Validity and generalizability of the Withdrawal Assessment Tool-1 (WAT-1) for monitoring iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome in pediatric patients

Cost-Benefit Analysis of a Pediatric ICU Sedation Weaning Protocol

OBJECTIVE

A risk stratified sedation weaning protocol improved patient outcomes in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). We sought to determine the protocol effect on medication costs.

METHODS

This was a retrospective observational cohort study in an academic tertiary care children's hospital PICU (2018-2020) comparing the cost when weaning benzodiazepine, alpha agonist, and/or opioid infusions in intubated children <18 years of age.

RESULTS

There were 84 total sedation weaning instances (pre-protocol n = 41 and post-protocol n = 41); 2 patients had 2 encounters, 1 in each phase. The total cost (in 2022 United States Dollars) of sedation weaning was $400,328.87 ($15,994.44/kg) pre-protocol compared with $170,458.85 ($11,227.52/kg) post-protocol. The median cost of sedation wean per patient for pre-protocol patients was $3197.42 (IQR: $322.66-$12,643.29) and post-protocol patients was $1851.44 (IQR: $425.05-$5355.85; p = 0.275). A linear regression model estimated the expected cost of sedation wean for post-protocol patients to be $5173.20 lower than for pre-protocol patients of the same weight and overall drug risk (p = 0.036). The proportion of withdrawal symptoms in the pre-protocol patients (16%) was not significantly different from the proportion in the post-protocol patients (14%; p = 0.435).

CONCLUSIONS

Implementation of a PICU sedation weaning protocol in a single-center conferred cost benefit without negatively impacting patient outcomes. A larger multicenter study would provide insight to the applicability to PICUs in varied settings with differing patient populations.

Gabapentin for Delirium in Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

OBJECTIVE

A protocol was developed for neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) delirium: Step 1, gabapentin for pain or melatonin for sleep; Step 2, add on other Step 1 agent; Step 3, antipsychotics. The purpose of this study was to describe the utility and dosing of gabapentin for NICU delirium.

METHODS

Retrospective evaluation of NICU patients from January 1, 2021-December 31, 2022 who received >1 dose of gabapentin based on the delirium protocol. Data collection included demographics, gabapentin regimen, and concomitant sedatives and analgesics. The primary objective was to identify the number of patients receiving gabapentin for Step 1 or Step 2. Secondary objectives included identifying the number of patients requiring antipsychotics (Step 3), the gabapentin regimen, comparison of Échelle de Douleur et d'Inconfort du Nouveau-né (EDIN), Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium (CAPD), and Withdrawal Assessment Tool-1 (WAT-1) scores 72 hours pre- and post-gabapentin initiation, and comparison of opioids, clonidine, and melatonin 24 hours pre- and 72 hours post-gabapentin initiation. Wilcoxon signed rank tests were employed with significance defined at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine patients were studied. The majority (n = 22; 75.9%) received gabapentin for Step 1; no patients required Step 3. The median initial dose was 14.4 mg/kg/day divided every 8 hours. Twelve (41.4%) required increase to a median of 16.9 mg/kg/day. A significant decrease in EDIN and WAT-1 scores was noted, but there was no change in CAPD scores or opioid, clonidine, or melatonin doses pre- versus post-gabapentin.

CONCLUSION

The majority received gabapentin at a median dose of 14 mg/kg/day as Step 1 for delirium. Gabapentin was associated with a significant decrease in pain and withdrawal scores.

Identification of a Conversion Factor for Dexmedetomidine to Clonidine Transitions

OBJECTIVE

To determine a conversion factor for use when switching from dexmedetomidine infusion to enteral clonidine in critically ill neonates.

METHODS

This was an observational, retrospective review of conversions from dexmedetomidine to -clonidine, performed in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) between January 2020 and December 2021. Both initial conversion factors and those resulting after a 48-hour titration period were examined. Sedation and withdrawal scores were measured, and doses were titrated based on a standardized practice within the unit.

RESULTS

A total of 43 dexmedetomidine to clonidine conversions were included. The median (IQR) dexmedetomidine dose prior to conversion was 17.4 (11.3-24.0) mcg/kg/day (0.7 mcg/kg/hr) and the median (IQR) enteral clonidine dose post titration was 7.8 (4.7-9.3) mcg/kg/day (2 mcg/kg every 6 hours). This equated to a post-titration conversion factor of approximately 0.42. All neonates had also received opioid infusions while on dexmedetomidine and 60% were on concurrent opioids at the time of the clonidine conversion.

CONCLUSIONS

Neonatal clinicians may find the conversion factor identified in this study a useful starting point when converting from dexmedetomidine infusion to enteral clonidine in practice and should be -reminded of the most important steps in conversions (monitoring and follow-up) owing to the variability in this patient group. More studies are needed to elucidate the impact of patient-specific factors on this -conversion process.

Pharmacologic Management of Pediatric Burns

Many pediatric patients with burn injuries may be initially treated in a hospital where pediatric specialized care, including resources and trained personnel may be limited. This includes resuscitation in adult emergency departments and inpatient care in mixed adult-pediatric burn units. The intent of this review is to provide a compilation of topics for the adult trained pharmacist or another healthcare practitioner on the management of pediatric patients with burn injuries. This article focuses on several key areas of pharmacologic burn management in the pediatric patient that may differ from the adult patient, including pain and sedation, fluid resuscitation, nutrition support, antimicrobial selection, anticoagulation, and inhalation injury. It is important that all clinicians have resources to help optimize the management of burn injuries in the pediatric population as, in addition to burn injury itself, pediatric patients have different pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics affecting which medications are used and how they are dosed. This article highlights several key differences between pediatric and adult patients, providing an additional resource to assist adult-trained pharmacists or other healthcare practitioners with making clinical decisions in the pediatric burn population.

Developmental care pathway for hospitalised infants with CHD: on behalf of the Cardiac Newborn Neuroprotective Network, a Special Interest Group of the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Outcome Collaborative

Infants and children born with CHD are at significant risk for neurodevelopmental delays and abnormalities. Individualised developmental care is widely recognised as best practice to support early neurodevelopment for medically fragile infants born premature or requiring surgical intervention after birth. However, wide variability in clinical practice is consistently demonstrated in units caring for infants with CHD. The Cardiac Newborn Neuroprotective Network, a Special Interest Group of the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Outcome Collaborative, formed a working group of experts to create an evidence-based developmental care pathway to guide clinical practice in hospital settings caring for infants with CHD. The clinical pathway, "Developmental Care Pathway for Hospitalized Infants with Congenital Heart Disease," includes recommendations for standardised developmental assessment, parent mental health screening, and the implementation of a daily developmental care bundle, which incorporates individualised assessments and interventions tailored to meet the needs of this unique infant population and their families. Hospitals caring for infants with CHD are encouraged to adopt this developmental care pathway and track metrics and outcomes using a quality improvement framework.

The Use of Dexmedetomidine in Preterm Infants: A Single Academic Center Experience

OBJECTIVE

Preterm newborns (PTNBs) often require sedation and analgesia. Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is used to provide sedation in extremely PTNBs, even though information on such use is limited. The objective of this research is to describe the use of DEX in these patients in a single academic center.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study of PTNBs receiving DEX from January 1, 2010, through December 31, 2018, at the Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital, a tertiary academic center operating 2 Level III and 1 Level IV neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Inclusion criteria were gestational age (GA) <36 weeks and receipt of DEX for >2 days. Adequacy of clinical response was based on achieving Neonatal Pain, Agitation and Sedation Scale (N-PASS) scores <3. Hypotension, bradycardia, and respiratory depression were recorded as the incidence as adverse events.

RESULTS

A total of 105 patients were included. The birth weight median was 870 g (IQR, 615-1507); the GA median was 26 weeks (IQR, 24-31). The duration of DEX infusion averaged 7 days. The DEX dose averaged 0.4 mcg/kg (IQR, 0.3-0.45). Bradycardia was observed in 35 patients (57%) weighting <1 kg and in 7 patients (18%) >1 kg (p < 0.01). There was no difference in the incidence of other adverse events between these groups. However, infants <1 kg required more pharmacologic interventions to maintain N-PASS score <3.

CONCLUSIONS

DEX was well tolerated overall and provided adequate sedation to PTNBs in this cohort. From this study, we recommend a starting dose of 0.2 to 0.4 mcg/kg/hr and titrating up hourly until adequate sedation is achieved.

A survey of current practices in sedation, analgesia, withdrawal, and delirium management in paediatric cardiac ICUs

OBJECTIVE

To characterise the current approach to sedation, analgesia, iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome and delirium in paediatric cardiac ICUs.

DESIGN

A convenience sample survey of practitioners at institutions participating in the Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Consortium conducted from September to December 2020.

SETTING

Paediatric cardiac ICUs.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Survey responses were received from 33 of 42 institutions contacted. Screening for pain and agitation occurs commonly and frequently. A minority of responding centres (39%) have a written analgesia management protocol/guideline. A minority (42%) of centres have a written protocol for sedation. Screening for withdrawal occurs commonly, although triggers for withdrawal screening vary. Only 42% of respondents have written protocols for withdrawal management. Screening for delirium occurs "always" in 46% of responding centres, "sometimes" in 36% of centres and "never" 18%. Nine participating centres (27%) have written protocols for delirium management.

CONCLUSIONS

Our survey identified that most responding paediatric cardiac ICUs lack a standardised approach to the management of analgesia, sedation, iatrogenic withdrawal, and delirium. Screening for pain and agitation occurs regularly, while screening for withdrawal occurs fairly frequently, and screening for delirium is notably less consistent. Only a minority of centres use written protocols or guidelines for the management of these problems. We believe that this represents an opportunity to significantly improve patient care within the paediatric cardiac ICU.

Implementation of an algorithm for tapering analgosedation reduces iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome in pediatric intensive care

BACKGROUND

Proper analgosedation is a cornerstone in the treatment of critically ill patients in Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs). Medications, such as fentanyl, morphine, and midazolam, are essential to safe and respectful care. The use of these medications over time may lead to side effects such as iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome (IWS) in the tapering phase. The aim of the study was to test an algorithm for tapering analgosedation to reduce the prevalence of IWS in two Norwegian PICUs at Oslo University Hospital.

METHODS

A cohort of mechanically ventilated patients from newborn to 18 years with continuous infusions of opioids and benzodiazepines for 5 days or more were included consecutively from May 2016 to December 2021. A pre- and posttest design, with an intervention phase using an algorithm for tapering analgosedation after the pretest, was used. The ICU staffs were trained in using the algorithm after the pretest. The primary outcome was a reduction in IWS. The Withdrawal Assessment Tool-1 (WAT-1) was used to identify IWS. A WAT-1 score ≥3 indicates IWS.

RESULTS

We included 80 children, 40 in the baseline group, and 40 in the intervention group. Age and diagnosis did not differ between the groups. The prevalence of IWS was 95% versus 52.5% in the baseline group versus the intervention group, and the peak WAT-1 median was 5.0 (IQR 4-6.8) versus 3.0 (IQR 2.0-6.0) (p = .012). Based on SUM WAT-1 ≥ 3, which describes the burden over time better, we demonstrated a reduction of IWS, from a median of 15.5 (IQR 8.25-39) to a median of 3 (IQR 0-20) (p = <.001).

CONCLUSION

We suggest using an algorithm for tapering analgosedation in PICUs since the prevalence of IWS was significantly lower in the intervention group in our study.

The Neonatal Withdrawal Assessment Tool (NWAT): pilot inter-rater reliability and content validity

OBJECTIVE

There is no validated tool to assess iatrogenic opioid withdrawal in preterm infants in the newborn intensive care unit (NICU).

STUDY DESIGN

The Neonatal Withdrawal Assessment Tool (NWAT) was developed to address this gap in clinical practice. In this pilot study, the NWAT was assessed for inter-rater reliability (IRR) and content validity.

RESULT

Fifty-one NICU providers scored two standardized simulated cases, then 20 paired provider assessments were completed on 5 preterm infants. The overall IRR was 95.6% on the simulated cases, and 98.8% on the 5 pilot infants. A provider survey assessed for content validity; all of the provider participants strongly agreed/agreed that the NWAT adequately measures withdrawal in critically ill infants.

CONCLUSION

The NWAT demonstrated high IRR and content validity for assessment of iatrogenic opioid withdrawal in preterm infants in this pilot study. Further studies in a larger more diverse patient population are needed before wider adoption into clinical practice.

Sedation Weaning Initiative Targeting Methadone Exposure: Single Center Improvements in Withdrawal Symptoms and Hospital Length of Stay for Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care

OBJECTIVES

Sedation and pain medications are necessary in the management of postoperative pediatric cardiac patients. Prolonged exposure to these medications can lead to negative side effects including withdrawal. We hypothesized that standardized weaning guidelines would decrease exposure to sedation medications and decrease withdrawal symptoms. The primary aim was to decrease average days of methadone exposure to within goal for moderate- and high-risk patients within 6 months.

DESIGN

Quality improvement methods were used to standardize sedation medication weaning in a pediatric cardiac ICU.

SETTING

This study took place at Duke Children's Hospital Pediatric Cardiac ICU in Durham, North Carolina from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021.

PATIENTS

Children less than 12 months old admitted to the pediatric cardiac ICU who underwent cardiac surgery.

INTERVENTIONS

Sedation weaning guidelines were implemented over the course of 12 months. Data were tracked every 6 months and compared with the 12 months pre-intervention. Patients were stratified into low, moderate, and high risk withdrawal categories based on duration of opioid infusion exposure.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Total sample size was 94 patients in the moderate and high risk categories. Process measures included documentation of Withdrawal Assessment Tool scores and appropriate methadone prescription in patients which increased to 100% post-intervention. For outcome measures, we observed decreased dexmedetomidine infusion duration, decreased methadone wean duration, decreased frequency of elevated Withdrawal Assessment Tool scores, and decreased hospital length of stay post-intervention. For the primary aim, methadone wean duration consistently decreased after each study period. Our intervention did not adversely impact balancing measures.

CONCLUSIONS

A quality improvement initiative to standardize sedation weaning in a Pediatric Cardiac ICU was successfully implemented and was correlated with decreased duration of sedation medications, decreased withdrawal scores, and decreased length of stay.

Perioperative dexmedetomidine compared to midazolam in children undergoing open-heart surgery: A pilot randomised controlled trial

Objective

There is a need for evidence on the best sedative agents in children undergoing open heart surgery for congenital heart disease. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of dexmedetomidine in this group compared with midazolam.

Design

Double blinded, pilot randomized controlled trial.

Setting

Cardiac operating theatre and paediatric intensive care unit in Brisbane, Australia.

Participants

Infants (≤12 months of age) undergoing their first surgical repair of a congenital heart defect.

Interventions

Dexmedetomidine (up to 1.0mcg/kg/hr) versus midazolam (up to 80mcg/kg/hr), commenced in the cardiac operating theatre prior to surgery.

Main outcome measures

The primary outcome was the time spent in light sedation (Sedation Behavior Scale [SBS] -1 to +1); Co-primary feasibility outcome was recruitment, retention and protocol adherence. Secondary outcomes were use of supplemental sedatives, ventilator free days, delirium, vasoactive drug support, and adverse events. Neurodevelopment and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were assessed at 12 months post-surgery.

Results

Sixty-six participants were recruited. The number of SBS scores in the light sedation range were greater in the dexmedetomidine group at 24 hours, 48 hours, and overall study duration (0-14 days) versus the midazolam group (24hr: 76/170 [45%] vs 60/178 [34%], aOR 4.14 [95% CI 0.48, 35.92]; 48hr: 154/298 [52%] vs 122/314 [39%], aOR 6.95 [95% CI 0.77, 63.13]; 0-14 days: 597/831 [72%] vs 527/939 [56%], aOR 3.93 [95% CI 0.62, 25.03]). Feasibility was established with no withdrawals or loss to follow-up at 14 days and minimal protocol deviations. There were no differences between the groups relating to clinical, safety, neurodevelopment or HRQoL outcomes.

Conclusions

The use of dexmedetomidine was associated with more time spent in light sedation when compared with midazolam. The feasibility of conducting a blinded RCT of midazolam and dexmedetomidine in children undergoing open heart surgery was also established. The findings justify further investigation in a larger trial.

Clinical trial registration

ACTRN12615001304527.

Risk Factors for Positive Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Screening and Associated Outcomes in Children Surviving Acute Respiratory Failure: A Secondary Analysis of the Randomized Evaluation of Sedation Titration for Respiratory Failure Clinical Trial

OBJECTIVES

To identify risk factors and outcomes associated with a positive post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) screen following pediatric acute respiratory failure treated with invasive mechanical ventilation.

DESIGN

Nonprespecified secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial.

SETTING

Thirty-one U.S. PICUs.

PATIENTS

Children in the Randomized Evaluation of Sedation Titration for Respiratory Failure (RESTORE) trial (NCT00814099, ClinicalTrials.gov ) over 8 years old who completed PTSD screening 6 months after discharge.

INTERVENTIONS

RESTORE sites were randomized to a targeted, nurse-directed sedation strategy versus usual care.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

PTSD screening was completed by 102 subjects using the Child Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Scale; a score of greater than or equal to 11 was considered screening positive for PTSD. Cognitive status was categorized using Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category; health-related quality of life (HRQL) was evaluated using child-reported Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, Version 4.0. Thirty-one children (30%) screened positive for PTSD. Children with a positive screen endorsed symptoms in all categories: reexperiencing, avoidance, and hyperarousal. Most endorsed that symptoms interfered with schoolwork ( n = 18, 58%) and happiness ( n = 17, 55%). Screening positive was not associated with RESTORE treatment group. In a multivariable logistic model adjusting for age, sex, and treatment group, screening positive was independently associated with lower median income in the family's residential zip code (compared with income ≥ $80,000; income < $40,000 odds ratio [OR], 32.8; 95% CI, 2.3-458.1 and $40,000-$79,999 OR, 15.6; 95% CI, 1.3-182.8), renal dysfunction (OR 5.3, 95% CI 1.7-16.7), and clinically significant pain in the PICU (OR, 8.3; 95% CI, 1.9-35.7). Children with a positive screen experienced decline in cognitive function and impaired HRQL more frequently than children with a negative screen.

CONCLUSIONS

Screening positive for PTSD is common among children following acute respiratory failure and is associated with lower HRQL and decline in cognitive function. Routine PTSD screening may be warranted to optimize recovery.

Validation of the withdrawal assessment tool-1 (WAT-1) in pediatric cardiovascular patients on an inpatient unit

PURPOSE

Sedation and analgesia are administered to critically ill patients, which may result in physical dependence and subsequent iatrogenic withdrawal. The Withdrawal Assessment Tool-1 (WAT-1) was developed and validated as an objective measurement of pediatric iatrogenic withdrawal in intensive care units (ICUs), with a WAT-1 score ≥ 3 indicative of withdrawal. This study's objectives were to test interrater reliability and validity of the WAT-1 in pediatric cardiovascular patients in a non-ICU setting.

DESIGN AND METHODS

This prospective observational cohort study was conducted on a pediatric cardiac inpatient unit. WAT-1 assessments were performed by the patient's nurse and a blinded expert nurse rater. Intra-class correlation coefficients were calculated, and Kappa statistics were estimated. A two-sample, one-sided test of proportions of weaning (n = 30) and nonweaning (n = 30) patients with a WAT-1 ≥3 were compared.

RESULTS

Interrater reliability was low (K = 0.132). The WAT-1 area under the receiver operating curve was 0.764 (95% confidence interval; ± 0.123). There was a significantly higher proportion (50%, p = 0.009) of weaning patients with WAT-1 scores ≥3 compared to the nonweaning patients (10%). The WAT-1 elements of moderate/severe uncoordinated/repetitive movement and loose, watery stools were significantly higher in the weaning population.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Methods to improve interrater reliability warrant further examination. The WAT-1 had good discrimination at identifying withdrawal in cardiovascular patients on an acute cardiac care unit. Frequent nurse re-education may increase accurate tool use. The WAT-1 tool may be used in the management of iatrogenic withdrawal in pediatric cardiovascular patients in a non-ICU setting.

Incidence of iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome and associated factors in surgical pediatric intensive care

BACKGROUND

Iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome (IWS) is a complication of prolonged sedation/analgesia in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients. The epidemiology of IWS is poorly understood, as validated diagnostic tools are rarely used. The main objective of our study was to use the WAT-1 score to assess the incidence of IWS in our unit. The secondary objectives were to evaluate the consequences of IWS, associated factors, and management modalities.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

From July 2018 to January 2019, 48 children receiving endotracheal ventilation and sedation/analgesia by continuous infusion (>48 h) of benzodiazepines and/or opioids were included. As soon as sedation/analgesia was decreased and until 72 h after its complete discontinuation, the WAT-1 score was determined every 12 h. Substitution therapy was used for 98% of patients upon opioid and/or benzodiazepine withdrawal. IWS was defined as a WAT-1 score ≥3. Factors associated with IWS were assessed by univariate analysis.

RESULTS

IWS occurred in 25 (52%) patients. IWS was associated with a higher number of ventilator-associated pneumonia episodes (17 [68%] vs. one [4%]) and a longer PICU stay (13 [7; 25] vs. 9.0 [5.0; 10.5]) (p<0.001). Overall, 11 patients developed IWS after less than 5 days of sedation/analgesia. Severe head injury was associated with IWS (p = 0.03). Neither sedation discontinuation nor IWS prevention was standardized.

CONCLUSION

The high incidence and adverse consequences of IWS require improved prevention. Risk groups should be defined and a standardized withdrawal protocol established. The occurrence of IWS should be monitored routinely using a validated score.

Is ketamine infusion effective and safe as an adjuvant of sedation in the PICU? Results from the Ketamine Infusion Sedation Study (KISS)

STUDY OBJECTIVE

We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ketamine in ensuring comfort and sparing conventional drugs when used as an adjuvant for analgesia and sedation in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) as a continuous infusion (≥12 h).

DESIGN

Observational prospective study.

SETTING

Tertiary-care-center PICU.

PATIENTS

All consecutive patients <18 years who received ketamine for ≥12 h between January 2019 and July 2021.

INTERVENTIONS

ketamine infusion for ≥12 h.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Seventy-seven patients (median age 16 months, Interquartile Range (IQR) 7-43) were enrolled. Twenty-six percent of patients (n = 20) were paralyzed, while 74% (n = 57) were not. The median infusion duration was 90 h (IQR 39-193), with doses between 15 (IQR 15-20) and 30 μg/kg/min (IQR 20-50). At 24 h of ketamine infusion, values of COMFORT-B-Scale (CBS) were significantly lower compared with values pre-ketamine (p < 0.001). Simultaneously, doses/kg/h of opioids and benzodiazepines significantly decreased at 24 h (p < 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively), while doses/kg/h of propofol (p = 0.500) and dexmedetomidine (p = 0.072) did not significantly change. Seventy-four percent of non-paralyzed patients (42/57) had a decrease in CBS ≥2 points with no increase of concomitant analgosedation drugs. Among paralyzed patients (n = 20), 13 (65%) had no increase of concomitant analgosedation within 24 h after ketamine initiation. Overall, 55/77 (71%) of patients responded to ketamine. The mean and maximum ketamine infusion dosages were significantly higher in the non-responders (p = 0.021 and 0.028, respectively). Eleven patients had adverse events potentially related to ketamine (hypersalivation, systemic hypertension, dystonia/dyskinesia, tachycardia, and agitation) and six patients required intervention (dose reduction, suspension, or pharmacologic therapy). None of the patients developed delirium during ketamine infusion.

CONCLUSIONS

Ketamine used as a continuous infusion in the PICU might represent a valid strategy to ensure comfort and spare opioids and benzodiazepines in difficult-to-sedate PICU patients. Adverse events are minor and easily reversible. Future study will be needed to investigate long-term outcomes.

Naloxegol for Treatment of Opioid-Induced Constipation in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Opioid-induced constipation is a common problem in critically ill children requiring sedation. Naloxegol is an oral U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved peripherally acting mu-opioid receptor antagonist for chronic opioid-induced constipation use in adults, but data on its use in children are lacking. We performed a retrospective analysis of critically ill children that had received naloxegol for opioid-induced constipation at our institution. Of the 45 patients studied, mean stool frequency increased significantly from 0.63 ± 0.12 stools per day to 1.71 ± 0.13 stools per day after starting naloxegol (95% confidence interval [CI]: [0.75, 1.4], P < .001). There was no significant difference in the mean Withdrawal Assessment Tool 1 (WAT-1) score in the 24 hours before and after receiving the first dose (95% CI: [-0.25, 0.40], P = .63). This suggests naloxegol is effective in increasing stool output in critically ill children receiving opioids without an increase in opioid-withdrawal symptoms. It may be an effective adjunctive therapy for this population.

Iatrogenic Withdrawal Syndrome in Critically Ill Neonates: A Review of Mechanisms, Assessment, Management, and Prevention

Considering that neonatal pain is a relevant matter given its implications and consequences, many neonates, particularly those undergoing critical care, are subjected to analgo-sedation therapies, which commonly includes treatment with opioids and benzodiazepines. These drugs, however, can induce tolerance and dependency, leading to the development of the so-called iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome (IWS) which is observed following discontinuation of these therapeutic agents particularly when utilized for a prolonged period of time (≥5 days). IWS consists of signs and symptoms manifested especially in young children, such as term and premature newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit, who are less capable of metabolizing and eliminating these drugs, compared with older patients. In this study, we review assessment tools that were developed to identify, evaluate, and manage children affected by IWS. The studies reviewed demonstrate that optimal management of IWS includes consideration of alternate routes of drug administration, the need for adequate time for drug tapering, and also the presence of planned rescue therapy when encountering cases refractory to ongoing management. Equally important is prevention of IWS which can be accomplished with the implementation of drug rotation protocols and, adherence to evidenced-based guidelines which facilitate an overall decline in the use and duration of opioids and benzodiazepines. Finally, our review strongly supports the need for more research on IWS in neonates given their increased susceptibility and sparse published data for this age group.

Pediatric delirium is associated with increased brain injury marker levels in cardiac surgery patients

Despite global consensus on the importance of screening pediatric delirium, correlations between pediatric delirium during acute brain injury and adult delirium are unclear. Therefore, we hypothesized that similar pediatric biomarkers reflect acute brain injury as in adult delirium. We observed pediatric cardiac surgery patients from neonatal age to 18 years, who were admitted to our pediatric intensive care unit after cardiovascular operations between October 2019 to June 2020, up to post-operative day 3 (4 days total). We recorded age, sex, risk score (Risk Adjustment in Congenital Heart Surgery [RACHS-1]), midazolam/dexmedetomidine/fentanyl dosage, and pediatric Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (pSOFA). Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS), Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium (CAPD), Face, Leg, Activity, Consolability (FLACC) behavioral scale, and Withdrawal Assessment Tool (WAT-1) scales were used and serum sampling for neuron specific enolase (NSE) was conducted. Consciousness status was considered hierarchical (coma > delirium > normal) and associations between conscious status and NSE were conducted by hierarchical Bayesian modeling. We analyzed 134 data points from 40 patients (median age 12 months). In the multi-regression model, NSE was positively associated with coma [posterior odds ratio (OR) = 1.1, 95% credible interval (CrI) 1.01-1.19] while pSOFA [posterior OR = 1.63, 95% CrI 1.17-2.5], midazolam [posterior OR = 1.02, 95% CrI 1.01-1.04], and dexmedetomidine [posterior OR = 9.52, 95% CrI 1.02-108.85] were also associated. We also evaluated consciousness state probability at each NSE concentration and confirmed both that consciousness was hierarchically sorted and CAPD scores were also associated with NSE [posterior OR = 1.32, 95% CrI 1.09-1.58]. "Eye contact" (r = 0.55) was the most correlated component with NSE within the pain, withdrawal syndrome, and PD items. PD within the hierarchy of consciousness (coma, delirium, normal) and CAPD scores are associated with brain injury marker levels. Using pediatric delirium assessment tools for monitoring brain injury, especially eye contact, is a reliable method for observing PD.

Implementation of an Opioid Weaning Protocol at a Tertiary Care Children's Hospital

OBJECTIVES

Evaluate the implementation of a pharmacist-managed opioid weaning regimen and objective opioid withdrawal assessment tool in pediatric patients requiring an opioid wean. We hypothesized that this combination would be associated with a reduction in the wean duration and length of stay and decrease episodes of opioid withdrawal.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study utilizing pediatric inpatients requiring an inpatient opioid medication wean. The study was conducted in 3 phases from chart review of patients admitted from 2012 to 2020: baseline preintervention (phase 1), pharmacist-managed weaning regimen (phase 2), and addition of an objective assessment tool, the Withdrawal Assessment Tool-1 (phase 3). Data collection included the total wean duration, total duration of hospital admission, and number of episodes of opioid withdrawal.

RESULTS

The study included 115 patients with 36 patients in phases 1 and 3 and 43 patients in phase 2. Median age ranged from 0.46 to 0.84 years and the majority of children were males. No significant differences in patient characteristics such as age, weight, sex, and previous opioid exposure were found between phases. Length of stay, wean duration, and episodes of withdrawal with need for rescue dose all decreased significantly from phase 1 to phase 3.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of a pharmacist-managed weaning regimen combined with the Withdrawal Assessment Tool-1 tool was associated with significantly shorter methadone weans and overall length of stay. This has implications for wide spread dissemination and standardization of this approach in tertiary care children's hospitals caring for patients after ICU admission.

Analgesia, Sedation, Paralytics, Delirium, and Iatrogenic Withdrawal

The care of the critically ill child often includes medications used for the relief of pain and anxiety. Children have key differences in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics compared with adults that should always be considered to achieve safe medication use in this population. Pain must be addressed, and sedative use should be minimized when possible. Our understanding of sedation safety is evolving, and studies have shown that minimizing exposure to multiple medications can reduce the burden of delirium and iatrogenic withdrawal.

Modified ABCDEF-Bundles for Critically Ill Pediatric Patients - What Could They Look Like?

Background and Significance

Advances in pediatric intensive care have led to markedly improved survival rates in critically ill children. Approximately 70% of those children survive with varying forms of complex chronic diseases or impairment/disabilities. Length of stay, length of mechanical ventilation and number of interventions per patient are increasing with rising complexity of underlying diseases, leading to increasing pain, agitation, withdrawal symptoms, delirium, immobility, and sleep disruption. The ICU-Liberation Collaborative of the Society of Critical Care Medicine has developed a number of preventative measures for prevention, early detection, or treatment of physical and psychiatric/psychological sequelae of oftentimes traumatic intensive care medicine. These so called ABCDEF-Bundles consist of elements for (A) assessment, prevention and management of pain, (B) spontaneous awakening and breathing trials (SAT/SBT), (C) choice of analgesia and sedation, (D) assessment, prevention and management of delirium, (E) early mobility and exercise and (F) family engagement and empowerment. For adult patients in critical care medicine, research shows significant effects of bundle-implementation on survival, mechanical ventilation, coma, delirium and post-ICU discharge disposition. Research regarding PICS in children and possible preventative or therapeutic intervention is insufficient as yet. This narrative review provides available information for modification and further research on the ABCDEF-Bundles for use in critically ill children.

Material and Methods

A narrative review of existing literature was used.

Results

One obvious distinction to adult patients is the wide range of different developmental stages of children and the even closer relationship between patient and family. Evidence for pediatric ABCDEF-Bundles is insufficient and input can only be collected from literature regarding different subsections and topics.

Conclusion

In addition to efforts to improve analgesia, sedation and weaning protocols with the aim of prevention, early detection and effective treatment of withdrawal symptoms or delirium, efforts are focused on adjusting ABCDEF bundle for the entire pediatric age group and on strengthening families' decision-making power, understanding parents as a resource for their child and involving them early in the care of their children.

Standardized Scoring Tool and Weaning Guideline to Reduce Opioids in Critically Ill Neonates

Introduction

Pain impacts brain development for neonates, causing deleterious neurodevelopmental outcomes. Prescription opioids for analgesia or sedation are common; however, prolonged opioid exposure in neonates is associated with neurodevelopmental impairment. Balancing the impact of inadequate pain control against prolonged opioid exposure in neonates is a clinical paradox. Therefore, we sought to decrease the average days of opioids used for analgesia or sedation in critically ill neonates at a level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit by 10% within 1 year.

Methods

A multidisciplinary quality improvement team used the model for improvement, beginning with a Pareto analysis, and identified a lack of consistent approach to weaning opioids as a primary driver for prolonged exposure. The team utilized 2 main interventions: (1) a standardized withdrawal assessment tool-1 and (2) a risk-stratified opioid weaning guideline.

Results

We demonstrated a reduction in mean opioid duration from 34.3 to 14.1 days, an increase in nursing withdrawal assessment tool-1 documentation from 20% to 90%, and an increase in the documented rationale for daily opioid dose in provider notes from 20% to 70%. Benzodiazepine use did not change.

Conclusion

Standardized withdrawal assessments combined with risk-stratified weaning guidelines can decrease opioid use in critically ill neonates.

Specificity and sensibility of the Spanish version of the COMFORT Behaviour Scale for assessing pain, grade of sedation and withdrawal syndrome in the critically ill paediatric patient. Multicentre COSAIP study (Phase 1)

AIM

The main aim of this investigation was to analyse the specificity and sensibility of the COMFORT Behaviour Scale (CBS-S) in assessing grade of pain, sedation, and withdrawal syndrome in paediatric critical care patients.

METHOD

An observational, analytical, cross-sectional and multicentre study conducted in Level III Intensive Care Areas of 5 children's university hospitals. Grade of sedation was assessed using the Spanish version of the CBS-S and the Bispectral Index on sedation, once per shift over one day. Grade of withdrawal was determined using the CBS-S and the Withdrawal Assessment Tool-1, once per shift over three days.

RESULTS

A total of 261 critically ill paediatric patients with a median age of 5.07 years (P25:0.9-P75:11.7) were included in this study. In terms of the predictive capacity of the CBS-S, it obtained a Receiver Operation Curve of .84 (sensitivity of 81% and specificity of 76%) in relation to pain; .62 (sensitivity of 21% and specificity of 78%) in relation to sedation grade, and .73% (sensitivity of 40% and specificity of 74%) in determining withdrawal syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS

The Spanish version of the COMFORT Behaviour Scale could be a useful, sensible and easy scale to assess the degree of pain, sedation and pharmacological withdrawal of critically ill paediatric patients.

Dexmedetomidine for Sedation During Pediatric Noninvasive Ventilation

BACKGROUND

Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) facilitates management of acute respiratory failure without intubation. Many pediatric patients cannot tolerate the discomfort associated with noninvasive support and require sedation with agents that may decrease respiratory drive. Dexmedetomidine does not decrease respiratory drive, and we hypothesized that its use would increase tolerance of noninvasive respiratory support without increasing risk for intubation.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was performed of all subjects at least 3 months of age with acute respiratory failure requiring NIV who were admitted to the pediatric ICU at a children's hospital for a 3-y period from 2015-2018. Subjects were stratified to those receiving continuous dexmedetomidine versus those not receiving sedation. Medical history was reviewed for developmental delay (DD) or intellectual disability (ID) as well as basic demographic information. To control the association between these variables with both dexmedetomidine use and intubation, augmented inverse probability weighting was utilized to establish equivalent baselines between the dexmedetomidine and no-sedation groups. Primary outcome was intubation rate within 6 h of initiation of dexmedetomidine infusion or NIV.

RESULTS

Based on the strong association between age and dexmedetomidine use, a statistical model including subjects > age 5 was not able to be generated, and these subjects were excluded from final analysis. One-hundred eight subjects were included in the final statistical analysis, with 60 receiving dexmedetomidine and 48 receiving no sedation. Dexmedetomidine was effective at reducing agitation, with no difference noted in intubation rate at 6 h between subjects receiving dexmedetomidine versus no sedation (13.1 vs 12.4%).

CONCLUSIONS

Dexmedetomidine may allow tolerance of NIV in acute respiratory failure without increasing risk for intubation, especially in preschool age patients and those with DD or ID. A larger study involving multiple centers would help support our conclusions.

Recommendations for analgesia and sedation in critically ill children admitted to intensive care unit

We aim to develop evidence-based recommendations for intensivists caring for children admitted to intensive care units and requiring analgesia and sedation. A panel of national paediatric intensivists expert in the field of analgesia and sedation and other specialists (a paediatrician, a neuropsychiatrist, a psychologist, a neurologist, a pharmacologist, an anaesthesiologist, two critical care nurses, a methodologist) started in 2018, a 2-year process. Three meetings and one electronic-based discussion were dedicated to the development of the recommendations (presentation of the project, selection of research questions, overview of text related to the research questions, discussion of recommendations). A telematic anonymous consultation was adopted to reach the final agreement on recommendations. A formal conflict-of-interest declaration was obtained from all the authors. Eight areas of direct interest and one additional topic were considered to identify the best available evidence and to develop the recommendations using the Evidence-to-Decision framework according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. For each recommendation, the level of evidence, the strength of the recommendation, the benefits, the harms and the risks, the benefit/harm balance, the intentional vagueness, the values judgement, the exclusions, the difference of the opinions, the knowledge gaps, and the research opportunities were reported. The panel produced 17 recommendations. Nine were evaluated as strong, 3 as moderate, and 5 as weak. Conclusion: a panel of national experts achieved consensus regarding recommendations for the best care in terms of analgesia and sedation in critically ill children.

2022 Society of Critical Care Medicine Clinical Practice Guidelines on Prevention and Management of Pain, Agitation, Neuromuscular Blockade, and Delirium in Critically Ill Pediatric Patients With Consideration of the ICU Environment and Early Mobility

RATIONALE

A guideline that both evaluates current practice and provides recommendations to address sedation, pain, and delirium management with regard for neuromuscular blockade and withdrawal is not currently available.

OBJECTIVE

To develop comprehensive clinical practice guidelines for critically ill infants and children, with specific attention to seven domains of care including pain, sedation/agitation, iatrogenic withdrawal, neuromuscular blockade, delirium, PICU environment, and early mobility.

DESIGN

The Society of Critical Care Medicine Pediatric Pain, Agitation, Neuromuscular Blockade, and Delirium in critically ill pediatric patients with consideration of the PICU Environment and Early Mobility Guideline Taskforce was comprised of 29 national experts who collaborated from 2009 to 2021 via teleconference and/or e-mail at least monthly for planning, literature review, and guideline development, revision, and approval. The full taskforce gathered annually in-person during the Society of Critical Care Medicine Congress for progress reports and further strategizing with the final face-to-face meeting occurring in February 2020. Throughout this process, the Society of Critical Care Medicine standard operating procedures Manual for Guidelines development was adhered to.

METHODS

Taskforce content experts separated into subgroups addressing pain/analgesia, sedation, tolerance/iatrogenic withdrawal, neuromuscular blockade, delirium, PICU environment (family presence and sleep hygiene), and early mobility. Subgroups created descriptive and actionable Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome questions. An experienced medical information specialist developed search strategies to identify relevant literature between January 1990 and January 2020. Subgroups reviewed literature, determined quality of evidence, and formulated recommendations classified as "strong" with "we recommend" or "conditional" with "we suggest." Good practice statements were used when indirect evidence supported benefit with no or minimal risk. Evidence gaps were noted. Initial recommendations were reviewed by each subgroup and revised as deemed necessary prior to being disseminated for voting by the full taskforce. Individuals who had an overt or potential conflict of interest abstained from relevant votes. Expert opinion alone was not used in substitution for a lack of evidence.

RESULTS

The Pediatric Pain, Agitation, Neuromuscular Blockade, and Delirium in critically ill pediatric patients with consideration of the PICU Environment and Early Mobility taskforce issued 44 recommendations (14 strong and 30 conditional) and five good practice statements.

CONCLUSIONS

The current guidelines represent a comprehensive list of practical clinical recommendations for the assessment, prevention, and management of key aspects for the comprehensive critical care of infants and children. Main areas of focus included 1) need for the routine monitoring of pain, agitation, withdrawal, and delirium using validated tools, 2) enhanced use of protocolized sedation and analgesia, and 3) recognition of the importance of nonpharmacologic interventions for enhancing patient comfort and comprehensive care provision.

Four-in-One: A Comprehensive Checklist for the Assessment of Pain, Undersedation, Iatrogenic Withdrawal and Delirium in the PICU: A Delphi Study

OBJECTIVES

Children's pain, undersedation, iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome and delirium often have overlapping symptoms, which makes it difficult to decide why a child in the PICU is not comfortable. Validated assessment tools for these conditions are available, but regular assessment with multiple instruments may be too time-consuming. Therefore, we aimed to develop a new holistic instrument-the mosaIC checklist-that incorporates the assessment of the four conditions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a two-rounds international Delphi study among experts working in PICUs worldwide to find cues that in combination or separately are relevant for the four conditions.

RESULTS

In the first Delphi round, 38 of the 48 enrolled participants (79%) completed a questionnaire; in the second round 32 of 48 (67%). Eventually, 46 cues in eight categories (e.g., facial, vocal/verbal, body movements, sleep /behavioral state, posture/muscle tone, agitation, physiological and contextual) were found relevant. Thirty-three (72%) were considered relevant for pain, 24 for undersedation (52%), 35 for iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome (76%) and 28 (61%) for pediatric delirium. Thirteen cues (28%) were considered relevant for all four conditions; 11's (24%) for only one condition.

CONCLUSION

This Delphi study is the first step in developing a 4-in-1 comprehensive checklist to assess pain, undersedation, iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome and delirium in a holistic manner. Further validation is needed before the checklist can be applied in practice. Application of the mosaIC checklist could help determine what condition is most likely to cause a child's discomfort-and at the same time help reduce the PICU staff's registration burden.

Dexmedetomidine for prevention of opioid/benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome in pediatric intensive care unit: Interim analysis of a randomized controlled trial

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Withdrawal syndrome (WS) may be a critical drawback of opioid/benzodiazepine weaning in children. The most effective intervention to reduce WS prevalence is yet to be determined. Dexmedetomidine (DEX) was estimated to be effective in reducing WS-related symptoms, but no randomized trial has been conducted to prove its efficacy so far. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of DEX in reducing the occurrence of WS.

DESIGN AND SETTING

This was an adaptive randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial conducted at three Italian Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs).

PATIENTS

It included children admitted to PICU, undergoing at least five days of opioids/benzodiazepines continuous infusion, and ready to start the analgosedation weaning.

INTERVENTION

Twenty-four hours before the start of weaning, an infusion of DEX/placebo was started. WS symptoms were monitored using the Withdrawal-Assessment-Tool-version-1 (WAT-1). In case of WS symptoms (WAT-1 ≥ 3) an opioid/benzodiazepine bolus was given and the DEX/placebo infusion-rate was increased.

MEASUREMENTS

The primary outcome measure was the prevalence of WS. Secondary outcomes were the trend of WAT-1 over time, number of rescue doses, length of weaning and PICU-stay, and onset of adverse events (AEs).

MAIN RESULTS

Forty-five patients were enrolled, of whom 5 dropped-out and 40 entered the interim analysis. There were no significant baseline differences between groups. WS prevalence did not significantly differ between groups (77.8% DEX vs 90.9% placebo, p = 0.381). By generalized linear mixed modeling, the WAT-1 trend showed a significant increase per unit of time in the DEX arm (estimate 0.27, CI 0.07-0.47, p = 0.009) compared to placebo. Most frequent AEs were hemodynamic, and all of them happened in the DEX arm.

CONCLUSIONS

A continuous infusion of DEX, started 24 h before the analgosedation weaning and increased based on WS signs, was not able to significantly modify the prevalence of WS in children who received at least five days of opioids/benzodiazepines treatment compared to placebo.

Clonidine for the Treatment of Agitation After Dexmedetomidine Discontinuation in Pediatric Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

Dexmedetomidine has become a widely used drug in PICUs for sedation. We aim to determine the effects of clonidine on pediatric patients after dexmedetomidine use.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study that evaluated all pediatric patients admitted to a tertiary PICU who received dexmedetomidine infusion for >48 hours. Outcomes in patients exposed to clonidine (CLON) were compared with those of patients who were not exposed (NoCLON).

RESULTS

A total of 216 patients were included in this study (43 CLON and 173 NoCLON). The primary outcome, agitation, was less in the CLON cohort (9.3%) than in the NoCLON cohort (9.3% versus 29.5%, respectively; p < 0.01). Hospital LOS was longer in the CLON group (59 versus 20 days, p < 0.01), as was PICU LOS (37.4 versus 11.1 days, p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the occurrence of increased heart rate or blood pressure between the 2 cohorts. Patients exposed to concurrent midazolam and opioid infusions had higher incidence of agitation when they did not receive clonidine (CLON 8% versus NoCLON 37%, OR 0.15; 95% CI, 0.05-0.51; p < 0.01). In contrast, there was no difference in the incidence of agitation for the CLON group versus the NoCLON group when dexmedetomidine was administered alone (25% versus 19%, OR 1.4; p = 0.99).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study confirms the importance and effectiveness of clonidine to treat agitation after dexmedetomidine discontinuation. A validated withdrawal scoring tool can help better define dexmedetomidine withdrawal in pediatric patients.

Safety and effectiveness of parent- or nurse-controlled analgesia in neonates: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this systematic review was to determine the safety and effectiveness of parent- or nurse-controlled analgesia on neonatal patient outcomes. More specifically, the objective was to determine the effect of parent- or nurse-controlled analgesia on neonatal pain scores, analgesic use, and incidence of iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome, as well as any opioid-associated adverse events.

INTRODUCTION

Despite recent innovations in neonatology leading to significant improvements in short- and long-term outcomes for newborns requiring intensive care, optimal management of pain and distress remains a challenge for the treating multidisciplinary team. The inability of neonates to communicate pain easily, inconsistent practice among health professionals, insufficient analgesic prescriptions, and delays in medical reviews all impact effective pain management. Exploring the effect of parent- or nurse-controlled analgesia may identify a modality that negates these concerns and improves the pharmacological management of pain in newborns.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

This review considered experimental and observational studies evaluating the safety and effectiveness of parent- or nurse-controlled analgesia that included babies born at 23 weeks' gestation to four weeks post-term. The interventions considered for inclusion were any type of analgesia delivered by an infusion pump that allowed bolus dosing or a continuous analgesic infusion with bolus dosing as required. Studies using algorithms and protocols to guide timing and dosage were eligible for inclusion. Comparators included the standard management of pain for neonates in the newborn intensive care unit. A modification to the a priori protocol was made to include all neonates nursed outside of a neonatal intensive care unit to ensure all studies that examined the use of parent- or nurse-controlled analgesia in the neonatal population were included in the review.

METHODS

An extensive search of six major databases was conducted (CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science). Studies published from 1997 to 2020 in English were considered for inclusion in this review. Databases searched for unpublished studies included MedNar and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses.

RESULTS

Fourteen studies were included in this review: two randomized controlled trials, six quasi-experimental studies, one case-control study, and five case series. There was considerable heterogeneity in the interventions and study outcome measures within the studies, resulting in an inability to statistically pool results. The small sample sizes and inability to distinguish data specific to neonates in six of the studies resulted in low quality of evidence for the safety and effectiveness of parent- or nurse-controlled analgesia in neonates. However, studies reporting neonatal data demonstrated low pain scores and a trend in reduced opioid consumption when parent- or nurse-controlled analgesia was used.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of parent- or nurse-controlled analgesia in the neonatal population has shown some effect in reducing the amount of opioid analgesia required without compromising pain relief or increasing the risk of adverse events. Due to the paucity of evidence available, certainty of the results is compromised; therefore, larger trials exploring the use of parent- or nurse-controlled analgesia in neonates and the development of nurse-led models for analgesia delivery are needed.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION NUMBER

PROSPERO CRD42018114382.

Rosland G, Egerod I, Bentsen GK. Iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome frequently occurs in paediatric intensive care without algorithm for tapering of analgosedation

BACKGROUND

Analgesics and sedatives are key elements to reduce physiological and psychological stress associated with treatment in paediatric intensive care. Prolonged drug use may induce tolerance and development of iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome (IWS) during the tapering phase. Our primary aim was to describe the prevalence of IWS among critically ill ventilated patients in two Norwegian paediatric intensive care units (PICUs), and secondary to investigate what motivated bedside nurses to administer additional drug doses.

METHODS

Mechanically ventilated patients (n = 40) from newborn to eighteen years of age, with continuous infusions of opioids and benzodiazepines for 5 days or more, were included consecutively from May 2016 to June 2018. By using Withdrawal Assessment Tool-1 (WAT-1) twice daily we recorded the prevalence of IWS. Additionally, we recorded signs and symptoms that led bedside nurses to administration extra bolus medication.

RESULTS

Peak WAT-1 score indicated an IWS prevalence of 95% in this selected group. The first days of the tapering phase were most critical for IWS. The most frequent symptoms triggering administration of additional bolus doses were agitation/restlessness, and thiopental and propofol were the bolus drugs used most frequently.

CONCLUSIONS

IWS affected 95% of the children having received infusions of opioids and benzodiazepines for 5 days or more in PICUs without a tapering protocol for these drugs. This calls for implementation and testing of such weaning protocols.

The Withdrawal Assessment Tool to identify iatrogenic withdrawal symptoms in critically ill paediatric patients: A COSMIN systematic review of measurement properties

RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The Withdrawal Assessment Tool (WAT-1) is one of the most widely used clinician-reported outcome measures to evaluate iatrogenic withdrawal symptoms (IWS) in critically ill children. However, the WAT-1's measurement properties have not been aggregated. Aggregating psychometric research on the WAT-1 will enhance appropriate use, and outline gaps for future empirical research. The aim of this systematic review is to critically appraise, compare, and summarize the measurement properties and evidence quality, and describe the interpretability and feasibility of the WAT-1 for identifying IWS symptoms in critically ill children.

METHODS

A systematic search of Medline, Embase and CINAHL was conducted from inception to 15 April 2020. Study inclusion/exclusion, data extraction, and measurement property evidence and the modified GRADE quality scoring were applied according to the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) guidelines.

RESULTS

Six studies were included in the review. There was sufficient, high-quality evidence for reliability, structural validity, criterion validity, measurement error, construct validity, and feasibility. More information is required to support the WAT-1's content validity, responsiveness, internal consistency, cross-cultural validity, and interpretability according to COSMIN guidelines.

CONCLUSION

The results of this review indicate that the WAT-1 is a precise, easy to use measure of IWS in critically ill children despite some measurement property inconsistencies and gaps in the publication record. More information is required to support its content validity, responsiveness, internal consistency, cross-cultural validity, and interpretability.

Assessing Pain, Both Spontaneous Awakening and Breathing Trials, Choice of Sedation, Delirium Monitoring/Management, Early Exercise/Mobility, and Family Engagement/Empowerment Bundle Practices for Critically Ill Children: An International Survey of 161 PICUs in 18 Countries

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate current international practice in PICUs regarding components of the "Assessing Pain, Both Spontaneous Awakening and Breathing Trials, Choice of Sedation, Delirium Monitoring/Management, Early Exercise/Mobility, and Family Engagement/Empowerment" ("ABCDEF") bundle.

DESIGN

Online surveys conducted between 2017 and 2019.

SETTING

One-hundred sixty-one PICUs across the United States (n = 82), Canada (n = 14), Brazil (n = 27), and Europe (n = 38) participating in the Prevalence of Acute Rehabilitation for Kids in the PICU study.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Of the 161 participating PICUs, 83% were in academic teaching hospitals and 42% were in free-standing children's hospitals. Median size was 16 beds (interquartile range, 10-24 beds). Only 15 PICUs (9%) had incorporated all six ABCDEF bundle components into routine practice. Standardized pain assessment (A) was the most common (91%), followed by family engagement (F, 88%) and routine sedation assessment (C) with validated scales (84%). Protocols for testing extubation readiness or conducting spontaneous breathing trials (B) were reported in 57%, with 34% reporting a ventilator weaning protocol. Routine delirium monitoring with a validated screening tool (D) was reported by 44% of PICUs, and 26% had a guideline, protocol, or policy for early exercise/mobility (E). Practices for spontaneous breathing trials were variable in 29% of Canadian PICUs versus greater than 50% in the other regions. Delirium monitoring was lowest in Brazilian PICUs (18%) versus greater than 40% in other regions, and family engagement was reported in 55% of European PICUs versus greater than 90% in other regions.

CONCLUSIONS

ABCDEF bundle components have been adopted with substantial variability across regions. Additional research must rigorously evaluate the efficacy of specific elements with a focus on B, D, E, and full ABCDEF bundle implementation. Implementation science is needed to facilitate an understanding of the barriers to ABCDEF implementation and sustainability with a focus on specific cultural and regional differences.

Specificity and sensibility of the Spanish version of the COMFORT Behaviour Scale for assessing pain, grade of sedation and withdrawal syndrome in the critically ill paediatric patient. Multicentre COSAIP study (Phase 1)

AIM

The main aim of this investigation was to analyse the specificity and sensibility of the COMFORT Behaviour Scale (CBS-S) in assessing grade of pain, sedation, and withdrawal syndrome in paediatric critical care patients.

METHOD

An observational, analytical, cross-sectional and multicentre study conducted in Level III Intensive Care Areas of 5 children's university hospitals. Grade of sedation was assessed using the Spanish version of the CBS-S and the Bispectral Index on sedation, once per shift over one day. Grade of withdrawal was determined using the CBS-S and the Withdrawal Assessment Tool-1, once per shift over three days.

RESULTS

A total of 261 critically ill paediatric patients with a median age of 5.07 years (P25:0.9-P75:11.7) were included in this study. In terms of the predictive capacity of the CBS-S, it obtained a Receiver Operation Curve of .84 (sensitivity of 81% and specificity of 76%) in relation to pain; .62 (sensitivity of 21% and specificity of 78%) in relation to sedation grade, and .73% (sensitivity of 40% and specificity of 74%) in determining withdrawal syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS

The Spanish version of the COMFORT Behaviour Scale could be a useful, sensible and easy scale to assess the degree of pain, sedation and pharmacological withdrawal of critically ill paediatric patients.

"Difficult to Sedate": Successful Implementation of a Benzodiazepine-Sparing Analgosedation-Protocol in Mechanically Ventilated Children

We sought to evaluate the success rate of a benzodiazepine-sparing analgosedation protocol (ASP) in mechanically ventilated children and determine the effect of compliance with ASP on in-hospital outcome measures. In this single center study from a quaternary pediatric intensive care unit, our objective was to evaluate the ASP protocol, which included opiate and dexmedetomidine infusions and was used as first-line sedation for all intubated patients. In this study we included 424 patients. Sixty-nine percent (n = 293) were successfully sedated with the ASP. Thirty-one percent (n = 131) deviated from the ASP and received benzodiazepine infusions. Children sedated with the ASP had decrease in opiate withdrawal (OR 0.16, 0.08–0.32), decreased duration of mechanical ventilation (adjusted mean duration 1.81 vs. 3.39 days, p = 0.018), and decreased PICU length of stay (adjusted mean 3.15 vs. 4.7 days, p = 0.011), when compared to the cohort of children who received continuous benzodiazepine infusions. Using ASP, we report that 69% of mechanically ventilated children were successfully managed with no requirement for continuous benzodiazepine infusions. The 69% who were successfully managed with ASP included infants, severely ill patients, and children with chromosomal disorders and developmental disabilities. Use of ASP was associated with decreased need for methadone use, decreased duration of mechanical ventilation, and decreased ICU and hospital length of stay.

Maternal and iatrogenic neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome: Differences and similarities in recognition, management, and consequences

Opioids are potent analgesics used to manage pain in both young and old, but the increased use in the pregnant population has significant individual and societal implications. Infants dependent on opioids, either through maternal or iatrogenic exposure, undergo neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS), where they may experience withdrawal symptoms ranging from mild to severe. We present a detailed and original review of NOWS caused by maternal opioid exposure (mNOWS) and iatrogenic opioid intake (iNOWS). While these two entities have been assessed entirely separately, recognition and treatment of the clinical manifestations of NOWS overlap. Neonatal risk factors such as age, genetic predisposition, drug type, and clinical factors like type of opioid, cumulative dose of opioid exposure, and disease status affect the incidence of both mNOWS and iNOWS, as well as their severity. Recognition of withdrawal is dependent on clinical assessment of symptoms, and the use of clinical assessment tools designed to determine the need for pharmacotherapy. Treatment of NOWS relies on a combination of non-pharmacological therapies and pharmacological options. Long-term consequences of opioids and NOWS continue to generate controversy, with some evidence of anatomic brain changes, but conflicting animal and human clinical evidence of significant cognitive or behavioral impacts on school-age children. We highlight the current knowledge on clinically relevant recognition, treatment, and consequences of NOWS, and identify new advances in clinical management of the neonate. This review brings a unique clinical perspective and critically analyzes gaps between the clinical problem and our preclinical understanding of NOWS.

Ketamine Prolonged Infusions in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit: a Tertiary-Care Single-Center Analysis

OBJECTIVE

Ketamine is commonly used as an anesthetic and analgesic agent for procedural sedation, but there is little evidence on its current use as a prolonged continuous infusion in the PICU. We sought to analyze the use of ketamine as a prolonged infusion in critically ill children, its indications, dosages, efficacy, and safety.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the clinical charts of patients receiving ketamine for ≥24 hours in the period 2017-2018 in our tertiary care center. Data on concomitant treatments pre and 24 hours post ketamine introduction and adverse events were also collected.

RESULTS

Of the 60 patients included, 78% received ketamine as an adjuvant of analgosedation, 18% as an adjuvant of bronchospasm therapy, and 4% as an antiepileptic treatment. The median infusion duration was 103 hours (interquartile range [IQR], 58-159; range, 24-287), with median dosages between 15 (IQR, 10-20; range, 5-47) and 30 (IQR, 20-50; range, 10-100) mcg/kg/min. At 24 hours of ketamine infusion, dosages/kg/hr of opioids significantly decreased (p < 0.001), and 81% of patients had no increases in dosages of concomitant analgosedation. For 27% of patients with bronchospasm, the salbutamol infusions were lowered at 24 hours after ketamine introduction. Electroencephalograms of epileptic patients (n = 2) showed resolution of status epilepticus after ketamine administration. Adverse events most likely related to ketamine were hypertension (n = 1), hypersalivation (n = 1), and delirium (n = 1).

CONCLUSIONS

Ketamine can be considered a worthy strategy for the analgosedation of difficult-to-sedate patients. Its use for prolonged sedation allows the sparing of opioids. Its efficacy in patients with bronchospasm or status epilepticus still needs to be investigated.

Effects of a Clonidine Taper on Dexmedetomidine Use and Withdrawal in Adult Critically Ill Patients-A Pilot Study

OBJECTIVES

Prolonged use of dexmedetomidine has become increasingly common due to its favorable sedative and anxiolytic properties. Hypersympathetic withdrawal symptoms have been reported with abrupt discontinuation of prolonged dexmedetomidine infusions. Clonidine has been used to transition patients off dexmedetomidine infusions for ICU sedation. The objective of this study was to compare the occurrence of dexmedetomidine withdrawal symptoms in ICU patients transitioning to a clonidine taper versus those weaned off dexmedetomidine alone after prolonged dexmedetomidine infusion.

DESIGN

This was a single-center, prospective, double cohort observational study conducted from November 2017 to December 2018.

SETTING

Medical-surgical, cardiothoracic, and neurosurgical ICUs in a tertiary care hospital.

PATIENTS

We included adult ICU patients being weaned off dexmedetomidine after receiving continuous infusions for at least 3 days.

INTERVENTIONS

Patients were either weaned off dexmedetomidine alone or with a clonidine taper at the discretion of the providers.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The primary outcome was the incidence of at least two dexmedetomidine withdrawal symptoms during a single assessment within 24 hours of dexmedetomidine discontinuation. Time on dexmedetomidine after wean initiation and difference in medication cost were also evaluated. Forty-two patients were included in this study: 15 received clonidine (Group C) and 27 weaned off dexmedetomidine alone (Group D). There was no significant difference in the incidence of two or more withdrawal symptoms between groups (73% in Group C vs 59% in Group D; p = 0.51). Patients in Group C spent less time on dexmedetomidine after wean initiation compared with patients in Group D (19 vs 42 hr; p = 0.02). An average cost savings of $1,553.47 per patient who received clonidine was observed. No adverse effects were noted.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated that patients receiving clonidine were able to wean off dexmedetomidine more rapidly, with a considerable cost savings and no difference in dexmedetomidine withdrawal symptoms, compared with patients weaned off dexmedetomidine alone. Clonidine may be a safe, effective, and practical option to transition patients off prolonged dexmedetomidine infusions.

Dexmedetomidine Sedation in Mechanically Ventilated Critically Ill Children: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVES

To assess the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of a sedation protocol using dexmedetomidine as the primary sedative in mechanically ventilated critically ill children.

DESIGN

Open-label, pilot, prospective, multicenter, randomized, controlled trial. The primary outcome was the proportion of sedation scores in the target sedation range in the first 48 hours. Safety outcomes included device removal, adverse events, and vasopressor use. Feasibility outcomes included time to randomization and protocol fidelity.

SETTING

Six tertiary PICUs in Australia and New Zealand.

PATIENTS

Critically ill children, younger than 16 years old, requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation and expected to be mechanically ventilated for at least 24 hours.

INTERVENTIONS

Children randomized to dexmedetomidine received a dexmedetomidine-based algorithm targeted to light sedation (State Behavioral Scale -1 to +1). Children randomized to usual care received sedation as determined by the treating clinician (but not dexmedetomidine), also targeted to light sedation.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Sedation with dexmedetomidine as the primary sedative resulted in a greater proportion of sedation measurements in the light sedation range (State Behavioral Scale -1 to +1) over the first 48 hours (229/325 [71%] vs 181/331 [58%]; p = 0.04) and the first 24 hours (66/103 [64%] vs 48/116 [41%]; p < 0.001) compared with usual care. Cumulative midazolam dosage was significantly reduced in the dexmedetomidine arm compared with usual care (p = 0.002).There were more episodes of hypotension and bradycardia with dexmedetomidine (including one serious adverse event) but no difference in vasopressor requirements. Median time to randomization after intubation was 6.0 hours (interquartile range, 2.0-9.0 hr) in the dexmedetomidine arm compared with 3.0 hours (interquartile range, 1.0-7.0 hr) in the usual care arm (p = 0.24).

CONCLUSIONS

A sedation protocol using dexmedetomidine as the primary sedative was feasible, appeared safe, achieved early, light sedation, and reduced midazolam requirements. The findings of this pilot study justify further studies of sedative agents in critically ill children.

Efficacy and Safety of Dexmedetomidine for Prolonged Sedation in the PICU: A Prospective Multicenter Study (PROSDEX)

OBJECTIVES

We sought to evaluate dexmedetomidine efficacy in assuring comfort and sparing conventional drugs when used for prolonged sedation (≥24 hr) in critically ill patients, by using validated clinical scores while systematically collecting drug dosages. We also evaluated the safety profile of dexmedetomidine and the risk factors associated with adverse events.

DESIGN

Observational prospective study.

SETTING

Nine tertiary-care PICUs.

PATIENTS

Patients less than 18 years who received dexmedetomidine for greater than or equal to 24 hours between January 2016 and December 2017.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

One-hundred sixty-three patients (median age, 13 mo; interquartile range, 4-71 mo) were enrolled. The main indication for dexmedetomidine use was as an adjuvant for drug-sparing (42%). Twenty-three patients (14%) received dexmedetomidine as monotherapy. Seven percent of patients received a loading dose. The median infusion duration was 108 hours (interquartile range, 60-168 hr), with dosages between 0.4 (interquartile range, 0.3-0.5) and 0.8 µg/kg/hr (interquartile range, 0.6-1.2 µg/kg/hr). At 24 hours of dexmedetomidine infusion, values of COMFORT-B Scale (n = 114), Withdrawal Assessment Tool-1 (n = 43) and Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirum (n = 6) were significantly decreased compared with values registered immediately pre dexmedetomidine (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.027). Dosages/kg/hr of benzodiazepines, opioids, propofol, and ketamine were also significantly decreased (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.001, p = 0.027). The infusion was weaned off in 85% of patients, over a median time of 36 hours (interquartile range, 12-48 hr), and abruptly discontinued in 15% of them. Thirty-seven percent of patients showed hemodynamic changes, and 9% displayed hemodynamic adverse events that required intervention (dose reduction in 79% of cases). A multivariate logistic regression model showed that a loading dose (odds ratio, 4.8; CI, 1.2-18.7) and dosages greater than 1.2 µg/kg/hr (odds ratio, 5.4; CI, 1.9-15.2) increased the odds of hemodynamic changes.

CONCLUSIONS

Dexmedetomidine used for prolonged sedation assures comfort, spares use of other sedation drugs, and helps to attenuate withdrawal syndrome and delirium symptoms. Adverse events are mainly hemodynamic and are reversible following dose reduction. A loading dose and higher infusion dosages are independent risk factors for hemodynamic adverse events.

Extended Duration Ketamine Infusions in Critically Ill Children: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Ketamine is an N -methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist that has been used as an adjunct analgesic and sedative in critically ill children. Previous reports noted that ketamine has been used for a variable duration of 12 to 408 hours for this indication. We report on the use of ketamine infusions for >720 hours as a second-line sedative in addition to an opioid and dexmedetomidine infusion in a 2-month old and 17-month old. The purpose of this case report and review of the literature is to highlight the prolonged ketamine exposure of these two patients and to provide awareness to clinicians on the potential of withdrawal with extended ketamine administration. These children were started on initials doses of 5 and 15 µg/kg/min and titrated to peak doses of 20 and 25 µg/kg/min, respectively. They were continued for a total of 987 and 792 hours, respectively. No adverse events were noted during the ketamine infusions. One patient developed possible withdrawal symptoms 17 hours after ketamine discontinuation despite tapering of the infusion. These symptoms resolved with administration of as needed intravenous opioids and benzodiazepines, and the agitation normalized within 24 hours after ketamine discontinuation. Clinicians should consider tapering ketamine infusions in children receiving >72 hours of a continuous infusion by 5 µg/kg/min every 8 to 12 hours. Patients should be monitored for potential withdrawal symptoms including anxiety, allodynia, hyperalgesia, sweating, and drowsiness.

Exposure to Anticholinergic Medications in Pediatric Severe Sepsis and Feasibility of Delirium Screening

In sepsis, anticholinergic dysregulation may result in encephalopathy or delirium during severe illness, either as a result of central inflammation or because of exposure to medications with anticholinergic activity. In this retrospective study, we determined the magnitude of anticholinergic drug exposure in 75 children with severe sepsis. We found that exposure over the first 5 days was high-median (interquartile range) daily anticholinergic drug scale score 4 (2-5)-and associated with higher vasoactive scores and death. We conclude that anticholinergic drug exposure is significant in severe sepsis, which means it may be a modifiable factor that should be studied further.

The Impact of a Clonidine Transition Protocol on Dexmedetomidine Withdrawal in Critically Ill Pediatric Patients

OBJECTIVES

This study describes our experience with a clonidine transition protocol to prevent dexmedetomidine (DEX) withdrawal in critically ill pediatric patients.

METHODS

Retrospective review of electronic medical records of patients in the pediatric intensive care unit of a single tertiary children's hospital. All patients up to 19 years of age, who received concomitant DEX infusion and enteral clonidine between June 1, 2016, and May 31, 2018, were included.

RESULTS

Two of 24 encounters had DEX restarted for withdrawal (8.3%). Five of 14 encounters who were transitioned to clonidine 2 mcg/kg every 6 hours required an increased dose, and 1 of 10 encounters transitioned to clonidine 4 mcg/kg every 6 hours required an increased dose (36% vs 10%, p = 0.21). For encounters with clonidine dose increases, 5 of 6 had improvements in Withdrawal Assessment Tool-1 (WAT-1) scores. Of these 5 encounters, 4 had decreasing or stable opioid and sedative requirements and 1 was transitioned to methadone. No encounters required discontinuation of clonidine owing to adverse events. Two of 24 encounters met our safety endpoint. One received a fluid bolus during the clonidine transition with no change in clonidine dosing, while the other had clonidine dose decreased for asymptomatic bradycardia.

CONCLUSIONS

The 24 encounters in our retrospective study add to the limited literature available to describe dosing, initiation time, and duration of clonidine to prevent withdrawal from DEX in critically ill pediatric patients. Further research is needed to clarify the optimal dosing and duration of clonidine to prevent DEX withdrawal in pediatric patients.

Implementation of an opioid weaning protocol to improve pain management, and to prevent or decrease iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome in the neonatal intensive care

AIM

The aim of this evidence implementation project was to improve pain assessment and management of the neonate receiving an opioid infusion, and to prevent or decrease the incidence of iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome (IWS).

METHODS

The current project was carried out in two intensive care areas of a 79 bed tertiary Neonatal Unit in Australia. A pre/postaudit design was utilized. Patient charts were reviewed to collect baseline audit data on pain assessments and titration of opioids. A weaning protocol was developed and implemented along with targeted staff education to align current practice with best practice recommendations. A postimplementation audit was then conducted to evaluate changes in practice.

RESULTS

A total of 32 charts (13 pre/19 post) were reviewed to evaluate pain assessment, titration of opioids, and the identification of any signs and symptoms of IWS. The results demonstrated an improvement in the completion of pain assessments by 34%, and 100% compliance to withdrawal assessment following the introduction of an IWS assessment tool. For neonates receiving analgesics for less than 4 days, adherence to the weaning schedule occurred in 75%. No clinical signs of IWS were seen in this cohort. For neonates receiving analgesics for greater than 4 days, adherence to the weaning schedule occurred in only 55%. Of those neonates where the protocol was not followed, 67% developed clinical signs of IWS.

CONCLUSION

Although this project demonstrated improvements in pain assessment and the identification of IWS, lack of adherence to the pain management policy and weaning tool has increased awareness of the importance of collaboration within the multidisciplinary team to improve outcomes. Several barriers were identified prior to implementation and various methods were employed to overcome these. Despite this, consistency of practice and change-management remain a challenge in clinical care.

Sedative Medications for Critically Ill Children during and after Mechanical Ventilation: A Retrospective Observational Study

BACKGROUND

Providing safe and effective sedation to critically ill children is challenging. The assessment, prevention, and treatment of symptoms of iatrogenic withdrawal are critical aspects of sedation practice.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the use of sedative medications in critically ill children at McMaster Children's Hospital.

METHODS

This retrospective observational study included children admitted over a 12-month period who survived their illness and who received sedation and at least 48 h of invasive ventilation. We collected data from the time of admission to the pediatric intensive care unit to 3 days after discontinuation of sedation.

RESULTS

We included 67 children. The median age was 1.6 (interquartile range [IQR] 0.2-6.2) years, and respiratory illnesses were the most common reason for admission (41 [61%]). The children received invasive ventilation for a median of 7 (IQR 4-11) days and sedation for a median of 12 (IQR 6-20) days. Sixty-six children (99%) received an opioid, and all received a benzodiazepine, with median cumulative doses of 14 (IQR 5-27) mg/kg morphine equivalents and 15 (IQR 6-32) mg/kg midazolam equivalents. Dexmedetomidine was given to 31 children (46%), for a median of 8 (IQR 4-12) days. Most children (67%) received sedation after extubation (median duration 7 [IQR 4-14] days). In addition, 32 children (48%) continued to receive sedative medications after transfer to the ward, for a median of 6 (IQR 4-13) days. Forty-two children (63%) had at least one Withdrawal Assessment Tool-1 (WAT-1) score indicative of iatrogenic withdrawal. Children who experienced withdrawal were exposed to more opioids and more benzodiazepines, both per day and overall, and for longer periods.

CONCLUSIONS

The children in this study were exposed to multiple sedatives, and many continued to receive these medications for an extended period after discontinuation of mechanical ventilation. Iatrogenic withdrawal was common and represents an important opportunity to improve children's recovery after critical illness.

Music Use for Sedation in Critically ill Children (MUSiCC trial): study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial

Background

Stress induced by pain and anxiety is common in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients. Sedation/analgesia in PICU is usually achieved through various analgesics and sedatives. Excessive use of these drugs can put patients at risk for hemodynamic/respiratory instability, prolonged ventilation, withdrawal, delirium, and critical illness polyneuromyopathy.

The use of non-pharmacologic interventions has been recommended by sedation guidelines. However, non-pharmacological measures in PICU, including music and noise reduction, have been inadequately studied.

Methods

The Music Use for Sedation in Critically ill Children (MUSiCC trial) pilot study is an investigator-initiated, three-arm, randomized controlled trial (RCT) on the use of music for sedation in PICU. The main goal of the study is to demonstrate feasibility of a music trial in PICU and to obtain the necessary information to plan a larger trial. The study compares music versus noise cancelation versus control in sedated and mechanically ventilated children admitted to PICU. In the music group, children receive the music (modified classical music) three times a day for 30 min at a time. Music is delivered with noise cancelation headphones. The noise cancelation group receives the same intervention but with a no music (sham playlist). The control group receives usual care with no specific intervention. Children remain in the study until extubation or a maximum of 7 days. The primary outcomes of the study are feasibility and sedation/analgesia requirements. Secondary outcomes include change in vital signs before and during the intervention, ICU delirium, and adverse effects related to the intervention. The estimated sample size is 20 subjects per group for a total of 60 children.

Discussion

Despite being recommended by current guidelines, evidence to support the use of music in PICU is lacking. Music has the potential to reduce sedation requirements and their negative side effects. This pilot RCT will demonstrate feasibility and provide the necessary information to plan a larger trial focusing on the effectiveness of the intervention.

Trial registration

The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03497559) on April 13, 2018.