Optimizing Rapid Sequence Intubation for Medical and Trauma Patients in the Pediatric Emergency Department

Optimal timing of starting growing rod treatment for early-onset scoliosis

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Growing rod (GR) systems require periodical surgical intervention and may cause associated complications, as well as worsened sagittal plane deformity. Generally, the risk of complications decreases with an increment in age at the time of the index surgery with GR construct placement. However, the optimal timing to begin GR treatment has not reached a consensus yet.

PURPOSE

This study was performed to investigate the effect of age at the index GR surgery on the complication rates and formulate clinical guidelines for the optimal timing to begin GR treatment for EOS patients.

STUDY DESIGN

Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to determine complication occurrence as a function of the age at the index surgery and to determine the survival rates for the procedures. The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine optimal cut-off values for the optimal timing of index surgery based on whether complications occurred or not.

PATIENT SAMPLE

54 patients who met the criteria were enrolled in this study.

OUTCOME MEASURES

The following spinal parameters were measured: major coronal Cobb angle, global kyphosis (GK), and coronal balance (CB). CB was defined as the horizontal distance from the C7 plumb line to the center sacral vertical line.

METHODS

All patients had completed GR treatment and had a minimum 1-year follow-up duration after the final surgical intervention. Patient data were collected as follows: age at the index surgery, gender, diagnosis, type of GR construct, and the number of lengthening procedures. The standing full-spine radiographs were obtained before and after the index surgery, before and after each lengthening procedure, before and after the final surgical intervention, and at the latest follow-up. Complications were categorized as implant, alignment, and general.

RESULTS

Kaplan-Meier analysis of complications demonstrated a declining trend in complication rates with increasing age at the index surgery. The absence of perioperative complications was targeted, we constructed the ROC curve and the cut-off value was 71.0 months. Age at the index surgery was therefore categorized into two groups: younger-age group (≤ 71.0 months) and advanced-age group (> 71.0 months). There was a higher complication rate for the younger-age group than versus the advanced-age group (61.5% vs 22.0%, p=.011). PJK as a major alignment-related complication, was more frequent in the younger-age group than in the advanced-age group (30.8% vs 4.9%, p=.025). But the advanced-age group exhibited significantly more severe deformities before GR surgery compared to the younger-age group.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that the elevated risk of complications observed in the younger-age group, which can be attributed to the younger age at the index surgery and the increased number of lengthening procedures during treatment. We suggest deferring the initiation of GR treatment until after the age of six years for EOS patients. We hope it will serve as a basis for GR technique in the treatment of EOS, with the ultimate goal of enhancing treatment outcomes for this challenging disorder.

Delayed Sequence Intubation in Children, Why Not?

Tracheal intubation in pediatric patients is a clinical scenario that can quickly become an emergency. Complication rates can potentially reach up to 60% in rapid sequence intubation. An alternate to this is delayed sequence intubation, which may reduce potential complications-mostly hypoxemia-and can be especially useful in non-cooperative children. This technique consists of the prior airway and oxygenation optimization. This is done through sedation using agents that preserve ventilatory function and protective reflexes and continuous oxygen therapy-prior and after the anesthetic induction-using nasal prongs. The objective of this narrative review is to provide a broader perspective on delayed sequence intubation by defining the concept and indications; reviewing its safety, effectiveness, and complications; and describing the anesthetic agents and oxygen therapy techniques used in this procedure.

Rapid cycle deliberate practice to improve airway skills and performance of trainees in a pediatric emergency department

Objective

The study objective was to determine the effect of a rapid cycle deliberate practice (RCDP) program on simulated and actual airway skills by pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) fellows.

Methods

We designed and implemented a 12-month RCDP airway skills curriculum for PEM fellows at an academic pediatric institution. The curriculum was designed using airway training literature, RCDP principals, and internal quality assurance airway video review program. Simulation training scenarios increased in complexity throughout the curriculum. PEM fellows participated in monthly sessions. Two PEM faculty facilitated the sessions, utilizing a step-by-step objective structured clinical evaluation (OSCE)-style tool for each scenario. Data were collected for all four levels of the Kirkpatrick Model of Training Evaluation-participant response (reaction, pre-post session survey), skills performance in the simulation setting (learning, pre-post OSCE), skills performance for actual patients (behavior, video review), and patient outcomes (results, video review).

Results

During the study period (August 2021 to June 2022), 13 PEM fellows participated in 112 sessions (mean nine sessions per fellow). PEM fellows reported improved comfort in all domains of airway management, including intubation performance. Participant OSCE scores improved posttraining (pretraining median score for trainees 57 [IQR 57-59], posttraining median 61 [IQR 61-62], p = 0.0005). Over the 12 months, PEM fellows performed 45 intubation attempts in the pediatric emergency department (median patient age 4 years [IQR 1-9 years]). Compared to a 5-year historical cohort, participants had higher first-pass success (87% vs. 71%, p = 0.028) and shorter attempt duration (22 s vs. 29 s, p = 0.018). There was no significant difference in the frequency of oxyhemoglobin desaturation in the training period versus the historical period (7% vs. 15%, p = 0.231).

Conclusions

At multiple levels of educational outcomes, including participant behavior and patient outcomes, an RCDP program was associated with improved airway skills and performance of PEM fellows.

Development of a paediatric airway management checklist for the emergency department: a modified Delphi approach

BACKGROUND

Airway management checklists have improved paediatric patient safety in some clinical settings, but consensus on the appropriate components to include on a checklist for paediatric tracheal intubation in the ED is lacking.

METHODS

A multidisciplinary panel of 14 experts in airway management within and outside of paediatric emergency medicine participated in a modified Delphi approach to develop consensus on the appropriate components for a paediatric airway management checklist for the ED. Panel members reviewed, modified and added to the components from the National Emergency Airway Registry for Children airway safety checklist for paediatric intensive care units using a 9-point appropriateness scale. Components with a median score of 7.0-9.0 and a 25th percentile score ≥7.0 achieved consensus for inclusion. A priori, the modified Delphi method was limited to a maximum of two rounds for consensus on essential components and one additional round for checklist creation.

RESULTS

All experts participated in both rounds. Consensus was achieved on 22 components. Twelve were original candidate items and 10 were newly suggested or modified items. Consensus components included the following categories: patient assessment and plan (5 items), patient preparation (5 items), pharmacy (2 items), equipment (7 items) and personnel (3 items). The components were formatted into a 17-item clinically usable checklist.

CONCLUSIONS

Using the modified Delphi method, consensus was established among airway management experts around essential components for an airway management checklist intended for paediatric tracheal intubation in the ED.

Rapid Sequence Intubation Experiences in the Pediatric Emergency Department

Aim: Patient selection and management of rapid sequence intubation application in the emergency department can be challenging for clinicians. In this study, we aimed to describe the demographic information, clinical characteristics and medical conditions of the patients who underwent rapid sequence intubation in the children's emergency department of our hospital and to present patient management strategies. Methods: Cases under the age of 18 who underwent rapid sequence intubation in the emergency department between January 2021 and January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: 11 patients were included in the study. The median age of the patients was 6 years (min-max 2-15), 7 of them were girls (63,6%). The median time from symptom onset to presentation was 120 minutes (min-max 15 minutes-2 weeks). RSI indications were trauma (n=5), mass (n=4), ventriculoperitoneal shunt dysfunction (n=1), refractory status epilepticus (n=1). All patients had focal neurological deficits on examination. The median value of Glasgow coma scale scores of the patients was 8 (min-max 4-15). The first neuroimaging method was cranial tomography in ten (90.9%) patients. Intracranial hemorrhage was present in 45.4% (5 patients) of the patients. No complications were observed in any of the patients during rapid sequence intubation application. One patient each died due to intracranial hemorrhage and shunt dysfunction. Neurological deficits (dysarthria, gait disturbance, hemiparesis, visual impairment) were detected in five patients during their first month follow-up. Conclusion: This retrospective study identified critically ill children who were admitted to the emergency department with acute neurological symptoms and underwent RSI to prevent increased intracranial pressure and further brain damage.