Stories Category: PICU
The vaccine study you will never see
I’ve seen a lot of social media posts or comment threads that say we don’t have any studies to prove that the CDC's vaccine schedule is safe or effective. I think they mean that we haven’t done the best study. As... read more
The Prevalence of Acute Critical Neurological Disease in Children
Neurologic insults are a significant pediatric international health issue. They are frequent and contribute substantial morbidity and mortality. These data suggest a need for an increased focus on acute critical neurologic... read more
Delirium in Critically Ill Children: An International Point Prevalence Study
In this multi-institutional, multinational point prevalence study of 994 subjects, delirium screening by the bedside nurse was feasible in children of all ages. PD was a common complication of critical illness, with a prevalence... read more
Multifaceted educational intervention shortened time to antibiotic administration in children with sepsis
A multifaceted educational intervention shortened time to antibiotic administration in children with severe sepsis and septic shock: ABISS Edusepsis pediatric study. The Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) recommends the administration... read more
Medicine is the most emotional profession
Medicine is the most emotional profession. This story proves it. There you are in your father’s arms. He is practically running to keep up with the triage nurse. The nurse is walking quickly toward the room that we leave... read more
Tight Glycemic Control in Critically Ill Children
In multicenter studies, tight glycemic control targeting a normal blood glucose level has not been shown to improve outcomes in critically ill adults or children after cardiac surgery. Studies involving critically ill children... read more
AAP: Recommendations for Preventive Pediatric Health Care
The 2017 Recommendations for Preventive Pediatric Health Care (Periodicity Schedule) have been approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and represents a consensus of AAP and the Bright Futures Periodicity Schedule... read more
High Levels of Nosocomial Infection Found in Pediatric ICUs
One in six children in pediatric intensive care units (pICU), and one in ten babies in neonatal intensive care units (nICU) develop a hospital-acquired infection (HAI), according to a new study. Researchers at the European... read more
Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS): Pearls and Pitfalls
A three-year-old male presents with mom for seven days of fever, diarrhea, and decreased activity. When you walk into the room, you note a listless-appearing boy with pallor. His eyes appear sunken. He is tachycardic, tachypneic,... read more
No difference between placebo, amitriptyline and topiramate in reducing pediatric migraine
In this study, no significant intergroup differences between amitriptyline, topiramate and placebo for reduction in total number of headache days was observed. Amitriptyline and topiramate were associated with significantly... read more
Disruption of the microbiota across multiple body sites in critically ill children
Microbiota in critically ill children differs sharply from the microbiota of healthy children and adults. Acknowledgement of dysbiosis associated with critical illness could provide opportunities to modulate the microbiota... read more
New Blood Draw Protocol can reduce risks for pediatric patients
Researchers report that implementing a checklist-style set of procedures appears to cut almost in half the number of potentially unnecessary blood culture draws in critically ill children without endangering doctors'... read more
New Study on Molecular Mechanisms Involved in RILF
Reversible infantile liver failure (RILF) is a heritable mitochondrial condition that causes severe liver dysfunction in infancy, but those who survive the acute stage typically recover and have no further problems. In work... read more
Blood culture decision algorithm tied to PICU admissions
A standardized approach to blood cultures in the pediatric ICU successfully reduced collections from central venous catheters, investigators at a single center reported, with no subsequent uptick in adverse events.... read more