Prevalence, management, health-care burden, and 90-day outcomes of prolonged mechanical ventilation in the paediatric intensive care unit (LongVentKids): an international, prospective, cross-sectional cohort study.

Background: The number of children requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) has increased with the advancement of medical care. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of PMV worldwide, document demographic and clinical characteristics of children requiring PMV in paediatric intensive care units (PICUs), and to understand variation in clinical practice and health-care burden.

Methods: This international, multicentre, cross-sectional cohort study screened participating PICUs in 28 countries for children aged >37 postgestational weeks to 17 years who had been receiving mechanical ventilation (MV; invasive or non-invasive) for at least 14 consecutive days.

Post-Traumatic Stress in Mothers of Children Having Complex Cardiac Surgery Early in Life.

To determine: (i) frequency of probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in mothers of infants after complex cardiac surgery (CCS), (ii) predictors of probable PTSD, and (iii) impact on child neurodevelopment. The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) was administered to 60 mothers of infants ≥ 6 months after CCS at ≤ 6 weeks of age. The IES-R measures response to a specific traumatic event: Scores < 24, no concern; 24-32, clinical concern; and ≥ 33, probable diagnosis of PTSD.

The association of hypoglycemia with outcome of critically ill children in relation to nutritional and blood glucose control strategies.

Background: Withholding parenteral nutrition (PN) until one week after PICU admission facilitated recovery from critical illness and protected against emotional and behavioral problems 4 years later. However, the intervention increased the risk of hypoglycemia, which may have counteracted part of the benefit. Previously, hypoglycemia occurring under tight glucose control in critically ill children receiving early PN did not associate with long-term harm.

Standard Versus Restrictive Transfusion Strategy for Pediatric Cardiac ECLS Patients: Single Center Retrospective Cohort Study.

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.

Pediatric Extracorporeal Life Support Transport in Western Canada: Experience over 14 years.

This retrospective cohort study describes all children transported on extracorporeal life support (ECLS) by the Stollery Children's Hospital Pediatric Transport team (SCH-PTT) between 2004 and 2018. We compared outcomes and complications between primary (SCH-PTT performed ECLS cannulation) vs. secondary (cannulation performed by referring facility) transports, as well as secondary transports from referring centers with and without an established ECLS cannulation program.

Association Between Acute Kidney Injury Duration and Outcomes in Critically Ill Children.

Objectives: Acute kidney injury occurs frequently in children during critical illness and is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and health resource utilization. We aimed to examine the association between acute kidney injury duration and these outcomes.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Music Use for Sedation in Critically ill Children (MUSiCC trial): a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Objective: 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.

Achieving enteral nutrition during the acute phase in critically ill children: Associations with patient characteristics and clinical outcome.

Background & Aims: In the absence of methodologically sound randomized controlled trials (RCTs), current recommendations for timing and amount of enteral nutrition (EN) in critically ill children are based on observational studies. These studies have associated achievement of a higher EN intake in critically ill children with improved outcome. Inherent to the observational design of these underlying studies, thorough insight in possible confounding factors to correct for is essential.

Health-related quality of life after pediatric heart transplantation in early childhood.

Background: There is limited information about HRQL after pediatric heart transplantation at a young age.

Methods: Prospective follow-up study of children who received a heart transplant at age ≤4 years. HRQL was assessed using the PedsQL 4.

Music Use for Sedation in Critically ill Children (MUSiCC trial): study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial.

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.

Effect of early parenteral nutrition during paediatric critical illness on DNA methylation as a potential mediator of impaired neurocognitive development: a pre-planned secondary analysis of the PEPaNIC international randomised controlled trial.

Background: Early use of parenteral nutrition in the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) negatively affects development of executive functions, externalising behaviour, and visual-motor integration 2 years later, compared with omitting parenteral nutrition until PICU day 8 (late parenteral nutrition). The molecular basis of this finding is uncertain. We aimed to test the hypothesis that DNA methylation changes occur during critical illness and that early parenteral nutrition (or a specific macronutrient component hereof) contributes to these changes, which could explain its negative effects on neurocognitive development.

Survival, Neurocognitive, and Functional Outcomes After Completion of Staged Surgical Palliation in a Cohort of Patients With Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome.

Background Management of patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome has benefited from advancements in medical and surgical care. Outcomes have improved, although survival and long-term functional and cognitive deficits remain a concern. Methods and Results This is a cohort study of all consecutive patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome undergoing surgical palliation at a single center.

Parental opinions regarding consent for observational research of no or minimal risk in the pediatric intensive care unit.

Background: The aim of the study was to determine opinions and knowledge regarding the process of obtaining informed consent to participate in observational research in pediatric intensive care.

Methods: Survey 1 asked decision makers what model(s) of consent was acceptable for each type of observational research both before and after background information. Survey 2 asked decision makers about the experience of being asked for consent to observational research, and knowledge regarding the consent process both before and after background information.

Dynamics and prognostic value of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis responses to pediatric critical illness and association with corticosteroid treatment: a prospective observational study.

Purpose: Increased systemic cortisol availability during adult critical illness is determined by reduced binding-proteins and suppressed breakdown rather than elevated ACTH. Dynamics, drivers and prognostic value of hypercortisolism during pediatric critical illness remain scarcely investigated.

Methods: This preplanned secondary analysis of the PEPaNIC-RCT (N = 1440), after excluding 420 children treated with corticosteroids before PICU-admission, documented (a) plasma ACTH, (free)cortisol and cortisol-metabolism at PICU-admission, day-3 and last PICU-day, their prognostic value, and impact of withholding early parenteral nutrition (PN), (b) the association between corticosteroid-treatment and these hormones, and (c) the association between corticosteroid-treatment and outcome.

Efficacy of music on sedation, analgesia and delirium in critically ill patients. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Purpose: To systematically synthesize randomized controlled trial data on the efficacy of music to provide sedation and analgesia, and reduce incidence of delirium, in critically ill patients.

Material And Methods: Relevant databases (Medline, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane, Alt Healthwatch, LILACS, PsycINFO, CAIRSS, RILM) were searched from inception to April 26, 2018. We also searched the reference lists of included publications and for ongoing trials.

Fluid Management Practices After Surgery for Congenital Heart Disease: A Worldwide Survey.

Objectives: 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.

Non-Thyroidal Illness Syndrome in Critically Ill Children: Prognostic Value and Impact of Nutritional Management.

Introduction: Non-thyroidal illness (NTI), which occurs with fasting and in response to illness, is characterized by thyroid hormone inactivation with low triiodothyronine (T3) and high reverse T3 (rT3), followed by suppressed thyrotropin (TSH). Withholding supplemental parenteral nutrition early in pediatric critical illness (late-PN), thus accepting low/no macronutrient intake up to day 8 in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), accelerated recovery compared to initiating supplemental parenteral nutrition early (early-PN). Whether NTI is harmful or beneficial in pediatric critical illness and how it is affected by a macronutrient deficit remains unclear.

Avoiding Furosemide Ototoxicity Associated With Single-Ventricle Repair in Young Infants.

Objective: To reduce bilateral delayed-onset progressive sensory permanent hearing loss using a systems-wide quality improvement project with adherence to best practice for the administration of furosemide.

Design: Prospective cohort study with regular audiologic follow-up assessment of survivors both before and after a 2007-2008 quality improvement practice change.

Setting: The referral center in Western Canada for complex cardiac surgery, with comprehensive multidisciplinary follow-up by the Complex Pediatric Therapies Follow-up Program.

Long-term developmental effects of withholding parenteral nutrition for 1 week in the paediatric intensive care unit: a 2-year follow-up of the PEPaNIC international, randomised, controlled trial.

Background: The paediatric early versus late parenteral nutrition in critical illness (PEPaNIC) multicentre, randomised, controlled trial showed that, compared with early parenteral nutrition, withholding supplemental parenteral nutrition for 1 week in the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU; late parenteral nutrition) reduced infections and accelerated recovery from critical illness in children. We aimed to investigate the long-term impact on physical and neurocognitive development of early versus late parenteral nutrition.

Methods: In this preplanned 2-year follow-up study, all patients included in the PEPaNIC trial (which was done in University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium; Erasmus Medical Centre-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands; and Stollery Children's Hospital, Edmonton, AB, Canada) were approached for possible assessment of physical and neurocognitive development compared with healthy children who were matched for age and sex, and who had never been admitted to a neonatal ICU or a PICU.

Predictors and outcomes of early post-operative veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation following infant cardiac surgery.

Background: We aimed to determine predictors of, and outcomes after, veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation instituted within 48 h after cardiac surgery (early ECMO) in young infants.

Methods: Patients ≤ 6 weeks old having cardiac surgery from 2003 to 2012 were enrolled prospectively. Patients cannulated pre-operatively, intra-operatively, or ≥ 48 h post-operatively were excluded.

Albumin 5% Versus Crystalloids for Fluid Resuscitation in Children After Cardiac Surgery.

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.