scholarly journals 2 Systemic glucocorticoids and bradycardia in critically ill children: a retrospective study

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. e1-e1
Author(s):  
Camille Maltais-Bilodeau ◽  
Maryse Frenette ◽  
Geneviève Morissette ◽  
Dennis Bailey ◽  
Karine Cloutier ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Glucocorticoids are widely used in the pediatric population. They are associated with numerous side effects including repercussions on the cardiovascular system. The impact on heart rate is not well known, but bradycardia has been reported, mostly with high doses. Objectives We described the occurrence of bradycardias and the variation of heart rate in critically ill children receiving glucocorticoids. Design/Methods We conducted a retrospective study including 1 month old to 18 year old children admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit between 2014 and 2017, who received a glucocorticoid dose equivalent to 1 to 15 mg/kg/day of prednisone. We collected data on exposition to glucocorticoids, heart rate before, during and after the exposition, and interventions from the medical staff in response to bradycardia. The primary outcome was the occurrence of bradycardia and the secondary outcomes were the magnitude of heart rate variation and the clinical management of bradycardias. Results We included 92 admissions (85 patients). The median dose of glucocorticoid used was 2.80 mg/kg/day of prednisone (2.08—3.80). We found 70 cases (76%) with at least one bradycardia. Before treatment, all patients had a mean heart rate higher than the 5th percentile for age. During exposition to glucocorticoids, 8 patients (10%, n = 83) had a median heart rate ≤ 5th percentile. We noted 46 cases of bradycardia (50%) that led to an intervention from the medical staff, but no patient had a major event associated to bradycardia. We found a significant association between bradycardia and age (estimate -0.136, 95% CI -0.207—-0.065, p < 0.001), glucocorticoid dose (estimate 4.820, 95% CI 2.048—7.592, p < 0.001) and intravenous administration (estimate 8.709, 95% CI 1.893—15.524, p = 0.012). Conclusion In our study, most children hospitalized at the intensive care unit receiving standard doses of glucocorticoid experienced bradycardia. The majority of episodes led to an intervention from the medical staff. Presence of bradycardia was associated with younger age, higher dose and IV administration of glucocorticoids.

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 561-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Eduardo Saldanha de Almeida ◽  

ABSTRACT Vascular punctures are often necessary in critically ill patients. They are secure, but not free of complications. Ultrasonography enhances safety of the procedure by decreasing puncture attempts, complications and costs. This study reviews important publications and the puncture technique using ultrasound, bringing part of the experience of the intensive care unit of the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo (SP), Brazil, and discussing issues that should be considered in future studies.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zi-Hong Xiong ◽  
Xue-Mei Zheng ◽  
Guo-Ying Zhang ◽  
Meng-Jun Wu ◽  
Yi Qu

Abstract BackgroundMalnutrition is highly prevalent in critically ill children in the pediatric intensive care unit .We aimed to investigate the efficiency of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) measurements and phase angle (PhA) analysis for the assessment of nutritional risk and clinical outcomes in critically ill children.MethodsThis single-center observational study included patients admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of Chengdu Women’s and Children’s Central Hospital. All patients underwent anthropometric measurement in the first 24 h of admission and underwent BIA measurements within 3 days after the admission. The patients were classified into different groups based on body mass index (BMI) for age. Electronic hospital medical records were reviewed to collect clinical data for each patient. All the obtained data were analyzed by the statistics method.ResultsThere were 204 patients enrolled in our study, of which 32.4% were diagnosed with malnutrition. We found that BMI, arm muscle circumference, fat mass, and %body fat were lower in the group with poorer nutritional status (P < 0.05). Evident differences in the score of the Pediatric Risk of Mortality and the duration of mechanical ventilation (MV) among the three groups with different nutritional statuses were observed (P < 0.05). Patients in the severely malnourished group had the longest duration of MV. In the MV groups, there were significant differences (P < 0.05) in albumin level, PhA, and extracellular water/total body water (ECW/TBW ratio). The ECW/TBW ratio and the time for PICU stay had a weak degree of correlation (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.375). PhA showed a weak degree of correlation with the duration time of medical ventilation (coefficient of correlation = 0.398).ConclusionBIA can be considered an alternative way to assess nutritional status in critically ill children. ECW/TBW ratio and PhA were correlated with PICU stay and duration time of medical ventilation, respectively.


2021 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. e1-e8
Author(s):  
Leigh Chapman ◽  
Lisa Hargett ◽  
Theresa Anderson ◽  
Jacqueline Galluzzo ◽  
Paul Zimand

Background Critical care nurses take care of patients with complicated, comorbid, and compromised conditions. These patients are at risk for health care–associated infections, which affect patients’ lives and health care systems in various ways. Objective To gauge the impact of routinely bathing patients with 4% chlorhexidine gluconate solution on the incidence of health care–associated infections in a medical-surgical intensive care unit and a postoperative telemetry unit; to outline the framework for a hospital-wide presurgical chlorhexidine gluconate bathing program and share the results. Methods A standard bathing protocol using a 4% chlorhexidine gluconate solution was developed. The protocol included time studies, training, monitoring, and surveillance of health care–associated infections. Results Consistent patient bathing with 4% chlorhexidine gluconate was associated with a 52% reduction in health care–associated infections in a medical-surgical intensive care unit. The same program in a postoperative telemetry unit yielded a 45% reduction in health care–associated infections. Conclusion A comprehensive daily 4% chlorhexidine gluconate bathing program can be implemented with standardized protocols and detailed instructions and can significantly reduce the incidence of health care–associated infections in intensive care unit and non–intensive care unit hospital settings.


2000 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-89
Author(s):  
Michael A. Jantz ◽  
Steven A. Sahn

Pleural disease itself is an unusual cause for admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). Pleural complications of diseases and procedures in the ICU are common, however, and the impact on respiratory physiology is additive to that of the underlying cardiopulmonary disease. Pleural effusion and pneumothorax may be overlooked in the critically ill patient due to alterations in radiologic appearance in the supine patient. The development of a pneumothorax in a patient in the ICU represents a potentially life-threatening situation. This article reviews the etiologies, pathophysiology, and management of pleural effusion, pneumothorax, tension pneumothorax, and bronchopleural fistula in the critically ill patient. In addition, we review the potential complications of thoracentesis and chest tube thoracostomy, including re-expansion pulmonary edema.


2021 ◽  
pp. 35-37
Author(s):  
Madhan Kumar ◽  
Jolly Chandran ◽  
Pragathesh Pragathesh ◽  
Ebor Jacob Gnananayagam ◽  
Hema Paul ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of chlorhexidine wipes in reducing the incidence of hospital acquired infections (HAIs) among critically ill children admitted in Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). METHODS: An interventional study, wherein enrolled children were wiped with chlorhexidine after routine bath. The incidence of HAIs were noted and compared with data from historical controls of previous year during the same period (pre-intervention). RESULTS: One hundred and ninety nine children in the intervention period were compared with 271 children from pre-intervention period. The numbers of ventilator-days were 777 and 696 respectively for the intervention period and pre-intervention periods. Incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) reduced from 12.9/1000 ventilator-days in the pre-intervention period to 6.4/1000 ventilator-days in the intervention period (p=0.1). VAP prevalence was 3.3% in the pre-intervention period as compared to 2.5% in the intervention period (p=0.6). The incidence of CLABSI was 3.6/1000 catheter-days (catheter days: 1377) with prevalence of 2.5% in the intervention period, whereas among the historic controls of the previous year it was 4.2/1000 days (catheter days 1432) with a prevalence of 2.2% (p= 0.8). No untoward effect was reported. CONCLUSION: The use of chlorhexidine wipes in ICU was feasible but did not signicantly decrease HAIs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 140-148
Author(s):  
Ángela María Henao Castaño ◽  
Edwar Yamith Pinzon Casas

Background: Delirium has been identified as a risk factor for the mortality of critically ill patients, generating great social and economic impacts, since patients require more days of mechanical ventilation and a prolonged hospital stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), thus increasing medical costs. Objective: To describe the prevalence and characteristics of delirium episodes in a sample of 6-month to 5-year-old children who are critically ill. Methods: Cohort study at a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in Bogotá (Colombia). Participants were assessed by the Preschool Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU (psCAM-ICU) within the first twenty-four hours of hospitalization. Results: One quarter of the participants (25.8%) presented some type of delirium. Among them, two sub-types of delirium were observed: 62.5% of the cases were hypoactive and 37.5% hyperactive. Moreover, from them, six were male (75%) and 2 female (25%). Primary diagnosis was respiratory tract infection in 62.55% of the patients, while respiratory failure was diagnosed in the remaining 37.5%. Conclusions: The implementation of delirium monitoring tools in critically ill children provides a better understanding of the clinical manifestation of this phenomenon and associated risk factors in order to contribute to the design of efficient intervention strategies.


2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (7) ◽  
pp. 615-626 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angel Joel Cadena ◽  
Sara Habib ◽  
Fred Rincon ◽  
Stephanie Dobak

Malnutrition is frequently seen among patients in the intensive care unit. Evidence shows that optimal nutritional support can lead to better clinical outcomes. Recent clinical trials debate over the efficacy of enteral nutrition (EN) over parenteral nutrition (PN). Multiple trials have studied the impact of EN versus PN in terms of health-care cost and clinical outcomes (including functional status, cost, infectious complications, mortality risk, length of hospital and intensive care unit stay, and mechanical ventilation duration). The aim of this review is to address the question: In critically ill adult patients requiring nutrition support, does EN compared to PN favorably impact clinical outcomes and health-care costs?


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