Paediatric emergency department attendances during COVID-19 and SARS in Singapore

INTRODUCTION@#We evaluated the impact of public health measures on paediatric emergency department attendances during the COVID-19 and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreaks in Singapore.@*METHODS@#Between 1 January 2020 and 31 July 2020, we retrospectively reviewed paediatric emergency department attendances and admissions in a tertiary paediatric hospital in Singapore before and after a national lockdown to combat the spread of COVID-19 in Singapore. Hospital attendances and admissions were compared with data from a corresponding period in 2019 (1 January 2019 to 31 July 2019), as well as during and after the SARS outbreak (1 January 2003 to 31 December 2004).@*RESULTS@#Compared with a corresponding non-outbreak period, emergency department attendances decreased in line with nationwide public health measures during the COVID-19 and SARS outbreaks (2020 and 2003 respectively), before increasing gradually following lifting of restrictions, albeit not to recorded levels before these outbreaks. During the COVID-19 outbreak, mean daily attendances decreased by 40%, from 458 per day in January-July 2019, to 274 per day in January-July 2020. The absolute number of hospital inpatient admissions decreased by 37% from January-July 2019 (19,629) to January-July 2020 (12,304). The proportion of emergency department attendances requiring admission remained similar: 20% in January-July 2019 and 21% in January-July 2020.@*CONCLUSION@#Nationwide public health measures in Singapore have had an impact on paediatric emergency department attendances and hospital inpatient admissions. Data from this study could inform planning and resource allocation for emergency departments in Singapore and internationally.

Caring for the mother-child dyad as a family physician

Infant social, emotional and neurological development is shaped by the mother-child dyad. Dysfunction in this bond, as well as maternal mental health problems, can negatively impact child development. The family physician is well-placed to spot dysfunction in the mother-child dyad and screen for postnatal depression during well-child visits. If any issues are identified, the family physician can provide support and help the mother-child dyad to access community resources and specialist psychiatric services.

Positive Fluid Balance is Associated with Poor Clinical Outcomes in Paediatric Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock

INTRODUCTION@#Growing evidence suggests there is potential harm associated with excess fluid in critically ill children. This study aimed to evaluate the association between percentage fluid overload (%FO) and paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) mortality in children with severe sepsis and septic shock.@*MATERIALS AND METHODS@#Patients with severe sepsis and septic shock admitted to the PICU were identified through discharge codes. Data on clinical characteristics, fluid input and output were collected. %FO was calculated as: (total daily input - total daily output [L]/admission body weight [kg]) × 100. The primary outcome was PICU mortality. Secondary outcomes were 28-day ventilator-free days (VFD), intensive care unit-free days (IFD) and inotrope-free days (InoFD). Multivariate analysis adjusting for presence of comorbidities, Pediatric Index of Mortality (PIM) 2 score and multiorgan dysfunction were used to determine the association between cumulative %FO over 5 days and outcomes.@*RESULTS@#A total of 116 patients were identified, with a mortality rate of 28.4% (33/116). Overall median age was 105.9 (23.1-157.2) months. Cumulative %FO over 5 days was higher in non-survivors compared to survivors (median [interquartile range], 15.1 [6.3-27.1] vs 3.6 [0.7-11.1]%; <0.001). Cumulative %FO was associated with increased mortality (adjusted odds ratio 1.08, 95% confidence interval 1.03-1.13; = 0.001) and decreased VFD, IFD and InoFD (adjusted mean difference -0.37 [-0.53 - -0.21] days, -0.34 [-0.49 - -0.20] days, and -0.31 [-0.48 - -0.14] days, respectively).@*CONCLUSION@#Cumulative %FO within the first 5 days of PICU stay was consistently and independently associated with poor clinical outcomes in children with severe sepsis and septic shock. Future studies are needed to test the impact of restrictive fluid strategies in these children.

Singapore Paediatric Resuscitation Guidelines 2016

We present the revised 2016 Singapore paediatric resuscitation guidelines. The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation's Pediatric Taskforce Consensus Statements on Science and Treatment Recommendations, as well as the updated resuscitation guidelines from the American Heart Association and European Resuscitation Council released in October 2015, were debated and discussed by the workgroup. The final recommendations for the Singapore Paediatric Resuscitation Guidelines 2016 were derived after carefully reviewing the current available evidence in the literature and balancing it with local clinical practice.

Improving postoperative handover from anaesthetists to non-anaesthetists in a children's intensive care unit: the receiver's perception

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>The efficiency of postoperative handover of paediatric patients to the children's intensive care unit (CICU) varies according to institutions, clinical setup and workflow. Reorganisation of handover flow based on findings from observational studies has been shown to improve the efficiency of information transfer. This study aimed to evaluate a new handover process based on recipients' perceptions, focusing on completeness and comprehensiveness of verbal communication, and the usability of a situation, background, assessment and recommendation (SBAR) form.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This was a prospective interventional study conducted in the CICU of KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore. It comprised four phases: (1) evaluation of the current handover process through an audit and opinion survey; (2) development of a new handover process based on the opinion survey and hospital personnel feedback; (3) implementation; and (4) evaluation of the new handover process. The new handover process was based on a PETS (pre-handover, equipment handover, timeout and sign out) protocol with a 'single traffic communication' flow and a new SBAR handover document. It included relevant patient information, and the options 'not applicable' and 'none', to increase compliance and reduce ambiguity.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Significantly more recipients indicated that the new SBAR form was the most important handover tool and provided more useful information. Recipients' perceptions indicated improvement in information sufficiency and clarity; reduction of omission errors; and fewer inconsistencies in patient descriptions in the new process.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Dual customisation of the handover process, PETS protocol and SBAR form is necessary to meet the workflow and information demands of the receiving team.</p>

Neonatal and Paediatric Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) in a Single Asian Tertiary Centre

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a cardiopulmonary bypass technique (CPB) which provides life-saving support in patients with refractory cardiorespiratory failure until cardiopulmonary recovery or organ replacement.</p><p><b>MATERIALS AND METHODS</b>This is a single centre retrospective study reporting the largest series of paediatric patients in Singapore who received ECMO support over an 11-year period from January 2002 to December 2012. The objective is to describe the characteristics of the patients and to report the survival to hospital discharge, complications during ECMO and other long-term complications.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Forty-eight patients received ECMO during the study period. ECMO was initiated for myocarditis in majority of the paediatric patients whereas postoperative low cardiac output state was the most common indication in the neonatal population. The overall survival rate to hospital discharge was 45.8%. Survival was highest in the neonates with respiratory failure (75%). Haematological and cardiac complications were most common during ECMO. Age group, gender, duration of ECMO, need for renal replacement therapy, acute neurological complications were not associated with mortality. Those needing inotropic support during ECMO had poorer survival while those with hypertension requiring vasodilator treatment had a higher survival rate. The survival rates for ECMO patients more than doubled from the initial 6 years of 23% to 54% in the last 5 years of the study period. Long-term complications encountered included neurological, respiratory and cardiac problems.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ECMO is a life-saving modality for neonatal and paediatric patients with cardiopulmonary failure from diverse causes. Patients with persistent need for inotropes during ECMO had poorer outcome. Centre experience had an impact on ECMO outcome.</p>

The golden hours in paediatric septic shock--current updates and recommendations

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>Paediatric sepsis is a global health problem. It is the leading cause of mortality in infants and children worldwide. Appropriate and timely initial management in the first hours, often termed as the "golden hours", has great impact on survival. The aim of this paper is to summarise the current literature and updates on the initial management of paediatric sepsis.</p><p><b>MATERIALS AND METHODS</b>A comprehensive literature search was performed via PubMed using the search terms: 'sepsis', 'septic shock', 'paediatric' and 'early goal-directed therapy'. Original and review articles were identified and selected based on relevance to this review.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Early recognition, prompt fluid resuscitation and timely administration of antibiotics remain key in the resuscitation of the septic child. Use of steroids and tight glycaemic control in this setting remain controversial.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The use of early goal-directed therapy has had significant impact on patient outcomes and protocolised resuscitation of children in septic shock is recommended.</p>