Pediatr Crit Care Me
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Aug 2016
Multicenter Study Observational StudyBurden and Outcomes of Severe Pertussis Infection in Critically Ill Infants.
Despite World Health Organization endorsed immunization schedules, Bordetella pertussis continues to cause severe infections, predominantly in infants. There is a lack of data on the frequency and outcome of severe pertussis infections in infants requiring ICU admission. We aimed to describe admission rates, severity, mortality, and costs of pertussis infections in critically ill infants. ⋯ Pertussis continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality in infants, in particular during the first months of life. Improved strategies are required to reduce the significant healthcare costs and disease burden of this vaccine-preventable disease.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Aug 2016
ReviewAvoidance of Hospital-Acquired Infections in Pediatric Cardiac Surgical Patients.
The objectives of this review are to discuss the prevalence and risk factors associated with the development of hospital-acquired infections in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery and the published antimicrobial prophylaxis regimens and rational approaches to the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of nosocomial infections in these patients. ⋯ Hospital-acquired infections remain a significant source of potentially preventable morbidity and mortality in pediatric cardiac surgical patients. Through improved understanding of these conditions and implementation of avoidance strategies, centers caring for these patients may improve outcomes in this vulnerable population.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Aug 2016
ReviewOutcomes Analysis and Quality Improvement in Children With Congenital and Acquired Cardiovascular Disease.
In this review, the current state of outcomes analysis and quality improvement in children with acquired and congenital cardiovascular disease will be discussed, with an emphasis on defining and measuring outcomes and quality in pediatric cardiac critical care medicine and risk stratification systems. ⋯ : Measuring quality and outcomes in the pediatric cardiac critical care environment is challenging owing to many inherent obstacles, including a diverse patient mix, difficulty in determining how the care of the ICU team contributes to outcomes, and the lack of an adequate risk-adjustment method for pediatric cardiac critical care patients. Despite these barriers, new solutions are emerging that capitalize on lessons learned from other quality improvement initiatives, providing opportunities to build upon previous successes.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Aug 2016
ReviewVentricular Assist Devices in Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care.
The objectives of this review are to discuss the process of patient and mechanical device selection, operative management, and postoperative care with a focus on the management of right ventricular failure, anticoagulation strategies, device-related infections and neurologic sequelae. ⋯ The number of patients with advanced heart failure due to either acquired or congenital heart disease continues to increase, necessitating in some mechanical circulatory support and in others cardiac transplantation. With a limited cardiac donor pool, mechanical circulatory support is playing a greater role in the management of this population. The perioperative morbidity associated with mechanical circulatory support has lessened with improved postoperative management strategies.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Aug 2016
ReviewHeart Transplantation-The Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Perspective.
Although there have been tremendous advancements in the care of severe pediatric cardiovascular disease, heart transplantation remains the standard therapy for end-stage heart disease in children. As such, these patients comprise an important and often complex subset of patients in the ICU. The purpose of this article is to review the causes and management of allograft dysfunction and the medications used in the transplant population. ⋯ Pediatric heart transplant recipients represent a complex group of patients that frequently require critical care. Their immunosuppressive medications, while being vital to maintenance of allograft function, are associated with significant short- and long-term complications. Graft dysfunction can occur from a variety of etiologies at different times following transplantation and remains a major limitation to long-term posttransplant survival.