Pediatric delirium and associated risk factors: a single-center prospective observational study

Validation of the SOS-PD scale for assessment of pediatric delirium: a multicenter study

Backgrounds

Reports of increasing incidence rates of delirium in critically ill children are reason for concern. We evaluated the measurement properties of the pediatric delirium component (PD-scale) of the Sophia Observation Withdrawal Symptoms scale Pediatric Delirium scale (SOS-PD scale).

Methods

In a multicenter prospective observational study in four Dutch pediatric ICUs (PICUs), patients aged ≥ 3 months and admitted for ≥ 48 h were assessed with the PD-scale thrice daily. Criterion validity was assessed: if the PD-scale score was ≥ 4, a child psychiatrist clinically assessed the presence or absence of PD according to the Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM)-IV. In addition, the child psychiatrist assessed a randomly selected group to establish the false-negative rate. The construct validity was assessed by calculating the Pearson coefficient (r_p) for correlation between the PD-scale and Cornell Assessment Pediatric Delirium (CAP-D) scores. Interrater reliability was determined by comparing paired nurse-researcher PD-scale assessments and calculating the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).

Results

Four hundred eighty-five patients with a median age of 27.0 months (IQR 8–102) were included, of whom 48 patients were diagnosed with delirium by the child psychiatrist. The PD-scale had overall sensitivity of 92.3% and specificity of 96.5% compared to the psychiatrist diagnosis for a cutoff score ≥4 points. The r_p between the PD-scale and the CAP-D was 0.89 (CI 95%, 0.82–0.93; p < 0.001). The ICC of 75 paired nurse-researcher observations was 0.99 (95% CI, 0.98–0.99).

Conclusions

The PD-scale has good reliability and validity for early screening of PD in critically ill children. It can be validly and reliably used by nurses to this aim.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13054-018-2238-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Sleep and Delirium in Pediatric Critical Illness: What Is the Relationship?

With growing recognition of pediatric delirium in pediatric critical illness there has also been increased investigation into improving recognition and determining potential risk factors. Disturbed sleep has been assumed to be one of the key risk factors leading to delirium and is commonplace in the pediatric critical care setting as the nature of intensive care requires frequent and invasive monitoring and interventions. However, this relationship between sleep and delirium in pediatric critical illness has not been definitively established and may, instead, reflect significant overlap in risk factors and consequences of underlying neurologic dysfunction. We aim to review the existing tools for evaluation of sleep and delirium in the pediatric critical care setting and review findings from recent investigations with application of these measures in the pediatric intensive care unit.

Cognitive and Behavioral Consequences of Pediatric Delirium: A Pilot Study

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the long-term impact of postoperative delirium in children.

DESIGN

Single-center point prevalence study.

SETTING

Twenty-two bed PICU.

PATIENTS

Forty-seven patients 1-16 years old.

INTERVENTIONS

Standardized neuropsychologic follow-up investigation after a mean time of 17.7 ± 2.9 months after PICU discharge.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Pediatric delirium did not have significant long-term impact on global cognition, executive functions, or behavior. Severity of delirium did not influence the outcome. Different predictors were identified for later cognitive functioning, executive functions, and behavioral problems. Younger age was confirmed to be a relevant risk factor for delirium as well as for the cognitive and behavioral outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Contrary to the findings in adults, there was no clear association between pediatric delirium and long-term cognition or behavior in this cohort. However, this is a first pilot study with several limitations that should promote more comprehensive prospective trials.

Delirium Upon Presentation to the Pediatric Emergency Department: A Case Series

The following cases describe children who presented to the emergency department (ED) with a constellation of symptoms consistent with delirium. In each case, there was no identified inciting cause (eg, fever, medications) other than the presence of influenza. All children had variable workups, with 2 children undergoing extensive neurologic evaluation and testing. Clinical recognition of delirium in the pediatric acute care setting can be challenging, but heightened awareness by ED and primary care physicians may lead to earlier diagnosis, prevent unwarranted investigations, and decrease hospitalization. Children with influenza may be at increased risk of developing delirium. A prospective study to assess the prevalence of delirium in pediatric patients presenting to the ED with influenza is warranted.

Impact of Two Educational Modules on Practitioner Knowledge of Pediatric Delirium

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of education modules in preparing staff before the implementation of a pediatric delirium screening protocol.

METHODS After consenting participants began phase 1 of the study, which covered general information on pediatric delirium. It comprised a 21-question assessment administered as a pretest followed by an education module and then the same 21-question assessment administered as a posttest. After completing phase 1, participants proceeded to phase 2, which focused on use of the Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium (CAPD) tool. It comprised an education module and a 14-question postassessment. Participants completed these phases at their convenience via provided instruction documents. Assessments were delivered through the online service SurveyMonkey. Education modules were available online as invisible YouTube videos.

RESULTS A total of 50 nurses and pharmacists gave consent, and 37 of these participants initiated phase 1. All 37 participants completed the phase 1 preassessment, averaging a score of 46% (range, 29%–71%). A total of 27 participants completed the phase 1 postassessment, with an average score of approximately 76% (range, 48%–95%). A total of 20 participants, with no prior training on the CAPD, completed the phase 2 postassessment, averaging a score of 88% (range, 43%–100%).

CONCLUSIONS Both the pediatric delirium general education module and the CAPD use education module resulted in participant learning, as evidenced by the assessment score averages.

Management of Pediatric Delirium in Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Patients: An International Survey of Current Practices

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to describe how pediatric cardiac intensive care clinicians assess and manage delirium in patients following cardiac surgery.

DESIGN

Descriptive self-report survey.

SETTING

A web-based survey of pediatric cardiac intensive care clinicians who are members of the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society.

PATIENT OR SUBJECTS

Pediatric cardiac intensive care clinicians (physicians and nurses).

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULTS

One-hundred seventy-three clinicians practicing in 71 different institutions located in 13 countries completed the survey. Respondents described their clinical impression of the occurrence of delirium to be approximately 25%. Most respondents (75%) reported that their ICU does not routinely screen for delirium. Over half of the respondents (61%) have never attended a lecture on delirium. The majority of respondents (86%) were not satisfied with current delirium screening, diagnosis, and management practices. Promotion of day/night cycle, exposure to natural light, deintensification of care, sleep hygiene, and reorientation to prevent or manage delirium were among nonpharmacologic interventions reported along with the use of anxiolytic, antipsychotic, and medications for insomnia.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinicians responding to the survey reported a range of delirium assessment and management practices in postoperative pediatric cardiac surgery patients. Study results highlight the need for improvement in delirium education for pediatric cardiac intensive care clinicians as well as the need for systematic evaluation of current delirium assessment and management practices.

Delirium in Children: Identification, Prevention, and Management

Delirium in children is an often underrecognized but serious complication of hospitalization. Delirium in this age group has been described as behaviors such as refractory agitation and restlessness, visual or auditory hallucinations, children being "not themselves," and a lethargic state. Often, children with delirium are at risk for harming themselves by dislodging tubes, falling, or refusing care. Pediatric nurses must recognize and intervene to prevent and treat delirium in hospitalized children because the delirium may be an indicator of worsening clinical status and is associated with high mortality and morbidity in children of all ages and with posttraumatic stress disorder. Pediatric nurses are uniquely positioned to design care interventions to both reduce risk for delirium and treat active delirium. Many treatment recommendations are nonpharmacological and are part of excellent nursing care.

Delirium is a Common and Early Finding in Patients in the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit

OBJECTIVE

To determine incidence, associated risk factors, and characteristics of delirium in a pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (CICU). Delirium is a frequent and serious complication in adults after cardiac surgery, but there is limited understanding of its impact in children with critical cardiac disease.

STUDY DESIGN

Single-center prospective observational study of CICU patients ≤21 years old. All were screened for delirium using the Cornell Assessment for Pediatric Delirium each 12-hour shift.

RESULTS

Ninety-nine patients were included. Incidence of delirium was 57%. Median time to development of delirium was 1 day (95% CI 0, 1 days). Children with delirium were younger (geometric mean age 4 vs 46 months; P < .001), had longer periods of mechanical ventilation (mean 35.9 vs 8.8 hours; P = .002) and had longer cardiopulmonary bypass times (geometric mean 126 vs 81 minutes; P = .001). Delirious patients had longer length of CICU stay than those without delirium (median 3 (IQR 2, 12.5) vs 1 (IQR1, 2) days; P < .0001). A multivariable generalized linear mixed model showed a significant association between delirium and younger age (OR 0.35 for each additional month, 95% CI 0.19, 0.64), need for mechanical ventilation (OR 4.1, 95% CI 1.7, 9.89), and receipt of benzodiazepines (OR 3.78, 95% CI 1.46, 9.79).

CONCLUSIONS

Delirium is common in patients in the pediatric CICU and is associated with longer length of stay. There may be opportunities for prevention of delirium by targeting modifiable risk factors, such as use of benzodiazepines.

Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium scale for the Portuguese language

OBJECTIVE

This study sought to translate the Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium from English into Brazilian Portuguese and cross-culturally adapt it for use in Brazil.

METHODS

Following the authorization granted by its main author, the processes of translation and cross-cultural adaptation were performed with regard to the Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium in accordance with the following internationally recommended steps: translation of the original into Portuguese by two native speakers of the target language; synthesis of the translated versions; back-translation by two native speakers of the original language; review and harmonization of the back-translation; a review of the Portuguese version of the Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium by an expert panel composed of specialists; pretesting including assessments of clarity, comprehensibility, and acceptability of the translated version using a sample of the target population; and finishing modifications to achieve the final version.

RESULTS

The translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium followed international recommendations. The linguistic and semantic issues that emerged during the process were discussed by the expert panel, which unanimously agreed to slight modifications. During pretesting, the Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium was administered to 30 eligible children, twice per day; the final version was easy to understand, could be completed quickly, and showed a high inter-rater correlation coefficient (0.955).

CONCLUSIONS

The translation of the Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium into Brazilian Portuguese and its cross-cultural adaptation were successful and preserved the linguistic and semantic properties of the original instrument. The Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium proved to be easy to understand and could be completed quickly. Additional studies are needed to test the validity and psychometric properties of this version in Brazil.

Clinical characteristics, prevalence, and factors related to delirium in children of 5 to 14 years of age admitted to intensive care

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical characteristics, prevalence and factors associated with delirium in critical patients from 5 to 14 years of age.

DESIGN

An analytical, cross-sectional observational study was made. Delirium was assessed with the Pediatric-Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (pCAM-ICU) and motor classification was established with the Delirium Rating Scale Revised-98.

SETTING

A pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

PATIENTS

All those admitted over a one-year period were assessed during the first 24-72h, or when possible in deeply sedated patients.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

Patients in stupor or coma, with severe communication difficulty, subjected to deep sedation throughout admission, and those with denied consent.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine of the 156 assessed patients suffered delirium (18.6%) and 55.2% were hypoactive. The neurocognitive alterations evaluated by the pCAM-ICU were similar in the three motor groups. Intellectual disability (OR=17.54; 95%CI: 3.23-95.19), mechanical ventilation (OR=18.80; 95%CI: 4.29-82.28), liver failure (OR=54.88; 95%CI: 4.27-705.33), neurological disease (OR=4.41; 95%CI: 1.23-15.83), anticholinergic drug use (OR=3.23; 95%CI: 1.02-10.26), different psychotropic agents (OR=4.88; 95%CI: 1.42-16.73) and tachycardia (OR=4.74; 95%CI: 1.21-18.51) were associated to delirium according to the logistic regression analysis.

CONCLUSION

The frequency of delirium and hypoactivity was high. It is therefore necessary to routinely evaluate patients with standardized instruments. All patients presented with important neurocognitive alterations. Several factors related with the physiopathology of delirium were associated to the diagnosis; some of them are modifiable through the rationalization of medical care.

Delirium during the first evaluation of children aged five to 14 years admitted to a paediatric critical care unit

OBJECTIVES

To describe the prevalence and characteristics of delirium during the initial evaluation of critically ill patients aged 5-14 years.

METHOD/DESIGN

This is a cross-sectional descriptive study in a critical care unit. For six months, all patients were evaluated within the first 24-72 hours or when sedation permitted the use of the paediatric confusion assessment method for the intensive care unit (PCAM-ICU) and the Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98 items #7 and #8 to determine motor type. We report the characteristics of PCAM-ICU delirium (at least three of the required items scored positive) and of subthreshold score cases (two positive items).

RESULTS

Of 77 admissions, 15 (19.5%) had delirium, and 11 (14.2%) were subthreshold. A total of 53.3% of delirium and 45.5% of subthreshold cases were hypoactive. The prevalence of delirium and subthreshold PCAM-ICU was 83.3% and 16.7% in mechanically ventilated children. The most frequent combination of PCAM-ICU alterations in subthreshold cases was acute onset-fluctuation with altered alertness. The main nursing diagnoses were related to reduced cellular respiration.

CONCLUSIONS

Delirium is common in critically ill children. It is necessary to assess whether certain nursing diagnoses imply an increase in delirium. Longitudinal studies of subthreshold PCAM-ICU cases are needed to understand their importance better.

Functional Recovery in Critically Ill Children, the "WeeCover" Multicenter Study

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate functional outcomes and evaluate predictors of an unfavorable functional outcome in children following a critical illness.

DESIGN

Prospective observational longitudinal cohort study.

SETTING

Two tertiary care, Canadian PICUs: McMaster Children's Hospital and London Health Sciences.

PATIENTS

Children 12 months to 17 years old, admitted to PICU for at least 48 hours with one or more organ dysfunction, were eligible. Patients not expected to survive, direct transfers from neonatal ICU and patients in whom long-term follow-up would not be able to be conducted, were excluded.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The primary endpoint was functional outcome up to 6 months post PICU discharge, measured using the Pediatric Evaluation of Disabilities Inventory Computer Adaptive Test. Secondary outcomes included predictors of unfavorable functional outcome, caregiver stress, health-related quality-of-life, and clinical outcomes such as mortality, length of stay, and PICU-acquired complications. One hundred eighty-two patients were enrolled; 78 children (43.6%) had functional limitations at baseline and 143 (81.5%) experienced functional deterioration following critical illness. Ninety-two (67.1%) demonstrated some functional recovery by 6 months. Higher baseline function and a neurologic insult at PICU admission were the most significant predictors of functional deterioration. Higher baseline function and increasing age were associated with slower functional recovery. Different factors affect the domains of functioning differently. Preexisting comorbidities and iatrogenic PICU-acquired morbidities were associated with persistent requirement for caregiver support (responsibility function) at 6 months. The degree of functional deterioration after critical illness was a significant predictor of increased hospital length of stay.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides new information regarding functional outcomes and the factors that influence meaningful aspects of functioning in critically ill children. Identifying patients at greatest risk and modifiable targets for improvement in PICU care guides us in developing strategies to improve functional outcomes and tailor to the rehabilitation needs of these patients and their families.

Monitoring Haloperidol Plasma Concentration and Associated Adverse Events in Critically Ill Children With Delirium: First Results of a Clinical Protocol Aimed to Monitor Efficacy and Safety

OBJECTIVES

As delirium in critically ill children is increasingly recognized, more children are treated with the antipsychotic drug haloperidol, while current dosing guidelines are lacking solid evidence and appear to be associated with a high risk of adverse events. We aim to report on the safety and efficacy of a recently implemented clinical dose-titration protocol with active monitoring of adverse events.

DESIGN

From July 2014 until June 2015, when a potential delirium was identified by regular delirium scores and confirmed by a child psychiatrist, haloperidol was prescribed according to the Dutch Pediatric Formulary. Daily, adverse events were systematically assessed, haloperidol plasma concentrations were measured, and delirium symptoms followed. Dependent on the clinical response, plasma concentration, and adverse event, the dose was adjusted.

SETTING

A 28-bed tertiary PICU in the Netherlands.

PATIENTS

All patients admitted to the PICU diagnosed with delirium.

INTERVENTION

Treatment with haloperidol according to a dose-titration protocol MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:: Thirteen children (median age [range] 8.3 yr [0.4-13.8 yr]) received haloperidol, predominantly IV (median dose [range] 0.027 mg/kg/d [0.005-0.085 mg/kg/d]). In all patients, pediatric delirium resolved, but five of 13 patients developed possible adverse event. These were reversed after biperiden (n = 2), discontinuing (n = 3), and/or lowering the dose (n = 3). Plasma concentrations were all below the presumed therapeutic threshold of 3-12 µg/L.

CONCLUSIONS

Prospective systematic monitoring of adverse event in critically ill children receiving haloperidol revealed a significant proportion of possible adverse events. Adverse event developed despite low plasma concentrations and recommended dose administration in the majority of the patients. Our data suggest that haloperidol can potentially improve pediatric delirium, but it might also put patients at risk for developing adverse events.

Psychological and Psychiatric Outcomes Following PICU Admission: A Systematic Review of Cohort Studies

OBJECTIVE

Admissions to PICU places pediatric patients at increased risk of persistent psychological and psychiatric morbidity. This systematic review aimed to summarize and critically examine literature regarding psychological and psychiatric outcomes of pediatric patients following PICU admission.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, PsycInfo, CINAHL, LILACS, and SciELO were searched up to May 2016.

STUDY SELECTION

Cohort studies about psychological and psychiatric outcomes of pediatric patients following PICU admission; full-text records published in English, Spanish, or Portuguese in peer-reviewed journals from 2000 to 2015 were included. Neonatal patient population (age, <1 mo), follow-up after PICU discharge (<3 mo), and nonprimary literature were excluded. Two reviewers independently screened studies based on the predetermined exclusion criteria.

DATA EXTRACTION

Data were extracted using an adapted tool. The internal validity and risk of bias were assessed using Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

DATA SYNTHESIS

The search yielded 1,825 studies after the removal of duplications, of which eight met the inclusion criteria. Methodologic quality of the studies ranged from low to high, with an average score of five of nine. Of all the studies, half had a control group. Regarding the length of follow-up, most of the studies ranged from 3 to 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychological and psychiatric outcomes after pediatric critical illness appear to be substantial issues that need to be further studied. Our review highlights the need for psychological screening of pediatric patients and their parents following PICU admission since these patients are a vulnerable population at risk for developing psychiatric responses.

Delirium in Hospitalized Children with Cancer: Incidence and Associated Risk Factors

OBJECTIVE

To assess the incidence of delirium and its risk factors in hospitalized children with cancer.

STUDY DESIGN

In this cohort study, all consecutive admissions to a pediatric cancer service over a 3-month period were prospectively screened for delirium twice daily throughout their hospitalization. Demographic and treatment-related data were collected from the medical record after discharge.

RESULTS

A total of 319 consecutive admissions, including 186 patients and 2731 hospital days, were included. Delirium was diagnosed in 35 patients, for an incidence of 18.8%. Risk factors independently associated with the development of delirium included age <5 years (OR = 2.6, P = .026), brain tumor (OR = 4.7, P = .026); postoperative status (OR = 3.3, P = .014), and receipt of benzodiazepines (OR = 3.7,P < .001). Delirium was associated with increased hospital length of stay, with median length of stay for delirious patients of 10 days compared with 5 days for patients who were not delirious during their hospitalization (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

In this cohort, delirium was a frequent complication during admissions for childhood cancer, and was associated with increased hospital length of stay. Multi-institutional prospective studies are warranted to further characterize delirium in this high-risk population and identify modifiable risk factors to improve the care provided to hospitalized children with cancer.

Delirium in the Pediatric Cardiac Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Patient Population: A Case Series

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of delirium in children who require extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

DESIGN

Prospective observational longitudinal cohort study.

SETTING

Urban academic cardiothoracic ICU.

PATIENTS

All consecutive admissions to the cardiothoracic ICU who required venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support.

INTERVENTIONS

Daily delirium screening with the Cornell Assessment for Pediatric Delirium.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Eight children required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation during the study period, with a median extracorporeal membrane oxygenation duration of 202 hours (interquartile range, 99-302). All eight children developed delirium during their cardiothoracic ICU stay. Seventy-two days on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation were included in the analysis. A majority of patient days on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation were spent in coma (65%). Delirium was diagnosed during 21% of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation days. Only 13% of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation days were categorized as delirium free and coma free. Delirium screening was successfully completed on 70/72 days on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (97%).

CONCLUSIONS

In this cohort, delirium occurred in all children who required venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. It is likely that this patient population has an extremely high risk for delirium and will benefit from routine screening in order to detect and treat delirium sooner. This has potential to improve both short- and long-term outcomes.

Delirium in Pediatric Critical Care

Delirium occurs frequently in the critically ill child. It is a syndrome characterized by an acute onset and fluctuating course, with behaviors that reflect a disturbance in awareness and cognition. Delirium represents global cerebral dysfunction due to the direct physiologic effects of an underlying medical illness or its treatment. Pediatric delirium is strongly associated with poor outcomes, including increased mortality, prolonged intensive care unit length of stay, longer time on mechanical ventilation, and increased cost of care. With heightened awareness, the pediatric intensivist can detect, treat, and prevent delirium in at-risk children.

Delirium in the Critically Ill Child: Assessment and Sequelae

Delirium is a common and serious neuropsychiatric complication in critically ill patients of all ages. In the context of critical illness, delirium may emerge as a result of a cascade of underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms and signals organ failure of the brain. Awareness of the clinical importance of delirium in adults is growing as emerging research demonstrates that delirium represents a serious medical problem with significant sequelae. However, our understanding of delirium in children lags significantly behind the adult literature. In particular, our knowledge of how to assess delirium is complicated by challenges in recognizing symptoms of delirium in pediatric patients especially in critical and intensive care settings, and our understanding of its impact on acute and long-term functioning remains in its infancy. This paper focuses on (a) the challenges associated with assessing delirium in critically ill children, (b) the current literature on the outcomes of delirium including morbidity following discharge from PICU, and care-giver well-being, and (c) the importance of assessment in determining impact of delirium on outcome. Current evidence suggests that delirium is a diagnostic challenge for clinicians and may play a detrimental role in a child's recovery after discharge from the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Recommendations are proposed for how our knowledge and assessment of delirium in children could be improved.

Delirium in the Critically Ill Child

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE

The purposes of this article are to describe the scientific literature on assessment, prevention, and management of delirium in critically ill children and to articulate the implications for clinical nurse specialists, in translating the evidence into practice.

DESCRIPTION

A literature search was conducted in 4 databases-OvidMEDLINE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PsychINFO, and Web of Science-using the terms "delirium," "child," and "critically ill" for the period of 2006 to 2016.

OUTCOME

The scientific literature included articles on diagnosis, prevalence, risk factors, adverse outcomes, screening tools, prevention, and management. The prevalence of delirium in critically ill children is up to 30%. Risk factors include age, developmental delay, severity of illness, and mechanical ventilation. Adverse outcomes include increased mortality, hospital length of stay, and cost for the critically ill child with delirium. Valid and reliable delirium screening tools are available for critically ill children. Prevention and management strategies include interventions to address environmental triggers, sleep disruption, integrated family care, and mobilization.

CONCLUSION

Delirium is a common occurrence for the critically ill child. The clinical nurse specialist is accountable for leading the implementation of practice changes that are based on evidence to improve patient outcomes. Screening and early intervention for delirium are key to mitigating adverse outcomes for critically ill children.

Delirium and Benzodiazepines Associated With Prolonged ICU Stay in Critically Ill Infants and Young Children

OBJECTIVES

Delirium is prevalent among critically ill children, yet associated outcomes and modifiable risk factors are not well defined. The objective of this study was to determine associations between pediatric delirium and modifiable risk factors such as benzodiazepine exposure and short-term outcomes.

DESIGN

Secondary analysis of collected data from the prospective validation study of the Preschool Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU.

SETTING

Tertiary-level PICU.

PATIENTS

Critically ill patients 6 months to 5 years old.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Daily delirium assessments were completed using the Preschool Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU. Associations between baseline and in-hospital risk factors were analyzed for likelihood of ICU discharge using Cox proportional hazards regression and delirium duration using negative binomial regression. Multinomial logistic regression was used to determine associations between daily risk factors and delirium presence the following day. Our 300-patient cohort had a median (interquartile range) age of 20 months (11-37 mo), and 44% had delirium for at least 1 day (1-2 d). Delirium was significantly associated with a decreased likelihood of ICU discharge in preschool-aged children (age-specific hazard ratios at 60, 36, and 12 mo old were 0.17 [95% CI, 0.05-0.61], 0.50 [0.32-0.80], and 0.98 [0.68-1.41], respectively). Greater benzodiazepine exposure (75-25th percentile) was significantly associated with a lower likelihood of ICU discharge (hazard ratio, 0.65 [0.42-1.00]; p = 0.01), longer delirium duration (incidence rate ratio, 2.47 [1.36-4.49]; p = 0.005), and increased risk for delirium the following day (odds ratio, 2.83 [1.27-6.59]; p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Delirium is associated with a lower likelihood of ICU discharge in preschool-aged children. Benzodiazepine exposure is associated with the development and longer duration of delirium, and lower likelihood of ICU discharge. These findings advocate for future studies targeting modifiable risk factors, such as reduction in benzodiazepine exposure, to mitigate iatrogenic harm in pediatric patients.

Consensus Report by the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury and Sepsis Investigators and Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplantation Consortium Joint Working Committees on Supportive Care Guidelines for Management of Veno-Occlusive Disease in Children and Adolescents, Part 3: Focus on Cardiorespiratory Dysfunction, Infections, Liver Dysfunction, and Delirium

Some patients with veno-occlusive disease (VOD) have multiorgan dysfunction, and multiple teams are involved in their daily care in the pediatric intensive care unit. Cardiorespiratory dysfunction is critical in these patients, requiring immediate action. The decision of whether to use a noninvasive or an invasive ventilation strategy may be difficult in the setting of mucositis or other comorbidities in patients with VOD. Similarly, monitoring of organ functions may be very challenging in these patients, who may have fulminant hepatic failure with or without hepatic encephalopathy complicated by delirium and/or infections. In this final guideline of our series on supportive care in patients with VOD, we address some of these questions and provide evidence-based recommendations on behalf of the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury and Sepsis Investigators and Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplantation Consortium Joint Working Committees.

Quality Improvement Initiative to Reduce Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Noise Pollution With the Use of a Pediatric Delirium Bundle

OBJECTIVES:

Noise pollution in pediatric intensive care units (PICU) contributes to poor sleep and may increase risk of developing delirium. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends <45 decibels (dB) in hospital environments. The objectives are to assess the degree of PICU noise pollution, to develop a delirium bundle targeted at reducing noise, and to assess the effect of the bundle on nocturnal noise pollution.

METHODS:

This is a QI initiative at an academic PICU. Thirty-five sound sensors were installed in patient bed spaces, hallways, and common areas. The pediatric delirium bundle was implemented in 8 pilot patients (40 patient ICU days) while 108 non-pilot patients received usual care over a 28-day period.

RESULTS:

A total of 20,609 hourly dB readings were collected. Hourly minimum, average, and maximum dB of all occupied bed spaces demonstrated medians [interquartile range] of 48.0 [39.0-53.0], 52.8 [48.1-56.2] and 67.0 [63.5-70.5] dB, respectively. Bed spaces were louder during the day (10AM to 4PM) than at night (11PM to 5AM) (53.5 [49.0-56.8] vs. 51.3 [46.0-55.3] dB, P < 0.01). Pilot patient rooms were significantly quieter than non-pilot patient rooms at night (n=210, 45.3 [39.7-55.9]) vs. n=1841, 51.2 [46.9-54.8] dB, P < 0.01). The pilot rooms compliant with the bundle had the lowest hourly nighttime average dB (44.1 [38.5-55.5]).

CONCLUSIONS:

Substantial noise pollution exists in our PICU, and utilizing the pediatric delirium bundle led to a significant noise reduction that can be perceived as half the loudness with hourly nighttime average dB meeting the EPA standards when compliant with the bundle.

Pediatric Delirium: Evaluation, Management, and Special Considerations

Delirium describes a syndrome of acute brain dysfunction with severe consequences on patient outcomes, medical cost, morbidity, and mortality. It represents a final common pathway of numerous pathophysiologic disturbances disrupting cerebral homeostasis. The diagnosis is predicated on recognition of the clinical features of the syndrome through ongoing clinical assessment. Early identification can be aided by routine screening, particularly in high-risk populations. Evaluation and management are continuous and simultaneous processes involving a multidisciplinary care team including child psychiatry consultation. Prevention, early identification and management are critical in alleviating symptoms, improving outcomes, and reducing distress for patients, families, and care teams. This review highlights our current understanding regarding pediatric delirium, its mechanisms, clinical manifestations, detection and management.

Differentiating Delirium From Sedative/Hypnotic-Related Iatrogenic Withdrawal Syndrome: Lack of Specificity in Pediatric Critical Care Assessment Tools

OBJECTIVES

To identify available assessment tools for sedative/hypnotic iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome and delirium in PICU patients, the evidence supporting their use, and describe areas of overlap between the components of these tools and the symptoms of anticholinergic burden in children.

DATA SOURCES

Studies were identified using PubMed and EMBASE from the earliest available date until July 3, 2016, using a combination of MeSH terms "delirium," "substance withdrawal syndrome," and key words "opioids," "benzodiazepines," "critical illness," "ICU," and "intensive care." Review article references were also searched.

STUDY SELECTION

Human studies reporting assessment of delirium or iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome in children 0-18 years undergoing critical care. Non-English language, exclusively adult, and neonatal intensive care studies were excluded.

DATA EXTRACTION

References cataloged by study type, population, and screening process.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome and delirium are both prevalent in the PICU population. Commonly used scales for delirium and iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome assess signs and symptoms in the motor, behavior, and state domains, and exhibit considerable overlap. In addition, signs and symptoms of an anticholinergic toxidrome (a risk associated with some common PICU medications) overlap with components of these scales, specifically in motor, cardiovascular, and psychiatric domains.

CONCLUSIONS

Although important studies have demonstrated apparent high prevalence of iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome and delirium in the PICU population, the overlap in these scoring systems presents potential difficulty in distinguishing syndromes, both clinically and for research purposes.

Implementation of an ICU Bundle: An Interprofessional Quality Improvement Project to Enhance Delirium Management and Monitor Delirium Prevalence in a Single PICU

OBJECTIVES

To examine the impact of an ICU bundle on delirium screening and prevalence and describe characteristics of delirium cases.

DESIGN

Quality improvement project with prospective observational analysis.

SETTING

Nineteen-bed PICU in an urban academic medical center.

PATIENTS

All consecutive patients admitted from December 1, 2013, to September 30, 2015.

INTERVENTIONS

A multidisciplinary team implemented an ICU bundle consisting of three clinical protocols: delirium, sedation, and early mobilization using the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles as part of a quality improvement project. The delirium protocol implemented in December 2013 consisted of universal screening with the Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium revised instrument, prevention and treatment strategies, and case conferences. The sedation protocol and early mobilization protocol were implemented in October 2014 and June 2015, respectively.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

One thousand eight hundred seventy-five patients were screened using the Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium revised tool. One hundred forty patients (17%) had delirium (having Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium revised scores ≥ 9 for 48 hr or longer). Seventy-four percent of delirium positive patients were mechanically ventilated of which 46% were younger than 12 months and 59% had baseline developmental delays. Forty-one patients had emerging delirium (having one Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium revised score ≥ 9). Statistical process control was used to evaluate the impact of three ICU bundle process changes on monthly delirium rates over a 22-month period. The delirium rate decreased with the implementation of each phase of the ICU bundle. Ten months after the delirium protocol was implemented, the mean delirium rate was 19.3%; after the sedation protocol and early mobilization protocols were implemented, the mean delirium rate was 11.84%.

CONCLUSIONS

Implementation of an ICU bundle along with staff education and case conferences is effective for improving delirium screening, detection, and treatment and is associated with decreased delirium prevalence.

Cost Associated With Pediatric Delirium in the ICU

OBJECTIVE

To determine the costs associated with delirium in critically ill children.

DESIGN

Prospective observational study.

SETTING

An urban, academic, tertiary-care PICU in New York city.

PATIENTS

Four-hundred and sixty-four consecutive PICU admissions between September 2, 2014, and December 12, 2014.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

All children were assessed for delirium daily throughout their PICU stay. Hospital costs were analyzed using cost-to-charge ratios, in 2014 dollars. Median total PICU costs were higher in patients with delirium than in patients who were never delirious ($18,832 vs $4,803; p < 0.0001). Costs increased incrementally with number of days spent delirious (median cost of $9,173 for 1 d with delirium, $19,682 for 2-3 d with delirium, and $75,833 for > 3 d with delirium; p < 0.0001); this remained highly significant even after adjusting for PICU length of stay (p < 0.0001). After controlling for age, gender, severity of illness, and PICU length of stay, delirium was associated with an 85% increase in PICU costs (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric delirium is associated with a major increase in PICU costs. Further research directed at prevention and treatment of pediatric delirium is essential to improve outcomes in this population and could lead to substantial healthcare savings.

Delirium and Mortality in Critically Ill Children: Epidemiology and Outcomes of Pediatric Delirium

OBJECTIVES

Delirium occurs frequently in adults and is an independent predictor of mortality. However, the epidemiology and outcomes of pediatric delirium are not well-characterized. The primary objectives of this study were to describe the frequency of delirium in critically ill children, its duration, associated risk factors, and effect on in-hospital outcomes, including mortality. Secondary objectives included determination of delirium subtype, and effect of delirium on duration of mechanical ventilation, and length of hospital stay.

DESIGN

Prospective, longitudinal cohort study.

SETTING

Urban academic tertiary care PICU.

PATIENTS

All consecutive admissions from September 2014 through August 2015.

INTERVENTIONS

Children were screened for delirium twice daily throughout their ICU stay.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Of 1,547 consecutive patients, delirium was diagnosed in 267 (17%) and lasted a median of 2 days (interquartile range, 1-5). Seventy-eight percent of children with delirium developed it within the first 3 PICU days. Most cases of delirium were of the hypoactive (46%) and mixed (45%) subtypes; only 8% of delirium episodes were characterized as hyperactive delirium. In multivariable analysis, independent predictors of delirium included age less than or equal to 2 years old, developmental delay, severity of illness, prior coma, mechanical ventilation, and receipt of benzodiazepines and anticholinergics. PICU length of stay was increased in children with delirium (adjusted relative length of stay, 2.3; CI = 2.1-2.5; p < 0.001), as was duration of mechanical ventilation (median, 4 vs 1 d; p < 0.001). Delirium was a strong and independent predictor of mortality (adjusted odds ratio, 4.39; CI = 1.96-9.99; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Delirium occurs frequently in critically ill children and is independently associated with mortality. Some in-hospital risk factors for delirium development are modifiable. Interventional studies are needed to determine best practices to limit delirium exposure in at-risk children.

Delirium in Critically Ill Children: An International Point Prevalence Study

OBJECTIVES

To determine prevalence of delirium in critically ill children and explore associated risk factors.

DESIGN

Multi-institutional point prevalence study.

SETTING

Twenty-five pediatric critical care units in the United States, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia, and Saudi Arabia.

PATIENTS

All children admitted to the pediatric critical care units on designated study days (n = 994).

INTERVENTION

Children were screened for delirium using the Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium by the bedside nurse. Demographic and treatment-related variables were collected.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Primary study outcome measure was prevalence of delirium. In 159 children, a final determination of mental status could not be ascertained. Of the 835 remaining subjects, 25% screened positive for delirium, 13% were classified as comatose, and 62% were delirium-free and coma-free. Delirium prevalence rates varied significantly with reason for ICU admission, with highest delirium rates found in children admitted with an infectious or inflammatory disorder. For children who were in the PICU for 6 or more days, delirium prevalence rate was 38%. In a multivariate model, risk factors independently associated with development of delirium included age less than 2 years, mechanical ventilation, benzodiazepines, narcotics, use of physical restraints, and exposure to vasopressors and antiepileptics.

CONCLUSIONS

Delirium is a prevalent complication of critical illness in children, with identifiable risk factors. Further multi-institutional, longitudinal studies are required to investigate effect of delirium on long-term outcomes and possible preventive and treatment measures. Universal delirium screening is practical and can be implemented in pediatric critical care units.

Delirium in Children After Cardiac Bypass Surgery

OBJECTIVES

To describe the incidence of delirium in pediatric patients after cardiac bypass surgery and explore associated risk factors and effect of delirium on in-hospital outcomes.

DESIGN

Prospective observational single-center study.

SETTING

Fourteen-bed pediatric cardiothoracic ICU.

PATIENTS

One hundred ninety-four consecutive admissions following cardiac bypass surgery, 1 day to 21 years old.

INTERVENTIONS

Subjects were screened for delirium daily using the Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Incidence of delirium in this sample was 49%. Delirium most often lasted 1-2 days and developed within the first 1-3 days after surgery. Age less than 2 years, developmental delay, higher Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery 1 score, cyanotic disease, and albumin less than three were all independently associated with development of delirium in a multivariable model (all p < 0.03). Delirium was an independent predictor of prolonged ICU length of stay, with patients who were ever delirious having a 60% increase in ICU days compared with patients who were never delirious (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

In our institution, delirium is a frequent problem in children after cardiac bypass surgery, with identifiable risk factors. Our study suggests that cardiac bypass surgery significantly increases children's susceptibility to delirium. This highlights the need for heightened, targeted delirium screening in all pediatric cardiothoracic ICUs to potentially improve outcomes in this vulnerable patient population.

A case of infant delirium in the neonatal intensive care unit

Infant delirium is an under-recognized clinical entity in neonatal intensive care, and earlier identification and treatment could minimize morbidities associated with this condition. We describe a case of a 6-month-old former 32 weeks gestation infant undergoing a prolonged mechanical ventilation course diagnosed with delirium related to the combination of his underlying illness and the use of multiple sedative and analgesic medications. Initiation of the atypical antipsychotic risperidone allowed for weaning from continuous infusions of benzodiazepines and opiods, and lower dosages of bolus-dosed sedation and analgesics. The patient experienced no adverse side effects from use of this neuroleptic.

Validity of the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) in critically ill children

BACKGROUND

The Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) is a single tool that is intuitive, is easy to use, and includes both agitation and sedation. The RASS has never been formally validated for pediatric populations. The objective of this study was to assess inter-rater agreement and criterion validity of the RASS in critically ill children.

METHODS

To evaluate validity, the RASS score was compared to both a visual analog scale (VAS) scored by the patient's nurse, and the University of Michigan Sedation Scale (UMSS), performed by a researcher. The nurse completed the VAS by drawing a single line on a 10-cm scale anchored by "unresponsive" and "combative." The UMSS was used to validate the sedation portion of the RASS only, as it does not include grades of agitation. For inter-rater agreement, one researcher and the patient's nurse simultaneously but independently scored the RASS.

RESULTS

One hundred patient encounters were obtained from 50 unique patients, ages 2 months to 21 years. Of these, 27 assessments were on children who were mechanically ventilated and 73 were on children who were spontaneously breathing. In validity testing, the RASS was highly correlated with the nurse's VAS (Spearman correlation coefficient 0.810, p < .0001) and with the UMSS (weighted kappa 0.902, p < .0001). Inter-rater agreement between nurse- and researcher-assessed RASS was excellent, with weighted kappa of 0.825 (p < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS

The RASS is a valid responsiveness tool for use in critically ill children. It allows for accurate assessment of awareness in mechanically ventilated and spontaneously breathing patients, and may improve our ability to titrate sedatives and assess for delirium in pediatrics.

Importance of the use of protocols for the management of analgesia and sedation in pediatric intensive care unit

Summary Introduction: Analgesia and sedation are essential elements in patient care in the intensive care unit (ICU), in order to promote the control of pain, anxiety and agitation, prevent the loss of devices, accidental extubation, and improve the synchrony of the patient with mechanical ventilation. However, excess of these medications leads to rise in morbidity and mortality. The ideal management will depend on the adoption of clinical and pharmacological measures, guided by scales and protocols. Objective: Literature review on the main aspects of analgesia and sedation, abstinence syndrome, and delirium in the pediatric intensive care unit, in order to show the importance of the use of protocols on the management of critically ill patients. Method: Articles published in the past 16 years on PubMed, Lilacs, and the Cochrane Library, with the terms analgesia, sedation, abstinence syndrome, mild sedation, daily interruption, and intensive care unit. Results: Seventy-six articles considered relevant were selected to describe the importance of using a protocol of sedation and analgesia. They recommended mild sedation and the use of assessment scales, daily interruptions, and spontaneous breathing test. These measures shorten the time of mechanical ventilation, as well as length of hospital stay, and help to control abstinence and delirium, without increasing the risk of morbidity and morbidity. Conclusion: Despite the lack of controlled and randomized clinical trials in the pediatric setting, the use of protocols, optimizing mild sedation, leads to decreased morbidity.

Clinical recommendations for pain, sedation, withdrawal and delirium assessment in critically ill infants and children: an ESPNIC position statement for healthcare professionals

Background

This position statement provides clinical recommendations for the assessment of pain, level of sedation, iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome and delirium in critically ill infants and children. Admission to a neonatal or paediatric intensive care unit (NICU, PICU) exposes a child to a series of painful and stressful events. Accurate assessment of the presence of pain and non-pain-related distress (adequacy of sedation, iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome and delirium) is essential to good clinical management and to monitoring the effectiveness of interventions to relieve or prevent pain and distress in the individual patient.

Methods

A multidisciplinary group of experts was recruited from the members of the European Society of Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care (ESPNIC). The group formulated clinical questions regarding assessment of pain and non-pain-related distress in critically ill and nonverbal children, and searched the PubMed/Medline, CINAHL and Embase databases for studies describing the psychometric properties of assessment instruments. Furthermore, level of evidence of selected studies was assigned and recommendations were formulated, and grade or recommendations were added on the basis of the level of evidence.

Results

An ESPNIC position statement was drafted which provides clinical recommendations on assessment of pain (n = 5), distress and/or level of sedation (n = 4), iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome (n = 3) and delirium (n = 3). These recommendations were based on the available evidence and consensus amongst the experts and other members of ESPNIC.

Conclusions

This multidisciplinary ESPNIC position statement guides professionals in the assessment and reassessment of the effectiveness of treatment interventions for pain, distress, inadequate sedation, withdrawal syndrome and delirium.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00134-016-4344-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Evaluation of the Safety of Quetiapine in Treating Delirium in Critically Ill Children: A Retrospective Review

OBJECTIVE

Quetiapine is an atypical antipsychotic that has been used off-label for the treatment of intensive care unit (ICU) delirium in the adult population, with studies demonstrating both efficacy and a favorable safety profile. Although there is a potential role for quetiapine in the treatment of pediatric ICU delirium, there has been no systematic reporting to date of safety in this patient population.

METHODS

Pharmacy records were used to identify 55 consecutive pediatric ICU patients who were diagnosed with delirium and received quetiapine. A comprehensive retrospective medical chart review was performed to collect data on demographics, dosing, and side effects.

RESULTS

Fifty patients treated between January 2013 and November 2014 were included, and five patients were excluded from the study. Subjects ranged in age from 2 months to 20 years. Median daily dose was 1.3 mg/kg/day, and median duration of treatment was 12 days. There were three episodes of QTc prolongation that were clinically nonsignificant with no associated dysrhythmia: Two resolved over time without intervention, and one resolved with decrease in quetiapine dosage. There were no episodes of extrapyramidal symptoms or neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS

In this population of critically ill youth, short-term use of quetiapine as treatment for delirium appears to be safe, without serious adverse events. Further research is required to assess efficacy and evaluate for long-term effects. A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study of quetiapine in managing pediatric delirium is necessary.