Children with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) are at an increased risk of critical illness. In this study, we described the clinical characteristics of critically ill children with HLH and identify factors associated with poor clinical outcomes. Children who were diagnosed with HLH with emergent admission to Children's Intensive Care Unit (CICU) between January 1, 2000 and October 31, 2015 were included. The primary outcome was CICU mortality. Over the 15-year period, there were 14 critically ill patients with HLH with 23 CICU admissions. Median age at HLH diagnosis was 8.2 years (interquartile range [IQR], 2.9 to 11.3). Overall CICU mortality was 8 of 23 CICU admissions (34.8%). Factors that were associated with CICU mortality in critically ill children with HLH identified in this study include: a worse median pediatric index of mortality 2 score (4.7% in survivors [IQR, 2.9% to 11.6%] vs. 2.4% [IQR, 1.2% to 4.3%]; P=0.031); higher median peak serum lactate level (mmol/L) within 24 hours of admission (5.6 [IQR, 2.7 to 17.4] vs. 1.6 [IQR, 1.2 to 2.8]; P=0.032); the need for mechanical ventilation (100% vs. 46.7%; P=0.019); inotropic support (87.5% vs. 20.0%; P=0.006); renal replacement therapy (50% vs. 0%; P=0.008); and blood product transfusion episodes (24.5 [IQR, 14.3 to 46.8] vs. 3.0 [IQR, 1.0 to 9.0]; P=0.002). Further studies are required to validate the factors that are associated with poor outcomes in critically ill children with HLH.

Children undergoing cardiac surgery are at risk of developing acute kidney injury (AKI). Preventing cardiac surgery-associated AKI (CS-AKI) is important as it is associated with increased early- and long-term mortality and morbidity. Targeting modifiable risk factors (eg, avoiding poor renal perfusion, nephrotoxic drugs, and fluid overload) reduces the risk of CS-AKI. There is currently no strong evidence for the routine use of pharmacological approaches (eg, aminophylline, dexmedetomidine, fenoldopam, and steroids) to prevent CS-AKI. There is robust evidence to support the role of early peritoneal dialysis as a nonpharmacologic approach to prevent CS-AKI.

Objectives: To assess the association of cumulative fluid overload (FO) up to 14 days from the diagnosis of pediatric acute respiratory syndrome (PARDS) with pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) mortality, 28-day mechanical ventilation free days (VFD), and 28-day intensive care unit free days (IFD). We hypothesized that fluid overload, even beyond the acute period, would be associated with increased morbidity and mortality.Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of PARDS patients admitted to PICU from 2009 to 2015. For repeated admissions, we considered the admission with the highest oxygenation index (OI). Daily FO (%) was calculated as (intake − output)/weight at PICU admission × 100. Peak cumulative FO (CFO) was the highest CFO from the diagnosis of PARDS to Day 14 or to PICU discharge or mortality, whichever was earliest. Rate to peak CFO was the peak CFO divided by the number of days to reach that highest CFO. The association of FO with mortality, VFD and IFD were analyzed with logistic and linear regression models, with the following covariates: Pediatric Index of Mortality 2 score, PARDS severity, and the presence of acute kidney injury (AKI).Results: There were 165 patients included in this study, with a mortality rate of 45.5% (75/165), median age 3.2 years (interquartile range [IQR] 0.7-9.9) and OI 15.8 (IQR 9.5-27.9). Seventy-three (44.2%) patients had severe PARDS and 64 (38.8%) had AKI. AKI (aOR [adjusted odds ratio] 3.19, 95% CI [confidence interval] 1.43-7.09, p = 0.004) and rate to peak cumulative FO (aOR 1.23, 95% CI 1.07-1.42, p = 0.004) were associated with mortality. AKI and peak cumulative FO were associated with decreased VFD and IFD. Conclusion:The rate to peak CFO over the first 14 days of PARDS was associated with mortality and peak CFO was associated with decreased VFD and IFD.

ObjectivesTo assess the association of clinical factors and investigation results (blood and urine) with imaging abnormalities (ultrasound of the kidneys, ureters and bladder; dimercaptosuccinic acid scan; and/or micturating cystourethrogram) and recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) in infants ≤3 months old presenting with their first febrile UTI.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study of infants ≤3 months old with first febrile UTI admitted from 2010 to 2016. Multivariable logistic regression model was used to analyse the association of imaging abnormalities and recurrent UTI with covariates selected a priori: age at presentation, maximum temperature, duration of illness at presentation, interval between start of antibiotics and fever resolution, C-reactive protein, total white cell count on the full blood count, bacteraemia, white cell count on the urinalysis and non-Escherichia coligrowth in the urine culture (non-E. coliUTI).ResultsThere were 190 infants but 12 did not undergo any imaging. Median age at presentation was 63 days (IQR 41–78). Twenty-four patients had imaging abnormalities. Non-E. coliUTI (adjusted OR (aOR) 5.01, 95% CI 1.65 to 15.24, p=0.004) was independently associated with imaging abnormalities, while bacteraemia (aOR 4.93, 95% CI 1.25 to 19.43, p=0.022) and non-E. coliUTI (aOR 5.06, 95% CI 1.90 to 13.48, p=0.001) were independently associated with recurrent UTI.ConclusionNon-E. coliUTI at the first febrile UTI in infants ≤3 months old may be useful in predicting imaging abnormalities while bacteraemia and non-E. coliUTI may be useful to predict recurrent UTI.

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