean age of the sample was higher compared to the 5 previous years. We also noted an increased number of children presenting with higher acuity color codes during the COVID-19 period, while no differences emerged as for the hospitalizations. During the pandemic we recorded a decrease in the number of viral infections detected. Only two cases of wheezing associated with SARS-CoV-2 were identified.

CONCLUSION

The COVID-19 outbreak and the national lockdown led to a drop of the number of admission to the ED for wheezing in children. This could be due to a reduction in the circulation of common respiratory viruses and partially to a reduced exposure to aeroallergens during the COVID-19 period. Future epidemiological surveillance studies will be needed to support these prelimianry findings.

Peri-Operative Prophylaxis in Patients of Neonatal and Pediatric Age Subjected to Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery: A RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method Consensus Study

Surgical site infections (SSIs) represent a potential complication of surgical procedures, with a significant impact on mortality, morbidity, and healthcare costs. Patients undergoing cardiac surgery and thoracic surgery are often considered patients at high risk of developing SSIs. This consensus document aims to provide information on the management of peri-operative antibiotic prophylaxis for the pediatric and neonatal population undergoing cardiac and non-cardiac thoracic surgery. The following scenarios were considered: (1) cardiac surgery for the correction of congenital heart disease and/or valve surgery; (2) cardiac catheterization without the placement of prosthetic material; (3) cardiac catheterization with the placement of prosthetic material; (4) implantable cardiac defibrillator or epicardial pacemaker placement; (5) patients undergoing ExtraCorporal Membrane Oxygenation; (6) cardiac tumors and heart transplantation; (7) non-cardiac thoracic surgery with thoracotomy; (8) non-cardiac thoracic surgery using video-assisted thoracoscopy; (9) elective chest drain placement in the pediatric patient; (10) elective chest drain placement in the newborn; (11) thoracic drain placement in the trauma setting. This consensus provides clear and shared indications, representing the most complete and up-to-date collection of practice recommendations in pediatric cardiac and thoracic surgery, in order to guide physicians in the management of the patient, standardizing approaches and avoiding the abuse and misuse of antibiotics.

Surgical Antimicrobial Prophylaxis in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Plastic Surgery: A RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method Consensus Study

For many years, it was clearly shown that surgical procedures might be associated with surgical site infection (SSI). Many scientific institutions prepared guidelines to use in surgery to reduce abuse and misuse of antibiotics. However, in the general guidelines for surgical antibiotic prophylaxis, plastic surgical procedures are not addressed or are only marginally discussed, and children were almost systematically excluded. The main aim of this Consensus document is to provide clinicians with recommendations on antimicrobial prophylaxis for pediatric patients undergoing plastic surgery. The following scenarios were considered: clean plastic surgery in elective procedures with an exclusive skin and subcutis involvement; clean-contaminated/contaminated plastic surgery in elective procedures with an exclusive skin and subcutis involvement; elective plastic surgery with use of local flaps; elective plastic surgery with the use of grafts; prolonged elective plastic surgery; acute burns; clean contused lacerated wounds without bone exposure; high-risk contused lacerated wounds or with bone exposure; contused lacerated wound involving the oral mucosa; plastic surgery following human bite; plastic surgery following animal bite; plastic surgery with tissue expander insertion. Our Consensus document shows that antimicrobial perioperative prophylaxis in pediatric patients undergoing plastic surgery is recommended in selected cases. While waiting the results of further pediatric studies, the application of uniform and shared protocols in these procedures will improve surgical practice, with a reduction in SSIs and consequent rationalization of resources and costs, as well as limiting the phenomenon of antimicrobial resistance.

Surgical Antimicrobial Prophylaxis in Abdominal Surgery for Neonates and Paediatrics: A RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method Consensus Study

Surgical site infections (SSIs), i.e., surgery-related infections that occur within 30 days after surgery without an implant and within one year if an implant is placed, complicate surgical procedures in up to 10% of cases, but an underestimation of the data is possible since about 50% of SSIs occur after the hospital discharge. Gastrointestinal surgical procedures are among the surgical procedures with the highest risk of SSIs, especially when colon surgery is considered. Data that were collected from children seem to indicate that the risk of SSIs can be higher than in adults. This consensus document describes the use of preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis in neonates and children that are undergoing abdominal surgery and has the purpose of providing guidance to healthcare professionals who take care of children to avoid unnecessary and dangerous use of antibiotics in these patients. The following surgical procedures were analyzed: (1) gastrointestinal endoscopy; (2) abdominal surgery with a laparoscopic or laparotomy approach; (3) small bowel surgery; (4) appendectomy; (5) abdominal wall defect correction interventions; (6) ileo-colic perforation; (7) colorectal procedures; (8) biliary tract procedures; and (9) surgery on the liver or pancreas. Thanks to the multidisciplinary contribution of experts belonging to the most important Italian scientific societies that take care of neonates and children, this document presents an invaluable reference tool for perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis in the paediatric and neonatal populations.

Airway Fire during Laser Surgery of the Vocal Cords in Children: A Case Report

OBJECTIVES

Fire in the operating theater is a potential source of important morbidity for the patient. Laser surgery of the head and neck district presents a particularly high risk of fire due to the presence of all three elements of the 'fire triad,' necessary to cause combustive or explosive events: an oxidiser, a fuel, and a heat source. The aim of the present study is to emphasise the need of new prevention tools and greater adherence to the recommendations available in the literature.

METHODS

The sudden occurrence of combustion within the airway of an infant undergoing laryngeal laser surgery was presented along with his management.

RESULTS

An infant underwent CO2 laser surgery for the treatment of the laryngeal stenosis. Unfortunately, the endoscopic procedure was complicated by a fire of the tracheal tube. The tube was immediately removed, the saline was flushed down the trachea and the ventilation was maintained through a face mask. Subsequently, a fiberoscopy was performed and showed a vocal cord burn.

CONCLUSIONS

Since operating room fires are still an underreported occurrence, we believe that this present work might raise awareness about this potential complication and give useful suggestions for the management of airway fires in paediatric anaesthesia.

Acute poisoning in children admitted to pediatric emergency department: a five-years retrospective analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIM

to identify most frequent risk factors and to propose prevention strategies for the children admitted to Pediatric Emergency Department (PED) with acute poisoning.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study in a tertiary care hospital, describing the frequency and nature of pediatric poisoning, clinical management and outcome.

RESULTS

We collected data of 436 children admitted for acute poisoning. The mean age was 30 months and 51.1% were male. Most poisoning incidents (90.1%) were unintentional and drug ingestion (39.4%) was the leading cause of poisoning. Acute poisoning happened at home in 83,7% of cases and the mother was the most frequent caregiver during the event in 61.5%. No died were reported.

CONCLUSION

Our study showed that the two categories of patients at greatest risk for acute poisoning are children under 3 years and adolescents over 12 years. Adequate information campaigns about toxic substances are essential for children, adolescents and their parents.

Ultrasound-assessed lung aeration correlates with respiratory system compliance in adults and neonates with acute hypoxemic restrictive respiratory failure: an observational prospective study

BACKGROUND

Lung ultrasound allows lung aeration to be assessed through dedicated lung ultrasound scores (LUS). Despite LUS have been validated using several techniques, scanty data exist about the relationships between LUS and compliance of the respiratory system (Crs) in restrictive respiratory failure. Aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between LUS and Crs in neonates and adults affected by acute hypoxemic restrictive respiratory failure, as well as the effect of patients' age on this relationship.

METHODS

Observational, cross-sectional, international, patho-physiology, bi-center study recruiting invasively ventilated, adults and neonates with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), neonatal ARDS (NARDS) or respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) due to primary surfactant deficiency. Subjects without lung disease (NLD) and ventilated for extra-pulmonary conditions were recruited as controls. LUS, Crs and resistances (Rrs) of the respiratory system were measured within 1 h from each other.

RESULTS

Forty adults and fifty-six neonates were recruited. LUS was higher in ARDS, NARDS and RDS and lower in control subjects (overall p < 0.001), while Crs was lower in ARDS, NARDS and RDS and higher in control subjects (overall p < 0.001), without differences between adults and neonates. LUS and Crs were correlated in adults [r = - 0.86 (95% CI - 0.93; - 0.76), p < 0.001] and neonates [r = - 0.76 (95% CI - 0.85; - 0.62), p < 0.001]. Correlations remained significant among subgroups with different causes of respiratory failure; LUS and Rrs were not correlated. Multivariate analyses confirmed the association between LUS and Crs both in adults [B = - 2.8 (95% CI - 4.9; - 0.6), p = 0.012] and neonates [B = - 0.045 (95% CI - 0.07; - 0.02), p = 0.001].

CONCLUSIONS

Lung aeration and compliance of the respiratory system are significantly and inversely correlated irrespective of patients' age. A restrictive respiratory failure has the same ultrasound appearance and mechanical characteristics in adults and neonates.

Dexmedetomidine for prevention of opioid/benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome in pediatric intensive care unit: Interim analysis of a randomized controlled trial

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Withdrawal syndrome (WS) may be a critical drawback of opioid/benzodiazepine weaning in children. The most effective intervention to reduce WS prevalence is yet to be determined. Dexmedetomidine (DEX) was estimated to be effective in reducing WS-related symptoms, but no randomized trial has been conducted to prove its efficacy so far. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of DEX in reducing the occurrence of WS.

DESIGN AND SETTING

This was an adaptive randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial conducted at three Italian Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs).

PATIENTS

It included children admitted to PICU, undergoing at least five days of opioids/benzodiazepines continuous infusion, and ready to start the analgosedation weaning.

INTERVENTION

Twenty-four hours before the start of weaning, an infusion of DEX/placebo was started. WS symptoms were monitored using the Withdrawal-Assessment-Tool-version-1 (WAT-1). In case of WS symptoms (WAT-1 ≥ 3) an opioid/benzodiazepine bolus was given and the DEX/placebo infusion-rate was increased.

MEASUREMENTS

The primary outcome measure was the prevalence of WS. Secondary outcomes were the trend of WAT-1 over time, number of rescue doses, length of weaning and PICU-stay, and onset of adverse events (AEs).

MAIN RESULTS

Forty-five patients were enrolled, of whom 5 dropped-out and 40 entered the interim analysis. There were no significant baseline differences between groups. WS prevalence did not significantly differ between groups (77.8% DEX vs 90.9% placebo, p = 0.381). By generalized linear mixed modeling, the WAT-1 trend showed a significant increase per unit of time in the DEX arm (estimate 0.27, CI 0.07-0.47, p = 0.009) compared to placebo. Most frequent AEs were hemodynamic, and all of them happened in the DEX arm.

CONCLUSIONS

A continuous infusion of DEX, started 24 h before the analgosedation weaning and increased based on WS signs, was not able to significantly modify the prevalence of WS in children who received at least five days of opioids/benzodiazepines treatment compared to placebo.

Intranasal Delivery of Nerve Growth Factor in Neurodegenerative Diseases and Neurotrauma

Since the 1980s, the development of a pharmacology based on nerve growth factor (NGF) has been postulated for the therapy of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This hypothesis was based on the rescuing effect of the neurotrophin on the cholinergic phenotype of the basal forebrain neurons, primarily compromised during the development of AD. Subsequently, the use of NGF was put forward to treat a broader spectrum of neurological conditions affecting the central nervous system, such as Parkinson’s disease, degenerative retinopathies, severe brain traumas and neurodevelopmental dysfunctions. While supported by solid rational assumptions, the progress of a pharmacology founded on these hypotheses has been hampered by the difficulty of conveying NGF towards the brain parenchyma without resorting to invasive and risky delivery methods. At the end of the last century, it was shown that NGF administered intranasally to the olfactory epithelium was able to spread into the brain parenchyma. Notably, after such delivery, pharmacologically relevant concentration of exogenous NGF was found in brain areas located at considerable distances from the injection site along the rostral-caudal axis. These observations paved the way for preclinical characterization and clinical trials on the efficacy of intranasal NGF for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and of the consequences of brain trauma. In this review, a summary of the preclinical and clinical studies published to date will be attempted, as well as a discussion about the mechanisms underlying the efficacy and the possible development of the pharmacology based on intranasal conveyance of NGF to the brain.

Should high-flow through nasal cannula be used during bronchoscopy in critically ill patients with hypoxemic acute respiratory failure?

Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) is an invasive procedure with diagnostic and/or therapeutic purposes commonly used in critically ill patients. FOB may be complicated by desaturation, onset or worsening of the respiratory failure, and hemodynamic instability due to cardio-respiratory alterations occurring during the procedure. Increasing evidences suggest the use of high-flow through nasal cannula (HFNC) over conventional oxygen therapy (COT) in critically ill patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF). Indeed, HFNC has a rationale and possible physiologic advantages, even during FOB. However, to date, evidences in favor of HFNC over COT or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or non-invasive ventilation (NIV) during FOB are still weak. Nonetheless, in critically ill patients with hypoxemic ARF, the choice of the oxygenation strategy during a FOB is challenging. Based on a review of the literature, HFNC may be preferred over COT in patients with mild to moderate hypoxemic ARF, without cardiac failure or hemodynamic instability. On the opposite, in critically ill patients with more severe hypoxemic ARF or in the presence of cardiac failure or hemodynamic instability, CPAP or NIV, applied with specifically designed interfaces, may be preferred over HFNC.

Research on SARS-COV-2 pandemic: a narrative review focused on the Italian contribution

Background

Since late 2019, a severe acute respiratory syndrome, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has spread with overwhelming speed causing over 214 million confirmed infections and more than 4.5 million deaths worldwide. In this framework, Italy had the second highest number of SARS-CoV-2 infections worldwide, and the largest number of deaths. A global effort of both the scientific community and governments has been undertaken to stem the pandemic. The aim of this paper is to perform a narrative review of the Italian contribution to the scientific literature regarding intensive care management of patients suffering from COVID-19, being one of the first western countries to face an outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Main body

We performed a narrative review of the literature, dedicating particular attention and a dedicated paragraph to ventilatory support management, chest imaging findings, biomarkers, possible pharmacological interventions, bacterial superinfections, prognosis and non-clinical key aspects such as communication and interaction with relatives.

Conclusions

Many colleagues, nurses and patients died leaving their families alone. To all of them, we send our thoughts and dedicate these pages.

Life-threatening complications of streptococcal sepsis: a PICU contemporary series

Background

Life-threatening streptococcal sepsis nowadays represents an uncommon event in previously healthy infants and children. Critically ill patients suffering from severe streptococcal sepsis complications may present with pre-antibiotic era clinical pictures and require a timely clinical approach to achieve restitutio ad integrum.

Results

We report a series of four patient groups affected by an uncommon life-threatening streptococcal sepsis, each of them exhibiting some distinct features. Streptococcus Agalactiae sepsis was associated with cerebral thrombotic/ischaemic lesions, whereas severe cardiogenic shock was prominent in the Streptococcus Viridans group; Streptococcus Faecalis and β-hemolytic group A Streptococcus patients mostly reported lung complications.

Conclusions

Previous antibiotic treatments should not delay aggressive treatment in the intensive care setting. Early diagnostic suspicion, as well as appropriate and aggressive treatment provided within an intensive care setting are crucial for the clinical outcome.

Neonatal Life-Threatening Nonoliguric Hyperkalemia Under Therapeutic Hypothermia

To illustrate our experience with two cases of neonatal life-threatening hyperkalemia during therapeutic hypothermia (TH) despite a normal acid-base status, urine output, and preserved renal function. Clinical cases are presented from Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) admission to the onset of the hyperkalemia, with related complications and after resolution. Similar cases were not retrieved from a critical review of pertinent literature. Severe hyperkalemia pathophysiology and risk factors have been debated. Two full-term adequate for weight female neonates were admitted to PICU because of perinatal asphyxia who underwent TH. Prenatal history was completely uneventful, nor hereditary genetic conditions were reported; moreover, long-term follow-up ruled out any metabolic or renal disease. Despite an accurate evaluation of previous clinical series and literature on TH and perinatal asphyxia, these hyperkalemic episodes remain unexplained. The hypoxic-ischemic insult may affect multiple organs, mainly central nervous system, heart, lung, and kidneys; acute muscle breakdown and consequent rising of myoglobin may also have a precipitating role in acute kidney failure (AKF) and hyperkalemia. Electrolyte imbalance is a possible finding as a consequence of combined cell injury and AKF. In contrast, an isolated severe hyperkalemia is exceedingly rare in nonoliguric neonates.

Perioperative management of children with neuromuscular disorders based on a common protocol: A prospective, national study in Italy

BACKGROUND

Children with neuromuscular diseases (NMDs) often display respiratory muscle weakness which increases the risk of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) after general anaesthesia. Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) associated with mechanical insufflation-exsufflation (MI-E) can reduce the incidence and severity of PPCs. The aim of this study was to report our experience with a shared perioperative protocol that consists in using NIV combined with MI-E to improve the postoperative outcome of NMD children (IT-NEUMA-Ped).

METHOD

We conducted a multicentre, observational study on 167 consecutive paediatric patients with NMDs undergoing anaesthesia from December 2015 to December 2018 in a network of 13 Italian hospitals.

RESULTS

We found that 89% of the 167 children (mean age 8 years old) were at high risk of PPCs, due to the presence of at least one respiratory risk factor. In particular, 51% of them had preoperative ventilatory support dependence. Only 14 (8%) patients developed PPCs, and only two patients needed tracheostomy. Average hospital length of stay (LOS) was 6 (2-14) days. The study population was stratified according to preoperative respiratory devices dependency and invasiveness of the procedure. Patients with preoperative ventilatory support dependence showed significantly higher intensive care unit (ICU) admission rate and longer hospital LOS.

CONCLUSION

Disease severity seems to be more related to the outcome of this population than invasiveness of procedures. NIV combined with MI-E can help in preventing and resolve PPCs.

Subclinical TRAPS treated with canakinumab

Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS) is a rare autoinflammatory disease characterized by recurrent episodes of fever and systemic inflammation. We describe the case of a 19-year-old patient who was referred to our attention with frequent subclinical TRAPS episodes characterized by mild arthralgias and crampy abdominal pain, without fever. Inflammatory markers, including serum amyloid A which increases the risk of long-term amyloidosis, were persistently high also when the patient was in good general conditions. Therapy with human anti-interleukin 1β monoclonal antibody, canakinumab, led to disease control and normalization of the inflammatory markers, which are currently still normal. This clinical case supports the need to treat also subclinical TRAPS. In this respect, canakinumab is effective and reduces the risk of developing amyloidosis.

Diaphragm thickening fraction predicts noninvasive ventilation outcome: a preliminary physiological study

BACKGROUND

A correlation between unsuccessful noninvasive ventilation (NIV) and poor outcome has been suggested in de-novo Acute Respiratory Failure (ARF) patients. Consequently, it is of paramount importance to identify accurate predictors of NIV outcome. The aim of our preliminary study is to evaluate the Diaphragmatic Thickening Fraction (DTF) and the respiratory rate/DTF ratio as predictors of NIV outcome in de-novo ARF patients.

METHODS

Over 36 months, we studied patients admitted to the emergency department with a diagnosis of de-novo ARF and requiring NIV treatment. DTF and respiratory rate/DTF ratio were measured by 2 trained operators at baseline, at 1, 4, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h of NIV treatment and/or until NIV discontinuation or intubation. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the ability of DTF and respiratory rate/DTF ratio to distinguish between patients who were successfully weaned and those who failed.

RESULTS

Eighteen patients were included. We found overall good repeatability of DTF assessment, with Intra-class Correlation Coefficient (ICC) of 0.82 (95% confidence interval 0.72-0.88). The cut-off values of DTF for prediction of NIV failure were < 36.3% and < 37.1% for the operator 1 and 2 (p < 0.0001), respectively. The cut-off value of respiratory rate/DTF ratio for prediction of NIV failure was > 0.6 for both operators (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

DTF and respiratory rate/DTF ratio may both represent valid, feasible and noninvasive tools to predict NIV outcome in patients with de-novo ARF. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02976233, registered 26 November 2016.

Botulism during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: The importance of differential diagnoses

Botulism is a neuroparalytic syndrome caused by a neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum. We describe a patient with neurological symptoms associated with intoxication by Clostridium botulinum and infection by SARSCoV2. This report underlines that it is mandatory, even in case of SARS-CoV-2 positivity, to investigate all the causes of a clinical pattern.