Stories Category: PICU
Hypotensive Response to IV Acetaminophen in Pediatric Cardiac Patients
In isolation of other medication, a hemodynamic response to IV acetaminophen has a higher prevalence in critically ill children with cardiac disease than previously thought and justifies controlled studies in the perioperative... read more
An Innovative Virtual Reality Experience in the PICU
Virtual reality is an innovative, easily administered, and enjoyable tool that subjectively calms PICU patients in an otherwise chaotic environment. 100% of participants enjoyed using virtual reality, and 84% reported preference... read more
Early Protocolized Versus Usual Care Rehabilitation for Pediatric Neurocritical Care Patients
A protocol for early personalized rehabilitation by physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy in pediatric neurocritical care patients could be safely implemented and led to more ICU-based treatment... read more
Midazolam Dose Optimization in Critically Ill Pediatric Patients with ARF
This work leveraged available knowledge on non-heritable and heritable factors affecting midazolam pharmacokinetic in pediatric subjects with primary respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation, providing the basis... read more
Pediatric Hypertension and Hypertensive Emergencies: Recognition and Management in the Emergency Department
Pediatric hypertension generally presents to the ED in 2 forms: (1) the otherwise asymptomatic child with elevated blood pressure, and (2) the child with a true hypertensive emergency. This issue provides recommendations... read more
Acute Kidney Injury, Fluid Overload, and Outcomes in Children Supported With ECMO for a Respiratory Indication
This study seeks to evaluate the association between acute kidney injury (AKI), fluid overload (FO), and mortality in children supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for refractory respiratory failure.... read more
Teaching the Principles of Pediatric Critical Care to Non-Intensivists in Resource Limited Settings
It is a dismal reality of global health that the vast majority of critically ill or injured children are found in regions of the world least equipped to care for them. Most of these severely ill or injured children are cared... read more
Oliguria and AKI in Critically Ill Children
Nearly one in five critically ill children with acute kidney injury (AKI) do not experience increase in serum creatinine. These acute kidney injury events, which are only identified by urine output criteria, are associated... read more
A Prospective Investigation of Interleukin-8 Levels in Pediatric ARF and ARDS
The association of plasma interleukin-8 (IL-8), or IL-8 genetic variants, with pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS) in children with acute respiratory failure (ARF) at risk for PARDS has not been examined.... read more
Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist decreases work of breathing during non-invasive ventilation in infants with severe bronchiolitis
In this physiological study, we report an improvement of respiratory unloading by adding a second level of pressure with NAVA in infants with severe bronchiolitis. WOB decreased immediately after switching to NAVA, as reported... read more
The Effects of Family Functioning on the Development of Posttraumatic Stress in Children and Their Parents Following Admission to the PICU
Both children and parents have alarmingly high rates of acute stress and posttraumatic stress following the child's PICU admission. Although family function did not emerge as a predictor in this study, further understanding... read more
Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs) Exacerbate Severity of Infant Sepsis
Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are innate defense mechanisms that are also implicated in the pathogenesis of organ dysfunction. However, the role of NETs in pediatric sepsis is unknown. This study reveals a hitherto... read more
Tracheal Intubation Practice and Safety Across International PICUs
There were both similarities and differences in tracheal intubation practice and outcomes across international PICUs. Fewer adverse tracheal intubation–associated events were reported from International versus North American... read more
Ethical Dilemmas in Pediatrics
Children in precarious health present particular problems for healthcare professionals because of their intimate relation to their family, and because of the family's need to provide major long-term source of support and... read more
