The experience of families in face of the finiteness of their children in the process of adopting palliative care.

Objective: To reveal the experience of family members after learning their child would adopt palliative care.

Method: Phenomenological research on Heidegger's perspective. The participants were eleven family members of children who were recommended palliative care in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit from a university hospital in southern Brazil.

Strategies for the management and prevention of withdrawal syndrome in critically ill pediatric patients: a systematic review.

Objective: To verify strategies for the prevention and treatment of abstinence syndrome in a pediatric intensive care unit.

Methods: This is a systematic review in the PubMed database®, Lilacs, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane, Cinahl, Cochrane Database Systematic Review and CENTRAL. A three-step search strategy was used for this review, and the protocol was approved in PROSPERO (CRD42021274670).

Effects of critical illness on the functional status of children with a history of prematurity.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of critical illness on the functional status of children aged zero to 4 years with or without a history of prematurity after discharge from the pediatric intensive care unit.

Methods: This was a secondary cross-sectional study nested in an observational cohort of survivors from a pediatric intensive care unit. Functional assessment was performed using the Functional Status Scale within 48 hours after discharge from the pediatric intensive care unit.

Poor Functional Outcomes in Pediatric Intensive Care Survivors in Brazil: Prevalence and Associated Factors.

Survivors of pediatric critical illnesses develop temporary or permanent functional impairments. We do not have enough data on Brazilian children, however, and the available evidence mainly shows results from high-income countries. Our objective was to assess changes in the functional status of children and adolescents surviving critical illnesses in Brazil, and to identify which factors contribute to these functional changes at pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) discharge.

Use of magnesium sulfate in continuous infusion in patients with severe acute asthma, in a pediatric emergency room.

Introduction: Asthma is a chronic disease, of high prevalence, with important morbidity and that can lead to death in childhood. The use of intravenous magnesium sulfate has been indicated in cases refractory to the initial management with inhaled bronchodilators and corticosteroids.

Objective: To evaluate the use of magnesium sulfate in continuous infusion (50 mg/kg/h in 4 h) in children with severe acute asthma in a pediatric emergency room.

Accuracy of stridor-based diagnosis of post-intubation subglottic stenosis in pediatric patients.

Objective: To assess the accuracy of stridor in comparison to endoscopic examination for diagnosis of pediatric post-intubation subglottic stenosis.

Method: Children who required endotracheal intubation for >24h were included in this prospective cohort study. Children were monitored daily and underwent flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy after extubation.

Association of endotracheal tube repositioning and acute laryngeal lesions during mechanical ventilation in children.

The objective of this study is to determine the incidence of post-extubation acute laryngeal lesions in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and potential risk factors. Children, aged 28 days to 5 years, admitted to the PICU who required endotracheal intubation for at least 24 h were enrolled. Exclusion criteria were a previous intubation, history of laryngeal disease, current or past tracheostomy, the presence of craniofacial malformations and patients considered on palliative care.

Health professionals' perceptions about the decision-making process in the care of pediatric patients.

Objective: To evaluate the perceptions of physicians, nurses and nursing technicians of their participation in the decision-making process surrounding life support limitation in terminally ill pediatric patients, with comparisons by professional category.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the pediatric intensive care unit of a tertiary public university hospital with the participation of physicians, nurses and nursing technicians. The MacArthur Admission Experience Survey Voice Scale was used to assess and quantify the perceptions of professionals who assisted 17 pediatric patients with life support limitation within 24 hours after the outcome of each patient was determined.

Characteristics and progression of children with acute viral bronchiolitis subjected to mechanical ventilation.

Objective: To analyze the characteristics of children with acute viral bronchiolitis subjected to mechanical ventilation for three consecutive years and to correlate their progression with mechanical ventilation parameters and fluid balance.

Methods: Longitudinal study of a series of infants (< one year old) subjected to mechanical ventilation for acute viral bronchitis from January 2012 to September 2014 in the pediatric intensive care unit. The children's clinical records were reviewed, and their anthropometric data, mechanical ventilation parameters, fluid balance, clinical progression, and major complications were recorded.

Incidence and endoscopic characteristics of acute laryngeal lesions in children undergoing endotracheal intubation.

Introduction: Acute laryngeal lesions after intubation appear to be precursors of chronic lesions.

Objective: To describe the incidence and type of acute laryngeal lesions after extubation in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

Methods: A cohort study involving children from birth to <5 years, submitted to intubation for more than 24h in the PICU of an university hospital.

A comparison of gradual sedation levels using the Comfort-B scale and bispectral index in children on mechanical ventilation in the pediatric intensive care unit.

Objective: Compare the scores resulting from the Comfort-B scale with the bispectral index in children in an intensive care unit.

Methods: Eleven children between the ages of 1 month and 16 years requiring mechanical ventilation and sedation were simultaneously classified based on the bispectral index and the Comfort-B scale. Their behavior was recorded using digital photography, and the record was later evaluated by three independent evaluators.

Acute kidney injury according to pediatric RIFLE criteria is associated with negative outcomes after heart surgery in children.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the occurrence of acute kidney injury (AKI) according to pediatric RIFLE (pRIFLE) criteria and adverse outcomes in children after heart surgery.

Methods: Children undergoing heart surgery in a tertiary hospital in Southern Brazil were followed during their stay in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) or until death. The exposure variable was occurrence of AKI according to pRIFLE criteria which place AKI in three categories: R (risk), I (injury), and F (failure).

Admission source and mortality in a pediatric intensive care unit.

Background And Aims: Studies carried out in different countries have shown that source of patient admission in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) is associated to death. Patients admitted from wards show a greater ICU mortality. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between admission source and outcome in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).

Stress ulcer prophylaxis in pediatric intensive care units.

Objective: To assess use of stress ulcer prophylaxis in patients admitted to five pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Methods: This was a multicenter, prospective, cross-sectional observational study. PICUs were visited on randomly defined days between April 2006 and February 2007, and the medical records of admitted patients were reviewed.

Rotavirus gastroenteritis in children in 4 regions in Brazil: a hospital-based surveillance study.

Background: Rotavirus is a major cause of gastroenteritis in children. Knowledge of rotavirus genotypes is important for vaccination strategies.

Methods: During 2005-2006, rotavirus surveillance studies were conducted in São Paulo, Salvador, Goiânia, and Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Evidence of safety of chloral hydrate for prolonged sedation in PICU in a tertiary teaching hospital in southern Brazil.

Objective: To evaluate the utilization of chloral hydrate (CH) for sedation in pediatric intensive care and the incidence of adverse drug reactions.

Methods: This was a cohort study including patients with prescription of chloral hydrate hospitalized in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a university-affiliated, general, tertiary teaching hospital. Data were collected from a spreadsheet for daily monitoring, and clinical events registered in the patient records were analyzed to evaluate the causality of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADR), applying the Naranjo algorithm.

Validation of sedation scores in mechanically ventilated children admitted to a tertiary pediatric intensive care unit.

Objectives: Sedation scores are important tools for use in pediatric intensive care units. The Comfort-Behavior scale is a valid method for the assessment of children although it is considered an extensive scale. The motor activity assessment scale is validated for an adult population.

Evaluation of intensivists' knowledge on brain death.

Background And Objectives: Failure or delay to diagnose brain death leads to needless occupation of a hospital bed, emotional and financial losses, and unavailability of organs for transplants. The intensive care physician plays an essential role in this diagnosis. This study intended to evaluate intensivists' knowledge concerning brain death.

Cross-validation of the Children's and Infants' Postoperative Pain Scale in Brazilian Children.

Objective: To validate CHIPPS (Children's and Infants' Postoperative Pain Scale) in Brazilian children.

Background: Cross-validation is needed in order to apply this scale in a different language and culture.

Methods: We applied a Portuguese version of CHIPPS to 100 children aged 0 to 5 years.

The impact of admission to a pediatric intensive care unit assessed by means of global and cognitive performance scales.

Objective: To assess the impact of admission to the pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) at the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil on children's cognitive and global performance.

Methods: An observational, longitudinal study of a sequential sample of critically ill children. The following indicators were used: the Pediatric Index of Mortality (PIM), for severity and risk of death at admission, the Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category (PCPC), for cognitive morbidity and the Pediatric Overall Performance Category (POPC), for global morbidity, at admission and at discharge.

Flexible fiber-optic laryngoscopy in the first hours after extubation for the evaluation of laryngeal lesions due to intubation in the pediatric intensive care unit.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of using fiber-optic laryngoscopy in the first hours after extubation for the early diagnosis of laryngeal lesions in infants and children in the pediatric intensive care unit and describe the findings of such approach.

Methods: Patients 0-4 years old who had undergone endotracheal intubation for longer than 24h were included in the study. Exclusion criteria were history of laryngeal symptoms, current intubation or tracheostomy, craniofacial malformations, or a poor prognosis according to the medical team responsible for the patient.