Efectos de la asociación vasopresina-noradrenalina en pacientes pediátricos con choque séptico refractario

Objetivo: Evaluar el efecto sobre presión arterial media (PAM), estancia hospitalaria, mortalidad y perfusión tisular con el uso de vasopresores en niños con choque séptico refractario en la Unidad de Cuidado Intensivo pediátrico de la Fundación CardioInfantil. Materiales y Métodos: Estudio observacional de cohorte retrospectiva en niños de 1 mes a 18 años con choque séptico refractario atendidos de enero 2008 a diciembre 2013 tratados con noradrenalina sola ó vasopresina-noradrenalina. Se excluyeron pacientes con choque de otra etiología, cardiopatías congénitas, diabetes insípida y muerte encefálica. Se estimaron, como medidas de asociación riesgos relativos con sus respectivos intervalos de confianza al 95%.Resultados: Se evaluaron 129 pacientes, de los cuales 51% eran niños, edad promedio 52 meses con una mortalidad global del 34.1%. La PAM inicial en ambos grupos mostró incremento significativo que se mantuvo en las siguientes 3 horas (p<0,005). La mortalidad en el grupo PRISM III de bajo riesgo fue menor con la noradrenalina sola (p<0,005 RR3,7 IC95% 1,16-12,2) pero igual en ambos grupos en los de riesgo moderado según esta escala(p=0,42 RR 0,88 IC95% 0,60-1,30). No se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en estancia en UCIP (p=0,79) ni hospitalaria total (p=0,96) pero sí mejoría en función hepática (p=0,004)y renal (p<0,005) del grupo de vasopresina-noradrenalina Conclusiones: La asociación vasopresina-noradrenalina mejora la PAM cuando no se han alcanzado metas con un solo vasopresor en pacientes con choque séptico refractario. Se necesitan estudios prospectivos que corroboren estos hallazgos. Palabras claves:Choque séptico refractario, noradrenalina, vasopresina, mortalidad.

Evaluación de la validez de la escala llanto para el dolor en neonatos y menores de cinco años

Introducción: La escala LLANTO para dolor es una escala que hasta la fecha ha sido solo validada en población infantil española, actualmente no se conocen datos en población colombiana. Se pretende validar la escala de dolor LLANTO en pacientes neonatos y menores de 5 años, a través de su aplicación en pacientes atendidos en una de tres instituciones, además comparándola con las escalas FLACC y PIPP dependiendo de edad del paciente. Metodología: Se incluyeron niños con cualquier tipo de dolor, clasificándolos en dos grupos por edad: 1) neonatos y 2) niños entre 1 mes y 5 años de edad, que asistieron a la Fundación Cardioinfantil, Clínica Infantil Colsubsidio o al Hospital Universitario Mayor. Las escalas fueron aplicadas por dos residentes de pediatría y una enfermera especializada en el cuidado de población infantil. Para la prueba piloto se diseñó un cuestionario determinar dificultades en la aplicación de la escala LLANTO. Una vez corregidos los problemas identificados se procederá a la validación de la escala. Resultados: Se presentan los datos de la prueba piloto. Se incluyeron 8 neonatos y 8 niños entre 1 mes y 5 años, esta muestra fue obtenida en un periodo de un mes, con la encuesta se evaluó la aceptación y entendimiento de la escala LLANTO por parte de los evaluadores. La prueba piloto mostró resultados favorables en el 100% de los encuestados. Discusión: Se considera que la escala LLANTO no requiere cambios para continuar con su validación.

Trauma craneoencefálico severo en la UCIP del Hospital de la Misericordia, 2010-2013

El Trauma Craneoencefálico (TCE) infantil constituye un motivo frecuente de consulta en Urgencias y supone la primera causa de muerte en niños, llegando a ser hasta del 50% en trauma severo. En Colombia se conocen cifras de TCE por algunos estudios descriptivos, pero no existen reportes en Bogotá ni específicamente en TCE severo. Objetivo: Caracterizar el trauma craneoencefálico severo pediátrico en la Unidad de Cuidado intensivo del Hospital de la Misericordia entre los años 2010 y 2013. Materiales y métodos: Un estudio descriptivo retrospectivo fue realizado en el Hospital de la Misericordia mediante revisión de las historias clínicas de los pacientes que ingresaron a la Unidad de Cuidado Intensivo pediátrico con diagnóstico de trauma craneoencefálico severo entre el año 2010 al 2013. Resultados: Se incluyeron 63 pacientes (71,4% hombres) con una edad mediana de 4 años (RIQ 2-8). La mayoría de los traumas fueron originados por caída o accidente de tránsito (79,4%). La principal lesión fue fractura de cráneo (79%). Casi la mitad de los pacientes sufrieron algún tipo de secuela neurológica al egreso (47,1%). La mayoría de los pacientes que murieron (19%) sufrieron choque hipovolémico (83,3%) y presentaron trauma asociado (66,7%). Conclusión: Las características y epidemiología del trauma craneoencefálico en nuestra población muestran claras similitudes con lo reportados en otras series de la literatura mundial y de Colombia, excepto por la mortalidad, que se esperaba más alta al estudiar solo pacientes con TCE severo.

Facilitation of learning in specialist nursing training in the PICU : the supervisors´ concerns in the learning situation

With the aim to unfold nurses’ concerns of the supervision of the student in the clinical caring situation of the vulnerable child, clinical nurses situated supervision of postgraduate nursing students in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) are explored. A qualitative approach, interpretive phenomenology, with participant observations and narrative interviews, was used. Two qualitative variations of patterns of meaning for the nurses’ clinical facilitation were disclosed in this study. Learning by doing theme supports the students learning by doing through performing skills and embracing routines. The reflecting theme supports thinking and awareness of the situation. As the supervisor often serves as a role model for the student this might have an immediate impact on how the student applies nursing care in the beginning of his or her career. If the clinical supervisor narrows the perspective and hinders room for learning the student will bring less knowledge from the clinical education than expected, which might result in reduced nursing quality.

Procalcitonin in children with sepsis and septic shock

Objectives: To study the behavior of procalcitonin and to verify whether it can be used to differentiate children with septic conditions.Methods: Children were enrolled prospectively from among those aged 28 days to 14 years, admitted between January 2004 and December 2005 to the pediatric intensive care unit at Universidade Estadual Paulista UNESP with sepsis or septic shock. The children were classified as belonging to one of two groups: the sepsis group (SG; n = 47) and the septic shock group (SSG; n = 43). Procalcitonin was measured at admission (TO) and again 12 hours later (T12h), and the results classed as: < 0.5 ng/mL = sepsis unlikely; >= 0.5 to < 2 = sepsis possible; >= 2 to < 10 = systemic inflammation and : 10 = septic shock.Results: At T0 there was a greater proportion of SSG patients than SG patients in the highest PCT class [SSG: 30 (69.7%) > SG: 14 (29.8%); p < 0.05]. The proportion of SSG patients in this highest PCT class was greater than in all other classes (>= 10 = 69.7%; >= 2 to < 10 = 18.6%; >= 0.5 to < 2 = 11.6%; < 0. 5 = 0.0%; p < 0.05). The behavior of procalcitonin at T12h was similar to at T0. The pediatric risk of mortality (PRISM) scores for the SSG patients in the highest procalcitonin class were more elevated than for children in the SG [SSG: 35.15 (40.5-28.7) vs. SG: 18.6 (21.4-10.2); p < 0.05].Conclusions: Procalcitonin allows sepsis to be differentiated from septic shock, can be of aid when diagnosing septic conditions in children and may be related to severity.

Comparison between intermittent mandatory ventilation and synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation with pressure support in children

Objective: To compare intermittent mandatory ventilation (IMV) with synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation plus pressure support (SIMV+PS) in terms of time on mechanical ventilation, duration of weaning and length of stay in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).Methods: This was a randomized clinical trial that enrolled children aged 28 days to 4 years who were admitted to a PICU between October of 2005 and June of 2007 and put on mechanical ventilation (MV) for more than 48 hours. These patients were allocated to one of two groups by drawing lots: IMV group (IMVG; n = 35) and SIMV+PS group (SIMVG; n = 35). Children were excluded if they had undergone tracheotomy or had chronic respiratory diseases. Data on oxygenation and ventilation were recorded at admission and at the start of weaning.Results: There were no statistical differences between the groups in terms of age, sex, indication for MV, PRISM score, Comfort scale, use of sedatives or ventilation and oxygenation parameters. The median time on MV was 5 days for both groups (p = 0.120). There were also no statistical differences between the two groups for duration of weaning [IMVG: 1 day (1-6) vs. SIMVG: 1 day (1-6); p = 0.262] or length of hospital stay [IMVG: 8 days (2-22) vs. SIMVG: 6 days (3-20); p = 0.113].Conclusion: Among the children studied here, there was no statistically significant difference between IMV and SIMV+ PS in terms of time on MV, duration of weaning or time spent in the PICU.ClinicalTrials.govID: NCT00549809.

Acute and sustained effects of early administration of inhaled nitric oxide to children with acute respiratory distress syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To determine the acute and sustained effects of early inhaled nitric oxide on some oxygenation indexes and ventilator settings and to compare inhaled nitric oxide administration and conventional therapy on mortality rate, length of stay in intensive care, and duration of mechanical ventilation in children with acute respiratory distress syndrome. DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: Pediatric intensive care unit at a university-affiliated hospital. PATIENTS: Children with acute respiratory distress syndrome, aged between 1 month and 12 yrs. INTERVENTIONS: Two groups were studied: an inhaled nitric oxide group (iNOG, n = 18) composed of patients prospectively enrolled from November 2000 to November 2002, and a conventional therapy group (CTG, n = 21) consisting of historical control patients admitted from August 1998 to August 2000. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Therapy with inhaled nitric oxide was introduced as early as 1.5 hrs after acute respiratory distress syndrome diagnosis with acute improvements in Pao(2)/Fio(2) ratio (83.7%) and oxygenation index (46.7%). Study groups were of similar ages, gender, primary diagnoses, pediatric risk of mortality score, and mean airway pressure. Pao(2)/Fio(2) ratio was lower (CTG, 116.9 +/- 34.5; iNOG, 62.5 +/- 12.8, p <.0001) and oxygenation index higher (CTG, 15.2 [range, 7.2-32.2]; iNOG, 24.3 [range, 16.3-70.4], p <.0001) in the iNOG. Prolonged treatment was associated with improved oxygenation, so that Fio(2) and peak inspiratory pressure could be quickly and significantly reduced. Mortality rate for inhaled nitric oxide-patients was lower (CTG, ten of 21, 47.6%; iNOG, three of 18, 16.6%, p <.001). There was no difference in intensive care stay (CTG, 10 days [range, 2-49]; iNOG, 12 [range, 6-26], p >.05) or duration of mechanical ventilation (TCG, 9 days [range, 2-47]; iNOG, 10 [range, 4-25], p >.05). CONCLUSIONS: Early treatment with inhaled nitric oxide causes acute and sustained improvement in oxygenation, with earlier reduction of ventilator settings, which might contribute to reduce the mortality rate in children with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Length of stay in intensive care and duration of mechanical ventilation are not changed. Prospective trials of inhaled nitric oxide early in the setting of acute lung injury in children are needed.

Caracterização venosa central em crianças internadas em Unidades de Terapia Intensiva pediátrica

Pós-graduação em Pediatria - FMB

Sepse e choque séptico: avaliação de fatores preditivos em crianças portadoras de doenças oncológicas admitidas na unidade de terapia intensiva pediátrica

Trata-se de um estudo prospectivo, que analisou fatores preditivos relacionados com a evolução da sepse e choque séptico em pacientes portadores de doenças oncológicas linfoproliferativas e tumorações sólidas que foram admitidos na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Pediátrica do Hospital Ophir Loyola e validou o escore PRISM III para predizer a evolução dos mesmos. Foram incluídos os pacientes na faixa etária de 30 dias a 16 anos internados no período de dezembro de 2007 a março de 2008 e que sobreviveram nas primeiras 24 horas. Os dados dos pacientes, constando parâmetros epidemiológicos, clínicos, laboratoriais, tratamento realizado e evolução para óbito ou alta foram coletados através de uma ficha clínica, assim como o escore PRISM coletado nas primeiras 24 horas de admissão na unidade. Realizou-se a análise estatística de regressão logística, através das variáveis epidemiológicas, clínicas e laboratoriais. Os resultados demonstraram que a idade média dos pacientes foi de 72,8 meses, sendo que 66,18% do sexo masculino, com média de tempo de internação de 12,10 dias, e a maior porcentagem (69,12%) procedente do interior do estado e de outros estados. A causa mais frequente de admissão foi a sepse (41,18%), mais da metade apresentou neutropenia febril (55,88%) e precisaram de drogas inotrópicas-vasoativas (55,88%), utilizaram ventilação mecânica 47,06%, evoluindo para o óbito em 51,47% dos casos. A análise de regressão logística univariada evidenciou como fator de risco significante para o óbito o tempo de internamento, utilização de drogas inotrópicas-vasoativas e ventilação mecânica. A análise do óbito em relação ao escore PRISM III também foi significante. A análise multivariada apresentou como mais significativos fatores de risco de óbito a utilização de drogas inotrópicas-vasoativas, o uso de ventilação mecânica e o escore PRISM III. O início precoce do tratamento intensivo para crianças com câncer apresentando sepse e choque séptico pode ser um fator capaz de influenciar a mortalidade desses pacientes.

Opinião de familiares sobre a internação de crianças em uma Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Pediátrica

A Pediatric Intensive care Unit (PICU) is an environment where care is provided to seriously ill children. Hospitalization is regarded as an unpleasant experience that requires adaptation and routine change. To assess the opinion of relatives of children hospitalized at a PICU concerning tie breakage and/or separation between children and their families. It is a descriptive, cross-sectional, quantitative study. A structured interview was conducted with the families of hospitalized children from July to September, 2010. The data were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty relatives were interviewed, 80% of whom believed that children’s behavior changes when they are present in the unit, and 85% considered the visitation time established to be sufficient. All the respondents reported to be satisfied about the care provided. The feelings prevailing in 50% of the relatives were fear and hope. Change in the family’s union after hospitalization occurred in 85% of the families. The most fearful aspect concerning the ICU is the equipment (25%), and the most worrisome, as regards personal life, is the separation from other children (65%). Health care professionals must pay more attention to relatives by including them in their health care plan so that the health care team and the family, who are essential in children’s recovery, can interact in a congenial fashion. It is also necessary to improve the knowledge related to that subject so that the health care team and families can work together towards children’s recovery

Morte e morrer: opinião dos profissionais de saúde de uma unidade de terapia intensiva pediátrica

Presently, the dying process and death most often occur in hospitals and, particularly, in Intensive Care Units (ICU), where patients’ lives are prolonged thanks to advanced technological devices and highly efficient medicines. To learn about the opinion of health care professionals working at a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in relation to the dying process and dying. This is a descriptive quantitative study. A questionnaire was applied to the unit’s staff members from June to August, 2011. Data were statistically analyzed. Twenty-five professionals answered the questionnaire, and 72% faced death as a natural life process. 60% felt compassion, but that feeling did not interfere with how they cared for patients. Concerning their professional training, 52% reported not to have received any concerning patients’ caregivers in the dying process or death; therefore, they experienced such situation when they were already working, and 76% reported to be interested in updating courses on that theme. Further discussion about this topic during academic education is necessary. It is also necessary to provide health care professionals with specialization courses, debates and experience exchange so that they can better understand and deal with their feelings and limitations in face of death and thus give better care to patients and relate to patients’ families during the dying process of a loved one

Perfil dos pacientes internados em uma unidade de terapia intensiva pediátrica de um hospital escola do interior de São Paulo

The purpose of the study was to outline the profile of patients hospitalized at the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of the Hospital das Clínicas de Botucatu - UNESP. This is a descriptive, cross-sectional and quantitative study. The data were extracted from the “Discharge, Admission and Death Register” of the unit of the patients hospitalized between January and December 2011. There was predominance of male children (54.4%) under one year of age (40,7%) were, with a mean length of stay of 5.46 days. Most of these children came from cities included in the DIR XI/SP in Botucatu (78.2%). The discharge contributed with 91.1% of the total discharges from the unit. Most admissions happened during the fall and winter, with the Immediate Post-Operative (IPO - 32.3%) and respiratory diseases (24.2%) as the most frequent causes. The profile of patients at the PICU makes it possible to elucidate individual aspects, family, social, demographic, seasonal, climatic, and, also, the clinical conditions, and, thus, comprehend the context of hospitalizations, in order to propose improvements on assistance, in an individualized and integral manner, for patients and their families.

Invasive aspergillosis: a severe infection in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE). Among them, invasive aspergillosis (IA), which is usually related to immunosuppressed patients, has been rarely reported in JSLE. From 1983 to 2011, 5604 patients were followed at our institution and 283 (5%) met the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria for SLE. Six (2.1%) of our JSLE patients had IA. One of them was previously reported and five will be described herein. Four of them were female. The median age at JSLE diagnosis was 12 years (8-16) and the median interval between diagnosis of JSLE and IA was 6 months (1-38). All had pulmonary involvement and three of them had systemic involvement. The median Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) was 19 (7-22). Diagnosis of IA was performed by isolation of Aspergillus spp., two in bronchoalveolar lavage culture and by way of autopsy in the others. All of them were treated with corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressive drugs at IA diagnosis (azathioprine and/or intravenous cyclophosphamide). They all required treatment in the pediatric intensive care unit with mechanical ventilation and antifungal therapy (fluconazole, amphotericin B, itraconazole and/or voriconazole); nonetheless, none of them survived. In conclusion, this was the first report that evaluated the prevalence of IA in a large population of JSLE patients from a tertiary pediatric hospital, and clearly showed the severity of the outcome, especially in patients with active disease and treated with immunosuppressive agents. This study reinforces the importance of early diagnosis and treatment with certain antifungals, especially in critically ill patients. Lupus (2012) 21, 1011-1016.

Role of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 for diagnosing ventilator-associated pneumonia after cardiac surgery: an observational study

Abstract Background The diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a challenge, particularly after cardiac surgery. The use of biological markers of infection has been suggested to improve the accuracy of VAP diagnosis. We aimed to evaluate the usefulness of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells (sTREM)-1 in the diagnosis of VAP following cardiac surgery. Methods This was a prospective observational cohort study of children with congenital heart disease admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) after surgery and who remained intubated and mechanically ventilated for at least 24 hours postoperatively. VAP was defined by the 2007 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. Blood, modified bronchoalveolar lavage (mBAL) fluid and exhaled ventilator condensate (EVC) were collected daily, starting immediately after surgery until the fifth postoperative day or until extubation for measurement of sTREM-1. Results Thirty patients were included, 16 with VAP. Demographic variables, Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM) and Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery (RACHS)-1 scores, duration of surgery and length of cardiopulmonary bypass were not significantly diferent in patients with and without VAP. However, time on mechanical ventilation and length of stay in the PICU and in the hospital were significantly longer in the VAP group. Serum and mBAL fluid sTREM-1 concentrations were similar in both groups. In the VAP group, 12 of 16 patients had sTREM-1 detected in EVC, whereas it was undetectable in all but two patients in the non-VAP group over the study period (p = 0.0013) (sensitivity 0.75, specificity 0.86, positive predictive value 0.86, negative predictive value 0.75, positive likelihood ratio (LR) 5.25, negative LR 0.29). Conclusion Measurement of sTREM-1 in EVC may be useful for the diagnosis of VAP after cardiac surgery.

Hospitalized children with respiratory syncytial virus infection and neuromuscular impairment face an increased risk of a complicated course

BACKGROUND: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is an important cause of viral respiratory tract infection in children. In contrast to other confirmed risk factors that predispose to a higher morbidity and mortality, the particular risk of a preexisting neuromuscular impairment (NMI) in hospitalized children with RSV infection has not been prospectively studied in a multicenter trial. METHODS: The DMS RSV Paed database was designed for the prospective multicenter documentation and analysis of all clinically relevant aspects of the management of inpatients with RSV infection. Patients with clinically relevant NMI were identified according to the specific comments of the attending physicians and compared with those without NMI. RESULTS: This study covers 6 consecutive seasons; the surveillance took place in 14 pediatric hospitals in Germany from 1999 to 2005. In total, 1568 RSV infections were prospectively documented in 1541 pediatric patients. Of these, 73 (4.7%) patients displayed a clinically relevant NMI; 41 (56%) NMI patients had at least 1 additional risk factor for a severe course of the infection (multiple risk factors in some patients; prematurity in 30, congenital heart disease in 19, chronic lung disease 6 and immunodeficiency in 8). Median age at diagnosis was higher in NMI patients (14 vs. 5 months); NMI patients had a greater risk of seizures (15.1% vs. 1.6%), and a higher proportion in the NMI group had to be mechanically ventilated (9.6% vs. 1.9%). Eventually, the attributable mortality was significantly higher in the NMI group (5.5% vs. 0.2%; P < 0.001 for all). Multivariate logistic regression confirmed that NMI was independently associated with pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission (OR, 4.94; 95% CI, 2.69-8.94; P < 0.001] and mechanical ventilation (OR, 3.85; 95% CI, 1.28-10.22; P = 0.017). CONCLUSION: This is the first prospective multicenter study confirming the hypothesis that children with clinically relevant NMI face an increased risk for severe RSV-disease. It seems reasonable to include NMI as a cofactor into the decision algorithm of passive immunization.