The mortality of children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit with 2009 pH1N1 influenza was high (47%) in our population. Age <24 months, asthma, respiratory coinfection, need of mechanical ventilation, and treatment with inotropes were predictors of poorer outcome.

ObjectiveTo compare the changes in serum sodium and acid/base status in patients receiving hypotonic and isotonic solutions.DesignA randomised, controlled and double-blind clinical trial.SettingDepartment of Paediatrics in a tertiary general hospital (Hospital Universitario Austral) in Buenos Aires, Argentina.PatientsChildren between 29 days and 15 years of age who were hospitalised in the paediatric intensive care unit and general hospital between 12 January 2010 and 30 November 2016, and who required exclusively parenteral maintenance solutions for at least 24 hours.InterventionsA hypotonic solution with 77 mEq/L sodium chloride (0.45% in 5% dextrose) and isotonic solution with 150 mEq/L (0.9% in 5% dextrose) were infused for 48 hours and were labelled.Main outcome measureThe main outcome was to evaluate the incidence of hyponatraemia between patients treated with parenteral hydration with hypotonic or isotonic fluids. The secondary outcome was to estimate the incidence of metabolic acidosis induced by each of the solutions.ResultsThe 299 patients in the present study were randomised to groups that received the hypotonic solution (n=154) or isotonic solution (n=145). The mean serum sodium concentration measurements at 12 hours were 136.3±3.9 mEq/L and 140.1±2.3 mEq/L in the hypotonic and isotonic groups, respectively, with a hyponatraemia incidence of 8.27% (n=12) and 18.8% (n=29) (p<0.001). At 24 hours, 12.4% (n=18) of the isotonic group had developed hyponatraemia compared with 46.1% (n=71) of the hypotonic group (p<0.001). The mean serum sodium concentration measurements were 134.4±5.6 and 139.3±3.1, respectively. No patient developed hypernatraemia (serum sodium concentrations >150 mEq/L) or other adverse outcomes. The relative risk in the hypotonic group was 3.7 (95% CI 2.3 to 5.9), almost four times the risk of developing hyponatraemia than those who received isotonic fluids. There were also no significant differences between the groups with regard to the development of metabolic acidosis. Hypotonic solution, age <12 months and postoperative abdominal surgery were risk factors associated with hyponatraemia.ConclusionsThe incidence of iatrogenic hyponatraemia was greater with the administration of hypotonic fluids compared with that of isotonic fluids. There were no significant differences in the incidence of metabolic acidosis between the groups.

Background Mechanical power is a composite variable for energy transmitted to the respiratory system over time that may better capture risk for ventilator-induced lung injury than individual ventilator management components. We sought to evaluate if mechanical ventilation management with a high mechanical power is associated with fewer ventilator-free days (VFD) in children with pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS). Methods Retrospective analysis of a prospective observational international cohort study. Results There were 306 children from 55 pediatric intensive care units included. High mechanical power was associated with younger age, higher oxygenation index, a comorbid condition of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, higher tidal volume, higher delta pressure (peak inspiratory pressure—positive end-expiratory pressure), and higher respiratory rate. Higher mechanical power was associated with fewer 28-day VFD after controlling for confounding variables (per 0.1 J·min−1·Kg−1 Subdistribution Hazard Ratio (SHR) 0.93 (0.87, 0.98), p = 0.013). Higher mechanical power was not associated with higher intensive care unit mortality in multivariable analysis in the entire cohort (per 0.1 J·min−1·Kg−1 OR 1.12 [0.94, 1.32], p = 0.20). But was associated with higher mortality when excluding children who died due to neurologic reasons (per 0.1 J·min−1·Kg−1 OR 1.22 [1.01, 1.46], p = 0.036). In subgroup analyses by age, the association between higher mechanical power and fewer 28-day VFD remained only in children < 2-years-old (per 0.1 J·min−1·Kg−1 SHR 0.89 (0.82, 0.96), p = 0.005). Younger children were managed with lower tidal volume, higher delta pressure, higher respiratory rate, lower positive end-expiratory pressure, and higher PCO2 than older children. No individual ventilator management component mediated the effect of mechanical power on 28-day VFD. Conclusions Higher mechanical power is associated with fewer 28-day VFDs in children with PARDS. This association is strongest in children < 2-years-old in whom there are notable differences in mechanical ventilation management. While further validation is needed, these data highlight that ventilator management is associated with outcome in children with PARDS, and there may be subgroups of children with higher potential benefit from strategies to improve lung-protective ventilation. Take Home Message: Higher mechanical power is associated with fewer 28-day ventilator-free days in children with pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome. This association is strongest in children <2-years-old in whom there are notable differences in mechanical ventilation management.

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Introduction: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in children is a procedure that is not exempt of severe complications. Admission to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) is associated with a high mortality rate. Objectives: To analyze survival and predictors of mortality among children who received a HSCT and were admitted to the PICU, and to develop a mortality prediction model in this population. Materials and methods: Retrospective review of children and adolescents who received a HSCT between January 1 st , 2005 and December 31 st , 2019 and were admitted to the PICU of a tertiary care teaching hospital. Results: Out of 264 children receiving the transplant, 114 were admitted to the PICU. The overall mortality rate was 29 % (n = 34). The type of transplant, underlying disease, febrile neutropenia event, cytomegalovirus infection, respiratory failure, graft versus host disease (GVHD), myeloablative chemotherapy, and previous malnutrition were associated with higher mortality rates. In the multivariate analysis, GVHD (odds ratio [OR]: 2.23; 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.92-2.98), need for mechanical ventilation (OR: 2.47; 95 % CI: 1.39-5.73), alternative donor transplant (OR: 1.58; 95 % CI: 1.14-2.17), and previous malnutrition (OR: 1.78; 95 % CI: 1.22-3.89) were associated with a higher mortality rate. Conclusion:In the studied population, 2 out of 3 children who received a HSCT and were admitted to the PICU survived. GVHD, mechanical ventilation, alternative donor transplant, and previous malnutrition were predictors of mortality.

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Introduction: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in children is associated with severe complications that need admission to critical care units. Mortality in this group of patients remains high with reported survival that ranges between 38 and 71%. Goals: To analyze the predictive factors of mortality of pediatric patients who received HSCT and were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) Material and methods: Retrospective review and analysis of a population of children and adolescents who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from 12/01/2008 to 11/30/2018 and were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a university hospital. Results: Of 248 patients subjected to the analysis, 109 patients were admitted. Overall mortality was 29% (n=32). After univariate analysis, the type of transplant (unrelated), baseline disease (malignant vs non-malignant), febrile neutropenia, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, multiorgan failure, respiratory failure, graft versus host disease (GVHD), conditioning regimen with myeloablative chemotherapy and pre-transplant malnutrition were associated with higher mortality. After the Multivariate Analysis of Logistic Regression, the variables GVHD (OR 2, 23 95% CI: 1.92 a 2, 98), need of mechanical ventilation ( OR 2.47,95% CI 1.39 a 5.73) unrelated allogeneic transplants (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.14 a 2.17) and previous malnutrition (OR: 1.78, 95% CI 1,223-3.89) were statistically associated with mortality. Conclusion: In our population two of three children receiving HSCT and admitted to PICU survived. Graft vs. host disease, need of mechanical ventilation, unrelated transplantation and previous malnutrition were predictors of mortality.

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