Publications by authors named "Cathy Sheppard"
This retrospective cohort study aimed to compare blood component transfusion before and after the implementation of a restrictive transfusion strategy (RTS) in pediatric cardiac Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS) patients. The study included children admitted to the pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (PCICU) at the Stollery Children's Hospital who received ECLS between 2012 and 2020. Children on ECLS between 2012 and 2016 were treated with standard transfusion strategy (STS), while those on ECLS between 2016 and 2020 were treated with RTS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To demonstrate feasibility of a music medicine intervention trial in pediatric intensive care and to obtain information on sedation and analgesia dose variation to plan a larger trial.
Material And Methods: Pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted at the Stollery Children's Hospital general and cardiac intensive care units (PICU/PCICU). The study included children 1 month to 16 years of age on mechanical ventilation and receiving sedation drugs.
Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of ICU delirium in children less than 18 years old that underwent cardiac surgery within the last 30 days. The secondary aim of the study was to identify risk factors associated with ICU delirium in postoperative pediatric cardiac surgical patients.
Design: A 1-day, multicenter point-prevalence study of delirium in pediatric postoperative cardiac surgery patients.
Background: Stress induced by pain and anxiety is common in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients. Sedation/analgesia in PICU is usually achieved through various analgesics and sedatives. Excessive use of these drugs can put patients at risk for hemodynamic/respiratory instability, prolonged ventilation, withdrawal, delirium, and critical illness polyneuromyopathy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: To determine common practice for fluid management after cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease among pediatric cardiac intensivists.
Design: A survey consisting of 17 questions about fluid management practices after pediatric cardiac surgery. Distribution was done by email, social media, World Federation of Pediatric Intensive and Critical Care Societies website, and World Federation of Pediatric Intensive and Critical Care Societies newsletter using the electronic survey distribution and collection system Research Electronic Data Capture.
Objectives: To determine the clinical benefit of using colloids versus crystalloids for volume resuscitation in children admitted after cardiac surgery.
Design: Retrospective pre-/postintervention cohort study.
Setting: Stollery Children's Hospital tertiary care pediatric cardiac ICU.
Purpose: To describe noise levels in a pediatric cardiac intensive care unit, and to determine the relationship between sound levels and patient sedation requirements.
Materials And Methods: Prospective observational study at a pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (PCICU). Sound levels were measured continuously in slow A weighted decibels dB(A) with a sound level meter SoundEarPro® during a 4-week period.
Background: We aimed to test a novel method of delivery of chloral hydrate (CH) sedation in ventilated critically ill young children.
Methods: Children < 12 years old, within 72 hours of admission, who were ventilated, receiving enteral tube-feeds, with intermittent CH ordered were enrolled after signed consent. Patients received a CH loading-dose of 10 mg/kg enterally, then a syringe-pump enteral infusion at 5 mg/kg/hour, increasing to a maximum of 9 mg/kg/hour.
Background: Despite the fact that almost all critically ill children experience some degree of pain or anxiety, there is a lack of high-quality evidence to inform preferred approaches to sedation, analgesia, and comfort measures in this environment. We conducted this survey to better understand current comfort and sedation practices among Canadian pediatric intensivists.
Methods: The survey was conducted after a literature review and initial focus groups.
Introduction: Early administration of antibiotics for sepsis, and of fluid boluses and vasoactive agents for septic shock, is recommended. Evidence for this in children is limited.
Methods: The Alberta Sepsis Network prospectively enrolled eligible children admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) with sepsis from 04/2012-10/2014.