Establishing Shock Index, Pediatric Age-Adjusted (SIPA) Cut Points in Trauma Patients Under 1 Year of Age.

PURPOSE: Shock Index (SI) is used to predict injury severity and adverse outcomes in trauma patients, but age-adjusted shock index (SIPA) has superior performance in pediatric patients over the age of 1 year. SIPA scores under the age of 1 have not been well studied. This project aimed to establish and evaluate SIPA cut point data points for patients under 1 year of age. METHODS: Using age-based vital signs, we developed cut point values for patients under 1 year old using our institutional trauma data. All trauma patients under the age of 12 months were included, and clinical outcomes were recorded. SIPA cut points were defined using age specific vital sign limits (SIPA-VS) and tested against optimal cut points defined by ROC analysis (SIPA-ROC) and a cut point of 1.2 (SIPA-Nordin), which is used for patients ages 1-4 years. Student's t-test, chi-square tests, ANOVA, and test characteristics were used to analyze groups. RESULTS: A total of 609 pediatric trauma patients under the age of 12 months were identified from 2018 to 2022. SIPA scores were calculated for 483 patients. There were 406 patients with blunt trauma and 17 with penetrating. SIPA-Nordin was elevated in 81.6% (n = 397) of patients, compared to SIPA-VS 21% (n = 101) and SIPA-ROC 31% (n = 150). In comparison to SIPA-Nordin, both SIPA-VS and SIPA-ROC score exhibited superior specificity and negative predictive values (NPV) for multiple outcomes. Elevated SIPA-ROC scores had statistically significant associations with ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, severe anemia, transfusion during hospital admission, and in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSION: SIPA is a useful tool in identifying patients at risk for several complications of severe traumatic injury. SIPA cut points had high NPV and specificity for many outcomes. This study proposes cut point values that may aid in clinical decision-making for trauma patients under 1 year of age.Level of Evidence: Level IV Retrospective Review.

A Review of an Interfacility Transport Program Pediatric Stroke Clinical Practice Guideline.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric acute ischemic stroke is a rare diagnosis that requires timely recognition and definitive management to prevent morbidity and mortality. Children often present to primary care offices, urgent care clinics, and adult emergency departments for evaluation of symptoms that may be signs and symptoms of stroke. Currently, there are no published prehospital or transport protocols specific to pediatric acute ischemic stroke. The Children's Mercy Hospital Critical Care Transport Team (CMCCT) created a pediatric-specific clinical practice guideline (CPG) for suspected acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: This retrospective, descriptive study reports pediatric patients aged younger than 18 years who met criteria for the pediatric stroke CPG and required interfacility transport by CMCCT over a 4- year period. Large vessel occlusion (LVO) scores used in adults were calculated retrospectively. RESULTS: Seventeen patients met inclusion criteria. Four (24%) of 17 had radiographic evidence of acute thrombus, 3 of whom received alteplase and/or endovascular clot retrieval. Median age of confirmed stroke was 83 months (interquartile range, 65-148) compared with 177 months for nonstroke (interquartile range, 169-191), P = 0.126. The most common presenting symptom was hemiplegia in the confirmed stroke group. The confirmed stroke group scored significantly lower on the Glasgow Coma Scale (median of 8 vs 15, P = 0.014), significantly higher on the Los Angeles Motor Scale LVO score (median 4 vs 0, P = 0.021), and significantly higher on the Rapid Arterial Occlusion Evaluation LVO (median 4 vs 0, P = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, the CMCCT CPG is the first pediatric transport protocol aimed at recognition and management of pediatric stroke described in the literature. Retrospective calculation of LVO scores show that they may be helpful in application to pediatric patients.

Factors Associated With Early Discharge in Pediatric Trauma Patients Transported by Rotor: A Retrospective Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) play a crucial role in providing timely transport for pediatric trauma patients. This service carries the highest risk of any mode of medical transport and a high financial burden, and patient outcomes are seldom investigated. This study evaluated the characteristics of pediatric trauma patients discharged within 24 hours after transport by HEMS. METHODS: This was a single-center, retrospective analysis on pediatric trauma patients transported by HEMS from 2019 to 2022. Analyses were performed to identify factors associated with discharge within 24 hours. Factors analyzed included vital signs, Shock Index, Pediatric Age-Adjusted scores, management details, and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 466 pediatric trauma patients were transported by HEMS, including 171 patients (36.7%) who were discharged within 24 hours. There were no differences in the rates of blunt and penetrating injury (P = .583). Patients discharged within 24 hours were more likely to have a higher Glasgow Coma Scale score (14 vs. 11, P < .001) and a lower Injury Severity Score (4.9 vs. 14.7, P < .001), required less prehospital fluid resuscitation (5.5 vs. 11.7 mL/kg, P = .039), and had higher levels of serum calcium (9.3 vs. 8.9 mg/dL, P < .001). They were also less likely to meet criteria for level 1 trauma activation (13.0% vs. 40%, P < .001) or to require prehospital respiratory support of any kind (4.1% vs. 31.1%, P < .001). After arrival at the hospital, they were less likely to require blood transfusions (2.9% vs. 29.8%, P < .001) or tranexamic acid (2.9% vs. 11.5%, P = .001). CONCLUSION: Trauma patients with a high Glasgow Coma Scale score and a low Injury Severity Score who do not require critical care or meet the criteria for high-level trauma activation may be suitable for transportation with lower acuity. Further studies aimed at improving triage and implementing improved criteria for the use of HEMS are paramount.

Analysis of High Flow Nasal Cannula Utilization During Pediatric Critical Care Transport.

OBJECTIVE: There are limited studies on the safety and efficacy of high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) use in pediatrics during interfacility critical care transport. This 15-month retrospective study aims to describe our transport team's utilization of HFNC within the pediatric population and evaluates the need for patient escalation in respiratory support within 24 hours of hospital admission including increased liter flow, transition to noninvasive ventilation, or intubation. METHODS: Retrospective charts were reviewed by study members from January 1, 2019, through March 31, 2020. Study dates were specifically chosen to reflect when HFNC was implemented in the transport department and before the beginning of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus disease 2019 (SARS-COVID-19) pandemic because of variability in respiratory support recommendations at the beginning of the pandemic. Patients were screened for inclusion criteria and were included if they were >30 days and <18 years of age, required HFNC at ≥4 L/min during transport, and were admitted to Children's Mercy Hospital. RESULTS: During the study period, we completed 6,279 pediatric transports, of which 382 had documented HFNC use and 358 met the inclusion criteria. Our HFNC patients had a median age of 0.7 years with an interquartile range (IQR) of 0.3 to 1 year, a median weight of 8.4 kg with an IQR of 6.2 to 11 kg, a median liter flow of 10 L/min and 1.2 L/kg/min, and required a median transport time of 80 minutes with an IQR of 69 to 115 min. Patients were tracked for 24 hours post-admission for any escalations in care; 33% required an escalation, 76% of those had an increase in flow, 24% required noninvasive ventilation, and 0% required intubation. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests HFNC is a safe and effective means for providing respiratory support to the pediatric population during interfacility critical care transport. Our data support utilization of 1 to 2 L/kg/min in the smaller pediatric population (<10 kg) during transport. There was minimal risk of escalation to noninvasive ventilation, and no patients required intubation within 24 hours post drop-off, likely because of the appropriate utilization of HFNC during transport. Additional studies, especially multicenter pediatric studies, are needed to analyze HFNC utilization with non-restricting circuits and vibrating mesh nebulizers.

Demographics in Children Presenting With Acute Neurologic Deficits Concerning for Stroke: An Evaluation of the Stroke Alert Process.

Objective: To assess the demographics and clinical characteristics of children presenting with acute neurologic symptoms concerning for stroke. Background: Stroke leads to significant morbidity in the pediatric population. Stroke protocols were created as a means to help identify and triage these children. Despite implementation of these protocols, there have been few population-based studies evaluating the demographics and clinical features of children presenting with acute strokelike symptoms. Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients for whom the stroke alert process was activated from September 2016 through August 2018 at Children's Mercy Hospital. Results: There were a total of 61 activations. Acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack comprised 18% and was the second leading diagnoses after seizure with postictal (Todd) paralysis (20%). Two activations were candidates for mechanical thrombectomy, and none received tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). Children with acute ischemic stroke / transient ischemic attack were likely to be younger in age (median 4 years, interquartile range [IQR] 3-9) compared to those with nonischemic stroke diagnoses (median 12.5 years, IQR 7-15.3) (P = .010). The anatomical location of acute ischemic stroke was widespread, including both anterior and posterior circulations. Past medical history, family history, racial demographics, sex, and initial presenting symptoms were not predictive of the diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke / transient ischemic attack. 38% of activations with diagnoses other than transient ischemic attack / acute ischemic stroke required urgent treatment, with 16% requiring intensive care unit admission. Conclusion: Acute ischemic stroke / transient ischemic attack comprised nearly one-fifth of all pediatric stroke activations, highlighting the importance of developing protocols for early recognition and evaluation of children who present with symptoms concerning for stroke.

Cardiac critical care of the post-operative congenital heart disease patient.

Cardiac critical care has become an increasingly complex subspecialty, involving multiple subspecialists to support patients with congenital heart disease. This requires understanding of their physiology and the impact of medical interventions. The purpose of this article is to provide a concise review of the current strategies utilized by cardiac intensivists to optimize outcomes for this vulnerable patient population, with the goal of broadening the knowledge of other members of the multi-disciplinary team.

Variation in acute fluid resuscitation among pediatric burn centers.

BACKGROUND: Accurate resuscitation of pediatric patients with large thermal injury is critical to achieving optimal outcomes. The goal of this project was to describe the degree of variability in resuscitation guidelines among pediatric burn centers and the impact on fluid estimates. METHODS: Five pediatric burn centers in the Pediatric Injury Quality Improvement Collaborative (PIQIC) contributed data from patients with ≥15% total body surface area (TBSA) burns treated from 2014 to 2018. Each center's resuscitation guidelines and guidelines from the American Burn Association were used to calculate estimated 24-h fluid requirements and compare these values to the actual fluid received. RESULTS: Differences in the TBSA burn at which fluid resuscitation was initiated, coefficients related to the Parkland formula, criteria to initiate dextrose containing fluids, and urine output goals were observed. Three of the five centers' resuscitation guidelines produced statistically significant lower mean fluid estimates when compared with the actual mean fluid received for all patients across centers (4.53 versus 6.35ml/kg/% TBSA, p<0.001), (4.90 versus 6.35ml/kg/TBSA, p=0.002) and (3.38 versus 6.35ml/kg/TBSA, p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This variation in practice patterns led to statistically significant differences in fluid estimates. One center chose to modify its resuscitation guidelines at the conclusion of this study.

Implementation and Maintenance of a Pediatric Severe Burn Guidelines Quality Improvement Project.

Introduction: Critically injured pediatric burn patients require specialized management, yet few verified pediatric burn centers exist in the United States. Many pediatric hospitals have resources to care for severely burned patients but lack standardized care guidelines, which improve outcomes. To improve the morbidity and mortality of severely burned pediatric patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit, we created a specialized burn team. We implemented Pediatric Severe Burn Guidelines, focusing on improving fluid resuscitation accuracy and providing timely nutritional support. Methods: This investigation is of a 9-year (2010-2019) retrospective preintervention and postintervention study of the effect of the formation of a multidisciplinary burn leadership committee and development and implementation of Pediatric Severe Burn Guidelines. The primary outcome measures are increasing the accuracy of fluid resuscitation and improving the timely administration of nutritional support. The process measure is the percentage of time the electronic health record power plan was used for burn admissions with burn leadership review of the cases. Balancing measures are pediatric intensive care unit and hospital length of stay. Results: Preprotocol patients received acceptable fluid resuscitation 25% (5/20) of the time compared to 61.5% (8/13) of the time in postprotocol patients (P = 0.04). In postprotocol patients, there is an improvement in the timely placement of postpyloric feeding tube and initiation of feeds 48 hours after admission. Conclusions: Extensive guidelines for standardized care require careful implementation and monitoring of adherence gaps. Creating a specialized burn team and implementing clinical guidelines standardize care leading to improvement in critical patient outcomes.

Adrenal hypoplasia congenita presenting as congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

We report on a patient with genetically confirmed adrenal hypoplasia congenita (AHC) whose presentation and laboratory abnormalities were consistent with the more common condition, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). The patient presented with failure to thrive and salt wasting. General appearance showed marked hyperpigmentation and normal male genitalia. He displayed mildly elevated 17-hydroxyprogesterone and markedly elevated 11-deoxycortisol levels at baseline and with ACTH stimulation testing. Results were consistent with 11 ß -hydroxylase deficiency. He required glucocorticoids and high doses of mineralocorticoids. The marked elevation in 11-deoxycortisol directed our clinical reasoning away from a hypoplastic condition and towards a hyperplasic adrenal condition. Sequencing of the DAX1 gene (named for dosage-sensitive sex reversal (DSS) locus and the AHC locus on the X chromosome) revealed a missense mutation. A review of the literature revealed that elevated 11-deoxycortisol levels have been noted in kindreds with DAX1 mutations, but only when measured very early in life. A mouse model has recently been described that displays elevated 11-deoxycorticosterone levels and evidence for hyperplasia of the zona glomerulosa of the adrenal gland. We conclude that DAX1 testing may be considered in patients with laboratory evidence of 11 ß -hydroxylase deficiency, especially in those with severe salt wasting.