Abstract
Background: The aim of the study was to analyze the weaning success, the type of weaning procedures, and weaning duration in consecutive infants hospitalized over a winter season in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.Methods: A retrospective observational study in a pediatric intensive care unit in a tertiary center. Infants hospitalized for a severe bronchiolitis were included and the weaning procedure from continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), noninvasive ventilation (NIV) or high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) was analyzed.Results: Data from 95 infants (median age 47 days) were analyzed. On admission, 26 (27%), 46 (49%) and 23 (24%) infants were supported by CPAP, NIV and HFNC, respectively. One (4%), nine (20%) and one (4%) infants failed weaning while supported by CPAP, NIV or HFNC, respectively (p=0.1). In infants supported by CPAP, CPAP was stopped directly in 5 patients (19%) while HFNC was used as an intermediate ventilatory support in 21 (81%). The duration of weaning was shorter for HFNC (17 hours, [IQR 0-26]) than for CPAP (24 hours, [14-40]) and NIV (28 hours, [19-49]) (p<0.01).Conclusions: The weaning phase represent a large proportion of noninvasive ventilatory support duration in infants with bronchiolitis. The weaning procedure following a “step down” strategy may lead to an increase in duration of weaning.
Observational study of newborn infant parasympathetic evaluation as a comfort system in awake patients admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit
