Pediatr Crit Care Me
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Aug 2016
ReviewChronic Critical Illness in Infants and Children: A Speculative Synthesis on Adapting ICU Care to Meet the Needs of Long-Stay Patients.
In this review, we examine features of ICU systems and ICU clinician training that can undermine continuity of communication and longitudinal guidance for decision making for chronically critically ill infants and children. Drawing upon a conceptual model of the dynamic interactions between patients, families, clinicians, and ICU systems, we propose strategies to promote longitudinal decision making and improve communication for infants and children with prolonged ICU stays. ⋯ As the number of chronically critically ill infants and children increases, specific communication and decision-making models targeted at this population could improve the feedback between acute, daily ICU decisions and the patient's overall goals of care. Adaptations to ICU systems of care and ICU clinician training will be essential components of this progress.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Aug 2016
ReviewNeurodevelopmental Outcomes in Children With Congenital Heart Disease-What Can We Impact?
The objectives of this review are to discuss the scope of neurologic injuries in newborns with congenital heart disease, the mechanisms of injury, including prenatal, pre-, intra-, and postoperative factors, neurodevelopmental outcomes, and therapeutic strategies for the timely intervention and prevention of neurologic injury. ⋯ At the current time, important research is underway to 1) better understand the developing brain in the fetus with complex congenital heart disease, 2) to identify modifiable risk factors in the operating room and ICU to maximize long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes, and 3) develop strategies to improve family psychosocial health, childhood development, and health-related quality of life following hospital discharge. Crucial in this effort is the identification of an early postoperative surrogate variable with good predictive validity for long-term outcomes. If an appropriate surrogate variable for long-term outcomes can be identified, and measured relatively early after surgical intervention for complex congenital heart disease, reliable clinical trials can be undertaken to improve upon current outcomes.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Aug 2016
ReviewRemote Ischemic Preconditioning in the PICU: A Simple Concept With a Complex Past.
In this study, we will review the most recently proposed mechanisms for remote ischemic preconditioning and summarize the past 10 years of clinical studies, as well as potential reasons for why, despite over 20 years of research on remote ischemic preconditioning, it is not routinely used in the pediatric critical care patient. In addition, future directions for remote ischemic preconditioning research will be discussed. ⋯ Differences in study outcomes in the effect of remote ischemic preconditioning on organ protection have been reported and may have played a large role in limiting the translation of findings into routine clinical practice. Ongoing efforts to protocolize the remote ischemic preconditioning technique in large multicenter trials with clearly delineated patient risk groups, including the use of biomarkers for enrichment, may help to ultimately determine if this procedure can be safely and effectively used for critically ill children.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Aug 2016
Multicenter Study Observational StudyFactors Associated With Continuous Low-Dose Heparin Infusion for Central Venous Catheter Patency in Critically Ill Children Worldwide.
To identify patient, hospital, and central venous catheter factors that may influence the use of low-dose heparin infusion for central venous catheter patency in critically ill children. ⋯ Patient, central venous catheter, and hospital factors are associated with the use of low-dose heparin infusion in critically ill children. Further study is needed to evaluate the efficacy and persistence of low-dose heparin infusion use.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Aug 2016
ReviewRight Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction: Pulmonary Atresia With Intact Ventricular Septum, Pulmonary Stenosis, and Ebstein's Malformation.
The objectives of this review are to discuss the anatomy, pathophysiology, clinical course, and current treatment strategies for pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum, pulmonary stenosis, and Ebstein's anomaly. ⋯ Considerable advances have been made in management strategies for these complex congenital heart lesions, which have led to improved outcomes.