Cost analysis of pediatric intensive care: a low-middle income country perspective

Impact of Benzodiazepines on Outcomes of Mechanically Ventilated Pediatric Intensive Care Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study

IMPORTANCE

Benzodiazepines are the most frequently used sedatives in PICUs, but they are increasingly associated with negative outcomes. Understanding their impact on patient outcomes is critical to provide better sedative management for patients.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to determine the impact of midazolam and lorazepam on clinical outcomes among subjects requiring mechanical ventilation in the PICU. We hypothesized that subjects receiving benzodiazepines for tolerance of mechanical ventilation will demonstrate worse clinical outcomes when compared with those not receiving benzodiazepines.

DESIGN

Single-center, retrospective cohort study.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

PICU of a tertiary-care medical center. One thousand fifty-four pediatric participants requiring invasive mechanical ventilation between June 2018 and December 2022. Participants were categorized into those who received benzodiazepine-inclusive sedation regimens (n = 747) and those who received nonbenzodiazepine regimens (n = 307).

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Subjects were sorted into groups of benzodiazepine-sedative regimens (midazolam and lorazepam, only lorazepam) or nonbenzodiazepine-sedation regimens. The primary outcome was ventilator-free days (VFDs). Statistical analysis was performed using multivariable linear regression and propensity-score matching.

RESULTS

Subjects receiving continuous and/or intermittent benzodiazepines had fewer VFDs compared with the nonbenzodiazepine group (median 21.0 vs. 26.7; p < 0.001). The benzodiazepine group had fewer ICU-free and hospital-free days, higher delirium scores, and a greater need for withdrawal-tapering medications. This was redemonstrated in subjects only receiving intermittent benzodiazepines as well. Younger subjects were more likely to receive benzodiazepines.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Our study demonstrates an association between children receiving both continuous and intermittent benzodiazepine sedation and worse clinical outcomes. These patients have fewer VFDs and longer length of stay, higher doses of nonbenzodiazepine sedatives, and increased need for withdrawal tapering medications and antipsychotics. It is unclear in this retrospective study if the outcomes were worse because the subjects received benzodiazepines or because subjects receiving benzodiazepines were sicker and thus required benzodiazepines in their analgosedative regimen. Further investigation is warranted into the impact of benzodiazepines on patient outcomes, nonpharmacologic management of sedation, improvement in bedside assessment of analgosedation, and optimal balance between over- and under-sedation.

Evaluation of Neighborhood Resources and Pediatric Status Epilepticus Outcomes in the Intensive Care Unit Across the United States

This study aimed to investigate outcomes for children with underlying epilepsy admitted to an intensive care unit for status epilepticus in relation to Child Opportunity Index. Data were obtained from the Pediatric Health Information System for patients aged 1 month to 21 years admitted to the intensive care unit for a primary diagnosis of epilepsy with status epilepticus. Mixed effects regression models were used to estimate the association between Child Opportunity Index and our outcomes: invasive mechanical ventilation, vasoactive medication administration, and in-hospital mortality. Encounters with very low, low, and moderate Child Opportunity Index levels were more likely to receive invasive mechanical ventilation compared to very high Child Opportunity Index level, though there were no differences for vasoactive medication administration or in-hospital mortality. This demonstration of neighborhood disparities specifically for children with epilepsy presenting in status epilepticus to an intensive care unit should inform future interventions aimed at improving neighborhood resources.

Pediatric nursing-sensitive outcomes in lower and medium complexity care units: A Delphi study

BACKGROUND

The effectiveness of pediatric care is made more challenging to analyze by the need for specialist nursing and by the specific characteristics of pediatric patients, as opposed to adult patients, such as ongoing rapid growth and development, and different physical, cognitive, and emotional demands. Previous research has identified "Pediatric Nursing-Sensitive Outcomes" (PNSOs) in intensive care unit settings, though pediatric intensive care beds only represent a very limited percentage of hospital beds. To improve care quality and safety for a larger population of patients, this study aims to identify PNSOs in lower and medium-complexity care units (LMCCUs).

METHODS

This study uses the Delphi method to gather expert opinion on priority PNSOs in LMCCUs, with a 75 % consensus pass threshold. A preliminary list of PNSOs was identified from a literature review and used as inputs for two Delphi rounds conducted between January and March 2023.

RESULTS

27 panelists were recruited and passed 17 PNSOs: pressure injury; failure to rescue; patient/family experiences; central line-associated bloodstream infections; surgical site infections; healthcare-associated infections; medication errors; hospitalization breastfeeding continuity; peripheral intravenous infiltrate or extravasation; pediatric falls; pain assessment and management; vital sign monitoring; nutrition; discharge planning; family-centered care practice; healthcare environment; nurse voluntary turnover.

CONCLUSION

This study contributes to research on PNSOs and builds consensus on priorities for LMCCUs. Future research should clinically evaluate these PNSOs and their association with organizational and professional variables often investigated in an adult but not a pediatric setting.

Challenges and Strategies in Pediatric Critical Care: Insights From Low-Resource Settings

Background. Pediatric critical care in low-resource settings faces challenges like inadequate infrastructure, limited personnel, financial constraints, and cultural considerations, leading to poor outcomes for critically ill children. Methods. This review synthesizes information from 2 articles on pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It identifies challenges such as high care costs, cultural preferences, and resource allocation issues. Results. Challenges include the financial burden of care, limited resources, and the need for external funding. Family preferences impact healthcare decisions, leading to ethical dilemmas. Resource allocation issues affect patient outcomes, including delayed diagnoses and high mortality rates. Conclusion. Addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach involving governments, healthcare providers, and international stakeholders. Standardizing care, investing in infrastructure and training, and promoting collaboration are essential to improving pediatric critical care and ensuring equitable access.

High-Flow Nasal Cannula Versus Nasal Prong Bubble Continuous Positive Airway Pressure in Children With Moderate to Severe Acute Bronchiolitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVES

To compare high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) versus nasal prong bubble continuous positive airway pressure (b-CPAP) in children with moderate to severe acute bronchiolitis.

DESIGN

A randomized controlled trial was carried out from August 2019 to February 2022. (Clinical Trials Registry of India number CTRI/2019/07/020402).

SETTING

Pediatric emergency ward and ICU within a tertiary care center in India.

PATIENTS

Children 1-23 months old with moderate to severe acute bronchiolitis.

INTERVENTION

Comparison of HFNC with b-CPAP, using a primary outcome of treatment failure within 24 hours of randomization, as defined by any of: 1) a 1-point increase in modified Wood's clinical asthma score (m-WCAS) above baseline, 2) a rise in respiratory rate (RR) greater than 10 per minute from baseline, and 3) escalation in respiratory support. The secondary outcomes were success rate after crossover, if any, need for mechanical ventilation (invasive/noninvasive), local skin lesions, length of hospital stay, and complications.

RESULTS

In 118 children analyzed by intention-to-treat, HFNC ( n = 59) versus b-CPAP ( n = 59) was associated with a lower failure rate (23.7% vs. 42.4%; relative risk [95% CI], RR 0.56 [95% CI, 0.32-0.97], p = 0.031). The Cox proportion model confirmed a lower hazard of treatment failure in the HFNC group (adjusted hazard ratio 0.48 [95% CI, 0.25-0.94], p = 0.032). No crossover was noted. A lower proportion escalated to noninvasive ventilation in the HFNC group (15.3%) versus the b-CPAP group (15.3% vs. 39% [RR 0.39 (95% CI, 0.20-0.77)], p = 0.004). The HFNC group had a longer median (interquartile range) duration of oxygen therapy (4 [3-6] vs. 3 [3-5] d; p = 0.012) and hospital stay (6 [5-8.5] vs. 5 [4-7] d, p = 0.021). No significant difference was noted in other secondary outcomes.

CONCLUSION

In children aged one to 23 months with moderate to severe acute bronchiolitis, the use of HFNC therapy as opposed to b-CPAP for early respiratory support is associated with a lower failure rate and, secondarily, a lower risk of escalation to mechanical ventilation.

Disposition to pediatric intensive care unit post supraglottoplasty repair: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Patients undergoing supraglottoplasty are often routinely admitted post-operatively to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) due to rare but potentially fatal complications such as airway compromise. A systematic review was performed to determine the rate of post-operative PICU-level respiratory support required by pediatric patients following supraglottoplasty, to identify risk factors for patients who may benefit from post-operative PICU admission and limit unnecessary use of intensivist resources.

REVIEW METHODS

Key search terms 'supraglottoplasty' OR 'supraglottoplasties' were queried on three databases: CINHAL, Medline and Embase. Inclusion criteria were pediatric patients under 18 years of age who underwent a supraglottoplasty procedure with either an admission to PICU or requirement for PICU-level respiratory support. Risk of bias was assessed by two independent reviewers using QUADAS-2. Findings were critically appraised by three independent reviewers and pooled proportions of criteria meeting PICU admission were calculated for meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Nine studies met inclusion criteria, totaling 922 patients. Age at time of surgery ranged from 19 days to 15.7 years with mean age of 5.65 months. A weighted pooled estimate suggested that 19% (95% CI 14-24%) of patients who underwent supraglottoplasty required PICU-admission. The included studies revealed several patient and surgical factors have been linked to postoperative respiratory issues requiring PICU admission, including: neurological disease, perioperative oxygen saturation < 95%, prolonged surgical time and age < 2 months.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found that the majority of supraglottoplasty patients do not require significant postoperative respiratory support and suggests that routine PICU admission of these patients may be avoided by careful patient selection. Given the wide heterogeneity of outcome measures, further studies are needed to determine the ideal PICU admission criteria following supraglottoplasty.

Dexmedetomidine for sedation during hematopoietic stem cell harvest apheresis and leukapheresis in the PICU: Guideline development

BACKGROUND

Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) harvest apheresis and leukapheresis are performed in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) for high-risk pediatric patients who require procedural sedation. Patients need central access either with their own central lines, ports or require apheresis catheter (CVL) placement. Previously, patients were either awake or emerging from sedation on PICU admission. Uncertainty regarding procedural sedation plans caused delays initiating sedation and apheresis. A guideline was developed to standardize Dexmedetomidine (DEX) for procedural sedation. We investigated if guideline implementation would improve efficiency during PICU admission as demonstrated by shorter time intervals for initiation of sedation, apheresis, PICU length of stay and less alternative sedating medication.

METHODS

Data was collected retrospectively from electronic health records of preguideline and post-guideline patients who were admitted to the PICU for sedated apheresis. We compared demographic and clinical characteristics, time intervals for sedation, apheresis, PICU length of stay, and sedation agents between the two groups using Fisher Exact tests and Mann-Whitney tests, as appropriate.

RESULTS

The groups did not differ in age or weight at the time of apheresis. All intervals of time compared were shorter post-guideline. Time intervals from admission to start of sedation, admission to start of apheresis, and admission to end of apheresis were statistically significantly different. The type and number of alternative sedating medications administered did not differ between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

This guideline implementation improved efficiency during PICU admission. This study might have been too small to demonstrate statistically significant differences in other time intervals studied.

Sepsis in Children in Latin America: Gaps, Inequities, and Improvement Strategies

ABSTRACT

Pediatric sepsis is a worldwide public health issue because of its high mortality rate, which increases even more in low-income countries. In this article, we review the Latin American background, the burdens of pediatric sepsis in Latin America, and the Caribbean, as well as some strategies that could help improve the outcomes of sepsis in these regions from a public health view.

Factors influencing the length of stay among patients admitted to a tertiary pediatric intensive care unit in Saudi Arabia

This study aimed to assess the variables contributing to the length of stay in the pediatric intensive care unit. This study utilized a retrospective design by analyzing data from the Virtual Pediatric Systems web-based database. The study was conducted in a tertiary hospital-King Fahad Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia-from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2019. The patients were admitted to intensive care with complex medical and surgical diseases. The variables were divided into quantitative and qualitative parameters, including patient data, Pediatric Risk of Mortality III score, and complications. Data from 3,396 admissions were analyzed. In this cohort, the median and mean length of stay were 2.8 (interquartile range, 1.08-7.04) and 7.43 (standard deviation, 14.34) days, respectively. The majority of long-stay patients-defined as those staying longer than 30 days-were less than 12 months of age (44.79%), had lower growth parameters (p < 0.001), and had a history of admission to pediatric intensive care units. Moreover, the majority of long-stay patients primarily suffered from respiratory diseases (51.53%) and had comorbidities and complications during their stay (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis of all variables revealed that central line-associated bloodstream infections (p < 0.001), external ventricular drain insertion (p < 0.005), tracheostomy (p < 0.001), and use of mechanical ventilation (p < 0.001) had the most significant associations with a longer stay in the pediatric intensive care unit. The factors associated with longer stays included the admission source, central nervous system disease comorbidity, and procedures performed during the stay. Factors such as respiratory support were also associated with prolonged intensive care unit stays.