Pediatr Crit Care Me
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Mar 2016
Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society 2014 Consensus Statement: Pharmacotherapies in Cardiac Critical Care Chronic Heart Failure.
Heart failure is a serious complication that can occur in patients with a variety of congenital and acquired disorders including congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathy, and myocarditis. Furthermore, heart failure patients comprise an increasing number of ICU admissions. Thus, it is important for those caring for patients with critical cardiovascular disease to have a thorough understanding of the medications used for the treatment of heart failure. The aim of this review is to provide an overview, rationale, indications, and adverse effects of medications used in the treatment of chronic heart failure. ⋯ Heart failure patients are in an important population of critically ill children. The pharmacologic approach to these patients is aimed at treating symptoms of congestion and/or poor perfusion and improving long-term outcomes.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Mar 2016
Outcomes of Single-Ventricle Patients Supported With Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is often used in children with single-ventricle anomalies. We aimed to describe extracorporeal membrane oxygenation use in single-ventricle patients to test the hypothesis that despite increasing prevalence, mortality has not improved and overall burden measure by hospital charges and length of stay have increased. ⋯ Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support is uncommon with single-ventricle admissions occurring in 2.3% of all hospitalizations. Among those patients, the mortality rate was 57% with no change over time. Acute renal failure was an independent risk factor for mortality during hospitalization. In addition, length of stay for these patients increased and hospital charges doubled. Further studies are needed to determine suitability and cost-effectiveness of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in single-ventricle patients.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Mar 2016
Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society 2014 Consensus Statement: Pharmacotherapies in Cardiac Critical Care Treatment of Acute Heart Failure.
To provide an evidence-based review of pharmacotherapies to treat acute heart failure. To accomplish this objective, we will discuss circulatory physiology, vasoactive agents, and their indications in the management of acute heart failure. ⋯ The optimal selection of vasoactive agents requires a consideration of circulatory physiology and the tailored application of pharmacotherapies to treat patients with acute heart failure.