Relevant Outcomes in Pediatric Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Studies

Healthcare Burden and Resource Utilization After Pediatric Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Secondary Analysis of the Collaborative Pediatric Critical Care Research Network Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Study

OBJECTIVES

To describe family healthcare burden and health resource utilization in pediatric survivors of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) at 3 and 9 months.

DESIGN

Secondary analysis of a prospective multisite cohort study.

SETTING

Eight academic PICUs in the United States (2019-2020).

PATIENTS

Critically ill children with ARDS and follow-up survey data collected at 3 and/or 9 months after the event.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

METHODS AND MEASUREMENT

We evaluated family healthcare burden, a measure of healthcare provided by families at home, and child health resource use including medication use and emergency department (ED) and hospital readmissions during the initial 3- and 9-month post-ARDS using proxy-report. Using multivariable logistic regression, we evaluated patient characteristics associated with family healthcare burden at 3 months.

MAIN RESULTS

Of 109 eligible patients, 74 (68%) and 63 patients (58%) had follow-up at 3- and 9-month post-ARDS. At 3 months, 46 families (62%) reported healthcare burden including (22%) with unmet care coordination needs. At 9 months, 33 families (52%) reported healthcare burden including 10 families (16%) with unmet care coordination needs. At month 3, 61 patients (82%) required prescription medications, 13 patients (18%) had ED visits and 16 patients (22%) required hospital readmission. At month 9, 41 patients (65%) required prescription medications, 19 patients (30%) had ED visits, and 16 (25%) required hospital readmission were reported. Medication use was associated with family healthcare burden at both 3 and 9 months. In a multivariable analysis, preillness functional status and chronic conditions were associated with healthcare burden at month 3 but illness characteristics were not.

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric ARDS survivors report high rates of healthcare burden and health resource utilization at 3- and 9-month post-ARDS. Future studies should assess the impact of improved care coordination to simplify care (e.g., medication management) and improve family burden.

Computational fluid dynamics-based design and in vitro characterization of a novel pediatric pump-lung

BACKGROUND

Although extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been used to provide temporary support for pediatric patients suffering severe respiratory or cardiac failure since 1970, ECMO systems specifically designed for pediatric patients, particularly for long-term use, remain an unmet clinical need. We sought to develop a new pediatric ECMO system, that is, pediatric pump-lung (PPL), consisting of a unique cylinder oxygenator with an outside-in radial flow path and a centrifugal pump.

METHODS

Computational fluid dynamics was used to analyze the blood fluid field for optimized biocompatible and gas exchange performances in terms of flow characteristics, hemolysis, and gas transfer efficiency. Ovine blood was used for in vitro hemolysis and gas transfer testing.

RESULTS

Both the computational and experimental data showed that the pressure drop through the PPL's oxygenator is significantly low, even at a flow rate of more than 3.5 L/min. The PPL showed better hemolysis performance than a commercial ECMO circuit consisting of the Quadrox-iD pediatric oxygenator and the Rotaflow pump at a 3.5 L/min flow rate and 250 mm Hg afterload pressure. The oxygen transfer rate of the PPL can reach over 200 mL/min at a flow rate of 3.5 L/min.

CONCLUSIONS

The PPL has the potential to provide adequate blood pumping and excellent respiratory support with minimal risk of hemolysis for a wide range of pediatric patients.

The Modified Clinical Progression Scale for Pediatric Patients: Evaluation as a Severity Metric and Outcome Measure in Severe Acute Viral Respiratory Illness

OBJECTIVES

To develop, evaluate, and explore the use of a pediatric ordinal score as a potential clinical trial outcome metric in children hospitalized with acute hypoxic respiratory failure caused by viral respiratory infections.

DESIGN

We modified the World Health Organization Clinical Progression Scale for pediatric patients (CPS-Ped) and assigned CPS-Ped at admission, days 2-4, 7, and 14. We identified predictors of clinical improvement (day 14 CPS-Ped ≤ 2 or a three-point decrease) using competing risks regression and compared clinical improvement to hospital length of stay (LOS) and ventilator-free days. We estimated sample sizes (80% power) to detect a 15% clinical improvement.

SETTING

North American pediatric hospitals.

PATIENTS

Three cohorts of pediatric patients with acute hypoxic respiratory failure receiving intensive care: two influenza (pediatric intensive care influenza [PICFLU], n = 263, 31 sites; PICFLU vaccine effectiveness [PICFLU-VE], n = 143, 17 sites) and one COVID-19 ( n = 237, 47 sites).

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Invasive mechanical ventilation rates were 71.4%, 32.9%, and 37.1% for PICFLU, PICFLU-VE, and COVID-19 with less than 5% mortality for all three cohorts. Maximum CPS-Ped (0 = home at respiratory baseline to 8 = death) was positively associated with hospital LOS ( p < 0.001, all cohorts). Across the three cohorts, many patients' CPS-Ped worsened after admission (39%, 18%, and 49%), with some patients progressing to invasive mechanical ventilation or death (19%, 11%, and 17%). Despite this, greater than 76% of patients across cohorts clinically improved by day 14. Estimated sample sizes per group using CPS-Ped to detect a percentage increase in clinical improvement were feasible (influenza 15%, n = 142; 10%, n = 225; COVID-19, 15% n = 208) compared with mortality ( n > 21,000, all), and ventilator-free days (influenza 15%, n = 167).

CONCLUSIONS

The CPS-Ped can be used to describe the time course of illness and threshold for clinical improvement in hospitalized children and adolescents with acute respiratory failure from viral infections. This outcome measure could feasibly be used in clinical trials to evaluate in-hospital recovery.

Predictors of Failure of Noninvasive Ventilation in Critically Ill Children

Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is a common modality employed to treat acute respiratory failure. Most data guiding its use is extrapolated from adult studies. We sought to identify clinical predictors associated with failure of NIV, defined as requiring intubation. This single-center retrospective observational study included children admitted to pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) between July 2014 and June 2016 treated with NIV, excluding postextubation. A total of 148 patients was included. Twenty-seven (18%) failed NIV. There was no difference between the two groups with regard to age, gender, comorbidities, or etiology of acute respiratory failure. Those that failed had higher admission pediatric risk of mortality ( p  = 0.01) and pediatric logistic organ dysfunction ( p  = 0.002) scores and higher fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO 2 ; p  = 0.009) at NIV initiation. Failure was associated with lack of improvement in tachypnea. At 6 hours of NIV, the failure group had worsening tachypnea with a median increase in respiratory rate of 8%, while the success group had a median reduction of 18% ( p  = 0.06). Multivariable Cox's proportional hazard models revealed FiO 2 at initiation and worsening respiratory rate at 1- and 6-hour significant risks for failure of NIV. Failure was associated with a significantly longer PICU length of stay (success [2.8 days interquartile range (IQR): 1.7, 5.5] vs. failure [10.6 days IQR: 5.6, 13.2], p  < 0.001). NIV can be successfully employed to treat acute respiratory failure in pediatric patients. There should be heightened concern for NIV failure in hypoxemic patients whose tachypnea is unresponsive to NIV. A trend toward improvement should be closely monitored.

PRISM III Score Predicts Short-Term Outcome in Children with ARDS on Conventional and High-Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation

Therapeutic recommendations for pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS) include conventional (CMV) and rescue high-frequency oscillatory mode (HFOV) of mechanical ventilation (MV). The pediatric risk of mortality (PRISM) is a frequently used mortality score for critically ill patients. In search of methods to recognize those patients, we analyzed the PRISM III score as a potential predictor of the short-term outcome in MV subjects with PARDS. A retrospective five-year study of PARDS in children on MV was conducted in the Pediatric ICU. Seventy patients were divided into two groups (age group <1 year and age group 1−7 years). The PRISM III score was used to assess the 28-day outcome and possible development of complications. The most common causes of PARDS were pneumonia and sepsis. Male sex, malnourishment, sepsis, and shock were significant indicators of poor outcome. The PRISM III score values were significantly higher in those who died, as well as in subjects requiring HFOV. The score had a significant prognostic value for short-term mortality. There was no significant difference in outcome based on the comparison of two modes of ventilation. A significantly higher score was noted in subjects who developed sepsis and cardiovascular insufficiency. The PRISM III score is a fair outcome predictor during the 28-day follow-up in MV subjects with PARDS, regardless of the ventilation mode.

Assessment of Patient Health-Related Quality of Life and Functional Outcomes in Pediatric Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

OBJECTIVES

To describe health-related quality of life (HRQL) and functional outcomes in pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and to determine risk factors associated with poor outcome defined as death or severe reduction in HRQL at 28 days or ICU discharge.

DESIGN

Prospective multisite cohort-outcome study conducted between 2019 and 2020.

SETTING

Eight academic PICUs in the United States.

PATIENTS

Children with ARDS based on standard criteria.

INTERVENTIONS

Patient characteristics and illness severity were collected during PICU admission. Parent proxy-report measurements were obtained at baseline, day 28/ICU discharge, month 3, and month 9, utilizing Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory and Functional Status Scale (FSS). A composite outcome evaluated using univariate and multivariate analysis was death or severe reduction in HRQL (>25% reduction in the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory at day 28/ICU discharge.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

This study enrolled 122 patients with a median age of 3 years (interquartile range, 1-12 yr). Common etiologies of ARDS included pneumonia ( n = 63; 52%) and sepsis ( n = 27; 22%). At day 28/ICU discharge, half (50/95; 53%) of surviving patients with follow-up data reported a greater than 10% decrease in HRQL from baseline, and approximately one-third of participants ( n = 19/61; 31%) reported a greater than 10% decrease in HRQL at 9 months. Trends in FSS were similar. Of 104 patients with data, 47 patients (45%) died or reported a severe decrease of greater than 25% in HRQL at day 28/ICU discharge. Older age was associated with an increased risk of death or severe reduction in HRQL (odds ratio, 1.08; CI, 1.01-1.16).

CONCLUSIONS

Children with ARDS are at risk for deterioration in HRQL and FSS that persists up to 9 months after ARDS. Almost half of children with ARDS experience a poor outcome including death or severe reduction in HRQL at day 28/ICU discharge.

SNP–SNP Interactions of Surfactant Protein Genes in Persistent Respiratory Morbidity Susceptibility in Previously Healthy Children

We studied associations of persistent respiratory morbidity (PRM) at 6 and 12 months after acute respiratory failure (ARF) in previously healthy children with single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of surfactant protein (SP) genes. Of the 250 enrolled subjects, 155 and 127 were followed at 6 and 12 months after an ARF episode, respectively. Logistic regression analysis and SNP–SNP interaction models were used. We found that 1) in the multivariate analysis, an increased risk at 6 and 12 months was associated with rs1124_A and rs4715_A of SFTPC, respectively; 2) in a single SNP model, increased and decreased risks of PRM at both timepoints were associated with rs1124 of SFTPC and rs721917 of SFTPD, respectively; an increased risk at 6 months was associated with rs1130866 of SFTPB and rs4715 of SFTPC, and increased and decreased risks at 12 months were associated with rs17886395 of SFTPA2 and rs2243639 of SFTPD, respectively; 3) in a two-SNP model, PRM susceptibility at both timepoints was associated with a number of intergenic interactions between SNPs of the studied SP genes. An increased risk at 12 months was associated with one intragenic (rs1965708 and rs113645 of SFTPA2) interaction; 4) in a three-SNP model, decreased and increased risks at 6 and 12 months, respectively, were associated with an interaction among rs1130866 of SFTPB, rs721917 of SFTPD, and rs1059046 of SFTPA2. A decreased risk at 6 months was associated with an interaction among the same SNPs of SFTPB and SFTPD and the rs1136450 of SFTPA1. The findings revealed that SNPs of all SFTPs appear to play a role in long-term outcomes of ARF survivors and may serve as markers for disease susceptibility.

Paediatric Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Neuromuscular Blockade study (PAN-study): a phase IV randomised controlled trial of early neuromuscular blockade in moderate-to-severe paediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome

Background

Paediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS) is a manifestation of severe, life-threatening lung injury necessitating mechanical ventilation with mortality rates ranging up to 40–50%. Neuromuscular blockade agents (NMBAs) may be considered to prevent patient self-inflicted lung injury in PARDS patients, but two trials in adults with severe ARDS yielded conflicting results. To date, randomised controlled trials (RCT) examining the effectiveness and efficacy of NMBAs for PARDS are lacking. We hypothesise that using NMBAs for 48 h in paediatric patients younger than 5 years of age with early moderate-to-severe PARDS will lead to at least a 20% reduction in cumulative respiratory morbidity score 12 months after discharge from the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

Methods

This is a phase IV, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial performed in level-3 PICUs in the Netherlands. Eligible for inclusion are children younger than 5 years of age requiring invasive mechanical ventilation with positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) ≥ 5 cm H₂O for moderate-to-severe PARDS occurring within the first 96 h of PICU admission. Patients are randomised to continuous infusion of rocuronium bromide or placebo for 48 h. The primary endpoint is the cumulative respiratory morbidity score 12 months after PICU discharge, adjusted for confounding by age, gestational age, family history of asthma and/or allergy, season in which questionnaire was filled out, day-care and parental smoking. Secondary outcomes include respiratory mechanics, oxygenation and ventilation metrics, pulmonary and systemic inflammation markers, prevalence of critical illness polyneuropathy and myopathy and metrics for patient outcome including ventilator free days at day 28, length of PICU and hospital stay, and mortality

Discussion

This is the first paediatric trial evaluating the effects of muscular paralysis in moderate-to-severe PARDS. The proposed study addresses a huge research gap identified by the Paediatric Acute Lung Injury Consensus Collaborative by evaluating practical needs regarding the treatment of PARDS. Paediatric critical care practitioners are inclined to use interventions such as NMBAs in the most critically ill. This liberal use must be weighed against potential side effects. The proposed study will provide much needed scientific support in the decision-making to start NMBAs in moderate-to-severe PARDS.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.govNCT02902055. Registered on September 15, 2016.

The longitudinal course of pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome and its time to resolution: A prospective observational study

BACKGROUND

The longitudinal course of patients with pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS) is not well described. In this study, we describe the oxygenation index (OI) and oxygen saturation index (OSI) in mild, moderate, and severe PARDS over 28 days and provide pilot data for the time to resolution of PARDS (T _res), as a short-term respiratory-specific outcome, hypothesizing that it is associated with the severity of PARDS and clinical outcomes.

METHODS

This prospective observational study recruited consecutive patients with PARDS. OI and OSI were trended daily over 28 days. T _res (defined as OI < 4 or OSI < 5.3 on 2 consecutive days) were described based on PARDS severity and analyzed with Poisson and logistic regression to determine its association with conventional outcomes [mechanical ventilation (MV) duration, intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay, 28-day ventilator-free days (VFD), and 28-day ICU-free days (IFD)].

RESULTS

There were 121 children included in this study, 33/121(27.3%), 44/121(36.4%), and 44/121(36.4%) in the mild, moderate, and severe groups of PARDS, respectively. OI and OSI clearly differentiated mild, moderate, and severe groups in the first 7days of PARDS; however, this differentiation was no longer present after 7days. Median T _res was 4 (interquartile range: 3, 6), 5 (4, 7), and 7.5 (7, 11.5) days; p < 0.001 for the mild, moderate, and severe groups of PARDS, respectively. T _res was associated with increased MV duration, ICU and hospital length of stay, and decreased VFD and IFD.

CONCLUSION

The oxygenation defect in PARDS took progressively longer to resolve across the mild, moderate, and severe groups. T _res is a potential short-term respiratory-specific outcome, which may be useful in addition to conventional clinical outcomes but needs further validation in external cohorts.

Performance of acute respiratory distress syndrome definitions in a high acuity paediatric intensive care unit

BACKGROUND

For years, paediatric critical care practitioners used the adult American European Consensus Conference (AECC) and revised Berlin Definition (BD) for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) to study the epidemiology of paediatric ARDS (PARDS). In 2015, the paediatric specific definition, Paediatric Acute Lung Injury Consensus Conference (PALICC) was developed. The use of non-invasive metrics of oxygenation to stratify disease severity were introduced in this definition, although this potentially may lead to a confounding effect of disease severity since it is more common to place indwelling arterial lines in sicker patients. We tested the hypothesis that PALICC outperforms AECC/BD in our high acuity PICU, which employs a liberal use of indwelling arterial lines and high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV).

METHODS

We retrospectively collected data from children < 18 years mechanically ventilated for at least 24 h in our tertiary care, university-affiliated paediatric intensive care unit. The primary endpoint was the difference in the number of PARDS cases between AECC/BD and PALICC. Secondary endpoints included mortality and ventilator free days. Performance was assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC-ROC).

RESULTS

Data from 909 out of 2433 patients was eligible for analysis. AECC/BD identified 35 (1.4%) patients (mortality 25.7%), whereas PALICC identified 135 (5.5%) patients (mortality 14.1%). All but two patients meeting AECC/Berlin criteria were also identified by PALICC. Almost half of the cohort (45.2%) had mild, 33.3% moderate and 21.5% severe PALICC PARDS at onset. Highest mortality rates were seen in patients with AECC acute lung injury (ALI)/mild Berlin and severe PALICC PARDS. The AUC-ROC for Berlin was the highest 24 h (0.392 [0.124-0.659]) after onset. PALICC showed the highest AUC-ROC at the same moment however higher than Berlin (0.531 [0.345-0.716]). Mortality rates were significantly increased in patients with bilateral consolidations (9.3% unilateral vs 26.3% bilateral, p = 0.025).

CONCLUSIONS

PALICC identified more new cases PARDS than the AECC/Berlin definition. However, both PALICC and Berlin performed poorly in terms of mortality risk stratification. The presence of bilateral consolidations was associated with a higher mortality rate. Our findings may be considered in future modifications of the PALICC criteria.

High burden of acquired morbidity in survivors of pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome

INTRODUCTION

With improving mortality rates in pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS), functional outcomes in survivors are increasingly important. We aim to describe the change in functional status score (FSS) from baseline to discharge and to identify risk factors associated with poor functional outcomes.

METHODS

We examined clinical records of patients with PARDS admitted to our pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) from 2009 to 2016. Our primary outcome was acquired morbidity at PICU and hospital discharge (defined by an increase in FSS ≥3 points above baseline). We included severity of illness scores and severity of PARDS in our bivariate analysis for risk factors for acquired morbidity.

RESULTS

There were 181 patients with PARDS, of which 90 (49.7%) survived. Median pediatric index of mortality 2 score was 4.05 (1.22, 8.70) and 21 (23.3%) survivors had severe PARDS. A total of 59 (65.6%) and 14 (15.6%) patients had acquired morbidity at PICU and hospital discharge, respectively. Median baseline FSS was 6.00 (6.00, 6.25), which increased to 11.00 (8.75, 12.00) at PICU discharge before decreasing to 7.50 (6.00, 9.25) at hospital discharge. All patients had significantly higher FSS at both PICU and hospital discharge median compared to baseline. Feeding and respiratory were the most affected domains. After adjusting for severity of illness, severity categories of PARDS were not a risk factor for acquired morbidity.

CONCLUSION

Acquired morbidity in respiratory and feeding domains was common in PARDS survivors. Specific attention should be given to these two domains of functional outcomes in these children.

Paediatrics: how to manage acute respiratory distress syndrome

Background

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity amongst critically ill children. The purpose of this narrative review is to provide an up-to-date review on the evaluation and management of paediatric ARDS (PARDS).

Methods

A PubMed search was performed with Clinical Queries using the key term "acute respiratory distress syndrome". The search strategy included clinical trials, meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, observational studies and reviews. Google, Wikipedia and UpToDate were also searched to enrich the review. The search was restricted to the English literature and children.

Discussion

Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation, lung-protective ventilation strategies, conservative fluid management and adequate nutritional support all have proven efficacy in the management of PARDS. The Pediatric Acute Lung Injury Consensus Conference recommends the use of corticosteroids, high-frequency oscillation ventilation and inhaled nitric oxide in selected scenarios. Partial liquid ventilation and surfactant are not considered efficacious based on evidence from clinical trials.

Conclusion

PARDS is a serious but relatively rare cause of admission into the paediatric intensive care unit and is associated with high mortality. Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation, lung-protective ventilation strategies, conservative fluid management and adequate nutrition are advocated. As there has been a lack of progress in the management of PARDS in recent years, further well-designed, large-scale, randomized controlled trials in this field are urgently needed.

<p>Third-Day Oxygenation Index is an Excellent Predictor of Survival in Children Mechanically Ventilated for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome</p>

Purpose

The aim of this study was to assess the association between oxygenation index (OI) and outcome in children with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Patients and Methods

Patients (age, >30 days) in the pediatric intensive care unit from April 2011 to March 2016 with ARDS and who were mechanically ventilated were included. Patients were divided into two age groups: infants (<12month) and older children. Lowest PaO₂/FiO₂ and SpO₂/FiO₂ ratios and highest mean airway pressure (MAP) were recorded on the first day of ARDS and after 72 h. OI was calculated on the first and third days of mechanical ventilation (MV) and its association with OI (first and third days) and short-term mortality evaluated at 28 days.

Results

MV was initiated a mean of 2.3 days after admission (median, 1.0 day; maximum 14 days). The average MV duration for all patients was 11.8 (median, 7.0) days. Mean (95% confidence interval (CI)) OI values on the first day of MV were 14.17 (11.94–16.41), 12.72 (10.68–14.75), and 13.24 (11.73–14.74) for infants, older children, and all participants, respectively. In survivors (n=39) mean OI was 11.66 (9.64–13.68) compared with 15.22 (13.03–17.40) in non-survivors (n=31). Logistic regression analysis revealed that OI on day 3 had highly significant prognostic value for mortality (odds ratio, 256.5, 95% CI 27.1–2424, p<0.001), with an AUC of 0.919 (cut-off value, 17; positive predictive value, 0.905; negative predictive value, 0.964; p=0.0001). In contrast, OI on day 1 did not have significant prognostic value (AUC, 0.634; p=0.056) for short-term mortality. Different modes of MV were not significantly associated with outcome (p>0.05).

Conclusion

OI is a simple, highly accurate, and sensitive predictor of the survival (short-term mortality) of children mechanically ventilated for ARDS.

Airway pressure release ventilation in children

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

In patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) has been purported to have several physiological benefits. This review synthesizes recent research evaluating APRV mode and provides perspectives on the utility of this mode in children with ARDS.

RECENT FINDINGS

Two single-center clinical trials on APRV, one adult and one pediatric, have been published this year. These two trials have not only elicited editorials and letters that highlight some of their strengths and weaknesses but also rekindled debate on several aspects of APRV. Despite their contradicting results, both trials provide significant insights into APRV strategies that work and those that may not. This review places the newer evidence in the context of existing literature and provides a comprehensive analysis of APRV use in children.

SUMMARY

There have been significant recent advancements in our understanding of the clinical utility of APRV in children with ARDS. The recent trial highlights the urgent need to evolve a consensus on definition of APRV and identify strategies that work. Pending further research, clinicians should avoid the use of a zero-PLOW Personalized-APRV strategy as a primary ventilation modality in children with moderate-severe ARDS.

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Following Pediatric Trauma: Application of Pediatric Acute Lung Injury Consensus Conference Criteria

OBJECTIVES

To assess the incidence, severity, and outcomes of pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome following trauma using Pediatric Acute Lung Injury Consensus Conference criteria.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Level 1 pediatric trauma center.

PATIENTS

Trauma patients less than or equal to 17 years admitted to the ICU from 2009 to 2017.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

We queried electronic health records to identify patients meeting pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome oxygenation criteria for greater than or equal to 6 hours and determined whether patients met complete pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome criteria via chart review. We estimated associations between pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome and outcome using generalized linear Poisson regression adjusted for age, injury mechanism, Injury Severity Score, and serious brain and chest injuries. Of 2,470 critically injured children, 103 (4.2%) met pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome criteria. Mortality was 34.0% among pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome patients versus 1.7% among patients without pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (adjusted relative risk, 3.7; 95% CI, 2.0-6.9). Mortality was 50.0% for severe pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome at onset, 33.3% for moderate, and 30.5% for mild. Cause of death was neurologic in 60.0% and multiple organ failure in 34.3% of pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome nonsurvivors versus neurologic in 85.4% of nonsurvivors without pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (p = 0.001). Among survivors, 77.1% of pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome patients had functional disability at discharge versus 30.7% of patients without pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome patients (p < 0.001), and only 17.5% of pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome patients discharged home without ongoing care versus 86.4% of patients without pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (adjusted relative risk, 1.5; 1.1-2.1).

CONCLUSIONS

Incidence and mortality associated with pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome following traumatic injury are substantially higher than previously recognized, and pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome development is associated with high risk of poor outcome even after adjustment for underlying injury type and severity.

Pertinent clinical outcomes in pediatric survivors of pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS): a narrative review

The objectives of this review are to describe the limitations of commonly used clinical outcomes [e.g., mortality, ventilation parameters, need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and hospital length of stay (LOS)] in pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS) studies; and to explore other pertinent clinical outcomes that pediatric critical care practitioners should consider in future clinical practice and research studies. These include long-term pulmonary function, risk of pulmonary hypertension (PHT), nutrition status and growth, PICU-acquired weakness, neurological outcomes and neurocognitive development, functional status, health-related quality of life (HRQOL)], health-care costs, caregiver and family stress. PubMed was searched using the following keywords or medical subject headings (MESH): "acute lung injury (ALI)", "acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)", "pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS)", "acute hypoxemia respiratory failure", "outcomes", "pediatric intensive care unit (PICU)", "lung function", "pulmonary hypertension", "growth", "nutrition', "steroid", "PICU-acquired weakness", "functional status scale", "neurocognitive", "psychology", "health-care expenditure", and "HRQOL". The concept of contemporary measure outcomes was adapted from adult ARDS long-term outcome studies. Articles were initially searched from existing PARDS articles pool. If the relevant measure outcomes were not found, where appropriate, we considered studies from non-ARDS patients within the PICU in whom these outcomes were studied. Long-term outcomes in survivors of PARDS were not follow-up in majority of pediatric studies regardless of whether the new or old definitions of ARDS in children were used. Relevant studies were scarce, and the number of participants was small. As such, available studies were not able to provide conclusive answers to most of our clinical queries. There remains a paucity of data on contemporary clinical outcomes in PARDS studies. In addition to the current commonly used outcomes, clinical researchers and investigators should consider examining these contemporary outcome measures in PARDS studies in the future.

Clinical Profile and Predictors of Outcome of Pediatric Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in a PICU: A Prospective Observational Study

OBJECTIVES

To study the clinical profile, predictors of mortality, and outcomes of pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome.

DESIGN

A prospective observational study.

SETTING

PICU, Advanced Pediatric Centre, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.

PATIENTS

All children (age > 1 mo to < 14 yr) admitted in PICU with a diagnosis of pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (as per Pediatric Acute Lung Injury Consensus Conference definition) from August 1, 2015, to November 2016.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Out of 1,215 children admitted to PICU, 124 (11.4%) had pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome. Fifty-six children (45.2%) died. Median age was 2.75 years (1.0-6.0 yr) and 66.9% were male. Most common primary etiologies were pneumonia, severe sepsis, and scrub typhus. Ninety-seven children (78.2%) were invasively ventilated. On multiple logistic regressions, Lung Injury Score (p = 0.004), pneumothorax (p = 0.012), acute kidney injury at enrollment (p = 0.033), FIO2-D1 (p = 0.018), and PaO2/FIO2 ratio-D7 (p = 0.020) were independent predictors of mortality. Positive fluid balance (a cut-off value > 102.5 mL/kg; p = 0.016) was associated with higher mortality at 48 hours. Noninvasive oxygenation variables like oxygenation saturation index and saturation-FIO2 ratio were comparable to previously used invasive variables (oxygenation index and PaO2/FIO2 ratio) in monitoring the course of pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome contributes to a significant burden in the PICU of a developing country and is associated with significantly higher mortality. Infection remains the most common etiology. Higher severity of illness scores at admission, development of pneumothorax, and a positive fluid balance at 48 hours predicted poor outcome.

Oxygenation Index in the First 24 Hours after the Diagnosis of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome as a Surrogate Metric for Risk Stratification in Children

Background

The diagnosis of pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS) is a pragmatic decision based on the degree of hypoxia at the time of onset. We aimed to determine whether reclassification using oxygenation metrics 24 hours after diagnosis could provide prognostic ability for outcomes in PARDS.

Methods

Two hundred and eighty-eight pediatric patients admitted between January 1, 2010 and January 30, 2017, who met the inclusion criteria for PARDS were retrospectively analyzed. Reclassification based on data measured 24 hours after diagnosis was compared with the initial classification, and changes in pressure parameters and oxygenation were investigated for their prognostic value with respect to mortality.

Results

PARDS severity varied widely in the first 24 hours; 52.4% of patients showed an improvement, 35.4% showed no change, and 12.2% either showed progression of PARDS or died. Multivariate analysis revealed that mortality risk significantly increased for the severe group, based on classification using metrics collected 24 hours after diagnosis (adjusted odds ratio, 26.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.43 to 209.89; P=0.002). Compared to changes in pressure variables (peak inspiratory pressure and driving pressure), changes in oxygenation (arterial partial pressure of oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen) over the first 24 hours showed statistically better discriminative power for mortality (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.701; 95% CI, 0.636 to 0.766; P<0.001).

Conclusions

Implementation of reclassification based on oxygenation metrics 24 hours after diagnosis effectively stratified outcomes in PARDS. Progress within the first 24 hours was significantly associated with outcomes in PARDS, and oxygenation response was the most discernable surrogate metric for mortality.

[A review on neonatal acute respiratory distress syndrome]

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common clinical critical disease and is one of the main causes of death and disability in neonates. The etiology and pathogenesis of neonatal ARDS are complicated. It is an acute pulmonary inflammatory disease caused by the lack of pulmonary surfactant (PS) related to various pathological factors. It is difficult to distinguish neonatal ARDS from other diseases. At present, there is no specific treatment method for this disease. Respiratory support, PS replacement, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, nutrition support and liquid management are main treatment strategies. This paper reviews the research advance in etiology, clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment strategies of neonatal ARDS.

[A review on neonatal acute respiratory distress syndrome]

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common clinical critical disease and is one of the main causes of death and disability in neonates. The etiology and pathogenesis of neonatal ARDS are complicated. It is an acute pulmonary inflammatory disease caused by the lack of pulmonary surfactant (PS) related to various pathological factors. It is difficult to distinguish neonatal ARDS from other diseases. At present, there is no specific treatment method for this disease. Respiratory support, PS replacement, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, nutrition support and liquid management are main treatment strategies. This paper reviews the research advance in etiology, clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment strategies of neonatal ARDS.

A Systematic Review of Risk Factors Associated With Cognitive Impairment After Pediatric Critical Illness

OBJECTIVES

To identify risk factors associated with cognitive impairment as assessed by neuropsychologic tests in neurotypical children after critical illness.

DATA SOURCES

For this systematic review, we searched the Cochrane Library, Scopus, PubMed, Ovid, Embase, and CINAHL databases from January 1960 to March 2017.

STUDY SELECTION

Included were studies with subjects 3-18 years old at the time of post PICU follow-up evaluation and use of an objective standardized neuropsychologic test with at least one cognitive functioning dimension. Excluded were studies featuring patients with a history of cardiac arrest, traumatic brain injury, or genetic anomalies associated with neurocognitive impairment.

DATA EXTRACTION

Twelve studies met the sampling criteria and were rated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Ten studies reported significantly lower scores in at least one cognitive domain as compared to healthy controls or normed population data; seven of these-four case-control and three prospective cohort studies-reported significant lower scores in more than one cognitive domain. Risk factors associated with post critical illness cognitive impairment included younger age at critical illness and/or older age at follow-up, low socioeconomic status, high oxygen requirements, and use of mechanical ventilation, sedation, and pain medications.

CONCLUSIONS

Identifying risk factors for poor cognitive outcomes post critical illness may help healthcare teams modify patient risk and/or provide follow-up services to improve long-term cognitive outcomes in high-risk children.

Preventive and Therapeutic Effects of Thymol in a Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury Mice Model

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a life-threatening syndrome which causes a high mortality rate worldwide. In traditional medicine, lots of aromatic plants-such as some Thymus species-are used for treatment of various lung diseases including pertussis, bronchitis, and asthma. Thymol, one of the primary active constituent derived from Thymus vulgaris (thyme), has been reported to exhibit potent anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities in vivo and in vitro. The present study aims to investigate the protective effects of thymol in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung injury mice model. In LPS-challenged mice, treatment with thymol (100 mg/kg) before or after LPS challenge significantly improved pathological changes in lung tissues. Thymol also inhibited the LPS-induced inflammatory cells influx, TNF-α and IL-6 releases, and protein concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Additionally, thymol markedly inhibited LPS-induced elevation of MDA and MPO levels, as well as reduction of SOD activity. Further study demonstrated that thymol effectively inhibited the NF-κB activation in the lung. Taken together, these results suggested that thymol might be useful in the therapy of acute lung injury.

Association of Response to Inhaled Nitric Oxide and Duration of Mechanical Ventilation in Pediatric Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

OBJECTIVES

Literature regarding appropriate use of inhaled nitric oxide for pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome is sparse. This study aims to determine if positive response to inhaled nitric oxide is associated with decreased mortality and duration of mechanical ventilation in pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Large pediatric academic medical center.

PATIENTS OR SUBJECTS

One hundred sixty-one children with pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome and inhaled nitric oxide exposure for greater than or equal to 1 hour within 3 days of pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome onset.

INTERVENTIONS

Patients with greater than or equal to 20% improvement in oxygenation index or oxygen saturation index by 6 hours after inhaled nitric oxide initiation were classified as "responders."

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Oxygenation index, oxygen saturation index, and ventilator settings were evaluated prior to inhaled nitric oxide initiation and 1, 6, 12, and 24 hours following inhaled nitric oxide initiation. Primary outcomes were mortality and duration of mechanical ventilation. Baseline characteristics, including severity of illness, were similar between responders and nonresponders. Univariate analysis showed no difference in mortality between responders and nonresponders (21% vs 21%; p = 0.999). Ventilator days were significantly lower in responders (10 vs 16; p < 0.001). Competing risk regression (competing risk of death) confirmed association between inhaled nitric oxide response and successful extubation (subdistribution hazard ratio = 2.11; 95% CI, 1.41-3.17; p < 0.001). Response to inhaled nitric oxide was associated with decreased utilization of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and lower hospital charges (difference in medians of $424,000).

CONCLUSIONS

Positive response to inhaled nitric oxide was associated with fewer ventilator days, without change in mortality, potentially via reduced use of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Future studies of inhaled nitric oxide for pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome should stratify based on oxygenation response, given the association with favorable outcomes.

Mechanical Ventilation and Decision Support in Pediatric Intensive Care

Respiratory support is required in most children in the pediatric intensive care unit. Decision-support tools (paper or electronic) have been shown to improve the quality of medical care, reduce errors, and improve outcomes. Computers can assist clinicians by standardizing descriptors and procedures, consistently performing calculations, incorporating complex rules with patient data, and capturing relevant data. This article discusses computer decision-support tools to assist clinicians in making flexible but consistent, evidence-based decisions for equivalent patient states.