Tolerance and withdrawal from prolonged opioid use in critically ill children

Astrocytic hypertrophy in the rat ventral tegmental area following chronic morphine differs with age

The ventral tegmental area (VTA) is the origin of the mesolimbic dopaminergic system known to play an integral role in mediating reward and development of drug addiction. Although the differences in neuronal plasticity of VTA at various ages remain to be understood, age is known to influence the effects of chronic opioids. In addition, adaptations associated with exposure to opioids within glial populations located in the VTA are poorly understood. The objective of the study was to determine if there are changes in astrocytic immunofluorescent labeling in the VTA following chronic morphine administration in a rat model at different ages: newborn at postnatal day (PD)7 and adult (estimated PD57). We hypothesized that increased immunohistochemical labeling of an astrocytic marker, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the VTA following chronic administration of morphine will not differ with age. Two groups of rats were analyzed: chronic morphine and saline control treatment groups. Either morphine (10 mg/kg) or equal volume of saline was given subcutaneously twice daily for 6½ days. On the 7^th day of treatment, animals were anesthetized and perfused at one hour after the final drug injection. Coronal sections of the midbrain were processed for immunofluorescent identification of GFAP that was noted at both ages. We report an increase in both (1) GFAP labeling intensity, as well as (2) the percent area occupied by astrocytes that are immunoreactive for GFAP following chronic morphine when compared to saline treatment in the VTA only for the adults (n=6/group) but not infant rats at PD7 (n=5/group). Our findings suggest that adaptations in the mesolimbic dopaminergic system produced by repeated exposure to opioids may be associated with changes in glial function that differ with age.

Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial of Intranasal Ketamine Compared to Intranasal Fentanyl for Analgesia in Children with Suspected Extremity Fractures

OBJECTIVES

We compared the tolerability and efficacy of intranasal subdissociative ketamine to intranasal fentanyl for analgesia of children with acute traumatic pain and investigated the feasibility of a larger noninferiority trial that could investigate the potential opioid-sparing effects of intranasal ketamine.

METHODS

This randomized controlled trial compared 1 mg/kg intranasal ketamine to 1.5 μg/kg intranasal fentanyl in children 4 to 17 years old with acute pain from suspected isolated extremity fractures presenting to an urban Level II pediatric trauma center from December 2015 to November 2016. Patients, parents, treating physicians, and outcome assessors were blinded to group allocation. The primary outcome, a tolerability measure, was the frequency of cumulative side effects and adverse events within 60 minutes of drug administration. The secondary outcomes included the difference in mean pain score reduction at 20 minutes, the proportion of patients achieving a clinically significant reduction in pain in 20 minutes, total dose of opioid pain medication in morphine equivalents/kg/hour (excluding study drug) required during the emergency department (ED) stay, and the feasibility of enrolling children presenting to the ED in acute pain into a randomized trial conducted under U.S. regulations. All patients were monitored until 6 hours after their last dose of study drug or until admission to the hospital ward or operating room.

RESULTS

Of 629 patients screened, 87 received the study drug and 82 had complete data for the primary outcome (41 patients in each group). The median (interquartile range) age was 8 (6-11) years and 62% were male. Baseline pain scores were similar among patients randomized to receive ketamine (73 ± 26) and fentanyl (69 ± 26; mean difference [95% CI] = 4 [-7 to 15]). The cumulative number of side effects was 2.2 times higher in the ketamine group, but there were no serious adverse events and no patients in either group required intervention. The most common side effects of ketamine were bad taste in the mouth (37; 90.2%), dizziness (30; 73.2%), and sleepiness (19; 46.3%). The most common side effects of fentanyl were sleepiness (15; 36.6%), bad taste in the mouth (9; 22%), and itchy nose (9; 22%). No patients experienced respiratory side effects. At 20 minutes, the mean pain scale score reduction was 44 ± 36 for ketamine and 35 ± 29 for fentanyl (mean difference = 9 [95% CI = -4 to 23]). Procedural sedation with ketamine occurred in 28 ketamine patients (65%) and 25 fentanyl patients (57%) prior to completing the study.

CONCLUSIONS

Intranasal ketamine was associated with more minor side effects than intranasal fentanyl. Pain relief at 20 minutes was similar between groups. Our data support the feasibility of a larger, noninferiority trial to more rigorously evaluate the safety, efficacy, and potential opioid-sparing benefits of intranasal ketamine analgesia for children with acute pain.

Chloral hydrate enteral infusion for sedation in ventilated children: the CHOSEN pilot study

Background

We aimed to test a novel method of delivery of chloral hydrate (CH) sedation in ventilated critically ill young children.

Methods

Children < 12 years old, within 72 hours of admission, who were ventilated, receiving enteral tube-feeds, with intermittent CH ordered were enrolled after signed consent. Patients received a CH loading-dose of 10 mg/kg enterally, then a syringe-pump enteral infusion at 5 mg/kg/hour, increasing to a maximum of 9 mg/kg/hour. Cases were compared to historical controls matched for age group and Pediatric Risk of Mortality score (PRISM) category, using Fisher’s exact test and the t test. The primary outcome was feasibility, defined as the use of an enteral CH continuous infusion without discontinuation attributable to a pre-specified potential harm.

Results

There were 21 patients enrolled, at age 11.4 (12.1) months, with bronchiolitis in 10 (48%), a mean Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction (PELOD) score of 6.2 (5.2), and having received enteral CH continuous infusion for 4.5 (2.2) days. Infusion of CH was feasible in 20/21 (95%; 95% CI 76–99%) patients, with one (5%) adverse event of duodenal ulcer perforation on day 3 in a patient with croup receiving regular ibuprofen and dexamethasone. The CH infusion dose (mg/kg/h) on day 2 (n = 20) was 8.9 (IQR 5.9, 9), and on day 4 (n = 11) was 8.8 (IQR 7, 9). Days to titration of adequate sedation (defined as ≤ 3 PRN doses/shift) was 1 (IQR 0.5, 2.5), and hours to awakening for extubation was 5 (IQR 2, 9). Cases (versus controls) had less positive fluid balance at 48 h (-2 (45) vs. 26 (46) ml/kg, p = 0.051), and a decrease in number of PRN sedation doses from 12 h pre to 12 hours post starting CH (4.7 (3.3) to 2.6 (2.8), p = 0.009 versus 2.9 (3.9) to 3.4 (5), p = 0.74). There were no statistically significant differences between cases and controls in inotrope scores, signs or treatment of withdrawal, or PICU days.

Conclusions

Delivering CH by continuous enteral infusion is feasible, effective, and may be associated with less positive fluid balance. Whether there is a risk of duodenal perforation requires further study.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13054-017-1879-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Sedation Management in Children Supported on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Acute Respiratory Failure

OBJECTIVES

To describe sedation management in children supported on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for acute respiratory failure.

DESIGN

Secondary analysis of prospectively collected data from a multicenter randomized trial of sedation (Randomized Evaluation of Sedation Titration for Respiratory Failure).

SETTING

Twenty-one U.S. PICUs.

PATIENTS

One thousand two hundred fifty-five children, 2 weeks to 17 years old, with moderate/severe pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome.

INTERVENTIONS

Sedation managed per usual care or Randomized Evaluation of Sedation Titration for Respiratory Failure protocol.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Sixty-one Randomized Evaluation of Sedation Titration for Respiratory Failure patients (5%) with moderate/severe pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome were supported on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, including 29 managed per Randomized Evaluation of Sedation Titration for Respiratory Failure protocol. Most extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patients received neuromuscular blockade (46%) or were heavily sedated with State Behavioral Scale scores -3/-2 (34%) by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation day 3. Median opioid and benzodiazepine doses on the day of cannulation, 0.15 mg/kg/hr (3.7 mg/kg/d) and 0.11 mg/kg/hr (2.8 mg/kg/d), increased by 36% and 58%, respectively, by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation day 3. In the 41 patients successfully decannulated prior to study discharge, patients were receiving 0.40 mg/kg/hr opioids (9.7 mg/kg/d) and 0.39 mg/kg/hr benzodiazepines (9.4 mg/kg/d) at decannulation, an increase from cannulation of 108% and 192%, respectively (both p < 0.001). Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patients experienced more clinically significant iatrogenic withdrawal than moderate/severe pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome patients managed without extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support (p < 0.001). Compared to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patients managed per Randomized Evaluation of Sedation Titration for Respiratory Failure protocol, usual care extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patients received more opioids during the study period (mean cumulative dose of 183.0 vs 89.8 mg/kg; p = 0.02), over 6.5 greater exposure days (p = 0.002) with no differences in wakefulness or agitation.

CONCLUSIONS

In children, the initiation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support is associated with deep sedation, substantial sedative exposure, and increased frequency of iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome. A standardized, goal-directed, nurse-driven sedation protocol may help mitigate these effects.

Reduced narcotic and sedative utilization in a NICU after implementation of pain management guidelines

OBJECTIVE

To assess the opioid and benzodiazepine usage in a level IV NICU after implementation of pain guidelines.

STUDY DESIGN

Guidelines were developed for infants undergoing surgical procedures and infants on mechanical ventilation. Data collected for period 1 (July to December 2013) and period 2 (March to August 2014).

RESULTS

Gestational age, birth weight and infants with hypoxic respiratory failure or requiring major procedures were comparable in two periods. Number of patients exposed to opioids decreased from 62.9% (129/205) in period 1 to 32.8% (82/250) in period 2, P=<0.001. Cumulative dose exposure decreased, opioids in morphine equivalent dose, mg kg^-1 (1.64 (0.38 to 6.94) vs 0.51 (0.04 to 2.33), P=0.002), sedatives in midazolam equivalent, mg kg^-1 (0.16 (0.03 to 7.39) vs 0.10 (0.00 to 4.00), P=0.03). Ten patients required treatment for iatrogenic opioid withdrawal versus only three in post guideline, P=0.02.

CONCLUSIONS

Evidence-based guidelines led to significant reduction in opioids and sedatives exposure, and in the number of infants requiring methadone for iatrogenic narcotic dependence.

Iatrogenic Opioid Withdrawal in Critically Ill Patients: A Review of Assessment Tools and Management

OBJECTIVE

To (1) provide an overview of the epidemiology, clinical presentation, and risk factors of iatrogenic opioid withdrawal in critically ill patients and (2) conduct a literature review of assessment and management of iatrogenic opioid withdrawal in critically ill patients.

DATA SOURCES

We searched MEDLINE (1946-June 2017), EMBASE (1974-June 2017), and CINAHL (1982-June 2017) with the terms opioid withdrawal, opioid, opiate, critical care, critically ill, assessment tool, scale, taper, weaning, and management. Reference list of identified literature was searched for additional references as well as www.clinicaltrials.gov .

STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION

We restricted articles to those in English and dealing with humans.

DATA SYNTHESIS

We identified 2 validated pediatric critically ill opioid withdrawal assessment tools: (1) Withdrawal Assessment Tool-Version 1 (WAT-1) and (2) Sophia Observation Withdrawal Symptoms Scale (SOS). Neither tool differentiated between opioid and benzodiazepine withdrawal. WAT-1 was evaluated in critically ill adults but not found to be valid. No other adult tool was identified. For management, we identified 5 randomized controlled trials, 2 prospective studies, and 2 systematic reviews. Most studies were small and only 2 studies utilized a validated assessment tool. Enteral methadone, α-2 agonists, and protocolized weaning were studied.

CONCLUSION

We identified 2 validated assessment tools for pediatric intensive care unit patients; no valid tool for adults. Management strategies tested in small trials included methadone, α-2 agonists, and protocolized sedation/weaning. We challenge researchers to create validated tools assessing specifically for opioid withdrawal in critically ill children and adults to direct management.

ABCB1 genotype is associated with fentanyl requirements in critically ill children

BackgroundThe gene ABCB1 encodes p-glycoprotein, a xenobiotic efflux pump capable of transporting certain opioids, including fentanyl. ABCB1 genotype has been previously associated with patient opioid requirements and may influence fentanyl dosing requirements in critically ill children.MethodsA diagnostically diverse cohort of 61 children who received a fentanyl infusion while admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) were included in this study. We examined associations between fentanyl requirements, pain and sedation scores, serum fentanyl levels, and ABCB1 genotype.ResultsPatients with the AA allele at ABCB1 locus rs1045642 received less fentanyl compared with patients with the AG or GG allele. A multivariable model demonstrated that patients with the AA allele received 18.6 mcg/kg/day less fentanyl than patients with either the AG or GG allele (95% confidence interval -33.4 to -3.8 mcg/kg/day; P=0.014). Incorporating race in this model demonstrated a similar association, but did not reach the threshold for multiple testing.ConclusionABCB1 genotype rs1045642 AA is associated with fentanyl administration in this cohort of children admitted to the PICU, likely because of decreased expression and activity of p-glycoprotein. Prospective evaluation of the influence of ABCB1 in sedative-analgesia administration in critically ill children is warranted.

Sucrose and naltrexone prevent increased pain sensitivity and impaired long-term memory induced by repetitive neonatal noxious stimulation: Role of BDNF and β-endorphin

Pain in neonates is associated with short and long-term adverse outcomes. Data demonstrated that long-term consequences of untreated pain are linked to the plasticity of the neonate's brain. Sucrose is effective and safe for reducing painful procedures from single events. However, the mechanism of sucrose-induced analgesia is not fully understood. The role of the opioid system in this analgesia using the opioid receptor antagonist Naltrexone was investigated, plus the long-term effects on learning and memory formation during adulthood. Pain was induced in rat pups via needle pricks of the paws. Sucrose solution and/or naltrexone were administered before the pricks. All treatments started on day one of birth and continued for two weeks. At the end of 8weeks, behavioral studies were conducted to test spatial learning and memory using radial arm water maze (RAWM), and pain threshold via foot-withdrawal response to a hot plate. The hippocampus was dissected; levels of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and endorphins were assessed using ELISA. Acute repetitive neonatal pain increased pain sensitivity later in life, while naltrexone with sucrose decreased pain sensitivity. Naltrexone and/or sucrose prevented neonatal pain induced impairment of long-term memory, while neonatal pain decreased levels of BDNF in the hippocampus; this decrease was averted by sucrose and naltrexone. Sucrose with naltrexone significantly increased β-endorphin levels in noxiously stimulated rats. In conclusion, naltrexone and sucrose can reverse increased pain sensitivity and impaired long-term memory induced by acute repetitive neonatal pain probably by normalizing BDNF expression and increasing β-endorphin levels.

A Mind-Body Approach to Pediatric Pain Management

Pain is a significant public health problem that affects all populations and has significant financial, physical and psychological impact. Opioid medications, once the mainstay of pain therapy across the spectrum, can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Centers for Disease and Control (CDC) guidelines recommend that non-opioid pain medications are preferred for chronic pain outside of certain indications (cancer, palliative and end of life care). Mindfulness, hypnosis, acupuncture and yoga are four examples of mind-body techniques that are often used in the adult population for pain and symptom management. In addition to providing significant pain relief, several studies have reported reduced use of opioid medications when mind-body therapies are implemented. Mind-body medicine is another approach that can be used in children with both acute and chronic pain to improve pain management and quality of life.

Ketamine Infusion as a Counter Measure for Opioid Tolerance in Mechanically Ventilated Children: A Pilot Study

BACKGROUND

Drug rotation to prevent opioid tolerance is well recognized in chronic pain management. However, ketamine infusion as a counter measure for opioid tolerance is rarely described in mechanically ventilated children developing tolerance from prolonged opioid infusion.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective study in a 14-bed medical-surgical-cardiac pediatric intensive care unit. Thirty-two mechanically ventilated children who had developed tolerance from prolonged intravenous infusion of opioids received a continuous intravenous infusion of ketamine as an opioid substitute for more than 2 days, scheduled in a drug rotation protocol.

RESULTS

Thirty-two children (median age 2.5 years, range 0.1-16.0; weight 11.2 kg [3.8-62.0]) were included. Patients had received continuous intravenous infusion of opioids and benzodiazepines for 16.0 days (4.0-34.0) when drug rotation was started. The median dose of continuous intravenous infusion of ketamine was 4.0 mg·kg^-1·h^-1 (1.8-6.0) and the median duration was 3.0 days (2.0-6.0). After having restarted opioids, fentanyl doses were significantly lower compared with the time before the drug rotation began (after, 2.9 µg·kg^-1·h^-1 [0.8-4.9] vs before, 4.15 µg·kg^-1·h^-1 [1.2-10.0]; p < 0.001). Continuous intravenous infusion of midazolam and clonidine were unchanged during drug rotation. COMFORT-B scoring was significantly lower after having started drug rotation (after, 14.5 [8-19] vs before, 16 [11-22]; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Drug rotation with ketamine in mechanically ventilated children with opioid tolerance is feasible and seems to reduce the rate of fentanyl infusion.

Conversion from prolonged intravenous fentanyl infusion to enteral methadone in critically ill children

AIM

To describe our institutional experience with conversion from intravenous (IV) fentanyl infusion directly to enteral methadone and occurrence of withdrawal in critically ill mechanically ventilated children exposed to prolonged sedation and analgesia.

METHODS

With Institutional Review Board approval, we retrospectively studied consecutively admitted invasively mechanically ventilated children (0-18 years) sedated with IV fentanyl infusion > 5 d and subsequently converted directly to enteral methadone. Data were obtained on subject demographics, illness severity, daily IV fentanyl and enteral methadone dosing, time to complete conversion, withdrawal scores (WAT-1), pain scores, and need for rescue opioids. Patients were classified as rapid conversion group (RCG) if completely converted ≤ 48 h and slow conversion group (SCG) if completely converted in > 48 h. Primary outcome was difference in WAT-1 scores at 7 d. Secondary outcomes included differences in overall pain scores, and differences in daily rescue opioids.

RESULTS

Compared to SCG (n = 21), RCG (n = 21) had lower median WAT-1 scores at 7 d (2.5 vs 5, P = 0.027). Additionally, RCG had lower overall median pain scores (3 vs 6, P = 0.007), and required less median daily rescue opioids (3 vs 12, P = 0.003) than SCG. The starting daily median methadone dose was 2.3 times the daily median fentanyl dose in the RCG, compared to 1.1 times in the SCG (P = 0.049).

CONCLUSION

We observed wide variation in conversion from IV fentanyl infusion directly to enteral methadone and variability in withdrawal in critically ill mechanically ventilated children exposed to prolonged sedation. In those children who converted successfully from IV fentanyl infusion to enteral methadone within a period of 48 h, a methadone:fentanyl dose conversion ratio of approximately 2.5:1 was associated with less withdrawal and reduced need for rescue opioids.

Vibrotactile stimulation: A non-pharmacological intervention for opioid-exposed newborns

Objective

To examine the therapeutic potential of stochastic vibrotactile stimulation (SVS) as a complementary non-pharmacological intervention for withdrawal in opioid-exposed newborns.

Study design

A prospective, within-subjects single-center study was conducted in 26 opioid-exposed newborns (>37 weeks; 16 male) hospitalized since birth and treated pharmacologically for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. A specially-constructed mattress delivered low-level SVS (30-60Hz, 10–12μm RMS), alternated in 30-min intervals between continuous vibration (ON) and no vibration (OFF) over a 6–8 hr session. Movement activity, heart rate, respiratory rate, axillary temperature and blood-oxygen saturation were calculated separately for ON and OFF.

Results

There was a 35% reduction in movement activity with SVS (p<0.001), with significantly fewer movement periods >30 sec duration for ON than OFF (p = 0.003). Incidents of tachypneic breaths and tachycardic heart beats were each significantly reduced with SVS, whereas incidents of eupneic breaths and eucardic heart beats each significantly increased with SVS (p<0.03). Infants maintained body temperature and arterial-blood oxygen level independent of stimulation condition.

Conclusions

SVS reduced hyperirritability and pathophysiological instabilities commonly observed in pharmacologically-managed opioid-exposed newborns. SVS may provide an effective complementary therapeutic intervention for improving autonomic function in newborns with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.

Association Between Deep Sedation from Continuous Intravenous Sedatives and Extubation Failures in Mechanically Ventilated Patients in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

OBJECTIVE The primary objective of this study was to determine whether an association exists between deep sedation from continuous infusion sedatives and extubation failures in mechanically ventilated children. Secondary outcomes evaluated risk factors associated with deep sedation.

METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study conducted between January 1, 2009, and October 31, 2012, in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at Duke Children's Hospital. Patients were included in the study if they had been admitted to the PICU, had been mechanically ventilated for ≥48 hours, and had received at least one continuous infusion benzodiazepine and/or opioid infusion for ≥24 hours. Patients were separated into 2 groups: those deeply sedated and those not deeply sedated. Deep sedation was defined as having at least one documented State Behavioral Scale (SBS) of −3 or −2 within 72 hours prior to planned extubation.

RESULTS A total of 108 patients were included in the analysis. Both groups were well matched with regard to baseline characteristics. For the primary outcome, there was no difference in extubation failures in those who were deeply sedated compared to those not deeply sedated (14 patients [22.6%] versus 7 patients [15.2%], respectively; p = 0.33). After adjusting for potential risk factors, patients with a higher weight percentile for age (odds ratio [OR] 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00–1.03), lower Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) score prior to intubation (OR 0.85; 95% CI 0.74–0.97), and larger maximum benzodiazepine dose (OR 1.93; 95% CI 1.01–3.71) were associated with greater odds of deep sedation. A higher GCS prior to intubation was significantly associated with increased odds of extubation failure (OR 1.19; 95% CI 1.02–1.39).

CONCLUSIONS While there was no statistically significant difference in extubation failures between the 2 groups included in this study, considering the severe consequences of extubation failure, the numerical difference reported may be clinically important.

Implementation and evaluation of a paediatric nurse-driven sedation protocol in a paediatric intensive care unit

Background

Optimal sedation and analgesia is a challenge in paediatric intensive care units (PICU) because of difficulties in scoring systems and specific metabolism inducing tolerance and withdrawal. Excessive sedation is associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation and hospitalisation. Adult and paediatric data suggest that goal-directed sedation algorithms reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation. We implemented a nurse-driven sedation protocol in a PICU and evaluated its impact.

Methods

We conducted a before and after protocol implementation study in a population of children aged 0–18 years who required mechanical ventilation for at least 24 h between January 2013 and March 2015. After the protocol implementation in January 2014, nurses managed analgesia and sedation following an algorithm that included the COMFORT behaviour scale (COMFORT-B). Duration of mechanical ventilation was the primary outcome; secondary outcomes were total doses and duration of medications, PICU length of stay, incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia, and occurrence of withdrawal symptoms. Pre–post analysis followed with segmented regression analysis of interrupted time series was used to assess the effect of protocol.

Results

A total of 200 children were analysed, including 107 before implementation and 93 children after implementation of the protocol. After implementation of the protocol, the total number of COMFORT-B scores per day of mechanical ventilation significantly increased from 3.9 ± 2.5 times during the pre-implementation period to 6.6 ± 3.5 times during the post-implementation period (p < 10⁻³). Mean duration of mechanical ventilation tended to be lower in the post-implementation period (8.3 ± 7.3 vs 6.6 ± 5.6 days, p = 0.094), but changes in either the trend per trimester from pre-implementation to post-implementation (p = 0.933) or the immediate change after implementation (p = 0.923) were not significant with segmented regression analysis. No significant change between pre- and post-implementation was shown for total dose of sedatives, withdrawal symptoms, agitation episodes, or unplanned endotracheal extubations.

Conclusions

These results were promising and suggested that implementation of a nurse-driven sedation protocol in a PICU was feasible. Evaluation of sedation and analgesia was better after the protocol implementation; duration of mechanical ventilation and occurrence of withdrawal symptoms tended to be reduced.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13613-017-0256-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Reduced Sufentanil Doses are Effective for Postoperative Analgesia After Ductal Closure in Extremely Premature Infants: A 10 Years Retrospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVES

The objective of the study was to assess the efficacy of reduced sufentanil doses for postoperative analgesia following surgical ductal closure in extremely premature infants.

METHODS

This was a retrospective, single-center, cohort study comparing 2 sufentanil dosing regimens used between 2001 and 2010 and included all infants born at <28 weeks of gestation with surgical ductal closure. Sufentanil doses were reduced in 2007 as a standard of care. Time was divided into 3 epochs to distinguish the effects of practice changes over time from the effects of sufentanil dose change: epoch 1 (2001 to 2004), epoch 2 (May 2005 to 2007), and epoch 3 (June 2007 to 2010).

RESULTS

A total of 109 of 114 eligible infants were analyzed (mean [±SD], gestational age: 25.1 [±1.1] wk; mean [±SD], birth weight: 756 [±144] g). Median sufentanil doses were significantly higher during epochs 1 and 2 (0.1 to 0.2 µg/kg/h) than during epoch 3 (0.03 to 0.04 µg/kg/h) (P<0.0001). EDIN (Echelle de Douleur et d'Inconfort du Nouveau-né) pain scores were mostly ≤4 throughout the study period and their changes over time were not contemporaneous with the reduction in sufentanil doses; they were lower during epoch 1 versus epochs 2 and 3 (P<0.0001) and comparable between epochs 2 and 3. Midazolam doses and paracetamol use were not higher during epoch 3 as compared with epochs 1 and 2. No difference in opioid-related adverse events was observed between the 3 epochs.

CONCLUSION

Our study supports the use of low continuous intravenous sufentanil doses, consistent with morphine doses currently recommended in this population.

The use of methadone to facilitate opioid weaning in pediatric critical care patients: a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Continuous opioid infusion therapy is commonly utilized in the pediatric intensive care setting to treat pain and facilitate tolerance of invasive therapies. Transitioning to methadone is one common strategy for weaning from continuous opioid infusions, but in practice this transition can be challenging, and many children still experience iatrogenic withdrawal.

AIM

We reviewed the literature to evaluate the best available evidence to guide methadone therapy in this setting, and to summarize associated adverse events.

METHODS

We included all studies of methadone used to facilitate weaning from continuous opioid infusions in pediatric critical care patients, including medical, cardiac, and surgical patients, excluding case reports and studies treating neonatal abstinence syndrome, or acute or chronic pain. Medline, Embase, and CINAHL databases from inception to May 2015 were queried; references of included works and conference proceedings were also reviewed. Two authors independently extracted data from each study. Meta-analysis with fixed- and random-effects models was used to pool results of studies when applicable.

RESULTS

Twelve studies involving 459 patients met criteria for inclusion. A wide variety of methadone dosing and taper strategies were reported. Mean inpatient methadone taper times varied widely, from 4.3 to 26.2 days. Excessive sedation was the most frequently reported adverse event, occurring in up to 16% of patients. Withdrawal occurred in 27% of patients among studies reporting this outcome. In three of three studies in which a new methadone protocol was introduced, a decreased proportion of patients experienced withdrawal (standardized mean difference, SMD = -0.60, 95% CI = -0.998 to -0.195, P = 0.004).

CONCLUSION

We did not identify sufficient evidence to recommend any particular methadone weaning strategy, or to recommend methadone over other medications or prescribed infusion weaning, for successful weaning of continuous opioid infusions in the pediatric intensive care setting.

Withdrawal Assessment Tool-1 Monitoring in PICU: A Multicenter Study on Iatrogenic Withdrawal Syndrome

OBJECTIVES

Withdrawal syndrome is an adverse reaction of analgesic and sedative therapy, with a reported occurrence rate between 17% and 57% in critically ill children. Although some factors related to the development of withdrawal syndrome have been identified, there is weak evidence for the effectiveness of preventive and therapeutic strategies. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of withdrawal syndrome in Italian PICUs, using a validated instrument. We also analyzed differences in patient characteristics, analgesic and sedative treatment, and patients' outcome between patients with and without withdrawal syndrome.

DESIGN

Observational multicenter prospective study.

SETTING

Eight Italian PICUs belonging to the national PICU network Italian PICU network.

PATIENTS

One hundred thirteen patients, less than 18 years old, mechanically ventilated and treated with analgesic and sedative therapy for five or more days. They were admitted in PICU from November 2012 to May 2014.

INTERVENTIONS

Symptoms of withdrawal syndrome were monitored with Withdrawal Assessment Tool-1 scale.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The occurrence rate of withdrawal syndrome was 64.6%. The following variables were significantly different between the patients who developed withdrawal syndrome and those who did not: type, duration, and cumulative dose of analgesic therapy; duration and cumulative dose of sedative therapy; clinical team judgment about analgesia and sedation's difficulty; and duration of analgesic weaning, mechanical ventilation, and PICU stay. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that patients receiving morphine as their primary analgesic were 83% less likely to develop withdrawal syndrome than those receiving fentanyl or remifentanil.

CONCLUSIONS

Withdrawal syndrome was frequent in PICU patients, and patients with withdrawal syndrome had prolonged hospital treatment. We suggest adopting the lowest effective dose of analgesic and sedative drugs and frequent reevaluation of the need for continued use. Further studies are necessary to define common preventive and therapeutic strategies.

Adverse Drug Reactions in the Intensive Care Unit

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are undesirable effects of medications used in normal doses [1]. ADRs can occur during treatment in an intensive care unit (ICU) or result in ICU admissions. A meta-analysis of 4139 studies suggests the incidence of ADRs among hospitalized patients is 17% [2]. Because of underreporting and misdiagnosis, the incidence of ADRs may be much higher and has been reported to be as high as 36% [3]. Critically ill patients are at especially high risk because of medical complexity, numerous high-alert medications, complex and often challenging drug dosing and medication regimens, and opportunity for error related to the distractions of the ICU environment [4]. Table 1 summarizes the ADRs included in this chapter.

Pain assessment and management in paediatric oncology: a cross-sectional audit

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To describe the pain assessment and management practices documented by health professionals within a tertiary-level Children's Cancer Centre and to evaluate how these practices were compared with international recommendations.

BACKGROUND

Children with cancer are vulnerable to pain due to the intensity of antineoplastic therapy. Therefore, it is imperative to ensure that current pain management practices provided to paediatric oncology inpatients are of a high quality.

DESIGN

A single-site cross-sectional audit.

METHODS

A 24-hour period of documented pain-related care in randomly selected inpatients of an Australian tertiary-level Children's Cancer Centre was examined. The current pain management practices were audited over a two-month period resulting in 258 episodes of pain-related care being reviewed.

RESULTS

Pain related to medical treatment for cancer was common (n = 146/258, 57%) and persistent. The presence of pain was not consistently recorded by health professionals (n = 75/146, 51%). Pain was mild (n = 26/75, 35%) and opioids were the mainstay of pain management interventions (n = 63/112, 56%). Adjuvants were an important component of pain management (n = 47/112, 42%), and nonpharmacological methods of managing pain were under-represented in this audit (n = 38/146, 26%). According to the Pain Management Index, pain was appropriately managed for the majority of children (n = 65/76, 87%).

CONCLUSIONS

Pain management practices did not fully reflect the recommendations of contemporary paediatric pain management. Due to limitations in the documentation of children's pain, it was difficult to determine the effectiveness of pain management interventions.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

This study highlights the ongoing problem of pain for children receiving antineoplastic therapy. It is recommended that health professionals routinely screen for the presence of pain during hospitalisation and assess the efficacy of pain-related care.

Pharmacokinetics cannot explain the increased effective dose requirement for morphine and midazolam in rats during their extended administration alone or in combination

Objectives

Chronic administration of morphine and midazolam, alone or in combination, can induce tolerance to their effects. Data showed that co-administration of morphine and midazolam increased effective dose requirement of morphine, exceeding that observed with morphine alone.

Methods

To elucidate the pharmacokinetic component to the tolerance, we administered midazolam (2 mg/kg) and morphine (10 mg/kg) alone or their combination daily to rats for 12 days followed by a pharmacokinetic study on day 13. On the study day, each animal received a single bolus dose of 5 mg/kg morphine, and 2 mg/kg of midazolam 30 s later. Multiple blood samples were obtained for 6 h. Plasma drug concentrations were assayed by mass spectrometry optimized for small samples.

Key findings

Mean morphine clearance was as follows: 22.2, 27.2, 26.0 and 23.4 l/h per kg in the saline–saline, saline–midazolam, saline–morphine and midazolam–morphine groups, respectively. Corresponding midazolam clearances were 32.8, 23.0, 22.2 and 31.1 l/h per kg. ANOVA indicated no significant differences among the four groups in the clearances, half-lives, and volumes of distribution. Morphine and midazolam clearances were significantly correlated (R2 = 0.48, P &lt; 0.001).

Conclusions

This animal model suggests that altered pharmacokinetics cannot explain tolerance evidenced as increased dose requirement for morphine or midazolam, when administered alone or combination, for extended periods.

Clonidine for Sedation and Analgesia and Withdrawal in Critically Ill Infants and Children

The need for sedation and analgesia and treatment of iatrogenic drug withdrawal is common in critically ill children. First-line therapy typically includes opioid agonists. However, clonidine, a central α₂ agonist, has been suggested as a treatment option for sedation and analgesia and iatrogenic drug withdrawal. Therefore, we conducted a literature search to identify articles evaluating the use of enteral (PO) and transdermal clonidine in critically ill infants and children for sedation and analgesia and treatment of iatrogenic drug withdrawal. The literature search was limited to English-language articles in Medline (1946-May 2016), Embase (1988-May 2016), and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1970-May 2016). Reference citations from relevant articles were also reviewed. Ten case reports and studies, representing a total of 114 children receiving clonidine, were included. Fifty patients (43.9%) received clonidine for sedation and analgesia while mechanically ventilated, and 33 (29.0%) received clonidine for treatment or prevention of drug withdrawal. The remaining 31 patients (27.1%) were included in a pharmacokinetic study that did not evaluate clinical outcomes. Seventy-nine patients (69.3%) received PO clonidine, with a dosage range of 2-15 µg/kg/day divided every 6-8 hours. Thirty-five patients (30.7%) received transdermal clonidine, with a dosage range of 2.3-20 µg/kg/day. Whole, cut, and occluded transdermal patches were used in the reports. Patients receiving cut patches had more variable and significantly higher serum clonidine concentrations than those receiving whole patches. Only three studies reported that the PO clonidine dose was tapered at the end of therapy; however, no report specifically described the process. The two most common adverse events reported with PO and transdermal clonidine were bradycardia and hypotension. PO and transdermal clonidine have a potential role for sedation and analgesia and drug withdrawal in critically ill infants and children. The use of cut transdermal patches should be avoided. Future prospective studies are needed to further define clonidine's role as adjunct therapy or monotherapy.

Nurses' Beliefs Regarding Pain in Critically Ill Children: A Mixed-Methods Study

The purpose of this study was to provide a current and comprehensive evaluation of nurses' beliefs regarding pain in critically ill children.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was used. Nurse beliefs were captured via questionnaire and interview and then compared.

RESULTS

Forty nurses participated. Most beliefs reported via questionnaire were consistent with effective pain management practices. Common inaccurate beliefs included the need to verify pain reports with physical indicators and the pharmacokinetics of intravenous opioids. Beliefs commonly shared during interviews concerned the need to verify pain reports with observed behavior, the accuracy of pain reports, the need to respond to pain, concerns regarding opioid analgesics, and the need to "start low" with interventions. Convergent beliefs between the questionnaire and interview included the use of physical indicators to verify pain, the need to take the child's word when pain is described, and concerns regarding negative effects of analgesics. Divergent and conflicting findings were most often regarding the legitimacy of a child's pain report.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings from this study regarding the accuracy of nurses' pain beliefs for critically ill children are consistent with past research. The presence of divergent and conflicting responses suggests that nurses' pain beliefs are not static and may vary with patient characteristics.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

While most nurses appreciate the risks of unrelieved pain in children, many are concerned about the potential adverse effects of opioid administration. Interventions are needed to guide nurses in minimizing both of these risks.

A retrospective study of sedation and analgesic requirements of pediatric patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) from a single-center experience

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study is to describe the sedative and analgesic requirements identifying factors associated with medication escalation in neonates and children supported on ECMO.

METHOD

Observational retrospective cohort study in a tertiary pediatric intensive care unit from June 2009 to June 2013.

RESULTS

One hundred and sixty patients were included in the study. Fentanyl and midazolam were the first line agents used while on ECMO. Higher opiate requirements were associated with younger age (p=0.01), thoracic cannulation (p=0.002), the use of dexmedetomidine (p=0.007) and prolonged use of muscle relaxants (p=0.03). Higher benzodiazepine requirements were associated with younger age (p=0.01), respiratory failure (p=0.02) and the use of second line agents (p=0.002). One third of the patients required second line agents as adjuvants for comfort without a decrease in opiate and/or benzodiazepine requirements.

CONCLUSIONS

Providing comfort to subpopulations of pediatric ECMO patients seems to be more challenging. The use of second line agents did not improve comfort in our cohort. Prospective studies are required to optimize analgesia and sedation management in children on ECMO.

Importance of the use of protocols for the management of analgesia and sedation in pediatric intensive care unit

Summary Introduction: Analgesia and sedation are essential elements in patient care in the intensive care unit (ICU), in order to promote the control of pain, anxiety and agitation, prevent the loss of devices, accidental extubation, and improve the synchrony of the patient with mechanical ventilation. However, excess of these medications leads to rise in morbidity and mortality. The ideal management will depend on the adoption of clinical and pharmacological measures, guided by scales and protocols. Objective: Literature review on the main aspects of analgesia and sedation, abstinence syndrome, and delirium in the pediatric intensive care unit, in order to show the importance of the use of protocols on the management of critically ill patients. Method: Articles published in the past 16 years on PubMed, Lilacs, and the Cochrane Library, with the terms analgesia, sedation, abstinence syndrome, mild sedation, daily interruption, and intensive care unit. Results: Seventy-six articles considered relevant were selected to describe the importance of using a protocol of sedation and analgesia. They recommended mild sedation and the use of assessment scales, daily interruptions, and spontaneous breathing test. These measures shorten the time of mechanical ventilation, as well as length of hospital stay, and help to control abstinence and delirium, without increasing the risk of morbidity and morbidity. Conclusion: Despite the lack of controlled and randomized clinical trials in the pediatric setting, the use of protocols, optimizing mild sedation, leads to decreased morbidity.

A Pediatric Sedation Protocol for Mechanically Ventilated Patients Requires Sustenance Beyond Implementation

OBJECTIVES

To reevaluate the effect of a nursing-driven sedation protocol for mechanically ventilated patients on analgesic and sedative medication dosing durations. We hypothesized that lack of continued quality improvement efforts results in increased sedation exposure, as well as mechanical ventilation days, and ICU length of stay.

DESIGN

Quasi-experimental, uncontrolled before-after study.

SETTING

Forty-five-bed tertiary care, medical-surgical-cardiac PICU in a metropolitan university-affiliated children's hospital.

PATIENTS

Children requiring mechanical ventilation longer than 48 hours not meeting exclusion criteria.

INTERVENTIONS

During both the intervention and postintervention periods, analgesia and sedation were managed by nurses following an algorithm-based sedation protocol with a targeted comfort score.

MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULTS

The intervention cohort includes patients admitted during a 12-month period following initial protocol implementation in 2008-2009 (n = 166). The postintervention cohort includes patients meeting identical inclusion and exclusion criteria admitted during a 12-month period in 2012-2013 (n = 93). Median duration of total sedation days (IV plus enteral) was 5 days for the intervention period and 10 days for the postintervention period (p < 0.0001). The postintervention cohort received longer duration of mechanical ventilation (6 vs 5 d; p = 0.0026) and ICU length of stay (10 vs 8.5 d; p = 0.0543). After adjusting for illness severity and cardiac and surgical status, Cox proportional hazards regression analysis demonstrated that at any point in time, patients in the postintervention group were 58% more likely to be receiving sedation (hazard ratio, 1.58; p < 0.001) and 34% more likely to remain in the ICU (hazard ratio, 1.34; p = 0.019).

CONCLUSIONS

Sedation quality improvement measures related to the use of opiate infusions, total days of sedation exposure, PICU length of stay, and mechanical ventilation days all deteriorated following initial successful implementation of a PICU sedation protocol. Implementation of a protocol alone may not lead to sustained quality improvement without routine monitoring and ongoing education to ensure effectiveness.

Characterization of Tolerance in Children during Fentanyl Continuous Infusions

Tolerance is a complication of fentanyl continuous infusions (CINs) in critically ill children, but the incidence and time of onset are lacking. The primary objective was to identify the incidence of tolerance. Secondary objectives were to determine the onset time and compare risk factors between children with tolerance versus no tolerance and between children with early (< 24 hours) versus late tolerance. Children aged 0 to 17 years, receiving fentanyl CIN > 3 days from May 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013 were included. Tolerance was defined as a doubling of the fentanyl CIN dose. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed. A logistic regression model was used to assess the relationship between the development of tolerance and independent variables. A total of 59 CINs were included. Tolerance occurred in 46 CINs (78%), with median time to tolerance of 26 hours (range: 1-160 hours). Early tolerance was identified in 21 CINs (45.7%). Patients with tolerance had higher peak CIN doses (p < 0.001), final CIN doses (p = 0.031), and cumulative exposure (p = 0.017). No significant differences were noted between those with early versus late tolerance. The regression model noted factors associated with the odds of development of tolerance were lower initial fentanyl dose (p = 0.007; odds ratio [OR]: 0.011, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.0004-0.29) and higher cumulative exposure (p = 0.009; OR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1.001-1.01). Tolerance developed in 78% of children, and half developed it within 24 hours. Lower initial opioid dose and higher cumulative exposure were independently associated with tolerance.

Caregiver Perception, Self-efficacy, and Knowledge of Methadone Tapers for Children With Iatrogenic Opioid Abstinence Syndrome

Background: There are no definitive guidelines regarding the management of iatrogenic opioid abstinence syndrome (IOAS), but methadone tapers are one common approach. Methadone tapers can be complex for caregivers to manage, and there is a paucity of data about caregiver experiences administering medication tapers postdischarge. Objective: The primary objective was to describe caregiver perception, self-efficacy, and knowledge of administering methadone tapers. Secondary objectives included an assessment of the change in self-efficacy and knowledge of methadone and IOAS before and after discharge as well as clinical outcomes occurring postdischarge. Methods: This was an exploratory, descriptive, institutional review board-approved study surveying caregivers of children receiving methadone tapers for IOAS. Caregivers were included if they had a child ≤12 years of age discharged to home on a methadone taper. The study consisted of 2 phases: a questionnaire and observation/counseling session predischarge and a telephone interview after taper completion. Univariate descriptive statistics were utilized for data analysis. Results: Phase 1 of the study was completed by 12 caregivers, and only 5 completed phase 2. The majority of caregivers were completely confident predischarge (83.3%) and postdischarge (80%) in administering methadone as prescribed. However, some caregivers were confused about the purpose of the taper and experienced difficulty in measuring oral solutions. Conclusions: Despite high self-efficacy, caregivers experienced difficulties in understanding taper management and during the observation session. The results of this study suggest presenting information to caregivers utilizing minimal medical jargon, conducting a counseling/observation session predischarge, and utilizing the teach-back method with caregivers to assess for understanding.

Clinical recommendations for pain, sedation, withdrawal and delirium assessment in critically ill infants and children: an ESPNIC position statement for healthcare professionals

Background

This position statement provides clinical recommendations for the assessment of pain, level of sedation, iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome and delirium in critically ill infants and children. Admission to a neonatal or paediatric intensive care unit (NICU, PICU) exposes a child to a series of painful and stressful events. Accurate assessment of the presence of pain and non-pain-related distress (adequacy of sedation, iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome and delirium) is essential to good clinical management and to monitoring the effectiveness of interventions to relieve or prevent pain and distress in the individual patient.

Methods

A multidisciplinary group of experts was recruited from the members of the European Society of Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care (ESPNIC). The group formulated clinical questions regarding assessment of pain and non-pain-related distress in critically ill and nonverbal children, and searched the PubMed/Medline, CINAHL and Embase databases for studies describing the psychometric properties of assessment instruments. Furthermore, level of evidence of selected studies was assigned and recommendations were formulated, and grade or recommendations were added on the basis of the level of evidence.

Results

An ESPNIC position statement was drafted which provides clinical recommendations on assessment of pain (n = 5), distress and/or level of sedation (n = 4), iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome (n = 3) and delirium (n = 3). These recommendations were based on the available evidence and consensus amongst the experts and other members of ESPNIC.

Conclusions

This multidisciplinary ESPNIC position statement guides professionals in the assessment and reassessment of the effectiveness of treatment interventions for pain, distress, inadequate sedation, withdrawal syndrome and delirium.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00134-016-4344-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Impact of a Standardized Treatment Guideline for Pediatric Iatrogenic Opioid Dependence: A Quality Improvement Initiative

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether utilization of a hospital-based clinical practice guideline for the care of pediatric iatrogenic opioid dependence (IOD) would promote a decrease in opioid exposure and improve management of opioid abstinence syndrome (AS).

METHODS

This study is a retrospective chart review of critically ill patients from a tertiary care children's hospital. Inclusion criteria included mechanically ventilated patients up to 18 years of age who received continuous opioid infusions for at least 7 days and any length of methadone administration. Data on IOD patients from January 2005 to June 2010 was divided into 3 periods: baseline, phase 1, and phase 2. Primary outcome was decrease in opioid exposure, measured by methadone duration of use and any additional opioid bolus doses used in AS management. Documentation of additional opioid bolus doses was regarded as a surrogate measure of AS. Secondary outcomes included total cumulative fentanyl dose, continuous fentanyl infusion duration of use, and hospital and pediatric intensive care unit length of stay.

RESULTS

There was a significant decrease in methadone duration of use in IOD patients from 15.3 ± 8.7 days at baseline to 9.5 ± 3.7 days during phase 1 (p = 0.002), to 8.1 ± 3.7 days on phase 2 (reduction not significant, p = 0.106) of this evaluation. Additional opioid bolus doses were significantly lower from baseline to phase 1 (5.5 ± 5.1 vs. 1.8 ± 2.3, p = 0.001) and from phase 1 to phase 2 (1.8 ± 2.3 vs. 0.2 ± 1.5, p = 0.003). For the remaining outcomes, differences were not observed among the evaluation periods, except for the total cumulative fentanyl dose, which was reduced from 2.8 ± 3.7 mg/kg at baseline to 1 ± 1 mg/kg only during phase 1 (p = 0.017).

CONCLUSIONS

Introduction of a standardized, hospital-based clinical practice guideline for children with IOD reduced the length of exposure to opioids and improved opioid AS management.

Tolerance and Withdrawal Issues with Sedatives in the Intensive Care Unit

Prolonged use of sedative medications continues to be a concern for critical care practitioners, with potential adverse effects including tolerance and withdrawal. The amount of sedatives required in critically ill patients can be lessened and tolerance delayed with the use of pain and/or sedation scales to reach the desired effect. The current recommendation for prolonged sedation is to wean patients from the medications over several days to reduce the risk of drug withdrawal. It is important to identify patients at risk for iatrogenic withdrawal and create a treatment strategy.

A Guide to Pain Assessment and Management in the Neonate

Newborn infants experience acute pain with various medical procedures. Evidence demonstrates that controlling pain in the newborn period is beneficial, improving physiologic, behavioral, and hormonal outcomes. Multiple validated scoring systems exist to assess pain in a neonate; however, there is no standardized or universal approach for pain management. Healthcare facilities should establish a neonatal pain control program. The first step is to minimize the total number of painful iatrogenic events when possible. If a procedure cannot be avoided, a tiered approach to manage pain using environmental, non-pharmacologic, and pharmacologic modalities is recommended. This systematic approach should decrease acute neonatal pain, poor outcomes, and provider and parent dissatisfaction.

Ketamine Continuous Infusions in Critically Ill Infants and Children

OBJECTIVE

To review the role of ketamine continuous infusions (CINs) in critically ill children for sedation and analgesia, withdrawal, and bronchospasm.

DATA SOURCES

Relevant articles were identified using MEDLINE (1946 to December 2015), EMBASE (1988 to December 2015), International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1970 to December 2015), and the Cochrane Library (1996 to December 2015) using the terms ketamine, children, and CIN.

STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION

All English-language articles in humans identified from data sources were evaluated. Three studies and 8 case reports/series representing 74 patients were included.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Ketamine is an N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist that blocks glutamate in the limbic system, resulting in sedation and analgesia. Additionally, it provides bronchodilation by increasing catecholamine transmission and stimulation of β2 receptors. The majority of reports evaluated ketamine for bronchospasm in children with status asthmaticus or bronchospasm refractory to conventional treatments. A total of 72 patients (97.3%) received a loading dose ranging from 0.2 to 2 mg/kg prior to CIN initiation. The CIN dosing range was 0.2 to 3.6 mg/kg/h. Children who received ketamine for sedation or opioid withdrawal received a lower dose than children initiated on it for bronchospasm: 0.24 to 0.9 versus 0.2 to 3.6 mg/kg/h, respectively. Duration of use ranged from 1 to 96 hours. Six of the reports mentioned that the ketamine CIN was tapered prior to discontinuation. Approximately 10.8% of patients included in the analysis experienced adverse events, with only 3 children (4.1%) experiencing emergence phenomenon.

CONCLUSIONS

Limited evidence was noted, so ketamine CINs could be considered an adjunct therapy at this time. Further prospective studies should be conducted to determine ketamine's role in sedation and analgesia, withdrawal treatment, and bronchospasm treatment.

Sedation in Critically Ill Children with Respiratory Failure

This article discusses the rationale of sedation in respiratory failure, sedation goals, how to assess the need for sedation as well as effectiveness of interventions in critically ill children, with validated observational sedation scales. The drugs and non-pharmacological approaches used for optimal sedation in ventilated children are reviewed, and specifically the rationale for drug selection, including short- and long-term efficacy and safety aspects of the selected drugs. The specific pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic aspects of sedative drugs in the critically ill child and consequences for dosing are presented. Furthermore, we discuss different sedation strategies and their adverse events, such as iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome and delirium. These principles can guide clinicians in the choice of sedative drugs in pediatric respiratory failure.

Efficacy and Safety of Single Low Dose Intravenous Fentanyl in Pain Reduction of Lumbar Puncture in Near Term Neonates by A Randomized Clinical Trial

OBJECTIVE

Reduction of pain of invasive procedures in neonates can prevent pain side effects. The purpose of present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a single low dose of intravenous fentanyl in reducing of lumbar puncture (LP) pain in neonates.

MATERIALS & METHODS

In this randomized clinical trial, registered with code number of 2014022616761N150, admitted neonates to Shahid Sadoughi Hospital, Yazd, Iran from August-April 2012 (45 cases) were randomly assigned into two groups to receive 2 μg/kg of intravenous fentanyl or 0.2 milliliter of normal saline, two min before LP. Primary outcome was success rate in reducing of pain during needle insertion to skin (pain score of less than three). Secondary outcomes were clinical side effects and serious adverse events.

RESULTS

Forty-five neonates including 23 girls and 22 boys were evaluated. Pain reduction was obtained in 39.1% (9 of 23 neonates) of fentanyl group and in 4.5% (one of 22 neonates) of control group. Means of pulse rate (136.41± 9.16 vs. 148.9± 8.99) and pain score during needle insertion (3.41±1.31 vs. 5.8±1.12) were lower in fentanyl group. No severe adverse effects were seen in both groups. Side effects such as vomiting [9% (N=2) in control and 4.3% (N=1) in fentanyle group] and mild transient decrease in oxygen saturation in 8.7% (N=2) of fentanyle group were seen. Safety in two groups was not statistically different.

CONCLUSION

Intravenous fentanyl might be considered as a safe and effective analgesic drug in LP in neonates.

Patterns of Sedation Weaning in Critically Ill Children Recovering From Acute Respiratory Failure

OBJECTIVE

To characterize sedation weaning patterns in typical practice settings among children recovering from critical illness.

DESIGN

A descriptive secondary analysis of data that were prospectively collected during the prerandomization phase (January to July 2009) of a clinical trial of sedation management.

SETTING

Twenty-two PICUs across the United States.

PATIENTS

The sample included 145 patients, aged 2 weeks to 17 years, mechanically ventilated for acute respiratory failure who received at least five consecutive days of opioid exposure.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Group comparisons were made between patients with an intermittent weaning pattern, defined as a 20% or greater increase in daily opioid dose after the start of weaning, and the remaining patients defined as having a steady weaning pattern. Demographic and clinical characteristics, tolerance to sedatives, and iatrogenic withdrawal symptoms were evaluated. Sixty-six patients (46%) were intermittently weaned; 79 patients were steadily weaned. Prior to weaning, intermittently weaned patients received higher peak and cumulative doses and longer exposures to opioids and benzodiazepines, demonstrated more sedative tolerance (58% vs 41%), and received more chloral hydrate and barbiturates compared with steadily weaned patients. During weaning, intermittently weaned patients assessed for withdrawal had a higher incidence of Withdrawal Assessment Tool-version 1 scores of greater than or equal to 3 (85% vs 46%) and received more sedative classes compared with steadily weaned patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This study characterizes sedative administration practices for pediatric patients prior to and during weaning from sedation after critical illness. It provides a novel methodology for describing weaning in an at-risk pediatric population that may be helpful in future research on weaning strategies to prevent iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome.

Use of fentanyl and midazolam in mechanically ventilated children--Does the method of infusion matter?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Benzodiazepines and opioids are commonly used in pediatric intensive care unit. However, there is no previous study assessing the use of administering these drugs combined (single solution) or separately. We sought to evaluate the impact of these 2 different methods of providing sedation/analgesia in pediatric intensive care unit.

METHODS

One hundred twelve patients mechanically ventilated for more than 48 hours were randomized to receive a protocolized sedation regime comprising midazolam and fentanyl either separately (group 1, 57 patients) or combined as a single solution (group 2, 55 patients). Primary end point variable was the cumulated dose of midazolam and fentanyl.

RESULTS

The median cumulated doses of both fentanyl (0.19 vs 0.37 mg/kg, P < .05) and midazolam (28.8 vs 45.6 mg/kg, P < .05) required in group 2 were higher when compared with those of group 1. Moreover, group 2 patients had a significantly longer time of vasopressor drugs requirement and a higher number of patients developing tolerance.

CONCLUSION

Patients who received a single solution of midazolam and fentanyl had a higher cumulated dose of compared with those patients who did not. The potential risk for long-term neurologic effects on developing brains associated with this finding should be considered.

Honokiol for the Treatment of Neonatal Pain and Prevention of Consequent Neurobehavioral Disorders

This study examined the short- and long-term neuroprotective and analgesic activity of honokiol (a naturally occurring lignan isolated from Magnolia) on developing brains in neonates exposed to inflammatory pain, known to cause neuronal cell death. Postnatal day 4 (P4) neonatal rat pups were subjected to intraplantar formalin injection to four paws as a model of severe neonatal pain. Intraperitoneal honokiol (10 mg/kg) or corn oil vehicle control was administered 1 h prior to formalin insult, and animals were maintained on honokiol through postnatal day 21 (P21). Behavioral tests for stress and pain were performed after the painful insult, followed by morphological examinations of the brain sections at P7 and P21. Honokiol significantly attenuated acute pain responses 30 min following formalin insult and decreased chronic thermal hyperalgesia later in life. Honokiol-treated rats performed better on tests of exploratory behavior and performed significantly better in tests of memory. Honokiol treatment normalized hippocampal and thalamic c-Fos and hippocampal alveus substance P receptor expression relative to controls at P21. Together, these findings support that (1) neonatal pain experiences predispose rats to the development of chronic behavioral changes and (2) honokiol prevents and reduces both acute and chronic pathological pain-induced deteriorations in neonatal rats.

Pharmacoepidemiology of opiate use in the neonatal ICU: Increasing cumulative doses and iatrogenic opiate withdrawal

OBJECTIVE

Neonatal intensive care unit (ICU) care involves use of opiates to treat postoperative, ventilated, or chronically ill infants. Opiates provide necessary analgesia and sedation, but the morbidities include prolonged neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) and extended length of stay for dose tapering. Our objective was to quantify trends in opiate exposure in a tertiary care NICU. The authors hypothesize that medical opiate exposure and resultant ICU-acquired NAS would increase over time.

DESIGN

Retrospective cross-sectional cohort study.

SETTING

Tertiary care NICU.

PATIENTS

High-risk inborn infants admitted in fiscal years 2003-2004, 2007-2008, and 2010-2011.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Average cumulative morphine exposure (all opiate doses converted to morphine equivalents) per time epoch was compared in cohorts of clinically similar infants. Linear regression was used to assess the primary outcome, assessing changes in opiate exposure over time.

RESULTS

Sixty-three infants were included in the final analysis. The primary analysis assessing cumulative opiate exposure per infant showed an increase of 134 mg per time epoch (95% CI-12, 279 mg, p-value 0.071). There was a statistically significant increase in the percent of infants with a diagnosis of iatrogenic NAS, increasing from 9 to 35 to 50 percent (p-value 0.012).

Feasibility of 4% Topical Lidocaine for Pain Management During Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Dressing Changes in Pediatric Patients: A Case Study

BACKGROUND

Opioid analgesics such as morphine are frequently used for pain management in pediatric patients undergoing dressing changes for negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). While these medications reduce associated pain, they are also associated with adverse side effects ranging from constipation, headache, and dizziness to respiratory depression, chest wall rigidity, and death. Alternative analgesic approaches are needed for pediatric patients undergoing NPWT.

METHODS

Four percent topical lidocaine was used for pain management during dressing changes for NPWT in a 15-year-old Hispanic male with necrotizing adenopathy.

CONCLUSION

The 4% topical lidocaine reduced the pain associated with dressing changes during NPWT. No adverse side effects were observed.

Paravertebral nerve block catheters using chloroprocaine in infants with prolonged mechanical ventilation for treatment of long-gap esophageal atresia

BACKGROUND

Infants with long-gap esophageal atresia (LGEA) undergo repeated thoracotomies for staged surgical repair known as the Foker process (FP). Associated prolonged mechanical ventilation results in exposure to high doses of opioids and benzodiazepines, and prolonged weaning times and ICU stays.

AIM

The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of short-term paravertebral nerve block (PVNB) catheters in reducing opioid/benzodiazepine exposure and effects on clinical variables.

METHODS

The medical records of seventeen infants were retrospectively reviewed; 11 with PVNB and six without (CG). PVNB were placed using ultrasound-guidance and chloroprocaine infusions implemented in the ICU. Opioids and benzodiazepines were administered via the protocol for 5 days following thoracotomies for Foker-I and Foker-II.

RESULTS

Foker-I: Average reduction in morphine and midazolam consumption was 36% (2.18 vs 3.40 mg·kg(-1) ·day(-1) ; P < 0.001) and 31% (2.25 vs 3.25 mg·kg(-1) ·day(-1) ; P = 0.033), respectively, in the PVNB compared with CG. Foker-II: Average reduction in morphine and midazolam consumption was 39% (3.19 vs 5.27 mg·kg(-1) ·day(-1) ) and 38% (3.46 mg·kg(-1) ·day(-1) vs 5.62; P < 0.001), respectively in the PVNB compared with CG. 24-h prior to extubation: Average reduction in morphine and midazolam consumption was 50% (2.91 vs 5.85 mg·kg(-1) ·24 h(-1) ; p = 0.023) and 61% (2.27 vs 5.83 mg·kg(-1) ·24 h(-1) ; P = 0.004), respectively, in the PVNB compared with CG. Infusion wean time, (independence from opioid/midazolam infusions) following extubation was 5 days in the PVNB group and 15 days in CG (P = 0.005). Median ICU stay (IQR) was 40 days (34-45 days) in PVNB patients and 71 days (42-106 days) in controls (P = 0.02). PVNB catheters were left an average of 7 days and there were no complications associated with the nerve blocks.

CONCLUSION

Short-term PVNB placement decreases opioid and benzodiazepine exposure, weaning days and ICU stay in infants undergoing prolonged mechanical ventilation for LGEA repair in this small pilot study. Larger studies are warranted to confirm results.

Consequences of prenatal opioid use for newborns

One-third of childbearing women take prescription opioids, previously occurring only in 6-7% of pregnant women. Prenatal opioid exposures may cause birth defects, altered brain development and neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). NAS incidence increased fourfold and length of stay increased from 13 to 19 days over 10 years (2004-2013), leading to sevenfold increases in NICU days due to NAS. Initial data suggest that recent NAS increases have resulted from increased use of prescription opioids rather than illicit drugs.

CONCLUSION

Paediatricians will have to manage the consequences of prenatal opioid exposures, as the offspring often have complex medical and social issues associated with these families.