Nurse-Led Rounds in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) rely on interprofessional communication and collaboration to mitigate the risk for medical error. To operationalize these tenets, many PICUs use multidisciplinary bedside rounds as the foundation of their workflow. Bedside nurse participation in rounds is inconsistent, diminishing the return on team investment in patient safety.

Construction of Femoral Vessel Nomograms for Planning Cardiac Interventional Procedures in Children 0-4 Years Old.

The objectives of this study were to construct femoral artery (FA) and femoral vein (FV) nomograms in children aged 0-4 years and to construct probability curves for the occurrence of arterial access complications based on the size of the FA. The FV and FA are commonly accessed during cardiac catheterizations in children with congenital heart diseases (CHD). However, nomograms for vessel dimensions based on child's age or size are not available.

Utility of the Medtronic microvascular plug™ as a transcatheter implantable and explantable pulmonary artery flow restrictor in a swine model.

Background: A surgical pulmonary artery band (PAB) is used to control excessive pulmonary blood flow for certain congenital heart diseases. Previous attempts have been made to develop a transcatheter, implantable pulmonary flow restrictor (PFR) without great success. We modified a microvascular plug (MVP) to be used as a PFR.

Optimum position of transthoracic intracardiac line following cardiac surgery.

Objectives: The transthoracic intracardiac line placed in the right atrium provides a convenient access to the central venous system following cardiac surgery. However, it is associated with risks such as migration and bleeding. We conducted a retrospective study to determine whether position of transthoracic line with respect to site of exit from the chest makes a difference in the rate of complications.

Clinical evaluation of a radio-protective cream for the hands of the pediatric interventional cardiologist.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of UltraBLOX™ radiation attenuating hand cream during lengthy cardiac catheterization procedures in children.

Background: The hands of interventional cardiologists receive high doses of radiation due to their proximity to the X-ray beam. Radiation attenuating gloves have about a 26% attenuation rate, but reduce dexterity and tactile sensation.

Effect of solute temperature in the measurement of cardiac output in children using the thermodilution technique.

Objectives: The primary aim of this study was to compare thermodilution (TD) cardiac index (TDCi) measured by injecting cold saline (C-TDCi) to saline at room temperature (R-TDCi). The secondary aim was to assess the change in body temperature with cold saline injections in children.

Design: This is a prospective, case control study.