Vascular Access for Renal Replacement Therapy in Neonates and Infants: A Single Center Experience.

INTRODUCTION: Neonatal renal replacement therapy (RRT) is a treatment modality used for severe kidney failure. Historically, its use has been limited in small infants due to circuits with large extra-corporeal volumes that require large double lumen vascular catheters. We sought to review our institution's experience with vascular access and overall survival in infants who receive RRT. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of infants less than 5 kg (kg) was performed at our free-standing children's hospital from January 2016 to July 2023. We assessed the number of catheters used per patient, location of catheter placements, size of catheter, duration of treatment, reasons for line removal, and mortality. RESULTS: A total of 93 neonatal patients were identified who underwent RRT. Thirty-two patients (34.4%) required more than one catheter, with a total of 145 catheters placed for this cohort. The median (IQR) weight at insertion was 3.3 kg (2.7-4.0). The most common location for placement was the right internal jugular vein (n = 114, 78.6%). Patients required catheters for RRT for a median (IQR) of 16 days (7-39). Six patients underwent catheter placement at a weight of less than 2 kg. Nineteen total patients went on to peritoneal dialysis (20.4%). Fifty-three patients died during their admission (57.0%). CONCLUSION: To our knowledge this is the largest review of catheter use for RRT in infants within an intensive care unit and it reveals the success in treating renal failure in even the smallest infants. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, Treatment Study.

Firearm Injuries Are on the Rise, the Results of a Pediatric Trauma Center.

INTRODUCTION: Firearm injury is the leading cause of death in children. The recent rise has coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the trends of pediatric firearm injury over a 6-y period, to include the COVID-19 pandemic, at our pediatric trauma center. METHODS: A retrospective review of the trauma registry at a free-standing children's hospital from January 2018 to December 2023 was performed. The variables evaluated included year of injury, age of injury, race, gender, admission requirements, need for blood products, need for operation, mortality, insurance type, and reason for injury. RESULTS: There were 397 firearm injury presentations identified over the 6-y period. The median age of injury was 13 y with an interquartile range of 6-15 y. Most were male (72.3%) and of Black race (74.6%). A majority of children who sustained a firearm injury had Medicaid (77.8%). During the years of 2018 and 2019, we evaluated 40 and 39 patients, respectively. Over the next 2 y, there was a dramatic increase in pediatric firearm injuries with an increase of 65% (N = 66) in 2020 and 102.5% (N = 81) in 2021. Although there was less of an increase above baseline in 2022, there was still an elevation of 82.5% (N = 73). By the end of 2023, there had been a 145% rise (N = 98) in pediatric firearm injuries above the baseline year of 2018. The mortality rate was 7.6% (N = 30), which is 2.5 times higher than the all-cause trauma mortality of 3.1% at our facility. CONCLUSIONS: The number of firearm injuries dramatically increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and these increases have been sustained. Most of the victims have been male, of Black race, and publicly insured. While the state population of Alabama is 26.4% Black race, Black children account for 74.6% of all firearm-injured pediatric patients in our trauma registry. The reason for this disparity is not well-understood. Through ongoing research, we hope to gain insight into the reasons behind pediatric firearm injury and the best ways to mitigate them through both the medical and public health arenas.

Measuring Pectus Excavatum Severity, External Caliper, or Cross-Sectional Imaging: Family Perceptions.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with pectus excavatum (PE) often undergo cross-sectional imaging (CSI) to quantify severity for insurance authorization before surgical repair. The modified percent depth (MPD), an external caliper-based metric, was previously validated to be similar to the pectus index and correction index. This study explored family perceptions of CSI and MPD with respect to value and costs. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional survey study including families of patients enrolled in an ongoing prospective multicenter study evaluating the use of MPD as an alternative to CSI for quantifying PE severity. Families of PE patients who underwent both MPD and CSI completed a survey to determine their perceptions of MPD and costs of CSI. Responses were described and associations were evaluated using chi squared, Wilcoxon rank-sum test and logistic regression as appropriate. Statistical significance was set to 0.05. RESULTS: There were 136 surveys completed for a response rate of 88%. Respondents were confident in MPD (86%) and confident in its similarity to CSI (76%). Families of females were less confident in the measurements than males (55% versus 80%, P = 0.02; odds ratio 0.30 (0.11, 0.83). Obtaining CSI required time off work/school in 90% and a copay in 60%. Nearly half (49%) of respondents reported CSI was a time/financial hardship. Increasing copay led to decreased reassurance in CSI (55%: copay > $100 versus 77%: lower copay/75%: no copay; P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: From the family perspective, MPD is valuable in assessing the severity of PE. Obtaining CSI was financially burdensome, particularly for those with higher copays. MPD measurements provide high value at low cost in assessing the severity of PE.

Pediatric Burn Injuries: Risk Factors for Increased Mortality.

INTRODUCTION: Burn injuries are among the top ten leading causes of unintentional death in pediatric patients and are encountered by pediatric surgeons in all practice settings. There is a lack of literature evaluating mortality in pediatric burn injuries in regard to nonaccidental burns and potential disparities. Our study aims to determine the risk factors associated with mortality in pediatric burn injuries and highlight the characteristics of this patient population. METHODS: We utilized the Trauma Quality Improvement Program database from 2017 to 2019 to identify primary burn injuries in children ≤14 y old. Physical abuse descriptors were used to identify patients with suspected nonaccidental injuries. Further demographics, including age, race, ethnicity, and insurance type, were evaluated. Descriptive statistics were generated and a multivariable logistic regression analysis was utilized to evaluate risk factors for mortality. RESULTS: 13,472 pediatric burn patients (≤14 y old) were identified. The overall mortality was low (<1%). Children with burns to multiple body regions had the highest independent risk of mortality in this cohort. All older age groups had an independent risk of mortality compared to the youngest patients, but those from ages 5 to <10 y old had the highest risk of mortality (OR = 11.40; 95% confidence interval: 4.41-29.43, P < 0.001). Black children had a significantly higher mortality compared to White children. Nonaccidental burns carried a mortality that was twice that of accidental burns. Government insurance type was the primary insurance type for a majority of patients who died. CONCLUSIONS: Risk factors for mortality in pediatric burn include Black race, multiple affected body regions, and nonaccidental burns. This study identified an increased mortality risk in the older age groups in contrast to previous studies that showed increased mortality in younger patients suffering from burn injuries.

Prevalence and outcomes of high versus low ratio plasma to red blood cell resuscitation in a multi-institutional cohort of severely injured children.

BACKGROUND: The benefit of targeting high ratio fresh frozen plasma (FFP)/red blood cell (RBC) transfusion in pediatric trauma resuscitation is unclear as existing studies are limited to patients who retrospectively met criteria for massive transfusion. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of high ratio FFP/RBC transfusion and the association with outcomes in children presenting in shock. METHODS: A post hoc analysis of a 24-institution prospective observational study (April 2018 to September 2019) of injured children younger than 18 years with elevated age-adjusted shock index was performed. Patients transfused within 24 hours were stratified into cohorts of low (<1:2) or high (≥1:2) ratio FFP/RBC. Nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis and χ 2 were used to compare characteristics and mortality. Competing risks analysis was used to compare extended (≥75th percentile) ventilator, intensive care, and hospital days while accounting for early deaths. RESULTS: Of 135 children with median (interquartile range) age 10 (5-14) years and weight 40 (20-64) kg, 85 (63%) received low ratio transfusion and 50 (37%) high ratio despite similar activation of institutional massive transfusion protocols (low-38%, high-46%, p = 0.34). Most patients sustained blunt injuries (70%). Median injury severity score was greater in high ratio patients (low-25, high-33, p = 0.01); however, hospital mortality was similar (low-24%, high-20%, p = 0.65) as was the risk of extended ventilator, intensive care unit, and hospital days (all p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Despite increased injury severity, patients who received a high ratio of FFP/RBC had comparable rates of mortality. These data suggest high ratio FFP/RBC resuscitation is not associated with worst outcomes in children who present in shock. Massive transfusion protocol activation was not associated with receipt of high ratio transfusion, suggesting variability in MTP between centers. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/Care Management; Level III.

Postoperative Antibiotics, Outcomes, and Resource Use in Children With Gangrenous Appendicitis.

Importance: Gangrenous, suppurative, and exudative (GSE) findings have been associated with increased surgical site infection (SSI) risk and resource use in children with nonperforated appendicitis. Establishing the role for postoperative antibiotics may have important implications for infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship. Objective: To compare SSI rates in children with nonperforated appendicitis with GSE findings who did and did not receive postoperative antibiotics. Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a retrospective cohort study using American College of Surgeons' National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP)-Pediatric Appendectomy Targeted data from 16 hospitals participating in a regional research consortium. NSQIP data were augmented with operative report and antibiotic use data obtained through supplemental medical record review. Children with nonperforated appendicitis with GSE findings who underwent appendectomy between July 1, 2015, and June 30, 2020, were identified using previously validated intraoperative criteria. Data were analyzed from October 2022 to July 2023. Exposure: Continuation of antibiotics after appendectomy. Main Outcomes and Measures: Rate of 30-day postoperative SSI including both incisional and organ space infections. Complementary hospital and patient-level analyses were conducted to explore the association between postoperative antibiotic use and severity-adjusted outcomes. The hospital-level analysis explored the correlation between postoperative antibiotic use and observed to expected (O/E) SSI rate ratios after adjusting for differences in disease severity (presence of gangrene and postoperative length of stay) among hospital populations. In the patient-level analysis, propensity score matching was used to balance groups on disease severity, and outcomes were compared using mixed-effects logistic regression to adjust for hospital-level clustering. Results: A total of 958 children (mean [SD] age, 10.7 [3.7] years; 567 male [59.2%]) were included in the hospital-level analysis, of which 573 (59.8%) received postoperative antibiotics. No correlation was found between hospital-level SSI O/E ratios and postoperative antibiotic use when analyzed by either overall rate of use (hospital median, 53.6%; range, 31.6%-100%; Spearman ρ = -0.10; P = .71) or by postoperative antibiotic duration (hospital median, 1 day; range, 0-7 days; Spearman ρ = -0.07; P = .79). In the propensity-matched patient-level analysis including 404 patients, children who received postoperative antibiotics had similar rates of SSI compared with children who did not receive postoperative antibiotics (3 of 202 [1.5%] vs 4 of 202 [2.0%]; odds ratio, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.16-3.39; P = .70). Conclusions and Relevance: Use of postoperative antibiotics did not improve outcomes in children with nonperforated appendicitis with gangrenous, suppurative, or exudative findings.

Utility of a Benchmarking Report for Balancing Infection Prevention and Antimicrobial Stewardship in Children with Complicated Appendicitis.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a severity-adjusted, hospital-level benchmarking comparative performance report for postoperative organ space infection and antibiotic utilization in children with complicated appendicitis. BACKGROUND: No benchmarking data exist to aid hospitals in identifying and prioritizing opportunities for infection prevention or antimicrobial stewardship in children with complicated appendicitis. METHODS: This was a multicenter cohort study using NSQIP-Pediatric data from 16 hospitals participating in a regional research consortium, augmented with antibiotic utilization data obtained through supplemental chart review. Children with complicated appendicitis who underwent appendectomy from 07/01/2015 to 06/30/2020 were included. Thirty-day postoperative OSI rates and cumulative antibiotic utilization were compared between hospitals using observed-to-expected (O/E) ratios after adjusting for disease severity using mixed effects models. Hospitals were considered outliers if the 95% confidence interval for O/E ratios did not include 1.0. RESULTS: 1790 patients were included. Overall, the OSI rate was 15.6% (hospital range: 2.6-39.4%) and median cumulative antibiotic utilization was 9.0 days (range: 3.0-13.0). Across hospitals, adjusted O/E ratios ranged 5.7-fold for OSI (0.49-2.80, P=0.03) and 2.4-fold for antibiotic utilization (0.59-1.45, P<0.01). Three (19%) hospitals were outliers for OSI (1 high and 2 low performers), and eight (50%) were outliers for antibiotic utilization (5 high and 3 low utilizers). Ten (63%) hospitals were identified as outliers in one or both measures. CONCLUSIONS: A comparative performance benchmarking report may help hospitals identify and prioritize quality improvement opportunities for infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship, as well as identify exemplar performers for dissemination of best practices.

Intestinal Atresias: A Ten-Year Evaluation of Outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: Intestinal atresia is a common cause of neonatal bowel obstruction. Atresias are often associated with other congenital anomalies. The purpose of the study was to evaluate associated anomalies, operative management, and postoperative outcomes of infants with intestinal atresia. METHODS: A review of patients presenting to a single free-standing children's hospital from March 2012 through February 2022 was performed. The variables examined were type of atresia, additional congenital anomalies, type of operative intervention, and postoperative outcomes. Standard statistical methods were utilized. RESULTS: A total of 75 patients with intestinal atresia were identified and several of these patients had multiple atresias. Isolated duodenal atresia patients were the most common (49.3%), followed by jejunal (32%) and ileal (12%). Mixed atresias were rare at 4%, with isolated pyloric and colonic also rare at 1.3% each. Malrotation was associated with 13% of patients and equally associated with duodenal and jejunoileal atresias. A low percentage (3%) of intestinal atresias was seen in conjunction with gastroschisis and concomitant malrotation. A majority of infants with duodenal atresia underwent standard duodenoduodenostomy (19% laparoscopic, 81% open). In infants with jejunoileal atresia, most underwent resection with primary anastomosis. A tapering enteroplasty was performed primarily in 13% of atresias. There were no significant differences noted in time to first feed or length of stay between those with and without tapering enteroplasty. Eleven percent of patients required subsequent intervention for stricture or small bowel obstruction. There was one death in this series. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with other literature, duodenal atresia was the most common type of intestinal atresia. However, we demonstrated that malrotation was equally associated with duodenal and jejunoileal atresias while prior reports had shown a higher association with duodenal atresia. In our patient population, the use of tapering enteroplasty did not appear to be associated with outcomes. Overall, these infants have a low morbidity and mortality rate with a rare need for reoperation.

Use of Antipseudomonal Antibiotics is not Associated with Lower Rates of Postoperative Drainage Procedures or More Favorable Culture Profiles in Children with Complicated Appendicitis: Results from a Multicenter Regional Research Consortium.

OBJECTIVE: To compare rates of postoperative drainage and culture profiles in children with complicated appendicitis treated with the two most common antibiotic regimens with and without antipseudomonal activity (piperacillin-tazobactam [PT] and ceftriaxone with metronidazole [CM]). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Variation in use of antipseudomonal antibiotics has been driven by a paucity of multicenter data reporting clinically relevant, culture-based outcomes. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of patients with complicated appendicitis (7/2015-6/2020) using NSQIP-Pediatric data from 15 hospitals participating in a regional research consortium. Operative report details, antibiotic utilization, and culture data were obtained through supplemental chart review. Rates of 30-day postoperative drainage and organism-specific culture positivity were compared between groups using mixed effects regression to adjust for clustering after propensity matching on measures of disease severity. RESULTS: 1002 children met criteria for matching (58.9% received CM and 41.1% received PT). In the matched sample of 778 patients, children treated with PT had similar rates of drainage overall (PT: 11.8%, CM: 12.1%; OR 1.44 [OR:0.71-2.94]) and higher rates of drainage associated with growth of any organism (PT: 7.7%, CM: 4.6%; OR 2.41 [95%CI:1.08-5.39]) and Escherichia coli (PT: 4.6%, CM: 1.8%; OR 3.42 [95%CI:1.07-10.92]) compared to treatment with CM. Rates were similar between groups for drainage associated with multiple organisms (PT: 2.6%, CM: 1.5%; OR 3.81 [95%CI:0.96-15.08]) and Pseudomonas (PT: 1.0%, CM: 1.3%; OR 3.42 [95%CI:0.55-21.28]). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Use of antipseudomonal antibiotics is not associated with lower rates of postoperative drainage procedures or more favorable culture profiles in children with complicated appendicitis.

Balanced resuscitation with whole blood versus component therapy in critically injured pre-adolescent children: getting there faster with fewer exposures.

PURPOSE: Balanced blood product resuscitation with red blood cells, plasma, and platelets can be achieved using whole blood (WB) or component therapy (CT). However, balanced resuscitation of younger children with severe traumatic hemorrhage may be complicated by delays in delivering all blood components and concerns regarding multiple product exposures. We hypothesized that WB achieves balanced resuscitation faster than CT, with fewer product exposures and improved clinical outcomes. METHODS: Children <12 years old receiving balanced resuscitation within four hours of arrival were identified from the 2017-2019 Trauma Quality Improvement Program database. Time to balanced resuscitation was defined as the time of initiation of WB or all three components. Patient characteristics, resuscitation details, and outcomes were compared between WB and CT groups. Time to balanced resuscitation was compared using Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression modeling to adjust for covariates. Additional multivariable regression models compared number of transfusion exposures, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, and mortality. RESULTS: There were 390 patients (109 WB, 281 CT) with median age 7 years, 12% penetrating mechanism, 42% severe TBI, and 49% in-hospital mortality. Time to balanced resuscitation was shorter for WB vs. CT (median 28 vs. 87 minutes, hazard ratio [HR] 2.93, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.31-3.72, p < 0.0001). WB patients received fewer transfusion exposures (mean 3.2 vs. 3.9, adjusted incidence rate ratio 0.82, 95% CI 0.72-0.92, p = 0.001) and lower total product volumes (50 vs. 85 mL/kg, p = 0.01). ICU stays trended shorter for WB vs. CT (median 10 vs. 12 days; adjusted HR 1.32, 95% CI 0.93-1.86), while in-hospital mortality was similar (50% vs. 45%, adjusted odds ratio 1.11, 95% CI 0.65-1.88). CONCLUSIONS: In critically injured pre-adolescent children receiving emergent transfusion, WB was associated with faster time to balanced resuscitation, fewer transfusion exposures, lower blood product volumes, and a trend toward shorter ICU stays than CT.Study TypeOriginal Research. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3, retrospective.

Damage-control resuscitation in pediatric trauma: What you need to know.

ABSTRACT: Damage-control resuscitation (DCR) consists of rapid control of bleeding, avoidance of hemodilution, acidosis, and hypothermia; early empiric balanced transfusions with red blood cells, plasma and platelets, or whole blood when available, and the use of intravenous or mechanical hemostatic adjuncts when indicated. The principles used in pediatric and adult trauma patients are quite similar. There are very important recognized physiologic differences in children with traumatic hemorrhagic shock that warrant slight variations in DCR. In pediatric trauma patients, early physiologic signs of shock may be different from adults and the early recognition of this is critical to enable prompt resuscitation and utilization of damage control principles. This review details the current principles of pediatric DCR based on the best available literature, expert consensus recommendations, and also describes a practical guide for implementation of DCR strategies for pediatric trauma patients.

Updated APSA Guidelines for the Management of Blunt Liver and Spleen Injuries.

BACKGROUND: Non-operative management of blunt liver and spleen injuries was championed initially in children with the first management guideline published in 2000 by the American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA). Multiple articles have expanded on the original guidelines and additional therapy has been investigated to improve care for these patients. Based on a literature review and current consensus, the management guidelines for the treatment of blunt liver and spleen injuries are presented. METHODS: A recent literature review by the APSA Outcomes committee [2] was utilized as the basis for the guideline recommendations. A task force was assembled from the APSA Committee on Trauma to review the original guidelines, the literature reported by the Outcomes Committee and then to develop an easy to implement guideline. RESULTS: The updated guidelines for the management of blunt liver and spleen injuries are divided into 4 sections: Admission, Procedures, Set Free and Aftercare. Admission to the intensive care unit is based on abnormal vital signs after resuscitation with stable patients admitted to the ward with minimal restrictions. Procedure recommendations include transfusions for low hemoglobin (<7 mg/dL) or signs of ongoing bleeding. Angioembolization and operative exploration is limited to those patients with clinical signs of continued bleeding after resuscitation. Discharge is based on clinical condition and not grade of injury. Activity restrictions remain the same while follow-up imaging is only indicated for symptomatic patients. CONCLUSION: The updated APSA guidelines for the management of blunt liver and spleen injuries present an easy-to-follow management strategy for children. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 5.

Crystalloid volume is associated with short-term morbidity in children with severe traumatic brain injury: An Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma multicenter trial post hoc analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined differences in clinical and resuscitation characteristics between injured children with and without severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) and aimed to identify resuscitation characteristics associated with improved outcomes following sTBI. METHODS: This is a post hoc analysis of a prospective observational study of injured children younger than 18 years (2018-2019) transported from the scene, with elevated shock index pediatric-adjusted on arrival and head Abbreviated Injury Scale score of ≥3. Timing and volume of resuscitation products were assessed using χ 2t test, Fisher's exact t test, Kruskal-Wallis, and multivariable logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: There were 142 patients with sTBI and 547 with non-sTBI injuries. Severe traumatic brain injury patients had lower initial hemoglobin (11.3 vs. 12.4, p < 0.001), greater initial international normalized ratio (1.4 vs. 1.1, p < 0.001), greater Injury Severity Score (25 vs. 5, p < 0.001), greater rates of ventilator (59% vs. 11%, p < 0.001) and intensive care unit (ICU) requirement (79% vs. 27%, p < 0.001), and more inpatient complications (18% vs. 3.3%, p < 0.001). Severe traumatic brain injury patients received more prehospital crystalloid (25% vs. 15%, p = 0.008), ≥1 crystalloid boluses (52% vs. 24%, p < 0.001), and blood transfusion (44% vs. 12%, p < 0.001) than non-sTBI patients. Among sTBI patients, receipt of ≥1 crystalloid bolus (n = 75) was associated with greater ICU need (92% vs. 64%, p < 0.001), longer median ICU (6 vs. 4 days, p = 0.027) and hospital stay (9 vs. 4 days, p < 0.001), and more in-hospital complications (31% vs. 7.5%, p = 0.003) than those who received <1 bolus (n = 67). These findings persisted after adjustment for Injury Severity Score (odds ratio, 3.4-4.4; all p < 0.010). CONCLUSION: Pediatric trauma patients with sTBI received more crystalloid than those without sTBI despite having a greater international normalized ratio at presentation and more frequently requiring blood products. Excessive crystalloid may be associated with worsened outcomes, including in-hospital mortality, seen among pediatric sTBI patients who received ≥1 crystalloid bolus. Further attention to a crystalloid sparing, early transfusion approach to resuscitation of children with sTBI is needed. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/Care Management; Level IV.

Outcomes and Resource Utilization Associated with Use of Routine Pre-Discharge White Blood Cell Count for Clinical Decision-Making in Children with Complicated Appendicitis: A Multicenter Hospital-Level Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The objective was to explore the hospital-level relationship between routine pre-discharge WBC utilization (RPD-WBC) and outcomes in children with complicated appendicitis. METHODS: Multicenter analysis of NSQIP-Pediatric data from 14 consortium hospitals augmented with RPD-WBC data. WBC were considered routine if obtained within one day of discharge in children who did not develop an organ space infection (OSI) or fever during the index admission. Hospital-level observed-to-expected ratios (O/E) for 30-day outcomes (antibiotic days, imaging utilization, healthcare days, and OSI) were calculated after adjusting for appendicitis severity and patient characteristics. Spearman correlation was used to explore the relationship between hospital-level RPD-WBC utilization and O/E's for each outcome. RESULTS: 1528 children were included. Significant variation was found across hospitals in RPD-WBC use (range: 0.7-100%; p < 0.01) and all outcomes (mean antibiotic days: 9.9 [O/E range: 0.56-1.44, p < 0.01]; imaging: 21.9% [O/E range: 0.40-2.75, p < 0.01]; mean healthcare visit days: 5.7 [O/E 0.74-1.27, p < 0.01]); OSI: 14.1% [O/E range: 0.43-3.64, p < 0.01]). No correlation was found between RPD-WBC use and antibiotic days (r = +0.14, p = 0.64), imaging (r = -0.07, p = 0.82), healthcare days (r = +0.35, p = 0.23) or OSI (r = -0.13, p = 0.65). CONCLUSIONS: Increased RPD-WBC utilization in pediatric complicated appendicitis did not correlate with improved outcomes or resource utilization at the hospital level. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III. TYPE OF STUDY: Clinical Research.

Esophageal Surveillance Practices in Esophageal Atresia Patients: A Survey by the Eastern Pediatric Surgery Network.

INTRODUCTION: Endoscopic surveillance guidelines for patients with repaired esophageal atresia (EA) rely primarily on expert opinion. Prior to embarking on a prospective EA surveillance registry, we sought to understand EA surveillance practices within the Eastern Pediatric Surgery Network (EPSN). METHODS: An anonymous, 23-question Qualtrics survey was emailed to 181 physicians (surgeons and gastroenterologists) at 19 member institutions. Likert scale questions gauged agreement with international EA surveillance guideline-derived statements. Multiple-choice questions assessed individual and institutional practices. RESULTS: The response rate was 77%. Most respondents (80%) strongly agree or agree that EA surveillance endoscopy should follow a set schedule, while only 36% claimed to perform routine upper GI endoscopy regardless of symptoms. Many institutions (77%) have an aerodigestive clinic, even if some lack a multi-disciplinary EA team. Most physicians (72%) expressed strong interest in helping develop evidence-based guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: Our survey reveals physician agreement with current guidelines but weak adherence. Surveillance methods vary greatly, underscoring the lack of evidence-based data to guide EA care. Aerodigestive clinics may help implement surveillance schedules. Respondents support evidence-based protocols, which bodes well for care standardization. Results will inform the first multi-institutional EA databases in the United States (US), which will be essential for evidence-based care. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: This is a prognosis study with level 4 evidence.

Association of blood product ratios with early mortality in pediatric trauma resuscitation: A time-dependent analysis from the National Trauma Databank.

BACKGROUND: Injured children with severe hemorrhage often receive blood product transfusions with ratios of plasma and platelets to packed red blood cells (PRBCs) approaching 1:1:1. Whether blood product ratios vary during pediatric resuscitation is unknown. This study (1) described precise timing of pediatric blood product administration, (2) characterized changes in blood product ratios over time, and (3) evaluated the association of blood products with early mortality while incorporating time-varying factors. METHODS: Pediatric (younger than 18 years) trauma patients receiving high-volume transfusion (>40 mL/kg total products or >2 U PRBC or whole blood, during first 4 hours) were obtained from the 2017 to 2019 Trauma Quality Improvement Program database. The time of each individual product transfusion was recorded, along with demographics, injury details, and times of death. Patients were assigned to blood product groups at 15-minute intervals: high plasma/PRBC ratio (>1:1) with platelets, high plasma/PRBC ratio (>1:1) without platelets, low plasma/PRBC ratio (<1:1), PRBC only, and whole blood. Cox proportional hazards modeling for 24-hour mortality was performed, including blood product group as a time-varying variable and adjusting for relevant covariates. RESULTS: Of 1,152 included patients (median age, 15 years; 32% penetrating, 28% severe traumatic brain injury [sTBI]), 18% died within 24 hours. During the resuscitation period, the number of patients in high-ratio groups increased over time, and patients switched blood product groups up to six times. There was no significant difference in mortality by blood product group. Among patients with sTBI, there was a strong trend toward lower mortality among high plasma/PRBC without platelets versus high plasma/PRBC with platelets (hazard ratio, 0.55; p = 0.07). CONCLUSION: No significant association of high ratios or whole blood with mortality was seen when time-varying factors were incorporated. The impact of balanced resuscitation strategies, particularly platelet transfusion, may be greatest among patients with sTBI. Optimizing balanced resuscitation for children requires appropriately designed prospective studies. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/Care Management; Level IV.

Association Between Antibiotic Redosing Before Incision and Risk of Incisional Site Infection in Children With Appendicitis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether redosing antibiotics within an hour of incision is associated with a reduction in incisional surgical site infection (iSSI) in children with appendicitis. BACKGROUND: Existing data remain conflicting as to whether children with appendicitis receiving antibiotics at diagnosis benefit from antibiotic redosing before incision. METHODS: This was a multicenter retrospective cohort study using data from the Pediatric National Surgical Quality Improvement Program augmented with antibiotic utilization and operative report data obtained though supplemental chart review. Children undergoing appendectomy at 14 hospitals participating in the Eastern Pediatric Surgery Network from July 2016 to June 2020 who received antibiotics upon diagnosis of appendicitis between 1 and 6 hours before incision were included. Multivariable logistic regression was used to compare odds of iSSI in those who were and were not redosed with antibiotics within 1 hour of incision, adjusting for patient demographics, disease severity, antibiotic agents, and hospital-level clustering of events. RESULTS: A total of 3533 children from 14 hospitals were included. Overall, 46.5% were redosed (hospital range: 1.8%-94.4%, P <0.001) and iSSI rates were similar between groups [redosed: 1.2% vs non-redosed: 1.3%; odds ratio (OR) 0.84, (95%,CI, 0.39-1.83)]. In subgroup analyses, redosing was associated with lower iSSI rates when cefoxitin was used as the initial antibiotic (redosed: 1.0% vs nonredosed: 2.5%; OR: 0.38, (95% CI, 0.17-0.84)], but no benefit was found with other antibiotic regimens, longer periods between initial antibiotic administration and incision, or with increased disease severity. CONCLUSIONS: Redosing of antibiotics within 1 hour of incision in children who received their initial dose within 6 hours of incision was not associated with reduction in risk of incisional site infection unless cefoxitin was used as the initial antibiotic.

Pediatric traumatic hemorrhagic shock consensus conference recommendations.

ABSTRACT: Hemorrhagic shock in pediatric trauma patients remains a challenging yet preventable cause of death. There is little high-quality evidence available to guide specific aspects of hemorrhage control and specific resuscitation practices in this population. We sought to generate clinical recommendations, expert consensus, and good practice statements to aid providers in care for these difficult patients.The Pediatric Traumatic Hemorrhagic Shock Consensus Conference process included systematic reviews related to six subtopics and one consensus meeting. A panel of 16 consensus multidisciplinary committee members evaluated the literature related to 6 specific topics: (1) blood products and fluid resuscitation for hemostatic resuscitation, (2) utilization of prehospital blood products, (3) use of hemostatic adjuncts, (4) tourniquet use, (5) prehospital airway and blood pressure management, and (6) conventional coagulation tests or thromboelastography-guided resuscitation. A total of 21 recommendations are detailed in this article: 2 clinical recommendations, 14 expert consensus statements, and 5 good practice statements. The statement, the panel's voting outcome, and the rationale for each statement intend to give pediatric trauma providers the latest evidence and guidance to care for pediatric trauma patients experiencing hemorrhagic shock. With a broad multidisciplinary representation, the Pediatric Traumatic Hemorrhagic Shock Consensus Conference systematically evaluated the literature and developed clinical recommendations, expert consensus, and good practice statements concerning topics in traumatically injured pediatric patients with hemorrhagic shock.