Pediatr Crit Care Me
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Children with congenital heart defects are at risk for perioperative pulmonary hypertension if they require corrective or palliative surgery in the first week of life or if they have defects associated with significant pulmonary overcirculation. In addition, children undergoing cavopulmonary connections for single ventricle lesions require low pulmonary vascular resistance for surgical success. ⋯ In this article, previous clinical trials of inhaled nitric oxide, intravenous arginine, and intravenous and oral citrulline in children with perioperative pulmonary hypertension or elevated pulmonary vascular resistance after a cavopulmonary connection are reviewed. In addition, recommendations are presented for each agent on the clinical use in the perioperative setting including clinical indications, assessment of clinical effect, and length of therapy.
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When the normal cardiopulmonary transition fails to occur, the result is persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn. Severe persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn is estimated to occur in 2 per 1000 live-born term infants, and some degree of pulmonary hypertension complicates the course of >10% of all neonates with respiratory failure. ⋯ A systematic review of the evidence for common therapies including inhaled nitric oxide, high-frequency ventilation, surfactant, and extracorporeal life support is included. Finally, this field is rapidly evolving, and the rationale for promising new treatment approaches is reviewed, including inhibition of phosphodiesterases and scavengers of reactive oxygen species.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Mar 2010
ReviewUnplanned extubation in pediatric critically ill patients: a systematic review and best practice recommendations.
The aim of this study was to update the state of knowledge of unplanned extubations in the pediatric population. The main topics addressed in the current literature on unplanned extubations were: 1) incidence; 2) risk factors; 3) risk factors for reintubation after unplanned extubations; and 4) strategies to prevent unplanned extubations. Based on this review we summarize and propose best practices in preventing unplanned extubations. ⋯ There are few studies assessing unplanned extubations in pediatric intensive care units. The available quality studies have shown that improvement of quality components is effective in reducing unplanned extubations. Although further rigorous studies are needed to establish strong recommendations on unplanned extubations prevention, we present a summary of recommendations based on review of the current literature.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Mar 2010
ReviewNursing considerations in the care of patients with pulmonary hypertension.
Pulmonary hypertension is a potentially lethal condition that may be encountered during the entire life span of patients with many forms of congenital or acquired heart disease, pulmonary disorders, and other diseases. Each pulmonary hypertensive patient requires anticipatory interventions geared to prevent severe exacerbations of the pulmonary hypertensive condition, promote pulmonary vasodilation, and optimize ventricular function. ⋯ Nurses are in a critical position to provide anticipatory care to prevent the development of pulmonary hypertensive events. Nurses can be instrumental in optimizing outcomes for patients with pulmonary hypertension by providing immediate care upon the development of a pulmonary hypertension event and by monitoring ongoing responses to adjustments in therapeutic interventions.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Mar 2010
ReviewFundamentals of management of acute postoperative pulmonary hypertension.
In the last several years, there have been numerous advancements in the field of pulmonary hypertension as a whole, but there have been few changes in the management of children with pulmonary hypertension after cardiac surgery. Patients at particular risk for postoperative pulmonary hypertension can be identified preoperatively based on their cardiac disease and can be grouped into four broad categories based on the mechanisms responsible for pulmonary hypertension: 1) increased pulmonary vascular resistance; 2) increased pulmonary blood flow with normal pulmonary vascular resistance; 3) a combination of increased pulmonary vascular resistance and increased blood flow; and 4) increased pulmonary venous pressure. In this review of the immediate postoperative management of pulmonary hypertension, various strategies are discussed including medical therapies, monitoring, ventilatory strategies, and weaning from these supports. With early recognition of patients at particular risk for severe pulmonary hypertension, management strategies can be directed at preventing or minimizing hemodynamic instability and thereby prevent the development of ventricular dysfunction and a low output state.