Pediatric Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in South African PICUs: A Multisite Point-Prevalence Study.

Objectives: To describe the prevalence of pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (pARDS) and the characteristics of children with pARDS in South African PICUs.

Design: Observational multicenter, cross-sectional point-prevalence study.

Setting: Eight PICUs in four South African provinces.

An Artificial Neural Network Model for Pediatric Mortality Prediction in Two Tertiary Pediatric Intensive Care Units in South Africa. A Development Study.

Objectives: The performance of mortality prediction models remain a challenge in lower- and middle-income countries. We developed an artificial neural network (ANN) model for the prediction of mortality in two tertiary pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in South Africa using free to download and use software and commercially available computers. These models were compared to a logistic regression model and a recalibrated version of the Pediatric Index of Mortality 3.

Pediatric Index of Mortality 3-An Evaluation of Function Among ICUs In South Africa.

Objectives: To evaluate the performance of the Pediatric Index of Mortality 3 as mortality risk assessment model.

Design: This prospective study included all admissions 30 days to 18 years old for 12 months during 2016 and 2017. Data gathered included the following: age and gender, diagnosis and reason for PICU admission, data specific for the Pediatric Index of Mortality 3 calculation, PICU outcomes (death or survival), and length of PICU stay.