We conducted a randomized controlled pilot study in infants with critical bronchiolitis (n = 63) comparing high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC, n = 35) to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP, n = 28). The primary outcome was treatment failure, defined as the need for bilevel positive pressure ventilation or endotracheal intubation. Treatment failure occurred in 10 patients (35.7%) in the CPAP group and 13 patients (37.1%) in the HFNC group (p = 0.88). Pediatric intensive care unit length of stay was similar between the CPAP and HFNC groups (5 [4–7] days and 5 [4–8] days, p = 0.46, respectively). In this pilot study, treatment with HFNC resulted in a rate of treatment failure similar to CPAP.

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Objectives: This study aims to describe the association between different postoperative complications and the length of hospital stay among children undergoing neurosurgical procedures. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was carried out between May 2004 and May 2009 in a tertiary community hospital. All postoperative complications following neurosurgical procedures and their association with the main outcomes [length of intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay] were investigated in a univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: The medical records of 198 patients treated during the study period were reviewed. The most frequently performed surgeries were ventriculoperitoneal shunting (16.7%), correction of craniosynostosis (30%) and brain tumor resections (28.3%). Of the 198 patients eligible for this analysis, 79 (39.9%) suffered from at least one complication. The most frequent complications were fever (30.3%), hypothermia (16%), postextubation laryngitis (15.1%) and postoperative bleeding (7%). Factors independently associated with a longer pediatric ICU stay were fever (odds ratio 1.39, 95% confidence interval 1.1–3.2; p = 0.001), laryngitis (odds ratio 2.24, 95% confidence interval 1.8–5.2; p = 0.001), postoperative bleeding requiring reoperation (odds ratio 1.8, 95% confidence interval 1.4–3.9; p < 0.001) and infection (odds ratio 3.71, 95% confidence interval 1.8–12.4; p = 0.033). Fever (odds ratio 2.54, 95% confidence interval 2–7.4; p = 0.001) and infection (odds ratio 11.23, 95% confidence interval 4–22.4; p = 0.003) were related to the total length of the patient’s hospital stay. Conclusions: In this study population, most elective neurosurgical procedures were not associated with significant complications, and morbidity and mortality were low. Some complications significantly influenced patients’ outcomes and should be monitored for early diagnosis. This study may improve our understanding and identification of postoperative outcomes in pediatric neurosurgery.

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