Edward E. Conway

Guidelines for the determination of brain death in infants and children: An update of the 1987 Task Force recommendations

Objective:To review and revise the 1987 pediatric brain death guidelines. Methods:Relevant literature was reviewed. Recommendations were developed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system. Conclusions and Recommendations:1) Determination of brain death in term newborns, infants, and children is a clinical diagnosis based on the absence of neurologic function with a known irreversible cause of coma. Because of insufficient data in the literature, recommendations for preterm infants <37 wks gestational age are not included in this guideline. 2) Hypotension, hypothermia, and metabolic disturbances should be treated and corrected and medications that can interfere with the neurologic examination and apnea testing should be discontinued allowing for adequate clearance before proceeding with these evaluations. 3) Two examinations, including apnea testing with each examination separated by an observation period, are required. Examinations should be performed by different attending physicians. Apnea testing may be performed by the same physician. An observation period of 24 hrs for term newborns (37 wks gestational age) to 30 days of age and 12 hrs for infants and children (>30 days to 18 yrs) is recommended. The first examination determines the child has met the accepted neurologic examination criteria for brain death. The second examination confirms brain death based on an unchanged and irreversible condition. Assessment of neurologic function after cardiopulmonary resuscitation or other severe acute brain injuries should be deferred for ≥24 hrs if there are concerns or inconsistencies in the examination. 4) Apnea testing to support the diagnosis of brain death must be performed safely and requires documentation of an arterial Paco2 20 mm Hg above the baseline and ≥60 mm Hg with no respiratory effort during the testing period. If the apnea test cannot be safely completed, an ancillary study should be performed. 5) Ancillary studies (electroencephalogram and radionuclide cerebral blood flow) are not required to establish brain death and are not a substitute for the neurologic examination. Ancillary studies may be used to assist the clinician in making the diagnosis of brain death a) when components of the examination or apnea testing cannot be completed safely as a result of the underlying medical condition of the patient; b) if there is uncertainty about the results of the neurologic examination; c) if a medication effect may be present; or d) to reduce the interexamination observation period. When ancillary studies are used, a second clinical examination and apnea test should be performed and components that can be completed must remain consistent with brain death. In this instance, the observation interval may be shortened and the second neurologic examination and apnea test (or all components that are able to be completed safely) can be performed at any time thereafter. 6) Death is declared when these criteria are fulfilled.

American College of Critical Care Medicine Clinical Practice Parameters for Hemodynamic Support of Pediatric and Neonatal Septic Shock

Objectives: The American College of Critical Care Medicine provided 2002 and 2007 guidelines for hemodynamic support of newborn and pediatric septic shock. Provide the 2014 update of the 2007 American College of Critical Care Medicine “Clinical Guidelines for Hemodynamic Support of Neonates and Children with Septic Shock.” Design: Society of Critical Care Medicine members were identified from general solicitation at Society of Critical Care Medicine Educational and Scientific Symposia (2006–2014). The PubMed/Medline/Embase literature (2006–14) was searched by the Society of Critical Care Medicine librarian using the keywords: sepsis, septicemia, septic shock, endotoxemia, persistent pulmonary hypertension, nitric oxide, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and American College of Critical Care Medicine guidelines in the newborn and pediatric age groups. Measurements and Main Results: The 2002 and 2007 guidelines were widely disseminated, translated into Spanish and Portuguese, and incorporated into Society of Critical Care Medicine and American Heart Association/Pediatric Advanced Life Support sanctioned recommendations. The review of new literature highlights two tertiary pediatric centers that implemented quality improvement initiatives to improve early septic shock recognition and first-hour compliance to these guidelines. Improved compliance reduced hospital mortality from 4% to 2%. Analysis of Global Sepsis Initiative data in resource rich developed and developing nations further showed improved hospital mortality with compliance to first-hour and stabilization guideline recommendations. Conclusions: The major new recommendation in the 2014 update is consideration of institution—specific use of 1) a “recognition bundle” containing a trigger tool for rapid identification of patients with septic shock, 2) a “resuscitation and stabilization bundle” to help adherence to best practice principles, and 3) a “performance bundle” to identify and overcome perceived barriers to the pursuit of best practice principles.

Effects of dantrolene on cooling times and cardiovascular parameters in an immature porcine model of heatstroke

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of dantrolene on cooling times and cardiovascular parameters in an immature porcine model of heatstroke. DESIGN Prospective, randomized, controlled, multigroup study. SETTING Research animal laboratory. SUBJECTS Yorkshire piglets (n = 16), 4 to 5 wks of age, 3.5 to 4.5 kg of body weight. INTERVENTIONS Animals were slowly heated with a radiant heat source to 43 degrees C and then maintained at this temperature for 30 mins. The animals were then removed from the heat source and randomized into one of four groups to receive either conventional cooling methods consisting of fluid resuscitation with 0.9% sodium chloride solution, sponging with room temperature water, mechanical fanning, and gastric lavage with iced 0.9% sodium chloride solution (group 1), conventional cooling methods and dantrolene (group 2), conventional cooling methods and dantrolenes vehicle mannitol (group 3), or no treatment (group 4). Cooling times, defined as the time required to reach a core body temperature of 38.5 degrees C, and cardiovascular parameters for each group were then compared. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Animals in groups 1, 2, and 3 had significantly (p < .05) lower core body temperatures than animals that received no treatment at the conclusion of the experiment. Piglets in groups 2 and 3 had faster cooling times than piglets in group 1 (p < .05). However, there was no statistically significant difference in cooling times between the animals in groups 2 and 3. There were no statistically significant differences in heart rate, mean arterial pressure, central venous pressure, pulmonary artery occlusion pressure, or systemic vascular resistance index between animals in groups 1, 2, or 3. Group 3 piglets had higher cardiac indices and stroke indices than the piglets in the other groups (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS Therapeutic interventions with conventional cooling or conventional cooling and dantrolene provided significant improvement in cardiovascular function in an immature porcine heatstroke model. Dantrolene, given with conventional cooling methods, offered no significant improvement in cardiovascular parameters compared with conventional cooling methods alone. Dantrolene significantly shortened the cooling time compared with conventional cooling but did not significantly shorten the cooling time compared with its vehicle, mannitol. Although dantrolene significantly shortened the cooling time, it did not appear to be superior compared with conventional cooling methods in treating heatstroke in this immature porcine heatstroke model.

Pulmonary Complications following Tricyclic Antidepressant Overdose in an Adolescent

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of pulmonary edema following a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) overdose in an adolescent. CASE SUMMARY: A 14-year-old girl with a history of prior suicide attempts ingested 54 50-mg desipramine hydrochloride tablets (45 mg/kg ingestion). The patient developed a cardiac dysrhythmia and hypotension, which were successfully treated. She subsequently developed pulmonary edema and a clinical picture suggestive of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). She was successfully managed with fluid restriction, tracheal intubation, application of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), and vasopressors. The patient was discharged without any clinical sequelae. DISCUSSION: Pulmonary complications secondary to TCA overdose have rarely been reported in children. We reviewed literature pertaining to the etiology, epidemiology, pathophysiology, and management of TCA-induced lung injury, as well as other case reports. We discuss the potential relationship between sequelae resulting from TCA ingestion (e.g., cardiac disturbances, hypotension, acidosis, gastric aspiration, pneumonia) and the development of ARDS and pulmonary edema, and relate this association to our patient. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary edema and a clinical picture suggestive of ARDS was noted in an adolescent girl who ingested a large quantity of desipramine. Her lung injury may have been the result of a variety of factors including hypotension, metabolic acidosis, possible aspiration, or a direct action on the lung parenchyma by desipramine. We attribute her favorable clinical outcome to early intervention consisting of tracheal intubation, PEEP, fluid restriction, and vasopressor therapy.

Relationship between arterial, mixed venous, and internal jugular carboxyhemoglobin concentrations at low, medium, and high concentrations in a piglet model of carbon monoxide toxicity.

Objective This study tested the hypothesis that mixed venous carboxyhemoglobin concentrations (V-COHb) and internal jugular carboxyhemoglobin concentrations (I-COHb) accurately predict arterial carboxyhemoglobin concentrations (A-COHb). In addition, this study tested the hypothesis that there is a high correlation at low (COHb, 0% to 10%), moderate (COHb, >10% to 40%), and high (COHb, >40%) concentrations between V-COHb, I-COHb, and A-COHb. Design The study was a prospective comparison of A-COHb, V-COHb, and I-COHb concentrations in piglets exposed to increasing concentrations of carbon monoxide over 6 hrs to achieve a concentration of ≥60% COHb. Carboxyhemoglobin measurements were evaluated by analysis of variance and correlation analysis. Agreement between V-COHb and A-COHb concentrations was examined by using a plot of arteriovenous differences against the mean of the two measurements. Intervention We simultaneously sampled arterial, mixed venous, and internal jugular blood every 30 mins over the 6-hr study period. Results Two hundred fifty arterial and mixed venous COHb concentrations were obtained, and 214 internal jugular COHb concentrations were obtained. One hundred additional arterial, mixed venous, internal jugular, and peripheral COHb concentrations were obtained. Correlation between samples at each concentration revealed r2 ≥ .94. Conclusion Venous COHb concentrations predict arterial COHb concentrations with a high degree of accuracy and are correlated at low, moderate, and high concentrations of carbon monoxide exposure. Arterial or venous samples can be used to accurately measure COHb concentrations.

TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME FOLLOWING INFLUENZA A IN A CHILD

Adult patients infected with influenza A and S. aureus developed a fulminant pneumonia, but no documented cases of TSS have been reported to date. Multisystem failure is seen in TSS and may be mediated by the enterotoxin TSST-1, which is produced by certain strains of S. aureus. We describe a 12-yr-old female with nonmenstrual TSS following infection with influenza A

Education in a pediatric emergency mass critical care setting.

INTRODUCTION An emergency mass critical care event puts significant strains on all healthcare resources, including equipment, supplies, and manpower; it leads to extraordinary stresses on healthcare providers, many of whom will be expected to deliver care outside of their usual scope of practice. Education and educational resources will be critically important for training providers and diminishing the stress, anxiety, and chaos of delivering pediatric emergency mass critical care. This article suggests educational tools, as well as potential resources, that need to be developed to cope with a pediatric emergency mass critical care event. METHODS In May 2008, the Task Force for Mass Critical Care published guidance on provision of mass critical care to adults. Acknowledging that the critical care needs of children during disasters were unaddressed by this effort, a 17-member Steering Committee, assembled by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education with guidance from members of the American Academy of Pediatrics, convened in April 2009 to determine priority topic areas for pediatric emergency mass critical care recommendations.Steering Committee members established subgroups by topic area and performed literature reviews of MEDLINE and Ovid databases. The Steering Committee produced draft outlines through consensus-based study of the literature and convened October 6-7, 2009, in New York, NY, to review and revise each outline. Eight draft documents were subsequently developed from the revised outlines as well as through searches of MEDLINE updated through March 2010.The Pediatric Emergency Mass Critical Care Task Force, composed of 36 experts from diverse public health, medical, and disaster response fields, convened in Atlanta, GA, on March 29-30, 2010. Feedback on each manuscript was compiled and the Steering Committee revised each document to reflect expert input in addition to the most current medical literature. TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS Identifying educational needs to prepare for a pediatric emergency mass critical care event is essential for all healthcare organizations. Educational strategies and tactics should be developed at multiple levels for a comprehensive approach to preparing for pediatric emergency mass critical care.

Utilizing a Pediatric Disaster Coalition Model to Increase Pediatric Critical Care Surge Capacity in New York City

A mass casualty event can result in an overwhelming number of critically injured pediatric victims that exceeds the available capacity of pediatric critical care (PCC) units, both locally and regionally. To address these gaps, the New York City (NYC) Pediatric Disaster Coalition (PDC) was established. The PDC includes experts in emergency preparedness, critical care, surgery, and emergency medicine from 18 of 25 major NYC PCC-capable hospitals. A PCC surge committee created recommendations for making additional PCC beds available with an emphasis on space, staff, stuff (equipment), and systems. The PDC assisted 15 hospitals in creating PCC surge plans by utilizing template plans and site visits. These plans created an additional 153 potential PCC surge beds. Seven hospitals tested their plans through drills. The purpose of this article was to demonstrate the need for planning for disasters involving children and to provide a stepwise, replicable model for establishing a PDC, with one of its primary goals focused on facilitating PCC surge planning. The process we describe for developing a PDC can be replicated to communities of any size, setting, or location. We offer our model as an example for other cities. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:473-478).

Pediatric Sepsis: A Primer for the Pediatrician

Sepsis is the bodys systemic response to infection and is a serious health care concern that affects neonatal, pediatric, and adult populations worldwide. Severe sepsis (sepsis that has progressed to cellular dysfunction and organ damage or evidence of hypoperfusion) and septic shock (sepsis with persistent hypotension despite adequate fluid resuscitation) are still associated with high mortality rates despite improvements in the management of infectious processes. The cellular processes that occur as a result of the inflammatory response in sepsis, including impaired perfusion and microcirculatory coagulation, can lead to organ system dysfunction. Early recognition of sepsis can help prompt treatment to improve patient care. Current pediatric guidelines emphasize early recognition, aggressive fluid resuscitation, and administration of antibiotics within the first hour for a better outcome. The practitioner needs to always be mindful of the possibility of sepsis when examining a patient with potential symptoms. [Pediatr Ann. 2018;47(7):e292-e299.].

Outcome of Pediatric Intensive Care Patients Following Carbon Monoxide Poisoning 212

Pediatric carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning has received little attention in the literature. Pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) outcome for patients admitted following CO poisoning is lacking. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of PICU patients following CO poisoning. Methods: We reviewed the charts of PICU patients admitted with the diagnosis of CO poisoning from June 1990 to June 1997. Charts were reviewed for: age, sex, PRISM score, prehospital vital signs and interventions, carboxyhemoglobin level (COHb), initial pH, base excess, need for intubation, inotropic support, hyperbaric therapy and pediatric overall performance category(POPC).1 The POPC scale (1=good overall performance, 2=mild overall disability, 3=moderate overall disability, 4= severe overall disability, 5= coma or vegetative state, 6= brain death) has been shown to be both reliable and valid for assessing the outcome of patients requiring intensive care. Data was analyzed via chi-square, ANOVA or correlation. Results: Fifteen patients were identified with CO poisoning. The mean age was 49 months (range 5 days to 13 years), mean COHb was 28% (range 8 - 42%), mean PRISM score was 19 (range 3 - 44). There was one death secondary to cerebral herniation. Two children had surface burns with affected area less than 5%. Table