Utilizing Data and Alarm Champions to Enhance Alarm Management: A Pediatric Quality Improvement Initiative.

BACKGROUND: Nuisance and false alarms distract clinicians from urgent alerts, raising patient safety risks. LOCAL PROBLEM: High alarm rates in a pediatric progressive care unit resulted in experiencing 180-250 alarms per day or 1 alarm every 3 to 4 minutes per clinician. METHODS: Through Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles, environmental, policy, and technology changes were implemented to decrease the average alarms/day/bed and percentage of time in alarm. INTERVENTIONS: Alarm settings tailored to patient needs using features embedded within the patient monitoring system were implemented and monitored with the assistance of alarm champions. RESULTS: The average number of alarms/day/bed decreased from 177.69 to 96.94 over the course of 10 years, a 45.45% reduction. The percentage of time in alarm decreased from 7.52% to 2.83%, a 62.37% reduction. CONCLUSIONS: Arming clinicians with technology to analyze real-time clinical data made alarms meaningful and actionable, decreasing false alarms without compromising patient safety.

An In-Depth Look at Nutrition Support and Adequacy for Critically Ill Children with Organ Dysfunction.

Patients admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) need individualized nutrition support that is tailored to their particular disease severity, nutritional status, and therapeutic interventions. We aim to evaluate how calories and proteins are provided during the first seven days of hospitalization for children in critical condition with organ dysfunction (OD). A single-center retrospective cohort study of children aged 2-18 years, mechanically ventilated > 48 h, and admitted > 7 days to a PICU from 2016 to 2017 was carried out. Nutrition support included enteral and parenteral nutrition. We calculated scores for the Pediatric Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (pSOFA) on days 1 and 3 of admission, with OD defined as a score > 5. Of 4199 patient admissions, 164 children were included. The prevalence of OD for days 1 and 3 was 79.3% and 78.7%, respectively. On day 3, when pSOFA scores trended upward, decreased, or remained unchanged, median (IQR) caloric intake was 0 (0-15), 9.2 (0-25), and 22 (1-43) kcal/kg/day, respectively (p = 0.0032); when pSOFA scores trended upward, decreased, or remained unchanged, protein intake was 0 (0-0.64), 0.44 (0-1.25), and 0.66 (0.04-1.67) g/kg/day, respectively (p = 0.0023). Organ dysfunction was prevalent through the first 72 h of a PICU stay. When the pSOFA scores trended downward or remained unchanged, caloric and protein intakes were higher than those that trended upward.

Degos disease: A radiological-pathological correlation of the neuroradiological aspects of the disease.

Malignant atrophic papulosis (Degos disease) is an unusual thrombotic microangiopathy of uncertain etiology. The disease characteristically involves the skin and internal organs, with nervous system involvement more common in children. We present a case with diverse neurological manifestations including cranial nerve palsies, gait instability, and urinary incontinence. The patient also developed white papular lesions on her lower extremities and back. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated progressive intracranial and spinal abnormalities. Despite treatment with numerous biologic agents, the patient had persistent clinical deterioration and expired one month after admission. We highlight the extensive neurologic manifestations of Degos disease correlated with neuroradiological imaging and pathological features. Nervous system involvement in Degos disease requires careful neurologic and dermatologic exam with central nervous system (CNS) magnetic resonance imaging to distinguish it from non-organic etiologies of similar symptoms.

Xanthine oxidase inhibitors for prevention of cardiovascular events: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Xanthine oxidase inhibitors (XOI), classified as purine-like (allopurinol and oxypurinol) and non-purine (febuxostat and topiroxostat) XOI, present antioxidant properties by reducing the production of reactive oxygen species derived from purine metabolism. Oxidative stress is an important factor related to endothelial dysfunction and ischemia-reperfusion injury, and may be implicated in the pathogenesis of heart failure, hypertension, and ischemic heart disease. However, there is contradictory evidence regarding the possible cardiovascular (CV) protective effect exerted by XOI. Our objective is to compare the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), mortality, total (TCE) and specific CV events in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) testing XOI against placebo or no treatment. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Central, Lilacs databases were searched from inception to Dec 30 2016, along with hand searching. RCTs including exclusively adult individuals, lasting ≥ 4 weeks, with no language restriction, were eligible. Independent paired researchers selected studies and extracted data. Considering the expected rarity of events, Peto and DerSimonian/Laird odds ratios (OR), the latter in case of heterogeneity, were used for analysis. Random-effects meta-regression was used to explore heterogeneity. RESULTS: The analysis of MACE included 81 articles (10,684 patients, 6434 patient-years). XOI did not significantly reduce risk of MACE (ORP = 0.71, 95% CI 0.46-1.09) and death (0.89, 0.59-1.33), but reduced risk of TCE (0.60, 0.44-0.82; serious TCE: 0.64, 0.46 to 0.89), and hypertension (0.54, 0.37 to 0.80). There was protection for MACE in patients with previous ischemic events (0.42, 0.23-0.76). Allopurinol protected for myocardial infarction (0.38, 0.17-0.83), hypertension (0.32, 0.18-0.58), TCE (0.48, 0.31 to 0.75, I2 = 55%) and serious TCE (0.56, 0.36 to 0.86, I2 = 44%). Meta-regression associated increasing dose of allopurinol with higher risk of TCE and serious TCE (P < 0.05). Accordingly, lower doses (≤ 300 mg/day) of allopurinol reduced the risk of TCE, unlike higher doses. Non-purine-like XOI did not significantly reduce or increase the risk of adverse CV events, but confidence intervals were wide. Quality of evidence was generally low to moderate. CONCLUSIONS: Purine-like XOI may reduce the incidence of adverse CV outcomes. However, higher doses of allopurinol (> 300 mg/day) may be associated with loss of CV protection.

A decade of pediatric tracheostomies: Indications, outcomes, and long-term prognosis.

OBJECTIVE: To define the mortality and long-term outcomes of children undergoing tracheostomy. DESIGN: Retrospective chart and Texas Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics review of patients admitted to a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit who underwent a tracheostomy between 2001 and 2011. Mortality and decannulation rates were compared based on tracheostomy indication and age. SUBJECTS: A total of 426 patients admitted to a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in a large tertiary children's hospital. RESULTS: The median patient age was 1.5 years (3 days-24 years). Primary indications for tracheostomy included (a) airway obstruction, (b) congenital neurologic disease, (c) acquired neurologic disease, (d) congenital respiratory disease, and (e) acquired respiratory disease. Overall, 98 patients (23%) died during the study period, and 75th percentile survival time was 5.9 years (95%CI: 3-8). Patients undergoing a tracheostomy for airway obstruction were the least likely to die; while patients with acquired neurologic disease were most likely to die. A total of 163 patients (38%) were decannulated, and 50% were decannulated at 1.2 years (95%CI: 0.9-1.5). Patients with congenital neurologic disease were the least likely to undergo decannulation. Over half of the patients were discharged from the hospital requiring some form of mechanical respiratory support in addition to their tracheostomy. CONCLUSIONS: In this largest cohort of long-term follow-up to date, we have shown the overall risk of mortality varied according to the indication for the tracheostomy. We were unable to determine exact causes of death. The likelihood of being decannulated also correlates with the underlying indication for the tracheostomy. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2017; 52:946-953. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Nitric oxide.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a gas that is involved in many biologic processes. It is synthesized, by the NO synthases. The synthesis of NO by vascular endothelium is responsible for the vasodilator tone. In the central nervous system, it is a neurotransmitter, involved in the formation of memory; in the periphery, some nerves operate through NO-dependent mechanisms to mediate neurogenic vasodilatation in the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary tracts. NO also contributes to control of platelet aggregation and regulation of cardiac contractility. In addition, NO is produced in large quantities during host defense and immunologic reactions. Because it has cytotoxic properties and is generated by activated macrophages, it is likely to have a role in nonspecific immunity. This review discusses the physiology, the mechanism of action, and the role of NO in inflammation and immune responses.

Integrated management of childhood illness: an emphasis on the management of infectious diseases.

The Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) strategy has helped strengthen the application and expand coverage of key child survival interventions aimed at preventing deaths from infectious disease, respiratory illness, and malnutrition, whether at the health services, in the community, or at home. IMCI covers the prevention, treatment, and follow-up of the leading causes of mortality, which are responsible for at least two-thirds of deaths of children younger than 5 years in the countries of the Americas. The IMCI clinical guidelines take an evidence-based, syndrome approach to case managment that supports the rational, effective, and affordable use of drugs and diagnostic tools. When clinical resources are limited, the syndrome approach is a more realistic and cost-effective way to manage patients. Careful and systematic assessment of common symptoms and well-selected clinical signs provide sufficient information to guide effective actions.

Tracheitis in pediatric patients.

Despite the advances that have been achieved in supportive pediatric intensive care, tracheitis remains a significant cause of reversible upper-airway obstruction in pediatric patients. This discussion highlights the epidemiology and clinical presentation of tracheitis in the twenty-first century and reviews diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. The gold standard for therapy remains supportive airway management in conjunction with appropriate antibiotic therapy. Finally, the unique challenges of diagnosis and treatment of tracheitis in the technology dependent child with an existing artificial airway (endotracheal tube or tracheostomy) are addressed.

Recurrent conjunctivitis as a presentation of munchausen syndrome by proxy.

PURPOSE: To report a case of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, which manifested as recurrent bilateral keratoconjunctivitis in an infant. DESIGN: Interventional case report. INTERVENTION: The patient underwent numerous diagnostic studies, including two endoscopies, skin biopsy, conjunctival pH measurement, and a skeletal survey. She underwent daily eye examinations until the corneal and conjunctival epithelial defects resolved. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Resolution of cutaneous, mucosal, corneal, and conjunctival epithelial defects. RESULTS: A punch biopsy of the right postauricular area was performed, and pathology subsequently determined that the findings seemed to be the result of an exogenous injury. The conjunctival pH was 8.0, consistent with exposure to an exogenous, caustic agent. The acute ocular lesions resolved. CONCLUSIONS: Munchausen syndrome by proxy can be seen with ophthalmic manifestations and should be considered in the differential diagnosis when ocular abnormalities cannot be explained after a thorough and methodical evaluation.

Pediatric septic shock: why has mortality decreased?-the utility of goal-directed therapy.

Mortality from septic shock in children has decreased by 92 percent in the last 36 years. The contributions of goal-directed therapy, intensive care, and other forms of support are responsible for this decrease. A deeper and more specific understanding of innate immunity and the biomolecular processes that operate in septic shock has offered the scientific basis to implement goal-directed therapies. However, therapies that are aimed specifically at manipulating the inflammatory cascade have yet to prove safe and effective.