Pradip Kamat

Use of hypertonic saline for the treatment of altered mental status associated with diabetic ketoacidosis.

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) occurs in 25% to 40% of children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes mellitus (1). Clinically apparent cerebral edema, which occurs in approximately 1% of episodes of DKA in children, is associated with a mortality rate of 40% to 90% (2–4). It is responsible for 50% to 60% of diabetes-related deaths in children (5, 6). In addition, asymptomatic cerebral swelling is thought to occur more frequently in children with DKA (7, 8). The traditional therapy for cerebral edema in DKA has been the use of 20% mannitol. However, the brisk diuresis caused by this drug may lead to intravascular dehydration, hypokalemia, hypotension, prerenal azotemia, and even decreased cerebral blood flow. A small amount may also be converted to glycogen in the liver, thus further disturbing the glucose homeostasis (9). Hypertonic saline (HS, 3%) has recently been examined as a treatment for intracranial hypertension and cerebral edema in trauma patients. Its use has been shown to reduce raised intracranial pressure while augmenting intravascular volume and increasing mean arterial pressure (10). We report a case series of pediatric patients with DKA in whom HS was used to control apparent intracranial hypertension. All four patients had good clinical outcome, without apparent side effects.

Pediatric critical care physician-administered procedural sedation using propofol: a report from the Pediatric Sedation Research Consortium Database.

Objective: Increasing demand for pediatric procedural sedation has resulted in a marked increase in provision of pediatric procedural sedation by pediatric critical care physicians both inside and outside of the ICU. Reported experience of pediatric critical care physicians–administered pediatric procedural sedation is limited. We used the Pediatric Sedation Research Consortium database to evaluate a multicenter experience with propofol by pediatric critical care physicians in all settings. Setting: Review of national Pediatric Sedation Research Consortium database to identify pediatric procedural sedation provided by pediatric critical care physicians from 2007 to 2012. Demographic and clinical data were collected to describe pediatric procedural sedation selection, location, and delivery. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors associated with pediatric procedural sedation–related adverse events and complications. Measurements and Main Results: A total of 91,189 pediatric procedural sedation performed by pediatric critical care physicians using propofol were included in the database. Median age was 60.0 months (range, 0–264 months; interquartile range, 34.0–132.0); 81.9% of patients were American Society of Anesthesiologists class I or II. Most sedations were performed in dedicated sedation or radiology units (80.9%). Procedures were successfully completed in 99.9% of patients. A propofol bolus alone was used in 52.8%, and 41.7% received bolus plus continuous infusion. Commonly used adjunctive medications were lidocaine (35.3%), opioids (23.3%), and benzodiazepines (16.4%). Overall adverse event incidence was 5.0% (95% CI, 4.9–5.2%), which included airway obstruction (1.6%), desaturation (1.5%), coughing (1.0%), and emergent airway intervention (0.7%). No deaths occurred; a single cardiac arrest was reported in a 13-month-old child receiving propofol and ketamine, with no untoward neurologic sequelae. Risk factors associated with adverse event included: location of sedation, number of adjunctive medications, upper and lower respiratory diagnosis, prematurity diagnosis, weight, American Society of Anesthesiologists status, and painful procedure. Conclusions: Pediatric procedural sedation using propofol can be provided by pediatric critical care physicians effectively and with a low incidence of adverse events.

Invasive intracranial pressure monitoring is a useful adjunct in the management of severe hepatic encephalopathy associated with pediatric acute liver failure

Objective: Pediatric acute liver failure is often accompanied by hepatic encephalopathy, cerebral edema, and raised intracranial pressure. Elevated intracranial pressure can be managed more effectively with intracranial monitoring, but acute-liver-failure-associated coagulopathy is often considered a contraindication for invasive monitoring due to risk for intracranial bleeding. We reviewed our experience with use of early intracranial pressure monitoring in acute liver failure in children listed for liver transplantation. Design and Patients: Retrospective review of all intubated pediatric acute liver failure patients with grade III and grade IV encephalopathy requiring intracranial pressure monitoring and evaluated for potential liver transplant who were identified from an institutional liver transplant patient database from 1999 to 2009. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: A total of 14 patients were identified who met the inclusion criteria. Their ages ranged from 7 months to 20 yrs. Diagnoses of acute liver failure were infectious (three), drug-induced (seven), autoimmune hepatitis (two), and indeterminate (two). Grade III and IV encephalopathy was seen in ten (71%) and four (29%) patients, respectively. Computed tomography scans before intracranial pressure monitor placement showed cerebral edema in five (35.7%) patients. Before intracranial pressure monitor placement, fresh frozen plasma, vitamin K, and activated recombinant factor VIIa were given to all 14 patients, with significant improvement in coagulopathy (p < .04). The initial intracranial pressure ranged from 5 to 50 cm H2O; the intracranial pressure was significantly higher in patients with cerebral edema by computed tomography (p < .05). Eleven of 14 (78%) patients received hypertonic saline, and three (22%) received mannitol for elevated intracranial pressure. Eight of 14 (56%) monitored patients were managed to liver transplant, with 100% surviving neurologically intact. Four of 14 (28%) patients had spontaneous recovery without liver transplant. Two of 14 (14%) patients died due to multiple organ failure before transplant. One patient had a small 9-mm intracranial hemorrhage but survived after receiving a liver transplant. No patient developed intracranial infection. Conclusions: In our series of patients, intracranial pressure monitoring had a low complication rate and was associated with a high survival rate despite severe hepatic encephalopathy and cerebral edema in the setting of pediatric acute liver failure. In our experience, monitoring of intracranial pressure allowed interventions to treat increased intracranial pressure and provided additional information regarding central nervous system injury before liver transplant. Further study is warranted to confirm if monitoring allows more directed intracranial pressure therapy and improves survival in pediatric acute liver failure.

Systemic to Pulmonary Collaterals in Very Low Birth Weight Infants: Color Doppler Detection of Systemic to Pulmonary Connections During Neonatal and Early Infancy Period

Objective. Angiographic visualization of systemic to pulmonary collaterals (SPC) has been documented in premature infants needing prolonged ventilatory support. Noninvasive identification of such communications in premature infants was reported recently. The purpose of this study was to describe: 1) incidence, 2) clinical findings and implications, and 3) short-term follow-up of SPC diagnosed by echocardiography in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. Methods. From December 1, 1994 to August 31, 1996, 196 infants with birth weight <1500 g were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit; 133 of them received serial echocardiographic evaluations at 1 to 2 days, at 2 weeks, and at 1, 2, and 3 months of life. Follow-up echocardiograms were scheduled at 6 months and 1 year of age for patients with SPC persisting at 3 months of age. Results. SPC were demonstrated in 88 patients (66%) at 1 to 90 days of life (mean 28 days). In most cases, the SPC originated at the distal aortic arch or the proximal descending aorta. Ten patients (11%) were treated for congestive heart failure. The symptoms improved and anticongestive therapy was discontinued in 9. One patient with persistent congestive heart failure underwent therapeutic cardiac catheterization and 1 prominent SPC was embolized. Conclusions. The incidence of SPC in VLBW infants is much higher than previously reported. We postulate that SPC are bronchopulmonary communications that enlarge and/or proliferate in response to a given stimulus. These communications are associated with increased time on positive pressure ventilation and length of stay in the hospital. SPC may lead to pulmonary edema and should be searched for in VLBW infants with a more complicated course. Echocardiographic examination with color Doppler performed in premature infants to evaluate left to right shunts should include careful search for systemic to pulmonary collaterals. echocardiography, systemic to pulmonary collaterals, aortopulmonary collaterals, prematurity, pulmonary edema.

Use of flexible bronchoscopy in pediatric patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support

Critically ill children treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support frequently have respiratory complications amenable to evaluation by flexible bronchoscopy (FB). The safety and efficacy of FB in this setting has not been well described in children.

Risk factors leading to failed procedural sedation in children outside the operating room.

Objectives Deep sedation enables effective performance of imaging or procedures in children, but failed sedation still occurs. We desired to determine the factors that were associated with failed sedation in children receiving deep sedation by a dedicated nonanesthesia sedation service and hypothesized that the presence of an upper respiratory infection (URI) and/or other risk factors would increase the probability of failing sedation. Methods Patient sedation records from January 2007 to December 2011 were reviewed to identify 83 failed sedations. A convenience sample of 523 patients with successful sedation from January 2009 to February 2009 was identified for comparison. Results Seven of the 13 predictors were significantly associated with failed sedation; these are as follows: (1) URI (P = 0.008); (2) congenital heart disease (P = 0.021); (3) obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)/snoring (P < 0.001); (4) the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class of above II (P < 0.001); (5) obesity (P < 0.001); (6) increased weight (P < 0.001); and (7) older age (P < 0.001). Sex, prematurity, asthma, gastroesophageal reflux, and cerebral palsy/developmental delay were not associated with failure. Pulmonary hypertension was not able to be assessed because only 1 patient with pulmonary hypertension was sedated. A forward stepwise regression identified 5 variables that could be considered useful predictors of failed sedation, which are as follows: (1) URI (odds ratio [OR], 2.73 [range, 1.58–4.73]); (2) OSA/snoring (OR, 2.06 [range, 1.22–3.48]); (3) ASA class III (OR, 2.31 [range, 1.40–3.84]); (4) obesity (OR, 1.95 [range, 1.01–3.75]); and (5) older age (OR, 1.15 [range, 1.08–1.21). Conclusions Presence of a URI, a history of OSA/snoring, ASA class III, obesity, and older age are associated with increased probability of failed sedation. A prospective, multicenter observational study would allow for the robust modeling of comorbidities to guide pediatric sedation management.

Successful use of extracorporeal life support in a hematopoietic stem cell transplant patient with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage.

Objective: To describe the successful use of extracorporeal life support in a hematopoietic stem cell transplant patient with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage. Design: Case report. Setting: Pediatric intensive care unit in a freestanding quaternary childrens hospital. Patient: A 20-mo-old male with Hurler syndrome who developed respiratory failure from diffuse alveolar hemorrhage after hematopoietic stem cell transplant and was managed successfully with extracorporeal life support. Intervention: Placement on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Measurements and Main Results: Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage is a well-known complication in hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients, with an even higher occurrence in those with Hurler syndrome. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation has been contraindicated traditionally in both pulmonary hemorrhage and hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients. We report the successful use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and survival to hospital discharge in a hematopoietic stem cell transplant patient with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage. Conclusion: Although the reported survival of hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation remains low, each patient must be evaluated for potential benefit of extracorporeal life support.

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.

Procedural Sedation Outside of the Operating Room Using Ketamine in 22,645 Children: A Report From the Pediatric Sedation Research Consortium

Objective: Most studies of ketamine administered to children for procedural sedation are limited to emergency department use. The objective of this study was to describe the practice of ketamine procedural sedation outside of the operating room and identify risk factors for adverse events. Design: Observational cohort review of data prospectively collected from 2007 to 2015 from the multicenter Pediatric Sedation Research Consortium. Setting: Sedation services from academic, community, free-standing children’s hospitals and pediatric wards within general hospitals. Patients: Children from birth to 21 years old or younger. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: Describe patient characteristics, procedure type, and location of administration of ketamine procedural sedation. Analyze sedation-related adverse events and severe adverse events. Identify risk factors for adverse events using multivariable logistic regression. A total of 22,645 sedations performed using ketamine were analyzed. Median age was 60 months (range, < 1 mo to < 22 yr); 72.0% were American Society of Anesthesiologists-Physical Status less than III. The majority of sedations were performed in dedicated sedation or radiology units (64.6%). Anticholinergics, benzodiazepines, or propofol were coadministered in 19.8%, 57.9%, and 35.4%, respectively. The overall adverse event occurrence rate was 7.26% (95% CI, 6.92–7.60%), and the frequency of severe adverse events was 1.77% (95% CI, 1.60–1.94%). Procedures were not completed in 39 of 19,747 patients (0.2%). Three patients experienced cardiac arrest without death, all associated with laryngospasm. Conclusions: This is a description of a large prospectively collected dataset of pediatric ketamine administration predominantly outside of the operating room. The overall incidence of severe adverse events was low. Risk factors associated with increased odds of adverse events were as follows: cardiac and gastrointestinal disease, lower respiratory tract infection, and the coadministration of propofol and anticholinergics.

Pediatric Procedural Sedation Using Dexmedetomidine: A Report From the Pediatric Sedation Research Consortium

OBJECTIVES Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is widely used in pediatric procedural sedation (PPS) by a variety of pediatric subspecialists. The objective of our study was to describe the overall rates of adverse events and serious adverse events (SAEs) when DEX is used by various pediatric subspecialists. METHODS Patients from the Pediatric Sedation Research Consortium (PSRC) database were retrospectively reviewed and children that received DEX as their primary sedation agent for elective PPS were identified. Demographic and clinical data, provider subspecialty, and sedation-related complications were abstracted. SAEs were defined as death, cardiac arrest, upper airway obstruction, laryngospasm, emergent airway intervention, unplanned hospital admission/increased level of care, aspiration, or emergency anesthesia consult. Event rates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. RESULTS During the study period, 13 072 children were sedated using DEX, accounting for 5.3% of all sedation cases entered into the PSRC. Of the sedated patients, 73% were American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status class 1 or 2. The pediatric providers responsible for patients sedated with DEX were anesthesiologists (35%), intensivists (34%), emergency medicine physicians (12.7%), hospitalists (1.1%), and others (17%). The overall AE rate was 466/13 072 (3.6%, 95% CI 3.3% to 3.9%). The overall SAE rate was 45/13 072 (0.34%, 95% CI 0.19% to 0.037%). Airway obstruction was the most common SAE: 35/13 072 (0.27%, 95% CI 0.19% to 0.37%). Sedations were successful in 99.7% of cases. CONCLUSIONS We report the largest series of PPS using DEX outside the operating room. Within the PSRC, PPS performed using DEX has a very high success rate and is unlikely to yield a high rate of SAEs.