Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Arrest in the Postanesthesia Care Unit, Rare but Preventable: Analysis of Data From Wake Up Safe, The Pediatric Anesthesia Quality Improvement Initiative.

BACKGROUND: Nearly 20% of anesthesia-related pediatric cardiac arrests (CAs) occur during emergence or recovery. The aims of this case series were to use the Wake Up Safe database to describe the following: (1) the nature of pediatric postanesthesia care unit (PACU) CA and subsequent outcomes and (2) factors associated with harm after pediatric PACU CA. METHODS: Pediatric CAs in the PACU were identified from the Wake Up Safe Pediatric Anesthesia Quality Improvement Initiative, a multicenter registry of adverse events in pediatric anesthesia. Demographics, underlying conditions, cause of CA, and outcomes were extracted. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize data and to assess risk of harm in those suffering CA. RESULTS: A total of 26 CA events were included: 67% in children <5 years, and 30% in infants (<1 year); 18 (69%) were deemed likely or almost certainly preventable. All preventable CAs were respiratory in nature and most (67%) had purported root causes that included provider judgment or inexperience, inadequate supervision, and competing priorities. CAs of cardiac origin were associated with increased level of harm (temporary or greater), whereas those of respiratory origin were associated more often with no harm. CONCLUSIONS: PACU CA events are rare and generally survivable, with better outcomes for respiratory-based events, but most were deemed preventable, suggesting a need for further vigilance in the early postoperative period. Maintenance of monitoring during patient transport to PACU and continuing care by anesthesia care providers until emergence from anesthesia may further reduce the preventable arrest rate. The root cause analyses conducted by individual institutions reporting these data to the Wake Up Safe provided only limited insight, so multicenter collaborative approaches may allow for greater insight into effective CA-prevention strategies.

Epidural analgesia compared with intravenous analgesia after pediatric posterior spinal fusion.

BACKGROUND: Pain management remains challenging for pediatric patients after posterior spinal fusion (PSF). This study compares the effectiveness of hydromorphone and bupivacaine administered through patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) with hydromorphone patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (IV-PCA) in this population. METHODS: Patients aged 8 to 18 years undergoing PSF for idiopathic scoliosis were randomized to receive either PCEA (0.1% bupivacaine plus hydromorphone 10 mcg/mL at 8 mL/h plus bolus dosing) or IV-PCA (hydromorphone 2 mcg/kg/h continuous infusion; 2 mcg/kg bolus dose). Pain scores, severity of muscle spasms, and analgesic doses were recorded for 3 postoperative days (PODs). Adverse events were followed until discharge. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients were included (19 PCEA and 19 IV-PCA). Seven in the PCEA group (37%) experienced early epidural failure, and 2 in the IV-PCA group remained intubated, sedated, and ventilated for several hours postoperatively; these patients were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. All data are presented as "per protocol" unless otherwise specified. Pain scores were significantly lower on days 2 and 3 (P < or = 0.042). Eight percent of the patients who received PCEA experienced moderate-to-severe spasms through POD 3 compared with 35% of those in the IV-PCA group (P=NS). Seven (58%) patients in the PCEA group and 17 (100%) in the IV-PCA group required diazepam (P=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Epidural catheters provide modestly improved analgesia in patients after PSF for idiopathic scoliosis. However, the high failure rate in this population emphasizes a need for a close assessment for adequate blockade early in the recovery period. This study provides an excellent platform on which to build future trials that could include increased baseline dosing for the epidural medications, radiographic confirmation of catheter placement, and dual catheter techniques toward the goal of improving pain control in these patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 2, randomized, controlled trial.