Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are a main cause of nosocomial infection in the critical care area. The development of BSI affects the surgical outcome and increases intensive care unit (ICU) morbidity and mortality. This prospective cohort study was undertaken to determine the incidence, etiology, risk factors, and outcome of BSI for postoperative pediatric cardiac patients in the pediatric cardiac ICU setup. All postoperative pediatric patients admitted to the pediatric cardiac ICU from January 2007 to December 2007 were included in the study. Data were prospectively collected using a standardized data collection form. Patients with BSI (group 1) were compared with non-BSI patients (group 2) in terms of age, weight, surgical complexity score, duration of central line, need to keep the chest open postoperatively, and the length of the pediatric cardiac ICU and hospital stay. Of the 311 patients who underwent cardiac surgery during the study period, 27 (8.6%) were identified as having BSI (group 1). The 311 patients included in the study had a total of 1,043 central line days and a catheter-related BSI incidence density rate of 25.8 per 1,000 central line days. According to univariate analysis, the main risk factors for the development of BSI after pediatric cardiac surgery were lower patient weight (p = 0.005), high surgical complexity score (p < 0.05), open sternum postoperatively (p < 0.05), longer duration of central lines (p < 0.0001), and prolonged pediatric cardiac ICU and hospital stay (p < 0.0001). Gram-negative organisms were responsible for 67% of the BSI in the pediatric cardiac ICU, with pseudomonas (28%) and enterobacter (22%) as the main causative organisms. The mortality rate in the BSI group was 11% compared with 2% in the non-BSI group. In our pediatric cardiac ICU, BSI developed in 8.6% of the children undergoing cardiac surgery, mainly caused by a Gram-negative organism. The main risk factors for BSI in the postoperative pediatric cardiac patient were high surgical complexity, open sternum, low body weight, longer duration of central line, and prolonged pediatric cardiac ICU stay.
US assessment of vocal cord is simple, non-invasive and reliable tool to assess vocal cords mobility in the critical care settings. This screening tool requires skills that can be easily obtained.
Nosocomial urinary tract infection (UTI) increases hospitalization, cost and morbidity. In this cohort study, we aimed to determine the incidence, risk factors, etiology and outcomes of UTIs in post-operative cardiac children. To this end, we studied all post-operative patients admitted to the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (PCICU) in 2012, and we divided the patients into two groups: the UTI (UTI group) and the non-UTI (control group). We compared both groups for multiple peri-operative risk factors. We included 413 children in this study. Of these, 29 (7%) had UTIs after cardiac surgery (UTI group), and 384 (93%) were free from UTIs (control group). All UTI cases were catheter-associated UTIs (CAUTIs). A total of 1578 urinary catheter days were assessed in this study, with a CAUTI density rate of 18 per 1000 catheter days. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated the following risk factors for CAUTI development: duration of urinary catheter placement (p<0.001), presence of congenital abnormalities of kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) (p<0.0041) and the presence of certain syndromes (Down, William, and Noonan) (p<0.02). Gram-negative bacteria accounted for 63% of the CAUTI. The main causes of CAUTI were Klebsiella (27%), Candida (24%) and Escherichia coli (21%). Resistant organisms caused 34% of CAUTI. Two patients (7%) died in the UTI group compared with the one patient (0.3%) who died in the control group (p<0.05). Based on these findings, we concluded that an increased duration of the urinary catheter, the presence of CAKUT, and the presence of syndromes comprised the main risk factors for CAUTI. Gram-negative organisms were the main causes for CAUTI, and one-third of them found to be resistant in this single-center study.
This study aimed to understand the reasons for late presentation of cases of severe neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia. We administered a questionnaire to parents of 130 infants with severe jaundice admitted to Cairo University Children's Hospital neonatal intensive care unit at age ≥ 6 days over an 18-month period. Although 125 infants (96.2%) were delivered in a health care facility, no discharge physical examination was performed in 99/125 cases (79.2%). No parent was given instructions about neonatal jaundice and no follow-up appointments were scheduled. Parents of 109 infants sought medical advice prior to hospital readmission; most babies were assessed clinically, but serum bilirubin was measured in only one-quarter of cases (28/109). Medical advice included placing the infant under a neon lamp at home (87/109 cases), advice to supplement breastfeeding (75/109) and prescribed medications, including vitamins (15/109). Increasing the availability of inexpensive pointof-care diagnostic instruments and phototherapy units in health care facilities are urgently needed. 1Department of Paediatrics, University of Cairo, Cairo, Egypt (Correspondence to I. Iskander: imanisk@hotmail.com
Chylothorax after pediatric cardiac surgery is not a rare complication. It occurs more commonly with single ventricle repair and aortic arch repair surgeries, and has a significant impact on the postoperative course and post operative morbidity.
The arterial switch operation (ASO) for neonates is the standard management for transposition of the great arteries (TGA) with an intact ventricular septum (IVS). Patients presenting for late ASO are at risk due to the possibility of left ventricle (LV) involution. This study aimed to assess the early postoperative course and outcome for children with TGA/IVS and still conditioned LV presenting for late primary ASO. A retrospective study of all TGA/IVS patients who underwent a primary ASO between March 2002 and March 2008 was conducted. The cases were divided into two groups. Group A included all the cases of early ASO repaired before the age of 3 weeks, whereas group B included all the preslected cases of late ASO repaired after the age of 3 weeks. The demographics, intensive care unit (ICU) parameters, complications, and short-term outcomes of the two groups were compared. The study enrolled of 91 patients: 64 patients (70%) in group A and 27 patients (30%) in group B. The mean age was 11 +/- 4 days in group A and 37 +/- 17 days in group B (P < 0.001). The two groups showed no significant statistical differences in ICU parameters, complications, or mortality. For patients with TGA/IVS, ASO still can be tolerated beyond the first month of life in selected cases. Provided the LV still is conditioned, age should not be a limitation for ASO.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a nosocomially acquired infection that has a significant burden on intensive care units (ICUs). We investigated the incidence of VAP in children after cardiac surgery and its impact on morbidity and mortality. A prospective cross-sectional review was performed in the postoperative cardiac patients in pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (PCICU) patients from March 2010 until the end of September 2010. The patients were divided into two groups: the VAP group and the non-VAP group, Demographic data and perioperative risk variables were collected for all patients. One hundred thirty-seven patients were recruited, 65 (48%) female and 72 (52%) male. VAP occurred in 9 patients (6.6%). Average body weights in the VAP and non-VAP groups were 5.9 ± 1.24 and 7.3 ± 0.52 kg, respectively. In our PCICU, the mechanical ventilation (MV) use ratio was 26% with a VAP-density rate of 29/1000 ventilator days. Univariate analyses showed that the risk variables to develop VAP are as follows: prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time, use of total parenteral nutrition (TPN), and prolonged ICU stay (p < 0.002 for all). Thirty-three percent of VAP patients had Gram-negative bacilli (GNB). VAP Patients require more MV hours, longer stay, and more inhaled nitric oxide. Mortality in the VAP group was 11% and in the non-VAP group was 0.7 % (p = 0.28). VAP incidence is high in children after cardiac surgery mainly by GNB. VAP increases with longer CPB time, administration of TPN, and longer PCICU stay. VAP increases morbidity in postoperative cardiac patients.
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