How Do Children Die in PICUs Nowadays? A Multicenter Study From Spain

Futile therapy protocols: A 3-year review of the implementation of Polish guidelines on ineffective organ function maintenance in pediatric intensive care unit-A pilot study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate the implementation and impact of futile therapy (FT) protocols in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in Poland.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis 48 futile therapy protocols signed at three academic pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in southern Poland. A designated individual at each of the hospitals gathered detailed data from the protocols.

RESULTS

The children's ages ranged from 1 month to 18 years, the primary diagnoses were neurological conditions (n = 22, 45.83%), oncological conditions (n = 11, 22.92%), and prematurity (n = 9, 19.75%). The most common concomitant complications included severe birth asphyxia (n = 21, 43.75%), chronic respiratory failure (n = 18, 37.50%), circulatory failure (n = 10, 20.85%), and acute respiratory failure (n = 10, 20.85%). More than one-third of the patients were discharged (n = 17, 35.42%), while the remaining patients continued treatment in their primary wards (n = 31, 64.58%). Information on the 37 patients treated at these two centers shows that most (n = 25, 67.57%) died in the ward where they were hospitalized. The survival time after the protocol was signed ranged from 2 to 705 days, with a median of 42 days.

CONCLUSIONS

The guidelines implemented in the study centers facilitated decision-making regarding the discontinuation of FT. The protocol was most frequently applied to newborns and children under 1 year of age. A median of survival time after implement FTP affirming the positive role of palliative care.

Parent experiences of child loss in a paediatric intensive care unit on human connection and compassionate care

INTRODUCTION

The death of a child in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is a rare event, the main causes being failed resuscitation efforts, brain death or limitation of the therapeutic effort. The family interpretation of this experience has a significant impact on mourning. Knowledge of the elements that condition this interpretation, is fundamental to be able to accompany and care.

AIMS

General: to explore the experience of families who have suffered the loss of a child in the PICU. Specific: to describe the experience of "human connection and family centred compassionate care".

METHODOLOGY

A qualitative phenomenological study was carried out in the PICU of a high complexity hospital. Thirteen interviews were conducted (11 mothers/9 fathers), with an average duration of 60 min until thematic saturation. Data were analysed following Van Manen's hermeneutic approach.

RESULTS

Compassionate family-centred care is based on the human connection between care team and family system with the objectives of: recognising care as a family affair, promoting a collaborative approach to care and strengthening family bonds. Their achievement requires: informing/training parents about the disease process and care, involving them in decision-making, facilitating their participation in care, generating spaces for honest communication with the care team, facilitating care respire and sibling visits, making, promoting "family magic spaces", and generating family memories.

CONCLUSIONS

The experience of losing a child in the PICU is conditioned by the care team's approach to the management of the families' suffering. The co-creation of a relationship space centred on their needs and mediated by sincere communication and real collaboration is valued as a valuable gift.

An Exploratory Study of ICU Pediatric Nurses' Feelings and Coping Strategies after Experiencing Children Death

BACKGROUND

This study aims to explore the feelings and experiences of nursing staff when faced with the death of a pediatric patient in the ICU.

METHODOLOGY

A qualitative study based on hermeneutic phenomenology was conducted through semi-structured interviews. Ten nurses (30% of staff) from the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of a referral hospital were interviewed in April 2022. Text transcripts were analysed using latent content analysis.

RESULTS

Content analysis indicated that the interviewees had feelings of sadness and grief; they had a misconception of empathy. They had no structured coping strategies, and those they practiced were learned through personal experience, not by specific training; they reported coping strategies such as peer support, physical exercise, or strengthening ties with close family members, especially their children. The lack of skills to cope with the death and the absence of support from personnel management departments were acknowledged. This can lead to the presence of compassion fatigue.

CONCLUSIONS

The feelings that PICU nurses have when a child they care for die are negative feelings and sadness, and they possess coping strategies focused on emotions learned from their own experience and without institutional training support. This situation should not be underestimated as they are a source of compassion fatigue and burnout.

Descriptive and Clinical Characteristics of Nonsurvivors in a Tertiary Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in Turkey: 6 Years of Experience

The objective of this study was to identify the characteristics of nonsurvivors in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in Turkey. This is a retrospective analysis of patients who died in a tertiary PICU over a 6-year period from 2016 to 2021. Data were drawn from electronic medical records and resuscitation notes. Mode of death was categorized as failed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (F-CPR) or brain death. Among the 161 deaths, 136 nonsurvivors were included and 30.1% were younger than 1 year. Severe pneumonia, respiratory failure, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (31.6%) were the most common primary diagnoses. The most common mode of death was F-CPR (86.8%). More than half of the subjects had been admitted from pediatric emergency departments (58.1%), and more than half (53.7%) had died within 7 days in the PICU. Patients admitted from pediatric emergency departments had the lowest frequency of comorbidities (p < 0.001). Severe pneumonia, respiratory failure, and ARDS diagnoses were significantly more frequent in those who died after 7 days (p < 0.001), whereas septicemia, shock, and multiple organ dysfunction were more common among those who died within the first day of PICU admission (p < 0.001). It may be important to note that patients referred from wards are highly likely to have comorbidities, while those referred from pediatric emergency departments may be relatively younger. Additionally, patients with septicemia, shock, or multiple organ dysfunction were more likely to die earlier (within 7 days), especially compared with those with severe pneumonia, respiratory failure, or ARDS.

How do hospitalised children die? The context of death and end-of-life decision-making

AIM

The decrease in childhood mortality, the growing clinical complexity and the greater technification of intensive care units have changed the circumstances of death of paediatric patients. The aim of this study is to describe the context of death and end-of-life decision-making.

METHODS

Single-centre, retrospective, observational study of deaths in inpatients or home hospitalised children under 18 years old between 2011 and 2021. Demographic data, pathological history and circumstances of death were obtained from the medical record. The whole study period was divided into two halves for the analysis of the temporal trends.

RESULTS

A total of 358 patients died, 63.2% under the age of 1 year old; 86.9% had underlying life-limiting illnesses and 73.2% died in the intensive care unit, with no differences between the two time periods. Death at home was significantly higher in the second study period (3.8% vs. 9%). A total of 20.1% died during advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Life-sustaining treatment was withheld or withdrawn in 53.6%, with no differences between the time courses. Life-sustaining treatment was withheld mainly in patients with neurological, metabolic and oncological conditions, and less frequently in patients with cardiovascular or respiratory diseases or who were previously healthy. Most patients coded as palliative care (PC) or followed up by PC teams had an advance care plan (ACP) recorded, while in the others it was infrequent. PC coding, following by PC teams and ACP recording increased in the last years of the study.

CONCLUSIONS

Death of children in our setting usually occurs in relation to complex underlying pathology and after the decision of withdrawing or withholding life-sustaining treatment. In this context, PC and ACP acquire greater importance. In our study, PC involvement resulted in better documentation of ACP and PC coding.

Nursing Care at End of Life in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Patients Requiring Mechanical Ventilation

BACKGROUND

Parents' perceptions of critical care during the final days of their child's life shape their grief for decades. Little is known about nursing care needs of children actively dying in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

OBJECTIVES

To examine associations between patient characteristics, circumstances of death, and nursing care requirements for children who died in the PICU.

METHODS

A secondary analysis of the data set from the Randomized Evaluation of Sedation Titration for Respiratory Failure trial was conducted.

RESULTS

This analysis included 104 children; 67 died after withdrawal of life-sustaining treatments; 21, after failed resuscitation; and 16, after brain death. Patients had a median age of 7.5 years, were cognitively appropriate, and were intubated for acute respiratory failure. Daily pain and sedation scores indicated patients' comfort was well managed (mean pain scores: modal, 0; peak, 2; mean sedation scores: modal, -2; peak, -1). Patients with longer PICU stays more often experienced pain and agitation on the day of death. Illness trajectory (acute, complex chronic condition, or cancer) was associated with pain scores (P = .04). Specifically, children with cancer had higher pain scores than children with acute illness trajectories (P = .01). Many patients (62%) had no change in critical care devices in their last days of life (median, 5 devices). Patterns of pain, sedation, comfort medications, and nursing care requirements did not differ by circumstances of death.

CONCLUSION

Children with cancer and longer PICU stays may need comprehensive comfort management. Invasive devices left in place during withdrawal of life support may have inhibited parents' ability to connect with their child. Future research should incorporate parents' perspectives.

End-of-life decisions and practices as viewed by health professionals in pediatric critical care: A European survey study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

End-of-Life (EOL) decision-making in paediatric critical care can be complex and heterogeneous, reflecting national culture and law as well as the relative resources provided for healthcare. This study aimed to identify similarities and differences in the experiences and attitudes of European paediatric intensive care doctors, nurses and allied health professionals about end-of-life decision-making and care.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional observational study in which we distributed an electronic survey to the European Society of Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care (ESPNIC) members by email and social media. The survey had three sections: (i) 16 items about attitudes to EOL care, (ii) 14 items about EOL decisions, and (iii) 18 items about EOL care in practice. We used a 5-point Likert scale and performed descriptive statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Overall, 198 questionnaires were completed by physicians (62%), nurses (34%) and allied health professionals (4%). Nurses reported less active involvement in decision-making processes than doctors (64% vs. 95%; p < 0.001). As viewed by the child and family, the child's expected future quality of life was recognised as one of the most critical considerations in EOL decision-making. Sub-analysis of Northern, Central and Southern European regions revealed differences in the optimal timing of EOL decisions. Most respondents (n = 179; 90%) supported discussing organ donation with parents during EOL planning. In the sub-region analysis, differences were observed in the provision of deep sedation and nutritional support during EOL care.

CONCLUSIONS

This study has shown similar attitudes and experiences of EOL care among paediatric critical care professionals within European regions, but differences persist between European regions. Nurses are less involved in EOL decision-making than physicians. Further research should identify the key cultural, religious, legal and resource differences underlying these discrepancies. We recommend multi-professional ethics education to improve EOL care in European Paediatric Intensive Care.

Variability in Pediatric Brain Death Determination Protocols in the United States

OBJECTIVE

To determine the variability in pediatric death by neurologic criteria (DNC) protocols between US pediatric institutions and compared to the 2011 DNC guidelines.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study of DNC protocols obtained from pediatric institutions in the United States via regional organ procurement organizations, protocols were evaluated across 5 domains: general DNC procedures, prerequisites, neurologic examination, apnea testing, and ancillary testing. Descriptive statistics compared protocols to each other and the 2011 guidelines.

RESULTS

A total of 130 protocols were analyzed with 118 dated after publication of the 2011 guidelines. Of those 118 protocols, identification of a mechanism of irreversible brain injury was required in 97%, while 67% required an observation period after acute brain injury before DNC evaluation. Most protocols required guideline-based prerequisites such as exclusion of hypotension (94%), hypothermia (97%), and metabolic derangements (92%). On neurologic examination, 91% required a lack of responsiveness, 93% no response to noxious stimuli, and 99% loss of brainstem reflexes. A total of 84% of protocols required the guideline-recommended 2 apnea tests. CO2 targets were consistent with guidelines in 64%. Contrary to guidelines, 15% required ancillary testing for all patients and 15% permitted ancillary studies that are not validated in pediatrics.

CONCLUSION

Variability exists between pediatric institutional DNC protocols in all domains of DNC determination, especially with respect to apnea and ancillary testing. Better alignment of DNC protocols with national guidelines may improve the consistency and accuracy of DNC determination.

Shifting trends in modes of death in the Intensive Care Unit

PURPOSE

To describe the way patients die in a Spanish ICU, and how the modes of death have changed in the last 10 years.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Retrospective observational study evaluating all patients who died in a Spanish tertiary ICU over a 10-year period. Modes of death were classified as death despite maximal support (D-MS), brain death (BD), and death following life-sustaining treatment limitation (D-LSTL).

RESULTS

Amongst 9264 ICU admissions, 1553 (16.8%) deaths were recorded. The ICU mortality rate declined (1.7%/year, 95% CI 1.4-2.0; p = 0.021) while ICU admissions increased (3.5%/year, 95% CI 3.3-3.7; p < 0.001). More than half of the patients (888, 57.2%) died D-MS, 389 (25.0%) died after a shared decision of D-LSTL and 276 (17.8%) died due to BD. Modes of death have changed significantly over the past decade. D-LSTL increased by 15.1%/year (95% CI 14.4-15.8; p < 0.001) and D-MS at the end-of-life decreased by 7.1%/year (95% CI 6.6-7.6; p < 0.001). The proportion of patients diagnosed with BD remained stable over time.

CONCLUSIONS

End-of-life practices and modes of death in our ICU have steadily changed. The proportion of patients who died in ICU following limitation of life-prolonging therapies substantially increased, whereas death after maximal support occurred significantly less frequently.

National recommendations on pediatric donation

Despite being an international reference in donation and transplantation, Spain needs to improve pediatric donation, including donation after the circulatory determination of death. The present article, a summary of the consensus report prepared by the Organización Nacional de Trasplantes and the Spanish Pediatrics Association, intends the facilitation of donation procedures in newborns and children and the analysis of associated ethical dilemma. The ethical basis for donation in children, the principles of clinical assessment of possible donors, the criteria for the determination of death in children, intensive care management of donors, basic concepts of donation after the circulatory determination of death and the procedures for donation in newborns with severe nervous system's malformation incompatible with life, as well as in children receiving palliative care are commented. Systematically considering the donation of organs and tissues when a child dies in conditions consistent with donation is an ethical imperative and must become an ethical standard, not only because of the need of organs for transplantation, but also to ensure family centered care.

[National recommendations on pediatric donation]

A pesar de ser una referencia internacional en donación y trasplante, España precisa mejorar los procesos de donación en niños, en particular la donación tras la determinación de la muerte por criterios circulatorios (donación en asistolia). El presente artículo, resumen del documento de consenso elaborado por la Organización Nacional de Trasplantes y la Asociación Española de Pediatría, pretende facilitar los procesos de donación en niños y neonatos y analizar los conflictos éticos que plantea. Se comentan los fundamentos éticos de la donación pediátrica, los principios de la evaluación clínica de los posibles donantes, los criterios diagnósticos de muerte encefálica en niños, los cuidados intensivos para el mantenimiento de los donantes, los conceptos básicos de la donación en asistolia y los procesos de donación en neonatos con malformaciones muy graves del sistema nervioso incompatibles con la vida y en niños en cuidados paliativos. Considerar sistemáticamente la donación de órganos y tejidos cuando un niño fallece en condiciones de ser donante es un imperativo ético y ha de constituir un estándar profesional, tanto por la necesidad de órganos para trasplante, como por asegurar un cuidado integral centrado en la familia.