Severity of Impaired Oxygenation and Conservative Oxygenation Targets in Mechanically Ventilated Children: A Post Hoc Subgroup Analysis of the Oxy-PICU Trial of Conservative Oxygenation.

Objectives: A conservative oxygenation strategy is recommended in adult and pediatric guidelines for the management of acute respiratory distress syndrome to reduce iatrogenic lung damage. In the recently reported Oxy-PICU trial, targeting peripheral oxygen saturations (Spo2) between 88% and 92% was associated with a shorter duration of organ support and greater survival, compared with Spo2 greater than 94%, in mechanically ventilated children following unplanned admission to PICU. We investigated whether this benefit was greater in those who had severely impaired oxygenation at randomization.

Developing an adaptive paediatric intensive care unit platform trial with key stakeholders: a qualitative study.

Objectives: Platform trials were used successfully in adult populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. By testing multiple treatments within a single trial, platform trials can help identify the most effective treatments (and any interactions between treatments) for patients more quickly and with less burden for patients and their families. The aim of this qualitative research was to inform the design of the first adaptive platform trial for paediatric intensive care in the UK with young people, parents/carers and paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) staff.

Longer-term survival, quality of life, and cost-effectiveness of conservative versus liberal oxygenation targets in critically ill children: a pre-specified analysis from Oxy-PICU, a multicentre, open, parallel-group, randomised controlled trial.

Background: Peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO) above 94% is typical in children in paediatric intensive critical care units (PICUs) who are receiving invasive ventilation and supplemental oxygen. In a previous report from the Oxy-PICU trial, we showed that lower (conservative) oxygenation targets (SpO 88-92%) are beneficial, showing small but statistically significant differences in duration of organ support and large but non-significant cost reductions at 30 days. In this pre-specified analysis of the Oxy-PICU trial, we compare longer-term outcomes and cost-effectiveness of conservative versus liberal (SpO >94%) oxygenation targets in children with emergency PICU admission.

Biomarker-Guided Antibiotic Duration for Hospitalized Patients With Suspected Sepsis: The ADAPT-Sepsis Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: For hospitalized critically ill adults with suspected sepsis, procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) monitoring protocols can guide the duration of antibiotic therapy, but the evidence of the effect and safety of these protocols remains uncertain.

Objective: To determine whether decisions based on assessment of CRP or PCT safely results in a reduction in the duration of antibiotic therapy.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A multicenter, intervention-concealed randomized clinical trial, involving 2760 adults (≥18 years), in 41 UK National Health Service (NHS) intensive care units, requiring critical care within 24 hours of initiating intravenous antibiotics for suspected sepsis and likely to continue antibiotics for at least 72 hours.

Cost-effectiveness of high flow nasal cannula therapy versus continuous positive airway pressure for non-invasive respiratory support in paediatric critical care.

Background: High flow nasal cannula therapy (HFNC) and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) are two widely used modes of non-invasive respiratory support in paediatric critical care units. The FIRST-ABC randomised controlled trials (RCTs) evaluated the clinical and cost-effectiveness of HFNC compared with CPAP in two distinct critical care populations: acutely ill children ('step-up' RCT) and extubated children ('step-down' RCT). Clinical effectiveness findings (time to liberation from all forms of respiratory support) showed that HFNC was non-inferior to CPAP in the step-up RCT, but failed to meet non-inferiority criteria in the step-down RCT.