Nutrition provision in Australian and New Zealand PICUs: A prospective observational cohort study (ePICUre).

OBJECTIVES: The main aim of this study was to describe nutrition provision in Australian and New Zealand (ANZ) pediatric intensive care units (PICUs), including mode of nutrition and adequacy of enteral nutrition (EN) to PICU day 28. Secondary aims were to determine the proportion of children undergoing dietetics assessment, the average time to this intervention, and the methods for estimation of energy and protein requirements. METHODS: This observational study was conducted in all ANZ tertiary-affiliated specialist PICUs. All children ≤18 y of age admitted to the PICU over a 2-wk period and remaining for ≥48 h were included. Data were collected on days 1 to 7, 14, 21, and 28 (unless discharged prior). Data points included oral intake, EN and parenteral nutrition support, estimated energy and protein adequacy, and dietetics assessment details. RESULTS: We enrolled 141 children, of which 79 were boys (56%) and 84 were <2 y of age (60%). Thirty children (73%) received solely EN on day 7 with documented energy and protein targets for 22 (73%). Of these children, 14 (64%) received <75% of their estimated requirements. A dietetics assessment was provided to 80 children (57%), and was significantly higher in those remaining in the PICU beyond the median length of stay (41% in patients staying ≤4.6 d versus 72% in those staying >4.6 d; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This prospective study of nutrition provision across ANZ PICUs identified important areas for improvement, particularly in EN adequacy and nutrition assessment. Further research to optimize nutrition provision in this setting is urgently needed.

Dietitian and nutrition-related practices and resources in Australian and New Zealand PICUs: A clinician survey.

BACKGROUND: Recommendations to facilitate evidence-based nutrition provision for critically ill children exist and indicate the importance of nutrition in this population. Despite these recommendations, it is currently unknown how well Australian and New Zealand (ANZ) paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) are equipped to provide nutrition care. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this project were to describe the dietitian and nutrition-related practices and resources in ANZ PICUs. METHODS: A clinician survey was completed as a component of an observational study across nine ANZ PICUs in June 2021. The online survey comprised 31 questions. Data points included reporting on dietetics resourcing, local feeding-related guidelines and algorithms, nutrition screening and assessment practices, anthropometry practices, and indirect calorimetry (IC) device availability and local technical expertise. Data are presented as frequency (%), mean (standard deviation), or median (interquartile range). RESULTS: Survey responses were received from all nine participating sites. Dietetics staffing per available PICU bed ranged from 0.01 to 0.07 full-time equivalent (median: 0.03 [interquartile range: 0.02-0.04]). Nutrition screening was established in three (33%) units, all of which used the Paediatric Nutrition Screening Tool. Dietitians consulted all appropriate patients (or where capacity allowed) in six (66%) units and on a request or referral basis only in three (33%) units. All units possessed a local feeding guideline or algorithm. An IC device was available in two (22%) PICUs and was used in one of these units. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to describe the dietitian and nutrition-related practices and resources of ANZ PICUs. Areas for potential improvement include dietetics full-time equivalent, routine nutrition assessment, and access to IC.

Hypophosphataemia definitions, incidence and associated outcomes in paediatric intensive care: A retrospective cohort study in post-cardiac surgical patients <2 years of age.

AIM: Hypophosphataemia has been linked to higher morbidity and mortality in intensive care but there is inconsistency in the definition of hypophosphataemia for infants and children. We aimed to determine the incidence of hypophosphataemia in a group of at-risk children in paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and associations with patient characteristics and clinical outcomes using three different hypophosphataemia thresholds. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of 205 post-cardiac surgical patients <2 years of age admitted to Starship Child Health PICU, Auckland, New Zealand. Patient demographics and routine daily biochemistry for 14 days after PICU admission were collected. Rates of sepsis, mortality and length of mechanical ventilation were compared between groups with different serum phosphate concentrations. RESULTS: Out of 205 children, 6 (3%), 50 (24%) and 159 (78%) had hypophosphataemia at thresholds of <0.7, <1.0 and <1.4 mmol/L, respectively. There were no differences in gestational age at birth, sex, ethnicity or mortality in those with and without hypophosphataemia at any threshold. Children with a serum phosphate <1.4 mmol/L had more mean (SD) total hours of mechanical ventilation (85.2 (79.6) vs. 54.9 (36.2) h, P = 0.02) and those with mean serum phosphate <1.0 mmol/L had more mean hours of mechanical ventilation (119.4 (102.8) vs. 65.2 (54.8) h, P < 0.0001), episodes of sepsis (14% vs. 5%, P = 0.03) and longer length of stay (6.4 (4.8-20.7) vs. 4.9 (3.9-6.8) days, P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Hypophosphataemia is common in this PICU cohort and serum phosphate <1.0 mmol/L is associated with increased morbidity and length of stay.

Growth and Clinical Outcome in Very Low-Birth-Weight Infants After the Introduction of a Multicomponent Intravenous Lipid Emulsion.

BACKGROUND: Very low-birth-weight (VLBW; birth weight < 1500 g) infants are often dependent on intravenous nutrition after birth. Conventional soy-based intravenous lipid emulsions (Soy LE) are associated with inflammatory and metabolic complications that may be harmful to preterm infants. Evidence to support any clinical benefit associated with newer multicomponent emulsions (Mixed LE), remains inconsistent and unsubstantiated in appropriate studies. This retrospective study aimed to determine whether growth and clinical outcomes differed between VLBW infants given Mixed LE vs Soy LE at Auckland City Hospital. METHODS: Data were collected on nutrition, growth, and neonatal morbidities for the first 4 weeks after birth. Outcomes were compared between 2 lipid cohorts, Soy LE (February 2013 - August 2014) and Mixed LE (August 2014 - December 2015), using univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: 207 infants (Soy LE, 105 vs Mixed LE, 102) were included in the study. Significantly fewer infants in the Mixed LE cohort developed any stage retinopathy of prematurity (Soy LE 59% vs Mixed LE 39%, P = .005) or intraventricular hemorrhage (Soy LE 27% vs Mixed LE 15%, P = .03) during their admission. Mixed LE was also associated with significantly lower mean (P = .01), minimum (P = .03), and maximum (P = .04) total bilirubin concentrations across the first 4 weeks after birth. There was no difference in growth velocity or weight, length, and head circumference z-score change. CONCLUSION: SMOFlipid may represent a favorable alternative to conventional lipid emulsions in neonatal parenteral nutrition regimens; however, long-term effects should be further evaluated.

Borderline personality disorder: exceptions to the concept of responsible and competent.

AIM: This article examines whether neurocognitive deficits or age prevents people with borderline personality disorder from being considered responsible and competent. METHOD: A review of the literature was undertaken relating to borderline personality disorder (BPD), personal responsibility and competency. RESULT: Neither neurobiological differences nor age automatically disqualify the person with BPD from being responsible and competent for decisions relating to their own life and death. CONCLUSION: Clinical, legal and ethical literature support this result and thereby re-establishes a basis for the recognition and respect of an individual's dignity.