Deep Sedation in Pediatric Patients With Single Ventricle Physiology Outside of the Operating Room.

Background: Advancements in palliative surgery of patients with single ventricle physiology have led to an increase in the need for deep sedation protocols for painful procedures. However, positive pressure ventilation during anesthesia can result in unfavorable cardiopulmonary interactions. This patient population may benefit from sedation from these painful procedures. Methods: This study aims to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of deep sedation by pediatric intensivists outside the operating room for children with single ventricle physiology. This is a single-center, retrospective chart review on consecutive pediatric patients with single ventricle physiology who received deep sedation performed by pediatric intensivists between 2013 and 2020. Results: Thirty-three sedations were performed on 27 unique patients. The median age was 3.7 years (25th%-75th%: 2.1-15.6). The majority of the sedations, 88% (29/33), were done on children with Fontan physiology and 12% (4/33) were status-post superior cavopulmonary anastomosis. The primary cardiac defect was hypoplastic left heart in 63% (17/27) of all sedation procedures. There were 24 chest tube placements and 9 cardioversions. Ketamine alone [median dose 1.5 mg/kg (range 0.8-3.7)], ketamine [median dose 1 mg/kg (range 0.1-2.1)] with propofol [median dose 2.3 mg/kg (range 0.7-3.8)], and ketamine [median dose 1.5 mg/kg (range 0.4-3.0)] with morphine [median dose 0.06 mg/kg (range 0.03-0.20)] were the most common sedation regimens used. Adverse events (AEs) occurred in 4 patients (15%), three of which were transient AEs. All sedation encounters were successfully completed. Conclusion: Procedural deep sedation can be safely and effectively administered to single ventricle patients by intensivist-led sedation teams in selective case.

Prophylactic Enoxaparin Against Catheter-Associated Thrombosis in Postoperative Cardiac Children: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The effectiveness of pharmacologic prophylaxis against catheter-associated thrombosis in children is unclear. We evaluated the compliance and outcomes associated with a prophylactic enoxaparin protocol in postoperative cardiac children. DESIGN: The protocol was implemented as a quality improvement initiative and then analyzed using interrupted time series method. Data collected from November 2014 to December 2018 were divided into preprotocol (period 1), protocol implementation (period 2), and protocol revision (period 3). SETTING: A 12-bed academic pediatric cardiac ICU. PATIENTS: Children less than or equal to 18 years old with congenital heart disease admitted postoperatively with central venous catheter in situ for greater than or equal to 1 day. INTERVENTIONS: Before 2016, prophylactic enoxaparin was administered according to physician preference. In January 2016, an enoxaparin protocol was implemented with a goal anti-Xa range of 0.25-0.49 international units/mL. Protocol was revised in February 2017 to increase the starting dose by 25% for infants less than 1 year old. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We analyzed 780 hospitalizations from 636 children. Median percentage of catheter-days on prophylactic enoxaparin was 33% (interquartile range [IQR], 23-47%), 42% (IQR, 30-51%), and 38% (IQR, 35-52%) in periods 1-3, respectively. Percentage of catheter-days on enoxaparin showed immediate increase of 90% (95% CI, 17-210%) between periods 1 and 2 and sustained increase of 2% (95% CI, 0.3-4%) between periods 2 and 3. Median rates of thrombosis per 1,000 catheter-days were 5.8 (IQR, 0-9.3), 3.8 (IQR, 0-12), and 0 (IQR, 0-5.3) in periods 1-3, respectively. Rate of thrombosis showed immediate decrease of 67% (95% CI, 12-87%) between periods 1 and 2 and sustained decrease of 11% (95% CI, 2-18%) between periods 1 and 3. CONCLUSIONS: The temporal association between increase in percentage of catheter-days on enoxaparin and decrease in rate of thrombosis suggests the effectiveness of prophylactic enoxaparin.

Upper body peripherally inserted central catheter in pediatric single ventricle patients.

BACKGROUND: There is risk of stenosis and thrombosis of the superior vena cava after upper extremity central catheter replacement. This complication is more serious among patients with single ventricle physiology, as it might preclude them from undergoing further life-sustaining palliative surgery. AIM: To describe complications associated with the use of upper extremity percutaneous intravenous central catheters (PICCs) in children with single ventricle physiology. METHODS: A single institution retrospective review of univentricular patients who underwent superior cavopulmonary anastomoses as their stage 2 palliation procedure from January 2014 until December 2018 and had upper body PICCs placed at any point prior to this procedure. Clinical data including ultrasonography, cardiac catheterization, echocardiogram reports and patient notes were used to determine the presence of thrombus or stenosis of the upper extremity and cervical vessels. Data regarding the presence and duration of upper extremity PICCs and upper extremity central venous catheter (CVC), and use of anticoagulation were recorded. RESULTS: Seventy-six patients underwent superior cavopulmonary anastomoses, of which 56 (73%) had an upper extremity PICC at some point prior to this procedure. Median duration of PICC usage was 24 d (25%, 75%: 12, 39). Seventeen patients (30%) with PICCs also had internal jugular or subclavian central venous catheters (CVCs) in place at some point prior to their superior cavopulmonary anastomoses, median duration 10 d (25%, 75%: 8, 14). Thrombus was detected in association with 2 of the 56 PICCs (4%) and 3 of the 17 CVCs (18%). All five patients were placed on therapeutic dose of low molecular weight heparin at the time of thrombus detection and subsequent cardiac catheterization demonstrated resolution in three of the five patients. No patients developed clinically significant venous stenosis. CONCLUSION: Use of upper extremity PICCs in patients with single ventricle physiology prior to super cavopulmonary anastomosis is associated with a low rate of catheter-associated thrombosis.