The brain in pediatric critical care: unique aspects of assessment, monitoring, investigations, and follow-up

Analysis of the survival journey and post-traumatic growth process of children and their families following paediatric intensive care unit admission: A grounded theory study

OBJECTIVES

Advances in critical care technology have lowered mortality rates among critically ill individuals. Nonetheless, survivors and their families may develop new physical, mental, cognitive, and social challenges due to paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) treatments, impacting their quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the survival journey and post-traumatic growth process of children and their families following PICU admission within the Chinese cultural context.

METHODS

Twenty-six children who have been or are currently admitted to the PICU, alongside their parents and three PICU nurses, were chosen through purposive and theoretical sampling. Data collection involved face-to-face interviews and observations, with data analysis conducted through continuous comparison, open coding, and selective coding techniques.

FINDINGS

A model outlining the survival journey and post-traumatic growth process of critically ill children and their families post PICU admission has been established. This model encompasses two central trajectories: an upward trajectory consisting of confusion, charging, action, and sublimation phases and a downward trajectory comprising confusion, doubt and fear, inhibition (including confrontation and avoidance), and drowning phases.

CONCLUSIONS

Critically ill children and their families encounter diverse survival experiences and psychological journeys following traumatic events in the PICU. The survival experience has alternative upwards or downwards trajectories that are flexible/adaptable. Hence, offering timely psychological support can alter their developmental trajectories and foster post-traumatic growth.

Association of bilaterally suppressed EEG amplitudes and outcomes in critically ill children

Background and objectives

Amplitude-integrated EEG (aEEG) is used to assess electrocortical activity in pediatric intensive care if (continuous) full channel EEG is unavailable but evidence regarding the meaning of suppressed aEEG amplitudes in children remains limited. This retrospective cohort study investigated the association of suppressed aEEG amplitudes in critically ill children with death or decline of neurological functioning at hospital discharge.

Methods

Two hundred and thirty-five EEGs derived from individual patients <18 years in the pediatric intensive care unit at the University Hospital Essen (Germany) between 04/2014 and 07/2021, were converted into aEEGs and amplitudes analyzed with respect to age-specific percentiles. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) for death, and functional decline at hospital discharge in patients with bilateral suppression of the upper or lower amplitude below the 10th percentile were calculated. Sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV) were assessed.

Results

The median time from neurological insult to EEG recording was 2 days. PICU admission occurred due to neurological reasons in 43% and patients had high overall disease severity. Thirty-three (14%) patients died and 68 (29%) had a functional decline. Amplitude suppression was observed in 48% (upper amplitude) and 57% (lower amplitude), with unilateral suppression less frequent than bilateral suppression. Multivariable regression analyses yielded crude ORs between 4.61 and 14.29 and adjusted ORs between 2.55 and 8.87 for death and functional decline if upper or lower amplitudes were bilaterally suppressed. NPVs for bilaterally non-suppressed amplitudes were above 95% for death and above 83% for pediatric cerebral performance category Scale (PCPC) decline, whereas PPVs ranged between 22 and 32% for death and 49-52% for PCPC decline.

Discussion

This study found a high prevalence of suppressed aEEG amplitudes in critically ill children. Bilaterally normal amplitudes predicted good outcomes, whereas bilateral suppression was associated with increased odds for death and functional decline. aEEG assessment may serve as an element for risk stratification of PICU patients if conventional EEG is unavailable with excellent negative predictive abilities but requires additional information to identify patients at risk for poor outcomes.

Noninvasive Neuromonitoring Modalities in Children Part I: Pupillometry, Near-Infrared Spectroscopy, and Transcranial Doppler Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND

Noninvasive neuromonitoring in critically ill children includes multiple modalities that all intend to improve our understanding of acute and ongoing brain injury.

METHODS

In this article, we review basic methods and devices, applications in clinical care and research, and explore potential future directions for three noninvasive neuromonitoring modalities in the pediatric intensive care unit: automated pupillometry, near-infrared spectroscopy, and transcranial Doppler ultrasonography.

RESULTS

All three technologies are noninvasive, portable, and easily repeatable to allow for serial measurements and trending of data over time. However, a paucity of high-quality data supporting the clinical utility of any of these technologies in critically ill children is currently a major limitation to their widespread application in the pediatric intensive care unit.

CONCLUSIONS

Future prospective multicenter work addressing major knowledge gaps is necessary to advance the field of pediatric noninvasive neuromonitoring.

Pediatric Neurocritical Care: Maximizing Neurodevelopmental Outcomes Through Specialty Care

The field of pediatric neurocritical care (PNCC) has expanded and evolved over the last three decades. As mortality from pediatric critical care illness has declined, morbidity from neurodevelopmental disorders has expanded. PNCC clinicians have adopted a multidisciplinary approach to rapidly identify neurological injury, implement neuroprotective therapies, minimize secondary neurological insults, and establish transitions of care, all with the goal of improving neurocognitive outcomes for their patients. Although there are many aspects of PNCC and adult neurocritical care (NCC) medicine that are similar, elemental difference between adult and pediatric medicine has contributed to a divergent evolution of the respective fields. The low incidence of pediatric critical care illness, the heterogeneity of neurological insults, and the limited availability of resources all shape the need for a PNCC clinical care model that is distinct from the established paradigm adopted by the adult neurocritical care community at large. Considerations of neurodevelopment are fundamental in pediatrics. When neurological injury occurs in a child, the neurodevelopmental stage at the time of insult alters the impact of the neurological disease. Developmental variables contribute to a range of outcomes for seemingly similar injuries. Despite the relative infancy of the field of PNCC, early reports have shown that implementation of a specialized PNCC service elevates the quality and safety of care, promotes education and communication, and improves outcomes for children with acute neurological injuries. The multidisciplinary approach of PNCC clinicians and researchers also promotes a culture that emphasizes the importance of quality improvement and education initiatives, as well as development of and adherence to evidence-based guidelines and family-focused care models.

Neurological Pupillary Index (NPi) Measurement Using Pupillometry and Outcomes in Critically Ill Children

Aim/objective Neurological Pupil Index (NPi), measured by automated pupillometry (AP), allows the objective assessment of pupillary light reflex (PLR). NPi ranges from 0 (non-reactive) to 5 (normal). In this study, we aimed to compare neurologic and functional outcomes in children admitted for neurologic injury with normal (≥3) versus abnormal (<3) NPi measured during their pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) stay. Materials and methods We conducted a retrospective chart review of children between one month and 18 years admitted to our PICU with a diagnosis of neurologic injury between January 2019 and June 2022. We collected demographic, clinical, pupillometer, and outcome data, including mortality, Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category (PCPC), Pediatric Overall Performance Category (POPC), and Functional Status Score (FSS) at admission, at discharge, and at the three to six-month follow-up. We defined abnormal pupil response as any NPi <3 at any point during the PICU stay. Using the student's t-test and chi-square test, we compared the short-term and long-term outcomes of children with abnormal NPi (<3) versus those with normal NPi (≥3). Results There were 49 children who met the inclusion criteria and who had pupillometry data available for analysis. The mean (SD) Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) in the study cohort was 5.6 (4.3), and 61% had low (<3) NPi during ICU stay. Mortality was significantly higher among patients with an abnormal NPi as compared to those with normal NPi. Children with abnormal NPi exhibited significant worsening of neurologic and functional status (ΔPCPC, ΔPOPC, and ΔFSS) from admission to discharge (mean (SD): 3.55(1.5), 3.45(1.43), 16.75(7.85), p<0.001) as compared to those with normal NPi (mean (SD): 1.45(0.93), 1.73(0.90), 3.55(2.07), p>0.05). The significant difference in neurologic and functional status persisted at the three to six-month follow-up between the two groups - children with abnormal NPi (mean (SD): 2.0(1.41), 2.08(1.38), 6.92(6.83), p<0.01) and children with normal NPi (mean (SD): 0.82(1.01), 0.94(1.03), 1.53(1.70), p>0.05). Conclusion In our retrospective cohort study, children admitted to the PICU for a neuro injury and with abnormal NPi (< 3) have higher mortality, and worse short-term and long-term neurologic and functional outcomes as compared to those with normal NPi (≥ 3) measured during the PICU course. AP provides an objective assessment of PLR and has potential applications for neuro-prognostication. More research needs to be done to elucidate the prognostic value of NPi in pediatrics.

Advanced Neuromonitoring Modalities on the Horizon: Detection and Management of Acute Brain Injury in Children

Timely detection and monitoring of acute brain injury in children is essential to mitigate causes of injury and prevent secondary insults. Increasing survival in critically ill children has emphasized the importance of neuroprotective management strategies for long-term quality of life. In emergent and critical care settings, traditional neuroimaging modalities, such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), remain frontline diagnostic techniques to detect acute brain injury. Although detection of structural and anatomical abnormalities remains crucial, advanced MRI sequences assessing functional alterations in cerebral physiology provide unique diagnostic utility. Head ultrasound has emerged as a portable neuroimaging modality for point-of-care diagnosis via assessments of anatomical and perfusion abnormalities. Application of electroencephalography and near-infrared spectroscopy provides the opportunity for real-time detection and goal-directed management of neurological abnormalities at the bedside. In this review, we describe recent technological advancements in these neurodiagnostic modalities and elaborate on their current and potential utility in the detection and management of acute brain injury.

[Pediatric neurocritical care]

Pediatric neurocritical care requires multidisciplinary expertise for the care of critically ill children. Approximately 14-16% of critically ill children in pediatric intensive care suffer from a primary neurological disease, whereby cardiac arrest and severe traumatic brain injury play major roles in Europe. The short-term goal of interventions in the pediatric intensive care unit is to stabilize vital functions, whereas the overarching goal is to achieve survival without neurological damage that enables fulfillment of the individual developmental physiological potential. For this reason, evidence-based methods for brain monitoring during the acute phase and recovery are necessary, which can be performed clinically or with technical devices. This applies to critically ill children with primary neurological diseases and for all children at risk for secondary neurological insults. Patients with diseases of the peripheral nervous system are also treated in pediatric intensive care medicine. In these patients, the primary aim frequently consists of bridging the time until recovery after acute deterioration, for example during an infection. In these patients, monitoring the cerebral function can be especially challenging, because due to the underlying disease the results of the examination cannot be interpreted in the same way as for previously neurologically healthy children. This article summarizes the complexity of pediatric neurocritical care by presenting examples of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in the context of various neurological diseases that can be routinely encountered in the pediatric intensive care unit and can only be successfully treated by multidisciplinary teams.

Dynamic structures and emerging trends in the management of major trauma: A bibliometric analysis of publications between 2012 and 2021

Objective

Major trauma is currently a global public health issue with a massive impact on health at both the individual and population levels. However, there are limited bibliometric analyses on the management of major trauma. Thus, in this study we aimed to identify global research trends, dynamic structures, and scientific frontiers in the management of major trauma between 2012 and 2021.

Methods

We searched the Web of Science Core Collection to access articles and reviews concerning the management of major traumas and conducted a bibliometric analysis using CiteSpace.

Results

Overall, 2,585 studies were screened and published by 403 institutions from 110 countries/regions. The most productive country and institution in this field of research were the USA and Monash University, respectively. Rolf Lefering was the most prolific researcher and Holcomb JB had the most co-citations. Injury published the highest number of articles, and the Journal of Trauma was the most co-cited journal. A dual-map overlay of the literature showed that the articles of most publications were confined to the areas of medicine/medical/clinical and neurology/sports/ophthalmology. Document clustering indicated severe traumatic brain injury, traumatic coagulopathy, and resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion as the recent hot topics. The most recent burst keywords were "trauma management," "neurocritical care," "injury severity," and "emergency medical services."

Conclusion

The dynamic structures and emerging trends in the management of major trauma were extensively analyzed using CiteSpace, a visualization software. Based on the analysis, the following research hotspots emerged: management of severe traumatic brain injury and massive hemorrhage, neurocritical care, injury severity, and emergency medical service. Our findings provide pertinent information for future research and contribute toward policy making in this field.

Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound, a Review for the Pediatric Intensivist

The use of transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) is increasing in frequency in the pediatric intensive care unit. This review highlights some of the pertinent TCD applications for the pediatric intensivist, including evaluation of cerebral hemodynamics, autoregulation, non-invasive cerebral perfusion pressure/intracranial pressure estimation, vasospasm screening, and cerebral emboli detection.