AIM:To analyze the impact of Tranexamic acid (TXA) on perioperative hemodynamics in craniosynostosis surgery.MATERIAL and METHODS: Data of thirty-six children (operated between 2014-2017) were categorized into two groups depending on TXA delivery. Patient demographics, preoperative, intraoperative, postoperative data on hemostasis and metabolic outcomes were recorded. Blood loss from the drains, estimated blood loss (EBV loss), volume of blood transfusions, hemodynamic alerations and complications were extracted. Postoperative outcome involved variables at admission, 2 nd , 6 th , 12 th , 24 th hours. A multiple logistic regression analysis was also performed. RESULTS:Demographics presented mean age of 8.14 ± 3.53 months, male/female ratio:1.76/1, procedure length 3.98 ± 0.78 hours. Intraoperative analysis indicated TXA deliveries manifested fewer blood transfusion volumes (p=0.002) due to lower EBV loss (4.02 ± 1.19 ml/kg vs. 5.97 ± 1.61 ml/kg, p<0.001) with better metabolic outcome.Postoperative outcomes presented all children manifested hematocrit decline after surgey. TXA did not influence postoperative hemodynamic alterations (p=0.090, p=0.112), despite reduced blood loss from the drains and transfusion necessity (p=0.015, p=0.0175). Intraoperative transfusion volumes and EBV loss were associated with postoperative hemodynamics (OR: 3.033, 95% CI: 1.286-7.154; p=0.011; OR: 0.280, 95% CI: 0.081-0.972; p=0.045, respectively). ROC analysis indicated 10.13 ml/kg of intraoperative blood transfusion requirement as the cut off value for hemodynamic instability with 91% sensitivity and 80% specificity. One unit increase in intraoperative transfused blood volume increased the odds of developing hemodynamic alterations by 3.033 times. CONCLUSION:Intraoperative TXA is crucial for successful surgical management; however postoperative period carries out paramount importance due to excessive bleeding after surgery. In case of severe intraoperative transfusion necessity, postoperative TXA utilization might be considered to minimize potential risks by balancing the pros and cons of the drug.

Background Implementation of checklists has been shown to be effective in improving patient safety. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of implementation of a checklist for daily care processes into clinical practice of pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) with limited resources. Methods Prospective before–after study in eight PICUs from China, Congo, Croatia, Fiji, and India after implementation of a daily checklist into the ICU rounds. Results Seven hundred and thirty-five patients from eight centers were enrolled between 2015 and 2017. Baseline stage had 292 patients and post-implementation 443. The ICU length of stay post-implementation decreased significantly [9.4 (4–15.5) vs. 7.3 (3.4–13.4) days, p = 0.01], with a nominal improvement in the hospital length of stay [15.4 (8.4–25) vs. 12.6 (7.5–24.4) days, p = 0.055]. The hospital mortality and ICU mortality between baseline group and post-implementation group did not show a significant difference, 14.4% vs. 11.3%; p = 0.22 for each. There was a variable impact of checklist implementation on adherence to various processes of care recommendations. A decreased exposure in days was noticed for; mechanical ventilation from 42.6% to 33.8%, p &lt; 0.01; central line from 31.3% to 25.3%, p &lt; 0.01; and urinary catheter from 30.6% to 24.4%, p &lt; 0.01. Although there was an increased utilization of antimicrobials (89.9–93.2%, p &lt; 0.01). Conclusions Checklists for the treatment of acute illness and injury in the PICU setting marginally impacted the outcome and processes of care. The intervention led to increasing adherence with guidelines in multiple ICU processes and led to decreased length of stay.

Mortality rate was 12.5%; six patients progressed to brain death with organ donor approvals in five. Initial hypotension, lung contusion, injury severity scores and Rotterdam-CT scores were related with mortality. Rotterdam-CT score was determined as the independent risk factor for mortality; one increment in the score increased the odd of recovery by 20.334 times (%95 CI 1.999-206.879). ISS score was also borderline significant (p=0.052; OR:1.195 %95 CI 0.999-1.430).

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in children with type-I Diabetes Mellitus. The goals of therapy are to correct dehydration, resolution of acidosis and fading of ketosis. Such serious complications necessitate closed monitoring of DKA patients with delicate, balanced therapy, probably at an intensive care facility. Regarding the fact that, each facility shoul determine the clinical profile of their own patient population, we aimed to investigate the risk factors for consequences and determine the timing of DKA resolution by analyzing the demographic and epidemiologic data, clinical outcome and the prognosis of diabetic ketoacidotic children admitted to PICU. Method: This descriptive, retrospective study was conducted in 105 children admitted to PICU with the complaints of DKA between January 2014 and December 2108. Demograhic data including age, gender, weight, height, body mass index (BMI), initial compliants with clinical findings and level of consciousness were recorded. Children were categorized into two groups depending on the timing of DM diagnosis (new onset of diabetes and established diabetes mellitus). DKA severity was determined by the degree of metabolic acidosis (mild, moderate, severe). SPSS-23 was used for statictics. Descriptive analyses were expressed as percentages, mean±standart deviation (SD), median with minimum and maximum values. Chi square and Fischer exact test were used for comparison of categorical variables. Student's t-test, Mann Whitney U test and Wilcoxon rank sum test were assessed for continous variables. Pearson correlation coefficient and logistic regressions were used for correlations and to determine the risk factors. P-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The patient demographics presented the mean age as 11.31±4.18 years, female/male ratio 1/1.4 and body mass index 18.48±4.48. Children were classified as mild DKA (29.5%), moderate DKA (35.2%) and severe DKA (35.2%) based on the acidosis severity. 48.6% of the patients had Kusmaull respiration; 30.5% had manifested altered consciousness. One patient had tomography-proven brain edema and had required mechanical ventilation due to neurological incapability to sustain airway. Children with new onset of diabetes accounted for 51.4% of the study population. The mean age was 9.70±4.47 years; this group constituted a younger population compared the established DM patients (p<0.001). Altered mental state and kusmaull respiration also occurred at a higher rate and the major complaint seemed ae weight loss within two weeks (p=0.006, p=0.002, p<0.001 respectively). Children with established diabetes mellitus presented significant biochemical abnormalities in terms of elevated BUN and serum potassium levels (p<0.001, p<0.001); infections occurred as the major triggering factor for DKA at a rate of 80.4% at this group. We observed a positive correlation with DKA resolution with serum creatinine, calculated osmolality, anion gap (r=0.242, r=0.215, r=0.302) and a negative correlation with...

Background Mechanical power is a composite variable for energy transmitted to the respiratory system over time that may better capture risk for ventilator-induced lung injury than individual ventilator management components. We sought to evaluate if mechanical ventilation management with a high mechanical power is associated with fewer ventilator-free days (VFD) in children with pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS). Methods Retrospective analysis of a prospective observational international cohort study. Results There were 306 children from 55 pediatric intensive care units included. High mechanical power was associated with younger age, higher oxygenation index, a comorbid condition of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, higher tidal volume, higher delta pressure (peak inspiratory pressure—positive end-expiratory pressure), and higher respiratory rate. Higher mechanical power was associated with fewer 28-day VFD after controlling for confounding variables (per 0.1 J·min−1·Kg−1 Subdistribution Hazard Ratio (SHR) 0.93 (0.87, 0.98), p = 0.013). Higher mechanical power was not associated with higher intensive care unit mortality in multivariable analysis in the entire cohort (per 0.1 J·min−1·Kg−1 OR 1.12 [0.94, 1.32], p = 0.20). But was associated with higher mortality when excluding children who died due to neurologic reasons (per 0.1 J·min−1·Kg−1 OR 1.22 [1.01, 1.46], p = 0.036). In subgroup analyses by age, the association between higher mechanical power and fewer 28-day VFD remained only in children < 2-years-old (per 0.1 J·min−1·Kg−1 SHR 0.89 (0.82, 0.96), p = 0.005). Younger children were managed with lower tidal volume, higher delta pressure, higher respiratory rate, lower positive end-expiratory pressure, and higher PCO2 than older children. No individual ventilator management component mediated the effect of mechanical power on 28-day VFD. Conclusions Higher mechanical power is associated with fewer 28-day VFDs in children with PARDS. This association is strongest in children < 2-years-old in whom there are notable differences in mechanical ventilation management. While further validation is needed, these data highlight that ventilator management is associated with outcome in children with PARDS, and there may be subgroups of children with higher potential benefit from strategies to improve lung-protective ventilation. Take Home Message: Higher mechanical power is associated with fewer 28-day ventilator-free days in children with pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome. This association is strongest in children <2-years-old in whom there are notable differences in mechanical ventilation management.