Background The Institute of Medicine calls for the use of clinical guidelines and practice parameters to promote “best practices” and to improve patient outcomes. Objective 2007 update of the 2002 American College of Critical Care Medicine Clinical Guidelines for Hemodynamic Support of Neonates and Children with Septic Shock. Participants Society of Critical Care Medicine members with special interest in neonatal and pediatric septic shock were identified from general solicitation at the Society of Critical Care Medicine Educational and Scientific Symposia (2001–2006). Methods The Pubmed/MEDLINE literature database (1966–2006) was searched using the keywords and phrases: sepsis, septicemia, septic shock, endotoxemia, persistent pulmonary hypertension, nitric oxide, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and American College of Critical Care Medicine guidelines. Best practice centers that reported best outcomes were identified and their practices examined as models of care. Using a modified Delphi method, 30 experts graded new literature. Over 30 additional experts then reviewed the updated recommendations. The document was subsequently modified until there was greater than 90% expert consensus. Results The 2002 guidelines were widely disseminated, translated into Spanish and Portuguese, and incorporated into Society of Critical Care Medicine and AHA sanctioned recommendations. Centers that implemented the 2002 guidelines reported best practice outcomes (hospital mortality 1%–3% in previously healthy, and 7%– 10% in chronically ill children). Early use of 2002 guidelines was associated with improved outcome in the community hospital emergency department (number needed to treat = 3.3) and tertiary pediatric intensive care setting (number needed to treat = 3.6); every hour that went by without guideline adherence was associated with a 1.4-fold increased mortality risk. The updated 2007 guidelines continue to recognize an increased likelihood that children with septic shock, compared with adults, require 1) proportionally larger quantities of fluid, 2) inotrope and vasodilator therapies, 3) hydrocortisone for absolute adrenal insufficiency, and 4) ECMO for refractory shock. The major new recommendation in the 2007 update is earlier use of inotrope support through peripheral access until central access is attained. Conclusion The 2007 update continues to emphasize early use of age-specific therapies to attain time-sensitive goals, specifically recommending 1) first hour fluid resuscitation and inotrope therapy directed to goals of threshold heart rates, normal blood pressure, and capillary refill ≤2 secs, and 2) subsequent intensive care unit hemodynamic support directed to goals of central venous oxygen saturation >70% and cardiac index 3.3–6.0 L/min/m2.

To investigate the influence of nonlinearities on estimates of respiratory mechanics, differing patterns of mechanical ventilation patterns were analyzed from 8 puppies and 14 children. Respiratory mechanics were calculated using multiple linear regression to fit a linear single-compartment model, a volume-dependent single-compartment model (VDSCM), and a flow-dependent single-compartment model. The ratio of the compliance of the last 20% of the dynamic volume-pressure (V-P) curve to the total compliance (C20/C) and the contribution of a volume-dependent elastance to total elastance [%E2 = E2 (VT)/[(E1 + E2)VT], where E1 + E2 is total elastance, E2 is the volume-dependent component, and VT is tidal volume] were used as the indexes of over-distension. By positioning the dynamic loops on the static V-P curves, ventilation patterns were classified as overdistended or nonoverdistended. In the overdistended group, the C20/C was significantly lower (0.71 +/- 0.10 vs. 0.92 +/- 0.16; P < 0.0001) and %E2 was significantly higher (43.4 +/- 15.0 vs. 0.51 +/- 18.02%, P < 0.0001) than in the nonoverdistended group. The mode of ventilation (pressure controlled vs. volume controlled) and the resistive pressures that resulted in widening of the dynamic V-P loop were found to alter C20/C but not %E2. When the respiratory system was overdistended, i.e., ventilated up to the flattened portion of the V-P curve, the VDSCM gave more accurate estimates of respiratory mechanisms. Furthermore, %E2 calculated from VDSCM is a useful parameter for estimating respiratory system overdistension that is not affected by resistive pressures.

We concluded that the incidence of clonidine poisoning had increased over the specified period and that, based on our results, this was likely to be due to an increase in clonidine use in childhood behavioural disorders. Based on our data and that from literature review it was evident that there are inconsistencies in the management of clonidine poisoning and that safety measures, namely packaging and education, are inadequate given the increasing profile of clonidine use.

Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) maintains airway pressure above atmospheric at the end of expiration, and may be used with mechanical ventilation or spontaneous breathing. CPAP, or continuous positive airway pressure, refers to spontaneous ventilation with a positive airway pressure being maintained throughout the whole respiratory cycle. PEEP/CPAP primarily improves oxygenation by increasing functional residual capacity, and may increase lung compliance and decrease the work of breathing. PEEP/CPAP may be applied using endotracheal tubes, nasal masks or prongs, or face masks or chambers to treat a wide range of adult and paediatric respiratory disorders. Complications associated with their use relate to the pressures applied and include pulmonary barotrauma, decreased cardiac output and raised intracranial pressure.