Objective To assess clinical characteristics and outcomes of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2associated multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). Study design Children with MIS-C admitted to pediatric intensive care units in New York City between April 23 and May 23, 2020, were included. Demographic and clinical data were collected. Results Of 33 children with MIS-C, the median age was 10 years; 61% were male; 45% were Hispanic/Latino; and 39% were black. Comorbidities were present in 45%. Fever (93%) and vomiting (69%) were the most common presenting symptoms. Depressed left ventricular ejection fraction was found in 63% of patients with median ejection fraction of 46.6% (IQR, 39.5-52.8). C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, d-dimer, and pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels were elevated in all patients. For treatment, intravenous immunoglobulin was used in 18 (54%), corticosteroids in 17 (51%), tocilizumab in 12 (36%), remdesivir in 7 (21%), vasopressors in 17 (51%), mechanical ventilation in 5 (15%), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in 1 (3%), and intra-aortic balloon pump in 1 (3%). The left ventricular ejection fraction normalized in 95% of those with a depressed ejection fraction. All patients were discharged home with median duration of pediatric intensive care unit stay of 4.7 days (IQR, 4-8 days) and a hospital stay of 7.8 days (IQR, 6.0-10.1 days). One patient (3%) died after withdrawal of care secondary to stroke while on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Conclusions Critically ill children with coronavirus disease-2019-associated MIS-C have a spectrum of severity broader than described previously but still require careful supportive intensive care. Rapid, complete clinical and myocardial recovery was almost universal.

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BackgroundThe ventricular fibrillation amplitude spectral area (AMSA) predicts whether an electrical shock could terminate ventricular fibrillation and prompt return of spontaneous circulation. We hypothesized that AMSA can guide more precise timing for effective shock delivery during cardiopulmonary resuscitation.Methods and ResultsThree shock delivery protocols were compared in 12 pigs each after electrically induced ventricular fibrillation, with the duration of untreated ventricular fibrillation evenly stratified into 6, 9, and 12 minutes: AMSA‐Driven (AD), guided by an AMSA algorithm; Guidelines‐Driven (GD), according to cardiopulmonary resuscitation guidelines; and Guidelines‐Driven/AMSA‐Enabled (GDAE), as per GD but allowing earlier shocks upon exceeding an AMSA threshold. Shocks delivered using the AD, GD, and GDAE protocols were 21, 40, and 62, with GDAE delivering only 2 AMSA‐enabled shocks. The corresponding 240‐minute survival was 8/12, 6/12, and 2/12 (log‐rank test, P=0.035) with AD exceeding GDAE (P=0.026). The time to first shock (seconds) was (median [Q1–Q3]) 272 (161–356), 124 (124–125), and 125 (124–125) (P<0.001) with AD exceeding GD and GDAE (P<0.05); the average coronary perfusion pressure before first shock (mm Hg) was 16 (9–30), 10 (6–12), and 3 (−1 to 9) (P=0.002) with AD exceeding GDAE (P<0.05); and AMSA preceding the first shock (mV·Hz, mean±SD) was 13.3±2.2, 9.0±1.6, and 8.6±2.0 (P<0.001) with AD exceeding GD and GDAE (P<0.001). The AD protocol delivered fewer unsuccessful shocks (ie, less shock burden) yielding less postresuscitation myocardial dysfunction and higher 240‐minute survival.ConclusionsThe AD protocol improved the time precision for shock delivery, resulting in less shock burden and less postresuscitation myocardial dysfunction, potentially improving survival compared with time‐fixed, guidelines‐driven, shock delivery protocols.

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