Acute Kidney Injury in Pediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome Temporally Associated With Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 Pandemic: Experience From PICUs Across United Kingdom.

OBJECTIVES: To study the prevalence, evolution, and clinical factors associated with acute kidney injury in children admitted to PICUs with pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome temporally associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2. DESIGN: Multicenter observational study. SETTING: Fifteen PICUs across the United Kingdom. PATIENTS: Patients admitted to United Kingdom PICUs with pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome temporally associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 between March 14, 2020, and May 20, 2020. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Deidentified data collected as part of routine clinical care were analyzed. All children were diagnosed and staged for acute kidney injury based on the level of serum creatinine above the upper limit of reference interval values according to published guidance. Severe acute kidney injury was defined as stage 2/3 acute kidney injury. Uni- and multivariable analyses were performed to study the association between demographic data, clinical features, markers of inflammation and cardiac injury, and severe acute kidney injury. Over the study period, 116 patients with pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome temporally associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 were admitted to 15 United Kingdom PICUs. Any-stage acute kidney injury occurred in 48 of 116 patients (41.4%) and severe acute kidney injury in 32 of 116 (27.6%) patients, which was mostly evident at admission (24/32, 75%). In univariable analysis, body mass index, hyperferritinemia, high C-reactive protein, Pediatric Index of Mortality 3 score, vasoactive medication, and invasive mechanical ventilation were associated with severe acute kidney injury. In multivariable logistic regression, hyperferritinemia was associated with severe acute kidney injury (compared with nonsevere acute kidney injury; adjusted odds ratio 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01-1.08; p = 0.04). Severe acute kidney injury was associated with longer PICU stay (median 5 days [interquartile range, 4-7 d] vs 3 days [interquartile range, 1.5-5 d]; p < 0.001) and increased duration of invasive mechanical ventilation (median 4 days [interquartile range, 2-6 d] vs 2 days [interquartile range, 1-3 d]; p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Severe acute kidney injury occurred in just over a quarter of children admitted to United Kingdom PICUs with pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome temporally associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2. Hyperferritinemia was significantly associated with severe acute kidney injury. Severe acute kidney injury was associated with increased duration of stay and ventilation. Although short-term outcomes for acute kidney injury in pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome temporally associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 appear good, long-term outcomes are unknown.

Endovascular Treatment of a Giant Extracranial Carotid Artery Pseudoaneurysm in a Child Using Vascular Plugs.

Carotid artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare but serious complication of a retropharyngeal abscess in children. We report the first case of treating an unruptured mycotic pseudoaneurysm of the extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) in a pediatric patient with vascular plugs. A 3-year-old patient presented with airway compromise and signs of neck sepsis. Successful embolization of the pseudoaneurysm was achieved with 2 Amplatzer vascular plugs to close the front and back door. The patient did not have any neurological deficit. Repeat imaging with ultrasound and computed tomography confirmed no recurrence of the pseudoaneurysm.

Targeting Glycemic Control After Pediatric Cardiac Surgery: The Influence of Age on Insulin Requirement.

OBJECTIVE: Factors influencing the development of hyperglycemia and pattern of insulin requirement in children undergoing cardiac surgery are poorly understood. This study investigated the impact of age on the pattern of hyperglycemia and insulin requirement in children after cardiac surgery. DESIGN: Cohort study, based on a prospectively collected dataset for patients enrolled into the Control of Hyperglycemia in Pediatric Intensive Care trial. SETTING: A 24-bedded multidisciplinary PICU. PATIENTS: Children randomized to the tight glycemic control arm (target blood glucose, 4-7 mmol/L [72-126 mg/dL]) of the Control of Hyperglycemia in Pediatric Intensive Care trial following cardiac surgery. Children were categorized into four age groups (neonate, 1-30 d; infant, 31-365 d; young child, 1-5 yr; older child, 5-16 yr) for analyses of patterns of hyperglycemia and insulin requirement over the 12-hour period following initiation of insulin. INTERVENTIONS: Insulin titration was performed based on blood glucose value and rate of change of blood glucose using an algorithm developed for the Control of Hyperglycemia in Pediatric Intensive Care trial. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of 92 children, 72 children (78%) randomized to the tight glycemic control group developed hyperglycemia (blood glucose, > 7 mmol/L [126 mg/dL]) and received insulin. Older age was associated with higher blood glucose and a higher insulin dose per kilogram over the first 3 hours of the study period (p ≤ 0.02). Cumulative insulin dose was significantly higher in older children (median, 1.3 U/kg [range, 0.2-5.75]) compared with other age groups (neonate, 0.37 [0.05-2.2]; infant, 0.45 [0.05-2.2]; young child, 0.35 [0.05-0.81]) (p = 0.004). Age group, rather than body mass index, carbohydrate intake, or cardiac surgery variables, was the only variable (coefficient: 1.14 ± 0.3; p < 0.001) associated with cumulative insulin dose on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: When tight glycemic control is targeted in children who have undergone cardiac surgery, children in the older child age group (5-16 yr) require insulin at significantly higher doses. Further study is needed to understand the mechanisms involved.

Anti-inflammatory modalities: their current use in pediatric cardiac surgery in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the use of anti-inflammatory therapies in infants and children undergoing cardiac surgery in the United Kingdom and Ireland. DESIGN: Questionnaire survey. SUBJECTS: All centers that undertake pediatric cardiac surgery in the United Kingdom and Ireland. RESULTS: All centers use at least one anti-inflammatory therapy, with 46% of centers using more than one. Both modified ultrafiltration (80%) and steroids (80%) are widely used as anti-inflammatory strategies. Among centers that use steroids, dose, preparation, and timing of steroid administered was highly variable. Heparin-bonded circuits and aprotinin are infrequently used as anti-inflammatory techniques. CONCLUSION: Although anti-inflammatory interventions are believed to contribute to improved patient outcome following cardiopulmonary bypass, this survey has shown that there are still widespread variations in practice. Rather than reflecting poor clinical practice, we believe this reflects a lack of good evidence supporting clinical benefit.