Objectives: Current central venous catheter utilization in patients within pediatric cardiac ICUs is not well elucidated. We aim to describe current use of central venous catheters in a multi-institutional cohort and to explore the prevalence and risk factors for central line–associated thrombosis and central line–associated bloodstream infections. Design: Observational analysis. Setting: Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Consortium hospitals. Patients: Hospitalizations with at least one cardiac ICU admission from October 2013 to July 2016. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: There were 17,846 hospitalizations and 69% included greater than or equal to one central venous catheter. Central venous catheter use was higher in younger patients (86% neonates). Surgical hospitalizations included at least one central venous catheter 88% of the time compared with 35% of medical hospitalizations. The most common location for central venous catheters was internal jugular (46%). Central venous catheters were in situ a median of 4 days (interquartile range, 2–10). There were 248 hospitalizations (2% overall, 1.8% medical, and 2.1% surgical) with at least one central line–associated thrombosis (271 total thromboses). Thrombosis was diagnosed at a median of 7 days (interquartile range, 4–14) after catheter insertion. There were 127 hospitalizations (1% overall, 1.4% medical, and 1% surgical) with at least one central line–associated bloodstream infection (136 total infections) with no association with catheter type or location. Central line–associated bloodstream infection was diagnosed at a median of 19 days (interquartile range, 8–36) after catheter insertion. Significant risk factors for central line–associated thrombosis and central line–associated bloodstream infection were younger age, greater surgical complexity, and total catheter days. Conclusions: Utilization of central venous catheters in pediatric cardiac ICUs differs according to indication for hospitalization. Although thrombosis and central line–associated bloodstream infection are infrequent complications of central venous catheter use in cardiac ICU patients, these events can have important short- and long-term consequences for patients. Total central venous catheter line days were the only modifiable risk factor identified. Future study must focus on understanding central venous catheter practices in high-risk patient subgroups that reduce the prevalence of thrombosis and central line–associated bloodstream infection.

In the vast majority of Children's Hospitals, the critically ill patient can be found in one of three locations: the PICU, the neonatal ICU, and the cardiac ICU. Training, certification, and maintenance of certification for neonatology and critical care medicine are over seen by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and American Board of Pediatrics. There is no standardization of training or oversight of certification and maintenance of certification for pediatric cardiac critical care. DATA SOURCES: The curricula from the twenty 4th year pediatric cardiac critical care training programs were collated, along with the learning objectives from the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society published "Curriculum for Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Medicine. " STUDY SELECTION: This initiative is endorsed by the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society as a first step toward Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education oversight of training and American Board of Pediatrics oversight of maintenance of certification. DATA EXTRACTION: A taskforce was established of cardiac intensivists, including the directors of all 4th year pediatric cardiac critical care training programs. DATA SYNTHESIS: Using modified Delphi methodology, learning objectives, rotational requirements, and institutional requirements for providing training were developed. CONCLUSIONS:In the current era of increasing specialized care in pediatric cardiac critical care, standardized training for pediatric cardiac critical care is paramount to optimizing outcomes.