Objective To determine if addition of perfusion index (PIx) to oxygen saturation (SpO2) screening improves detection of critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) with systemic outflow obstruction. Study Design We determined screening thresholds for PIx and applied these to a cohort of newborns with and without congenital heart disease (CHD). Results A total of 123 normal and 21 CHD newborns (including five with critical systemic outflow obstruction) were enrolled. Four of these five critical systemic obstruction subjects passed SpO2-based screen. Four out of these five subjects failed PIx-based screen. The sensitivity for detection of systemic obstruction CCHD when compared with healthy infants increased from 20% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1–72%) with SpO2 screening alone to 80% (95% CI: 28–100%) with combined SpO2-PIx screen. However, 2.44% of normal infants failed PIx screen. Conclusion Addition of PIx to SpO2 screening may detect additional cases of CCHD and further research is necessary to come up with optimal screening thresholds.

Adherence to evidence-based recommended acute seizure treatment during initial care of pediatric patients using medical air transportation was poor. Intubation was more common when patients did not receive recommended acute seizure care. Educational efforts with a sustained quality focus should be directed to increase adherence to appropriate pediatric seizure treatment of children in community emergency departments.

Key Points Question Is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion associated with improved outcomes or intracranial pressure in children with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI)? Findings In this comparative effectiveness study of 1000 children with severe TBI, there was no association between CSF diversion and Glasgow Outcome Score–Extended for Pediatrics at 6 months after injury in propensity-matched participants. However, CSF diversion was associated with decreased intracranial pressure in the propensity-matched participants. Meaning These findings suggest that the current evidenced-based guidelines that support CSF diversion as a first-line therapy for TBI in children should be reconsidered.

In persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), the ratio of pulmonary vascular resistance to systemic vascular resistance is increased. Extrapulmonary shunts (patent ductus arteriosus and patent foramen value) allow for right-to-left shunting and hypoxaemia. Systemic hypotension can occur in newborns with PPHN due to variety of reasons, such as enhanced peripheral vasodilation, impaired left ventricular function and decreased preload. Systemic hypotension can lead to end organ injury from poor perfusion and hypoxaemia in the newborn with PPHN. Thus, it must be managed swiftly. However, not all newborns with PPHN and systemic hypotension can be managed the same way. Individualised approach based on physiology and echocardiographic findings are necessary to improve perfusion to essential organs. Here we present a review of the physiology and mechanisms of systemic hypotension in PPHN, which can then guide treatment.

OBJECTIVE There is no consensus on the optimal timing and specific brain MRI sequences in the evaluation and management of severe pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI), and information on current practices is lacking. The authors performed a survey of MRI practices among sites participating in a multicenter study of severe pediatric TBI to provide information for designing future clinical trials using MRI to assess brain injury after severe pediatric TBI. METHODS Information on current imaging practices and resources was collected from 27 institutions participating in the Approaches and Decisions after Pediatric TBI Trial. Multiple-choice questions addressed the percentage of patients with TBI who have MRI studies, timing of MRI, MRI sequences used to investigate TBI, as well as the magnetic field strength of MR scanners used at the participating institutions and use of standardized MRI protocols for imaging after severe pediatric TBI. RESULTS Overall, the reported use of MRI in pediatric patients with severe TBI at participating sites was high, with 40% of sites indicating that they obtain MRI studies in > 95% of this patient population. Differences were observed in the frequency of MRI use between US and international sites, with the US sites obtaining MRI in a higher proportion of their pediatric patients with severe TBI (94% of US vs 44% of international sites reported MRI in at least 70% of patients with severe TBI). The reported timing and composition of MRI studies was highly variable across sites. Sixty percent of sites reported typically obtaining an MRI study within the first 7 days postinjury, with the remainder of responses distributed throughout the first 30-day postinjury period. Responses indicated that MRI sequences sensitive for diffuse axonal injury and ischemia are frequently obtained in patients with TBI, whereas perfusion imaging and spectroscopy techniques are less common. CONCLUSIONS Results from this survey suggest that despite the lack of consensus or guidelines, MRI is commonly obtained during the acute clinical setting after severe pediatric TBI. The variation in MRI practices highlights the need for additional studies to determine the utility, optimal timing, and composition of clinical MRI studies after TBI. The information in this survey describes current clinical MRI practices in children with severe TBI and identifies important challenges and objectives that should be considered when designing future studies.