Pupil Size and Reactivity in Pediatric Patients With Sickle Cell Disease.

Pupil size and reactivity have been studied to objectively measure pain utilizing pupillometry measurements. Given the challenges associated with treating vaso-occlusive pain in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease, better assessment tools are needed. The objective of this study is to establish normative values for pupil size and reactivity in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease with the hope that pupillometry can be used as a tool to objectively measure pain and response to treatment with analgesic medications. Readings were performed using a NeurOptics PLR-2000 pupillometer. Forty-four males and 38 females, all black, were studied. Their median age was 11 years (range: 2 to 21). When comparing our participants with white participants in a previously published pediatric study, there was a significant difference in maximum constriction velocity ( t =3.45, P =0.009), maximum pupil size ( t =-5.57 mm, P <0.0001), and minimum pupil size ( t =-3.24, P =0.002). There was no significant difference in pupil size and reactivity between patients with sickle cell disease and black patients without the disease when compared with the previously published study. Therefore, further investigation of pupillometry within the black population during vaso-occlusive crisis and in the "well state" is warranted in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease.

Naloxegol for Treatment of Opioid-Induced Constipation in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Opioid-induced constipation is a common problem in critically ill children requiring sedation. Naloxegol is an oral U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved peripherally acting mu-opioid receptor antagonist for chronic opioid-induced constipation use in adults, but data on its use in children are lacking. We performed a retrospective analysis of critically ill children that had received naloxegol for opioid-induced constipation at our institution. Of the 45 patients studied, mean stool frequency increased significantly from 0.63 ± 0.12 stools per day to 1.71 ± 0.13 stools per day after starting naloxegol (95% confidence interval [CI]: [0.75, 1.4], P < .001). There was no significant difference in the mean Withdrawal Assessment Tool 1 (WAT-1) score in the 24 hours before and after receiving the first dose (95% CI: [-0.25, 0.40], P = .63). This suggests naloxegol is effective in increasing stool output in critically ill children receiving opioids without an increase in opioid-withdrawal symptoms. It may be an effective adjunctive therapy for this population.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in front-line pediatric health care workers.

Objective: The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infections in pediatric front-line health care workers (HCWs) using SARS-CoV-2 serum antibodies as an indicator of infection. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we collected blood samples and survey responses from HCWs in a 38-bed pediatric emergency department. Serum antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 (IgM and/or IgG) were measured using a 2-step enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect antibodies against the Spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD), the ectodomain of Spike (S), and the nucleoprotein (N). Results: We collected survey responses and serum samples from 54 pediatric front-line HCWs from October 2020 through April 2021. Among the 29 unvaccinated HCWs, 4 (13.7%) had antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. For the 25 vaccinated HCWs, 10 (40%) were seropositive; 3 were <10 days from the first vaccine dose and 7 were ≥10 days after the first dose. Two of the 10 seropositive vaccines had a prior positive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test. Individuals ≥10 days from receiving the first vaccine dose were 37.5 (95% CI: 3.5-399.3) times more likely to have SARS-CoV-2 antibodies than unvaccinated individuals or those <10 days from first vaccine dose. Conclusions: Evidence of widespread SARS-CoV-2 infections was not found in unvaccinated front-line HCWs from a pediatric ED as of April 2021. Future work will be required to determine the reasons underlying the lower SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence compared to adult HCWs.

Transfers of pediatric patients with isolated injuries to a rural Level 1 Orthopedic Trauma Center in the United States: are they all necessary?

BACKGROUND: Pediatric fractures are difficult to manage and often result in expensive urgent transfers to a pediatric trauma center. Our study seeks to identify patients transferred with isolated acute orthopedic injuries to a Level 1 center in which no procedure occurred and the patient was discharged home. We sought to examine all patients who are transferred to a Level 1 pediatric trauma center for care of isolated orthopedic injuries, and to determine how often no procedure is performed after transfer. Identification of this group ahead of time could potentially lead to less avoidable transfers. METHODS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review of all patients with isolated orthopaedic injuries who were transferred to a Level 1 pediatric trauma center in a rural state within the United States over a 5-year period beginning January, 2011 and ending December, 2015. Demographic factors were collected for each patient as well as diagnosis and treatment at the trauma center. Patients were divided into two groups, those who underwent an operation or fracture reduction after admission and those that had no procedure performed. Patient demographics, fracture types and presentation characteristics were examined to attempt to determine factors related to the potentially avoidable transfers. RESULTS: 1303 patients were identified who were transferred with isolated orthopedic fractures. Of these, 1113 (85.6%) patients underwent a procedure for their injuries, including 821 treated with surgical intervention and 292 treated with closed reduction of their fracture. 190 of 1303 (14.6%) of the patients transferred with isolated injuries had neither surgery nor a reduction performed. Identifying characteristics of the non-operative group were that they contained a substantially higher percentage of females, transfers by ambulance, fractures involving only the tibia, fracture types classified as other, and fractures from motor-vehicle accidents. DISCUSSION: Approximately 14.6% of patients transferred to a pediatric Level 1 trauma center for isolated orthopedic injury underwent no surgery or fracture reductions and were discharged directly home. In particular, isolated tibia fractures were more frequently treated without reduction or surgery. In the future, telemedicine consultation for these specific injury types may limit unnecessary and costly transfers to a Level 1 pediatric trauma hospital.

Assessing the Impact of 3% Hypertonic Saline Hyperosmolar Therapy on Intubated Children With Isolated Traumatic Brain Injury by Cerebral Oximetry in a Pediatric Emergency Setting.

BACKGROUND: Intubated pediatric patients with isolated traumatic brain injury (TBI) are a diagnostic challenge for early detection of altered cerebral physiology instigated by trauma-induced increased intracranial pressure (ICP) while preventing secondary neuronal damage (secondary insult detection) and assessing the effects of increased ICP therapeutic interventions (3% hypertonic saline [HTS]). Invasive brain tissue oxygen monitoring is guiding new intensive care unit TBI management but is not pediatric emergency department (PED) readily accessible. Objective measurements on pediatric isolated TBI-altered bihemispheric cerebral physiology and treatment effects of 3% HTS are currently lacking. Cerebral oximetry can assess increased ICP-induced abnormal bihemispheric cerebral physiology by measuring regional tissue oxygenation (rcSO2) and cerebral blood volume index (CBVI) and the mechanical cerebrospinal fluid removal effects on the increased ICP-induced abnormal bihemispheric cerebral physiology.In the PED intubated patients with isolated TBI, assessing the 3% HTS therapeutic response is solely by vital signs and limited clinical assessment skills. Objective measurements of the 3% HTS hyperosmolar effects on the PED isolated TBI patients' altered bihemispheric cerebral physiology are lacking. We believe that bihemispheric rcSO2 and CBVI could elucidate similar data on 3% HTS impact and influence in the intubated isolated TBI patients. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze the effects of 3% HTS on bihemispheric rcSO2 and CBVI in intubated patients with isolated TBI. METHODS: An observational, retrospective analysis of bihemispheric rcSO2 and CBVI readings in intubated pediatric patients with isolated TBI receiving 3% HTS infusions, was performed. RESULTS: From 2010 to 2017, 207 intubated patients with isolated TBI received 3% HTS infusions (median age, 2.9 [1.1-6.9 years]; preintubation Glasgow Coma Scale score, 7 [6-8]). The results were as follows: initial pre-3% HTS, 43% (39.5% to 47.5%; left) and 38% (35% to 42%; right) for rcSO2 < 60%, and 8 (-28 to 21; left) and -15 (-34 to 22; right) for CBVI; post-3% HTS, 68.5% (59.3% to 76%, P < 0.0001; left) and 62.5% (56.0% to 74.8%, P < 0.0001; right) for rcSO2 < 60%, and 12 (-7 to 24, P = 0.04; left) and 14 (-21 to 22, P < 0.0001; right) for CBVI; initial pre-3% HTS, 90% (83% to 91%; left) and 87% (82% to 92%; right) for rcSO2 > 80%, and 16.5 (6 to 33, P < 0.0001; left) and 16.8 (-2.5 to 27.5, P = 0.005; right) for CBVI; and post-3% HTS, 69% (62% to 72.5%, P < 0.0001; left) and 63% (59% to 72%, P < 0.0001; right) for rcSO2 > 80%, and 16.5 (6 to 33, P < 0.0001; left) and 16.8 (-2.5 to 27.5, P = 0.005; right) for CBVI. The following results for cerebral pathology pre-3% HTS were as follows: epidural: 85% (58% to 88.5%) for left rcSO2 and -9.25 (-34 to 19) for left CBVI, and 85.5% (57.5% to 89%) for right rcSO2 and -12.5 (-21 to 27) for CBVI; subdural: 45% (38% to 54%) for left rcSO2 and -9.5 (-25 to 19) for left CBVI, and 40% (33% to 49%) for right rcSO2 and -15 (-30.5 to 5) for CBVI. The following results for cerebral pathology post-3% HTS were as follows: epidural: 66% (58% to 69%, P = 0.03) for left rcSO2 and 15 (-1 to 21, P = 0.0004) for left CBVI, and 63% (52% to 72%, P = 0.009) for right rcSO2, and 15.5 (-22 to 24, P = 0.02) for CBVI; subdural: 63% (56% to 72%, P < 0.0001) for left rcSO2 and 9 (-20 to 22, P < 0.0001) for left CBVI, and 62.5% (48% to 73%, P < 0.0001) for right rcSO2, and 3 (-26 to 22, P < 0.0001) for CBVI. Overall, heart rate showed no significant change. Three percent HTS effect on interhemispheric rcSO2 difference >10 showed rcSO2 < 60%, and subdural hematomas had the greatest reduction (P < 0.001). The greatest positive changes occurred in bihemispheric or one-hemispheric rcSO2 < 60% with an interhemispheric discordance rcSO2 > 10 and required the greatest number of 3% HTS infusions. For 3% HTS 15% rcSO2 change time effect, all patients achieved positive change with subdural hematomas and hemispheric rcSO2 readings <60% with the shortest achievement time of 1.2 minutes (0.59-1.75; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In intubated pediatric patients with isolated TBI who received 3% HTS infusions, bihemispheric rcSO2 and CBVI readings immediately detected and trended the 3% HTS effects on the trauma-induced cerebral pathophysiology. The 3% HTS infusion produced a significant improvement in rcSO2 and CBVI readings and a reduction in interhemispheric rcSO2 discordance differences. In patients with bihemispheric or one-hemispheric rcSO2 readings <60% with or without an interhemispheric discordance, rcSO2 > 10 demonstrated the greatest significant positive delta change and required the greatest numbers of 3% HTS infusions. Overall, 3% HTS produced a significant positive 15% change within 2.1 minutes of infusion, whereas heart rate showed no significant change. During trauma neuroresuscitation, especially in intubated isolated TBI patients requiring 3% HTS, cerebral oximetry has shown its functionality as a rapid adjunct neurological, therapeutic assessment tool and should be considered in the initial emergency department pediatric trauma neurological assessment and neuroresuscitation regimen.

Noninvasive respiratory support.

Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) refers to the delivery of ventilatory support using techniques that do not require an endotracheal airway. Noninvasive ventilation is being used with increased frequency in a variety of clinical situations in the emergency department, intensive care unit, and prehospital environment. This article reviews the history of NIV, the rationale for its use, and the evidence of efficacy in both the adult and pediatric literature. This article also describes equipment and techniques currently available for administration of NIV as well as new trends in noninvasive respiratory support.