Knowledge regarding extracorporeal membrane oxygenation management among Brazilian pediatric intensivists: a cross-sectional survey

OBJECTIVE

To assess Brazilian pediatric intensivists' general knowledge of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, including evidence for its use, the national funding model, indications, and complications.

METHODS

This was a multicenter cross-sectional survey including 45 Brazilian pediatric intensive care units. A convenience sample of 654 intensivists was surveyed regarding their knowledge on managing patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, its indications, complications, funding, and literature evidence.

RESULTS

The survey addressed questions regarding the knowledge and experience of pediatric intensivists with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, including two clinical cases and 6 optional questions about the management of patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Of the 45 invited centers, 42 (91%) participated in the study, and 412 of 654 (63%) pediatric intensivists responded to the survey. Most pediatric intensive care units were from the Southeast region of Brazil (59.5%), and private/for-profit hospitals represented 28.6% of the participating centers. The average age of respondents was 41.4 (standard deviation 9.1) years, and the majority (77%) were women. Only 12.4% of respondents had taken an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation course. Only 19% of surveyed hospitals have an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation program, and only 27% of intensivists reported having already managed patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Specific extracorporeal membrane oxygenation management questions were responded to by only 64 physicians (15.5%), who had a fair/good correct response rate (median 63.4%; range 32.8% to 91.9%).

CONCLUSION

Most Brazilian pediatric intensivists demonstrated limited knowledge regarding extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, including its indications and complications. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is not yet widely available in Brazil, with few intensivists prepared to manage patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and even fewer intensivists recognizing when to refer patients to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation centers.

Adverse drug events in a paediatric intensive care unit: a prospective cohort

OBJECTIVES

To describe adverse drug events (ADEs) in children under intensive care, identify risk factors and tools that can detect ADEs early, and the impact on length of stay (LOS).

DESIGN

A prospective observational study.

SETTING

Paediatric intensive care unit of a tertiary care teaching hospital.

PATIENTS

239 patients with a mean age of 67.5 months representing 1818 days of hospitalisation in intensive care unit.

INTERVENTIONS

Active search of charts and electronic patient records using triggers. The statistical analysis involved linear and logistic regression.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The average LOS was 7.6 days. There were 110 proven, probable and possible ADEs in 84 patients (35.1%). We observed 138 instances of triggers. The major classes of drugs associated with events were: antibiotics (n=41), diuretics (n=24), antiseizures (n=23), sedatives and analgesics (n=17) and steroids (n=18). The number of drugs administered was most related to the occurrence of ADEs and also to the LOS (p<0.001). The occurrence of an ADE may result in an increase in the LOS by 1.5 days per event, but this was not statistically significant in this sample. Patients aged less than 48 months also proved to be at a significant risk for ADEs, with an OR of 1.84 (95% CI 1.07 to 3.15, p=0.025). The number of drugs administered also correlated with the number of ADEs (p<0.0001). The chance of having at least one ADE increased linearly as the patient was administered more drugs.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of multiple drugs as well as lower patient age favours the occurrence of ADEs. The active search described here provides a systematic approach to this problem.