Joy D. Howell

Current medication practice and tracheal intubation safety outcomes from a prospective multicenter observational cohort study.

Objectives: Tracheal intubation in PICUs is often associated with adverse tracheal intubation–associated events. There is a paucity of data regarding medication selection for safe tracheal intubations in PICUs. Our primary objective was to evaluate the association of medication selection on specific tracheal intubation–associated events across PICUs. Design: Prospective observational cohort study. Setting: Nineteen PICUs in North America. Subjects: Critically ill children requiring tracheal intubation. Interventions: None. Measurement and Main Results: Using the National Emergency Airway Registry for Children, tracheal intubation quality improvement data were prospectively collected from July 2010 to March 2013. Patient, provider, and practice characteristics including medications and dosages were collected. Adverse tracheal intubation–associated events were defined a priori. A total of 3,366 primary tracheal intubations were reported. Adverse tracheal intubation–associated events occurred in 593 tracheal intubations (18%). Fentanyl and midazolam were the most commonly used induction medications (64% and 58%, respectively). Neuromuscular blockade was used in 92% of tracheal intubation with the majority using rocuronium (64%) followed by vecuronium (20%). Etomidate and succinylcholine were rarely used (1.6% and 0.7%, respectively). Vagolytics were administered in 37% of tracheal intubations (51% in infants; 28% in > 1 yr old; p < 0.001). Ketamine was used in 27% of tracheal intubations but more often for tracheal intubations in patients with unstable hemodynamics (39% vs 25%; p < 0.001). However, ketamine use was not associated with lower prevalence of new hypotension (ketamine 8% vs no ketamine 14%; p = 0.08). Conclusions: In this large, pediatric multicenter registry, fentanyl, midazolam, and ketamine were the most commonly used induction agents, and the majority of tracheal intubations involved neuromuscular blockade. Ketamine use was not associated with lower prevalence of hypotension.

Development of a Quality Improvement Bundle to Reduce Tracheal Intubation–Associated Events in Pediatric ICUs

Advanced airway management in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) is hazardous, with associated adverse outcomes. This report describes a methodology to develop a bundle to improve quality and safety of tracheal intubations. A prospective observational cohort study was performed with expert consensus opinion of 1715 children undergoing tracheal intubation at 15 PICUs. Baseline process and outcomes data in tracheal intubation were collected using the National Emergency Airway Registry for Children reporting system. Univariate analysis was performed to identify risk factors associated with adverse tracheal intubation–associated events. A multidisciplinary quality improvement committee was formed. Workflow analysis of tracheal intubation and pilot testing were performed to develop the Airway Bundle Checklist with 4 parts: (1) risk factor assessment, (2) plan generation, (3) preprocedure time-out to ensure that providers, equipment, and plans are prepared, (4) postprocedure huddle to identify improvement opportunities. The Airway Bundle Checklist developed may lead to improvement in airway management.

Clinical Impact of External Laryngeal Manipulation During Laryngoscopy on Tracheal Intubation Success in Critically Ill Children

Objectives: External laryngeal manipulation is a commonly used maneuver to improve visualization of the glottis during tracheal intubation in children. However, the effectiveness to improve tracheal intubation attempt success rate in the nonanesthesia setting is not clear. The study objective was to evaluate the association between external laryngeal manipulation use and initial tracheal intubation attempt success in PICUs. Design: A retrospective observational study using a multicenter emergency airway quality improvement registry. Setting: Thirty-five PICUs within general and children’s hospitals (29 in the United States, three in Canada, one in Japan, one in Singapore, and one in New Zealand). Patients: Critically ill children (< 18 years) undergoing initial tracheal intubation with direct laryngoscopy in PICUs between July 1, 2010, and December 31, 2015. Measurements and Main Results: Propensity score–matched analysis was performed to evaluate the association between external laryngeal manipulation and initial attempt success while adjusting for underlying differences in patient and clinical care factors: age, obesity, tracheal intubation indications, difficult airway features, provider training level, and neuromuscular blockade use. External laryngeal manipulation was defined as any external force to the neck during laryngoscopy. Of the 7,825 tracheal intubations, the initial tracheal intubation attempt was successful in 1,935/3,274 intubations (59%) with external laryngeal manipulation and 3,086/4,551 (68%) without external laryngeal manipulation (unadjusted odds ratio, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.62–0.75; p < 0.001). In propensity score–matched analysis, external laryngeal manipulation remained associated with lower initial tracheal intubation attempt success (adjusted odds ratio, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.90–0.95; p < 0.001). Conclusions: External laryngeal manipulation during direct laryngoscopy was associated with lower initial tracheal intubation attempt success in critically ill children, even after adjusting for underlying differences in patient factors and provider levels. The indiscriminate use of external laryngeal manipulation cannot be recommended.

Impact of New York State Influenza Mandate on Influenza-Like Illness, Acute Respiratory Illness, and Confirmed Influenza in Healthcare Personnel

In 2013, New York State mandated that, during influenza season, unvaccinated healthcare personnel (HCP) wear a surgical mask in areas where patients are typically present. We found that this mandate was associated with increased HCP vaccination and decreased HCP visits to the hospital Workforce Health and Safety Department with respiratory illnesses and laboratory-confirmed influenza. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2017;38:1361-1363.

Outcomes following thoracoabdominal resection of neuroblastoma

Objective: To evaluate the intraoperative and postoperative care of children following thoracoabdominal resection of neuroblastoma. Design: Retrospective chart review. Setting: Pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of major pediatric cancer center. Patients: Eighty-eight patients undergoing thoracoabdominal resection of neuroblastoma over a 6-year period. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: Demographic and clinical data were collected, including: length of PICU stay (LOS-P), duration of mechanical ventilation (MVD), mean arterial blood pressure, central venous pressure (CVP), fluid management, pressor use, and mortality. Twenty-one patients required inotropic/vasopressors support pressors following surgery. Patients who received pressors had longer operative times (p < .05) and received less intraoperative fluid (p < .05), but had the same estimated blood loss and urine output as nonpressor (NP) patients. Among the patients who received pressors, the MVD was 57 hrs, compared with 24 hrs in the NP group (p < .01). The LOS-P was 118 hours in the pressors group, vs. 69 hrs in the NP group (p < .01). The mean arterial blood pressure was lower and the CVP was higher in the pressors group compared with the NP group, and pressors patients received significantly more fluid postoperatively (p < .01). When pressors were initiated at a low CVP (<8), MVD was 39 hrs compared with 71 hrs when pressors were started at a higher CVP (p = .08). LOS-P was only slightly shorter in the low CVP group, 112 hrs vs. 123 hours (p = NS). The PICU mortality rate was 0%. Conclusions: Patients who received pressors had longer operative times and received less intraoperative fluid. Subsequently, they required more postoperative fluid, which is likely the result of hemodynamic instability leading to longer MVD and LOS-P. A prospective study evaluating operative fluid management and optimal time for initiation of pressors, in addition to the role of catecholamines and cytokines in this unique postoperative patient population is indicated.

Feasibility of Automatic Extraction of Electronic Health Data to Evaluate a Status Epilepticus Clinical Protocol

Status epilepticus is a common neurologic emergency in children. Pediatric medical centers often develop protocols to standardize care. Widespread adoption of electronic health records by hospitals affords the opportunity for clinicians to rapidly, and electronically evaluate protocol adherence. We reviewed the clinical data of a small sample of 7 children with status epilepticus, in order to (1) qualitatively determine the feasibility of automated data extraction and (2) demonstrate a timeline-style visualization of each patient’s first 24 hours of care. Qualitatively, our observations indicate that most clinical data are well labeled in structured fields within the electronic health record, though some important information, particularly electroencephalography (EEG) data, may require manual abstraction. We conclude that a visualization that clarifies a patient’s clinical course can be automatically created using the patient’s electronic clinical data, supplemented with some manually abstracted data. Future work could use this timeline to evaluate adherence to status epilepticus clinical protocols.

Breathing new life into pediatric advanced life support training

744 www.ccmjournal.org March 2014 • Volume 42 • Number 3 13. Rello J, Sole-Violan J, Sa-Borges M, et al: Pneumonia caused by oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus treated with glycopeptides. Crit Care Med 2005; 33:1983–1987 14. Orhan-Sungur M, Akça O: Ventilator-associated pneumonia by multidrug-resistant bacteria: Pathogen-specific risks versus care-related risks. J Crit Care 2007; 22:26–27 15. Medina J, Formento C, Pontet J, et al: Prospective study of risk factors for ventilator-associated pneumonia caused by Acinetobacter species. J Crit Care 2007; 22:18–26 16. Akça O, Koltka K, Uzel S, et al: Risk factors for early-onset, ventilator-associated pneumonia in critical care patients: Selected multiresistant versus nonresistant bacteria. Anesthesiology 2000; 93:638–645 17. Drakulovic MB, Torres A, Bauer TT, et al: Supine body position as a risk factor for nosocomial pneumonia in mechanically ventilated patients: A randomised trial. Lancet 1999; 354:1851–1858 18. Kostadima E, Kaditis AG, Alexopoulos EI, et al: Early gastrostomy reduces the rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia in stroke or head injury patients. Eur Respir J 2005; 26:106–111 19. Institute for Healthcare Improvement: Implement the Ventilator Bundle, 2005. Available at: http://www.ihi.org/knowledge/Pages/ Changes/ImplementtheVentilatorBundle.aspx. Accessed December 16, 2013 20. Blot S, Koulenti D, Dimopoulos G, et al; the EU-VAP Study Investigators: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Mortality for Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Middle-Aged, Old, and Very Old Critically Ill Patients. Crit Care Med 2014; 42:601–609 21. Koulenti D, Lisboa T, Brun-Buisson C, et al; EU-VAP/CAP Study Group: Spectrum of practice in the diagnosis of nosocomial pneumonia in patients requiring mechanical ventilation in European intensive care units. Crit Care Med 2009; 37:2360–2368 22. Cheng JW, Nayar M: A review of heart failure management in the elderly population. Am J Geriatr Pharmacother 2009; 7:233–249 23. Tejerina E, Frutos-Vivar F, Restrepo MI, et al; International Mechanical Ventilation Study Group: Incidence, risk factors, and outcome of ventilator-associated pneumonia. J Crit Care 2006; 21:56–65 24. Rammaert B, Ader F, Nseir S: [Ventilator-associated pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]. Rev Mal Respir 2007; 24:1285–1298

Pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome associated with human metapneumovirus and respiratory syncytial virus

To study the incidence, risk factors, clinical course, and outcome of ARDS in children with HMP and RSV.

Frequency of Desaturation and Association with Hemodynamic Adverse Events during Tracheal Intubations in PICUs

Objectives: Oxygen desaturation during tracheal intubation is known to be associated with adverse ICU outcomes in critically ill children. We aimed to determine the occurrence and severity of desaturation during tracheal intubations and the association with adverse hemodynamic tracheal intubation–associated events. Design: Retrospective cohort study as a part of the National Emergency Airway Registry for Children Network’s quality improvement project from January 2012 to December 2014. Setting: International PICUs. Patients: Critically ill children younger than 18 years undergoing primary tracheal intubations in the ICUs. Interventions: tracheal intubation processes of care and outcomes were prospectively collected using standardized operational definitions. We defined moderate desaturation as oxygen saturation less than 80% and severe desaturation as oxygen saturation less than 70% during tracheal intubation procedures in children with initial oxygen saturation greater than 90% after preoxygenation. Adverse hemodynamic tracheal intubation–associated event was defined as cardiac arrests, hypo or hypertension requiring intervention, and dysrhythmia. Measurements and Main Results: A total of 5,498 primary tracheal intubations from 31 ICUs were reported. Moderate desaturation was observed in 19.3% associated with adverse hemodynamic tracheal intubation–associated events (9.8% among children with moderate desaturation vs 4.4% without desaturation; p < 0.001). Severe desaturation was observed in 12.9% of tracheal intubations, also significantly associated with hemodynamic tracheal intubation–associated events. After adjusting for patient, provider, and practice factors, the occurrence of moderate desaturation was independently associated with hemodynamic tracheal intubation–associated events: adjusted odds ratio 1.83 (95% CI, 1.34–2.51; p < 0.001). The occurrence of severe desaturation was also independently associated with hemodynamic tracheal intubation–associated events: adjusted odds ratio 2.16 (95% CI, 1.54–3.04; p < 0.001). Number of tracheal intubation attempts was also significantly associated with the frequency of moderate and severe desaturations (p < 0.001). Conclusions: In this large tracheal intubation quality improvement database, we found moderate and severe desaturation are reported among 19% and 13% of all tracheal intubation encounters. Moderate and severe desaturations were independently associated with the occurrence of adverse hemodynamic events. Future quality improvement interventions may focus to reduce desaturation events.

Effect of Location on Tracheal Intubation Safety in Cardiac Disease—Are Cardiac ICUs Safer?

Objectives: Evaluate differences in tracheal intubation–associated events and process variances (i.e., multiple intubation attempts and oxygen desaturation) between pediatric cardiac ICUs and noncardiac PICUs in children with underlying cardiac disease. Design: Retrospective cohort study using a multicenter tracheal intubation quality improvement database (National Emergency Airway Registry for Children). Setting: Thirty-six PICUs (five cardiac ICUs, 31 noncardiac ICUs) from July 2012 to March 2016. Patients: Children with medical or surgical cardiac disease who underwent intubation in an ICU. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: Our primary outcome was the rate of any adverse tracheal intubation–associated event. Secondary outcomes were severe tracheal intubation–associated events, multiple tracheal intubation attempt rates, and oxygen desaturation. There were 1,502 tracheal intubations in children with underlying cardiac disease (751 in cardiac ICUs, 751 in noncardiac ICUs) reported. Cardiac ICUs and noncardiac ICUs had similar proportions of patients with surgical cardiac disease. Patients undergoing intubation in cardiac ICUs were younger (median age, 1 mo [interquartile range, 0–6 mo]) compared with noncardiac ICUs (median 3 mo [interquartile range, 1–11 mo]; p < 0.001). Tracheal intubation–associated event rates were not different between cardiac ICUs and noncardiac ICUs (16% vs 19%; adjusted odds ratio, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.54–1.02; p = 0.069). However, in a sensitivity analysis comparing cardiac ICUs with mixed ICUs (i.e., ICUs caring for children with either general pediatric or cardiac diseases), cardiac ICUs had decreased odds of adverse events (adjusted odds ratio, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.52–0.97; p = 0.033). Rates of severe tracheal intubation–associated events and multiple attempts were similar. Desaturations occurred more often during intubation in cardiac ICUs (adjusted odds ratio, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.04–1.15; p = 0.002). Conclusions: In children with underlying cardiac disease, rates of adverse tracheal intubation–associated events were not lower in cardiac ICUs as compared to noncardiac ICUs, even after adjusting for differences in patient characteristics and care models.