Noise pollution levels in the pediatric intensive care unit

Kramer, Bree; Joshi, Prashant; Heard, Christopher

doi:10.1016/j.jcrc.2016.06.029

Cited by 23 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…At the time a bolus was given, the decibel level was significantly higher than the minimum decibels recorded at that bedside over the course of the day. These minimum levels recorded in our study were below the averages recorded in previous studies [6,9,10]. Also, the maximum levels were only slightly above the recommended 80 dbA.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 92%

“…an initial study that showed noise levels in our pediatric intensive care unit exceeded the international recommended noise levels [6]. This current study now shows that the decibels at the bedside had decreased significantly after implementing noise reduction measures.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 50%

“…We have previously shown that in our ICU the majority of our patients experience an average noise level per minute > 80 dB. With peak noise exposure > 100 dB occurring for more than 10% of the day [6]. This is higher than the recommendation of the AAP with respect to safe noise level exposure [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 88%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Noise Pollution in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and its Effect on Sedation

Heard¹,

Kramer²

2018

Int J Crit Care Emerg Med

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 92%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 50%

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Noise Pollution in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and its Effect on Sedation

Heard¹,

Kramer²

2018

Int J Crit Care Emerg Med

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“…Intensive care units are particularly noisy areas of hospitals . Neonatal units have average sound pressure levels of 48–61 dB for up to 95% of the time , paediatric units average 53–73 dB and adult units are 53–59 dB . The unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital when measured in 2012 had daytime averages of 58 dB at the desk and 60 dB adjacent to the patient .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mapping sources of noise in an intensive care unit

et al. 2019

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Summary Excessive noise in hospitals adversely affects patients’ sleep and recovery, causes stress and fatigue in staff and hampers communication. The World Health Organization suggests sound levels should be limited to 35 decibels. This is probably unachievable in intensive care units, but some reduction from current levels should be possible. A preliminary step would be to identify principal sources of noise. As part of a larger project investigating techniques to reduce environmental noise, we installed a microphone array system in one with four beds in an adult general intensive care unit. This continuously measured locations and sound pressure levels of noise sources. This report summarises results recorded over one year. Data were collected between 7 April 2017 and 16 April 2018 inclusive. Data for a whole day were available for 248 days. The sound location system revealed that the majority of loud sounds originated from extremely limited areas, very close to patients’ ears. This proximity maximises the adverse effects of high environmental noise levels for patients. Some of this was likely to be appropriate communication between the patient, their caring staff and visitors. However, a significant proportion of loud sounds may originate from equipment alarms which are sited at the bedside. A redesign of the intensive care unit environment to move alarm sounds away from the bed‐side might significantly reduce the environmental noise burden to patients.

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“…Hence, melatonin secretion is normally low during daytime, increases soon after onset of darkness, and peaks in the middle of the night to gradually fall during the second half of the night. ICU and PICU [4] are noisier than usual hospital settings and constantly lit, therefore rhythmic signals from the environment are abolished. Studies performed in adult populations showed severely depressed melatonin secretion in critical care patients undergoing mechanical ventilation [5,6], and with severe sepsis [7], both in terms of nocturnal peaks and basal daytime serum levels [1,8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Melatonin Secretion Is Increased in Children with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

Marseglia

Manti

Rulli

et al. 2017

IJMS

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Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability in children. Oxidative stress plays a significant role in brain damage and melatonin exhibits both direct and indirect antioxidant effects. The primary aim of the present study was to evaluate serum melatonin levels in children with severe TBI in comparison to critically ill children admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for conditions other than TBI. Methods: Twenty-four children were evaluated, equally divided into severe TBI and no-TBI. Blood samples for serum melatonin analysis were collected at 22:00, 01:00, 03:00, 05:00, 08:00, and 12:00. Results: Mean serum melatonin peaks in children of the TBI group were higher compared to the values of no-TBI critically ill children (495 ± 102 vs. 294 ± 119 pg/mL, p = 0.0002). Furthermore, the difference was even more significant in comparison to values reported in literature for healthy age-matched children (495 ± 102 vs. 197 ± 71 pg/mL, p < 0.0001). Conclusion: This study has shown that endogenous serum melatonin levels dramatically increase in children after severe TBI. This elevation is likely to represent a response to oxidative stress and/or inflammation due to severe head injury.

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Noise pollution levels in the pediatric intensive care unit

Cited by 23 publications

References 12 publications

Noise Pollution in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and its Effect on Sedation

Noise Pollution in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and its Effect on Sedation

Mapping sources of noise in an intensive care unit

Melatonin Secretion Is Increased in Children with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

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