Bronchiolitis: evidence-based management in high-risk infants in the intensive care setting.

Aim: Systematically review the management of infants with severe bronchiolitis in a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) setting with a focus on high-risk infants to identify gaps in evidence-based knowledge.

Methods: This systematic review utilised Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) to examine the literature on the PICU management of bronchiolitis in infants <24 months old. Three databases, Embase, PubMed and Medline, were searched and higher levels of evidence I, II and III were included.

Results: There were 455 papers reviewed and 26 met the inclusion criteria. Furthermore, 19 of these studied respiratory interventions such as positive airway pressure and oxygen delivery. The remaining 7 examined: erythropoietin, caffeine, dexamethasone, protein supplementation, ribavirin, respiratory syncytial virus immune globulin, or diuretic therapy. Of the 26 studies, 20 excluded infants with high-risk conditions. Therapies showing favourable outcomes included Heliox, prophylactic dexamethasone pre-extubation, protein supplementation, and diuretic use.

Conclusions: Clinical trials for bronchiolitis management frequently exclude high-risk children. Innovative study design in the future may improve access to clinical trials for the management of bronchiolitis in high-risk infants in a PICU setting.

Impact: Clinical trials for bronchiolitis management frequently exclude high-risk children. We review the evidence base for the management of an under-investigated patient demographic in the setting of acute bronchiolitis. Randomised controlled trials are needed to determine the efficacy of management strategies for bronchiolitis in high-risk infants in a paediatric intensive care setting.