Family Presence and Visitation Practices in Latin American PICUs: An International Survey.

Over the last two decades, there has been a worldwide cultural shift toward family-centered intensive care. In this article, we conducted a survey of 47 pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) across 11 Latin American countries to assess visitation practices and bedside family presence (with a 97.9% response rate). All PICUs had at least some form of parental visitation. The prevalence of unrestricted (24 hours/day) parental visitation was 63%. Sibling visitation was permitted in 23% of PICUs, while 35% allowed family presence during procedures, and 46% during resuscitation. Only 1 PICU allowed pet visitation. Family visitation and bedside presence are still restrictive in Latin American PICUs, with wide practice variation among the various intensive care units.

Palliative extubation: five-year experience in a pediatric hospital / Extubação paliativa: experiência de 5 anos em um hospital pediátrico

Abstract Objective: To present the characteristics of pediatric patients with chronic and irreversible diseases submitted to palliative extubation. Method: This is a descriptive analysis of a series of patients admitted to a public pediatric hospital, with chronic and irreversible diseases, permanently dependent on ventilatory support, who underwent palliative extubation between April 2014 and May 2019. The following information was collected from the medical records: demographic data, diagnosis, duration and type of mechanical ventilation; date, time, and place of palliative extubation; medications used; symptoms observed; and hospital outcome. Results: A total of 19 patients with a mean age of 2.2 years were submitted to palliative extubation. 68.4% of extubations were performed in the ICU; 11 patients (57.9%) died in the hospital. The time between mechanical ventilation withdrawal and in-hospital death ranged from 15 minutes to five days. Thirteen patients used an orotracheal tube and the others used tracheostomy. The main symptoms were dyspnea and pain, and the main drugs used to control symptoms were opioids and benzodiazepines. Conclusions: It was not possible to identify predictors of in-hospital death after ventilatory support withdrawal. Palliative extubation requires specialized care, with the presence and availability of a multidisciplinary team with adequate training in symptom control and palliative care.

Resumo Objetivo: Apresentar as características de pacientes pediátricos portadores de doenças crônicas e irreversíveis submetidos a extubação paliativa. Método: Trata-se de análise descritiva de uma série de casos de pacientes internados em hospital público pediátrico, portadores de doenças crônicas e irreversíveis, dependentes de forma permanente de suporte ventilatório e que foram submetidos a extubação paliativa entre abril de 2014 e maio de 2019. Foram coletadas as seguintes informações do prontuário: dados demográficos, diagnóstico, duração e tipo de ventilação mecânica; data, hora e local de realização da extubação paliativa, medicamentos utilizados, sintomas observados e desfecho hospitalar. Resultados: 19 pacientes com idade média de 2,2 anos foram submetidos a extubação paliativa. 68,4% das extubações foram realizadas dentro da UTI, 11 pacientes (57,9%) evoluíram para óbito no hospital. O tempo entre a retirada de ventilação mecânica e o óbito hospitalar variou entre 15 minutos e 5 dias. 13 pacientes usavam tubo orotraqueal e os demais, traqueostomia. Os principais sintomas foram dispneia e dor e as principais drogas utilizadas para o controle dos sintomas foram os analgésicos opioides e benzodiazepínicos. Conclusões: Não foi possível identificar fatores preditores de óbito no hospital após a retirada do suporte ventilatório. A extubação paliativa demanda cuidado especializado com presença e disponibilidade de equipe multiprofissional com formação adequada em controle de sintomas e cuidados paliativos.

Reduced PICU respiratory admissions during COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic reached the Southern Hemisphere in the autumn of 2020, thus coinciding with its expected annual viral respiratory season. The potential impact of national strategies aimed at mitigating COVID-19 during the pandemic on the incidence of other critical viral lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in children is unknown. METHODS: We analysed admission data for LRTIs from 22 paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in four countries, part of a large international Latin American registry of children with acute respiratory failure (Red Colaborativa Pediátrica de Latinoamérica [LARed Network]). RESULTS: Between January and August, there were 83% fewer PICU admissions for LRTIs in 2020 compared to the 2018/2019 average over the same period. Similar decreases were noted for PICU admissions due to respiratory syncytial virus and influenza (92% and 78%, respectively). CONCLUSION: We observed a striking reduction in PICU admissions due to viral LRTIs over winter, during the COVID-19 pandemic in South America.

Palliative extubation: five-year experience in a pediatric hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To present the characteristics of pediatric patients with chronic and irreversible diseases submitted to palliative extubation. METHOD: This is a descriptive analysis of a series of patients admitted to a public pediatric hospital, with chronic and irreversible diseases, permanently dependent on ventilatory support, who underwent palliative extubation between April 2014 and May 2019. The following information was collected from the medical records: demographic data, diagnosis, duration and type of mechanical ventilation; date, time, and place of palliative extubation; medications used; symptoms observed; and hospital outcome. RESULTS: A total of 19 patients with a mean age of 2.2 years were submitted to palliative extubation. 68.4% of extubations were performed in the ICU; 11 patients (57.9%) died in the hospital. The time between mechanical ventilation withdrawal and in-hospital death ranged from 15minutes to five days. Thirteen patients used an orotracheal tube and the others used tracheostomy. The main symptoms were dyspnea and pain, and the main drugs used to control symptoms were opioids and benzodiazepines. CONCLUSIONS: It was not possible to identify predictors of in-hospital death after ventilatory support withdrawal. Palliative extubation requires specialized care, with the presence and availability of a multidisciplinary team with adequate training in symptom control and palliative care.

Progress and perspectives in pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome is a disease of acute onset characterized by hypoxemia and infiltrates on chest radiographs that affects both adults and children of all ages. It is an important cause of respiratory failure in pediatric intensive care units and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, until recently, the definitions and diagnostic criteria for acute respiratory distress syndrome have focused on the adult population. In this article, we review the evolution of the definition of acute respiratory distress syndrome over nearly five decades, with a special focus on the new pediatric definition. We also discuss recommendations for the implementation of mechanical ventilation strategies in the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome in children and the use of adjuvant therapies.

Progressos e perspectivas na síndrome do desconforto respiratório agudo em pediatria / Progress and perspectives in pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome

RESUMOA síndrome do desconforto respiratório agudo é uma patologia de início agudo, marcada por hipoxemia e infiltrados na radiografia de tórax, acometendo tanto adultos quanto crianças de todas as faixas etárias. Ela é causa importante de insuficiência respiratória em unidades de terapia intensiva pediátrica associada a significativa morbidade e mortalidade. Apesar disso, até recentemente, as definições e os critérios diagnósticos para síndrome do desconforto respiratório agudo centravam-se na população adulta. No presente artigo, revisamos a evolução da definição da síndrome do desconforto respiratório agudo ao longo de quase cinco décadas, com foco especial na nova definição pediátrica. Discutimos ainda recomendações relativas à aplicação de estratégias de ventilação mecânica no tratamento da síndrome do desconforto respiratório agudo em crianças, assim como o uso de terapias adjuvantes.

ABSTRACTAcute respiratory distress syndrome is a disease of acute onset characterized by hypoxemia and infiltrates on chest radiographs that affects both adults and children of all ages. It is an important cause of respiratory failure in pediatric intensive care units and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, until recently, the definitions and diagnostic criteria for acute respiratory distress syndrome have focused on the adult population. In this article, we review the evolution of the definition of acute respiratory distress syndrome over nearly five decades, with a special focus on the new pediatric definition. We also discuss recommendations for the implementation of mechanical ventilation strategies in the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome in children and the use of adjuvant therapies.

Strict glycemic targets need not be so strict: a more permissive glycemic range for critically ill children.

OBJECTIVE: The goal was to determine whether a more permissive glycemic target would be associated with a decreased incidence of hypoglycemia but not increased mortality rates in critically ill pediatric patients. METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated clinical and laboratory data for 177 patients who underwent 211 consecutive surgical procedures for repair or palliation of congenital heart defects at Driscoll Children's Hospital. To establish the relationship between postoperative glycemia and subsequent morbidity and mortality rates, patients were stratified into 4 groups according to their median glucose levels, that is, euglycemia (60-125 mg/dL, 3.3-6.9 mmol/L), mild hyperglycemia (126-139 mg/dL, 6.9-7.7 mmol/L), moderate hyperglycemia (140-179 mg/dL, 7.7-9.9 mmol/L), or severe hyperglycemia (>or=180 mg/dL, >or=9.9 mmol/L). Postoperative outcomes for those groups also were compared with outcomes for a more permissive glycemic target group (90-140 mg/dL, 5-7.7 mmol/L). RESULTS: The peak and mean blood glucose measurements and duration of hyperglycemia were not different for survivors and nonsurvivors in the first 24 hours after surgery. Nonsurvivors had higher peak glucose levels (389.3 +/- 162 mg/dL vs 274.4 +/- 106.3 mg/dL, 21.4 +/- 8.9 mmol/L vs 15.1 +/- 5.9 mmol/L) and longer duration of hyperglycemia (3.06 +/- 1.67 days vs 2.11 +/- 0.92 days) during the first 5 postoperative days, compared with survivors. Mortality rates were significantly higher for the moderate (38.8%) and severe (58.3%) hyperglycemia groups, compared with the euglycemia (6.02%) and permissive target (4.69%) groups. The incidence of hypoglycemia was significantly higher in the euglycemia group (31.8%), compared with the permissive target group (17.18%). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative hyperglycemia is associated with increased morbidity and mortality rates in children after surgical repair of congenital heart defects. A more permissive glycemic target is associated with a lower incidence of hypoglycemia but not increased mortality rates in these patients.

[Management of the acute respiratory distress syndrome]. / O manejo da síndrome do desconforto respiratório agudo.

OBJECTIVE: To review the current support and treatment strategies of the acute respiratory distress syndrome. DATA SOURCES: Original data from our research laboratory and from representative scientific articles on acute respiratory distress syndrome and acute lung Injury searched through Medline. SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS: Despite advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome, this syndrome still results in significant morbidity and mortality. Mechanical ventilation, the main therapeutic modality for acute respiratory distress syndrome, is no longer considered simply a support modality, but a therapy capable of influencing the course of the disease. New ventilation strategies, such as high-frequency oscillatory ventilation appear to be promising. This text reviews the current knowledge of acute respiratory distress syndrome management, including conventional and non-conventional ventilation, the use of surfactant, nitric oxide, modulators of inflammation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and prone position. CONCLUSIONS: The last decade was marked by significant advances, such as the concept of protective ventilation for acute respiratory distress syndrome. The benefit of alternative strategies, such as high-frequency oscillatory ventilation, the use of surfactant and immunomodulators continue to be the target of study.

O manejo da síndrome do desconforto respiratório agudo / Management of the acute respiratory distress syndrome

OBJETIVO: Revisar as atuais estratégias de suporte e de tratamento da síndrome do desconforto respiratório agudo (SDRA). FONTE DOS DADOS: Dados próprios de nosso laboratório de pesquisa e bibliografia relacionada às áreas de SDRA e lesão pulmonar aguda, pesquisados através do Medline. SíNTESE DOS DADOS: Apesar de avanços no entendimento da sua patogênese, a SDRA ainda resulta em significativa morbidade e mortalidade. A ventilação mecânica é a principal modalidade terapêutica na SDRA, sendo atualmente considerada não mais apenas uma medida de suporte, mas sim uma terapia capaz de alterar o curso da patologia. Novas estratégias ventilatórias, como a ventilação oscilatória de alta freqüência (VOAF), têm-se mostrado promissoras. Neste texto, revisamos o conhecimento atual no manejo da SDRA, incluindo ventilação mecânica convencional e não convencional, uso de surfactante, óxido nítrico, moduladores do processo inflamatório, oxigenação extracorpórea e posição prona. CONCLUSÕES: A última década foi marcada por avanços significativos, como o conceito de ventilação mecânica protetora na SDRA. O benefício da aplicação de estratégias alternativas, como a VOAF, assim como do uso do surfactante exógeno e moduladores de inflamação continuam sendo alvo de estudo.

Shock of birth: evaluation of neurologic status of term newborn in the first 48 hours of life

The shock of birth is a transient depression of muscle tone and deep tendon reflexes seen in newborn babies shortly after birth. We evaluated the shock of birth in a sample of 313 consecutive term newborns at 4, 24 and 48 hours of life. We correlated neurologic findings on examination with maternal, obstetric and perinatal data. Special attention was given to the relationship between the mode of delivery and shock of birth. Of the maternal data, factors associated with the shock of birth were obstetric gestational age, previous gestations, abortions or previous vaginal deliveries. Presence of stained amniotic fluid at birth was associated with the shock of birth. There was also a correlation between shock of birth and newborn sex, birth weight, thoracic circumference and the Battaglia and Lubchenco classification. The shock of birth lasted less than 24 hours in 70 per cent of the newborns and less than 48 hours in 84.3 per cent. We conclude that the mode of delivery, vaginal or cesarean section, did not influence the shock of birth. We also established the duration and factors associated with this phenomenon.

Percepçäo materna sobre a adequaçäo do peso e da altura de crianças menores de 5 anos em uma vila periférica de Porto Alegre / Maternal perception on the adequacy of height and weight of children under five years old in a poor community in Porto Alegre

Tendo como objetivo estudar a acuidade da percepçäo das mäes com relaçäo à adequaçäo do peso e da altura de seus filhos em uma populaçäo carente e identificar possíveis fatores que contribuem para esta acuidade, todas as crianças entre 6 e 59 meses de idade (n=115) de uma vila periférica de Porto Alegre foram pesadas e medidas e suas mäes entrevistadas. Das 25 crianças (21,7% da amostra) com peso insuficiente (<90% do padräo para a idade), 12 (48%) foram consideradas com peso adequado por suas mäes. No entanto, todas, exceto uma, apresentavam também baixa estatura, dando uma impressäo de proporcionalidade, que pode ter sido o fator de confusäo para a percepçäo errônea da mäe. Quase metade da populaçäo estudada (44%) apresentou baixa estatura (<95% do padräo para a idade), mas em apenas 27,5% dos casos as mäes tinham percepçäo do problema. A acuidade da percepçäo materna sobre a adequaçäo do peso e da altura de seus filhos näo foi influenciada pela escolaridade da mäe, renda familiar, uso do gráfico de crescimento ou presença de irmäos mais velhos em casa. As causas de baixo peso e de baixa estatura apontadas pelas mäes, bem como as medidas consideradas úteis para melhorar essas deficiências, mostram claramente que as mäes têm consciência da associaçäo existente entre nutriçäo doenças e baixo peso. No entanto, falta-lhes o entendimento dos efeitos da nutriçäo sobre a altura das crianças

Achados oftalmologicos na sindrome de imunodeficiencia adquirida: a visao do internista / Ophthalmologic findings in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: the internist's view

A sindrome de imunodeficiencia adquirida (SIDA) e uma desordem da imunidade celular encontrada principalmente entre homossexuais, usuarios de drogas intravenosas, receptores de sangue e derivados e haitianos, As manifestacoes incluem o sarcoma de Kaposi, pneumonia por Pneumocystis carinii e outras infeccoes oportunistas. O exame oftalmologico de 10 pacientes do Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre revelou serem frequentes os achados oculares nesta sindrome. Os achados incluem exsudatos algodonosos (6 pacientes), hemorragias(1 paciente), periflebite(1 paciente) e coriorretinite (1 paciente). Os clinicos devem estar alertas a esta sindrome e aos seus achados oculares