Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND:There are risks associated with excessive intravenous fluid (IVF) administration in critically ill children. Previous efforts have described opportunities to reduce positive cumulative fluid balance (CFB) in this population but have not been widely implemented. In the wake of Hurricane Helene, a national IVF shortage led to the implementation of IVF conservation guidelines. We sought to determine if this was associated with a reduction in IVF use and CFB. METHODS:The present study is a four-site cohort study of critically ill children utilizing a federated data collection framework to extract patient age, sex, weight, and daily fluid intake/output for days 1-4 of all admissions 28 days prior to and 28 days after the implementation of IVF conservation guidelines. Guidelines were individualized per institution. Total fluid intake, total IVF intake, % intake from IVF, and % CFB were compared between pre- and post-IVF conservation groups. RESULTS:All sites had similar conservation recommendations. There were 633 patients admitted pre- and 619 patients admitted post-IVF conservation guideline implementation, with similar age and weight distributions. There was no significant difference in IVF use pre- and post-IVF conservation; 29-35% of patients had > 5% CFB on day 1 pre-IVF conservation while 27-39% did post-conservation, with increasing numbers on day 2. CONCLUSIONS:Even in the setting of a national IVF shortage, simple recommendations without structured change were insufficient to change IVF administration practices. This indicates additional practices will be needed to reduce IVF intake and % CFB in this vulnerable population.

IntroductionFluid overload (FO), a state of pathologic positive cumulative fluid balance (CFB), is common in Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICU) and associated with morbidity and mortality. Because different PICUs may have unique needs, barriers, and limitations to accurately report fluid balance (FB) and reduce FO, understanding the drivers of positive FB is needed. We hypothesize CFB >5% and >10% is common on ICU days 1 and 2, but that reasons for high %CFB will vary across sites, as will barriers to accurate FB recording and opportunities to improve FB recording/management.MethodsConcurrent mixed methods study utilizing a retrospective observational cohort design and prospective interview and survey design performed at four tertiary pediatric ICUs. FB data were extracted from the electronic health record. A federated data collection framework allowed for rapid data aggregation. The primary outcome was %CFB on ICU days 1 and 2, defined as total intake minus total output divided by ICU admission weight. Chi-square test and Wilcoxon rank sum tests compared results across and within sites.ResultsAmongst 3,071 ICU encounters, day 2 CFB >5% varied from 39% to 54% (p = 0.03) and day 2 CFB >10% varied from 16% to 25% (p = 0.04) across sites. Urine occurrence recordings and patients receiving >100% Holliday-Segar fluids on Day 1 differed across sites (p < 0.001). Sites discussed overall FB and specific FB goals on rounds with differing frequency (42-73% and 19-39%, respectively), but they reported similar barriers to accurate FB reporting and achievable opportunities to improve FB measurements, including patients/families not saving urine/stool, patients not tracking oral intake, and lack of standardized charting of flushes.ConclusionDay 2 CFB >5% and >10% was common among pediatric ICU encounters but proportion of patients varied significantly across ICUs. Individual ICUs have different drivers of FO that must be targeted to improve FB management.

BACKGROUND:Transitions of care are a leading threat to patient safety. Vulnerabilities are intensified in emergency department (ED)-to-inpatient settings. A structure to identify and visualize high-risk patients, coupled with a process for interdisciplinary huddle prior to transport, can improve patient outcomes. METHODS:We conducted a quality improvement initiative within a tertiary-care, academic, pediatric ED. Children with respiratory disease requiring oxygen were identified to be high risk for decompensation. Digital mapping of patient data was established for clinician visibility of high-risk patients using a track-board icon in the electronic health record (EHR). We implemented interdisciplinary bedside huddles prior to ED departure. Outcome measures included escalations to advanced respiratory support (ie, noninvasive positive pressure ventilation or intubation), pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) upgrades, or rapid response systems (RRS) activations within 24 hours. Our process measure was proportion of patients with huddle completion. Our balancing measure was time from bed assignment to ED departure. Statistical process control charts were used to analyze temporal changes. RESULTS:Huddles were performed on 80% of high-risk respiratory patients. We observed a 53.1% reduction in advanced respiratory interventions, a 57.8% reduction in PICU upgrades, and a 59.8% reduction in RRS activations. There was no change in time from bed assignment to ED departure. CONCLUSIONS:Through risk stratification, EHR visualizations, and interdisciplinary huddles, we achieved improved outcomes for pediatric patients. This initiative mitigates risk beyond ED care, with significant implications on hospital resources and patient safety.

OBJECTIVE:in the pediatric population. METHOD:The study design is a prospective, randomized, clinical trial comparing HCOT (maintain SpO2 92-95%) while being treated for asthma exacerbation in the emergency department (ED). INCLUSION CRITERIA:. Secondary outcomes were admission rate and change in asthma score. RESULTS:was higher in the HCOT (38.08 + 5.11 HCOT vs 35.51 + 4.57 TOT, P = 0.01). The asthma score was similar at 0 minute (7.55 + 1.34 HCOT vs 7.30 + 1.18 TOT, P = 0.33); whereas, the 60 minutes asthma score was lower in the TOT (4.71 + 1.38 HCOT vs 3.57 + 1.25 TOT, P = 0.0001). The rate of admission to the hospital was 40.5% in HCOT vs 25.5% in the TOT (P = 0.088). CONCLUSIONS:HCOT in pediatric asthma exacerbation leads to significantly higher carbon dioxide levels, which increases asthma scores and trends towards the increasing rate of admission. Larger studies are needed to explore this association.