Out-of-Hospital Pediatric Patient Safety Events: Results of the CSI Chart Review

Objective: Studies of adult hospital patients have identified medical errors as a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Little is known about the frequency and nature of pediatric patient safety events in the out-of-hospital setting. We sought to quantify pediatric patient safety events in EMS and identify patient, call, and care characteristics associated with potentially severe events. Methods: As part of the Children's Safety Initiative -EMS, expert panels independently reviewed charts of pediatric critical ambulance transports in a metropolitan area over a three-year period. Regression models were used to identify factors associated with increased risk of potentially severe safety events. Patient safety events were categorized as: Unintended injury; Near miss; Suboptimal action; Error; or Management complication (“UNSEMs”) and their severity and potential preventability were assessed. Results: Overall, 265 of 378 (70.1%) unique charts contained at least one UNSEM, including 146 (32.8%) errors and 199 (44.7%) suboptimal actions. Sixty-one UNSEMs were categorized as potentially severe (23.3% of UNSEMs) and nearly half (45.3%) were rated entirely preventable. Two factors were associated with heightened risk for a severe UNSEM: (1) age 29 days to 11 months (OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.25-8.68); (2) cases requiring resuscitation (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.16-8.28). Severe UNSEMs were disproportionately higher among cardiopulmonary arrests (8.5% of cases, 34.4% of severe UNSEMs). Conclusions: During high-risk out-of-hospital care of pediatric patients, safety events are common, potentially severe, and largely preventable. Infants and those requiring resuscitation are important areas of focus to reduce out-of-hospital pediatric patient safety events.     

Assisted autogenic drainage in infants and young children hospitalized with uncomplicated pneumonia,a pilot study

Background and purpose

Pneumonia is the most important respiratory problem in low‐to‐middle income countries. Airway clearance therapy continues to be used in children with pneumonia and secretion retention; however, there is lack of evidence to support or reject this treatment. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) on the efficacy and safety of assisted autogenic drainage (AAD) compared to standard nursing care in children hospitalized with uncomplicated pneumonia.

Methods

A single‐blinded pilot RCT was conducted on 29 children (median age 3.5 months, IQR 1.5–9.4) hospitalized with uncomplicated pneumonia. The intervention group received standard nursing care with additional bi‐daily AAD, for 10 to 30 min. The control group only received standard nursing care, unless otherwise deemed necessary by the physician or physiotherapist. The primary outcome measure was duration of hospitalization. The secondary outcome measures included days of fever and supplemental oxygen support; respiratory rate (RR) and heart rate adjusted for age; RR and oxygen saturation pre‐, post‐, and 1‐hr post‐treatment; oxygen saturation; adverse events; and mortality.

Results

No difference was found for duration of hospitalization (median 7.5 and 7.0 days for the control and intervention groups, respectively); however, Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed a strong tendency towards a shorter time to discharge in the intervention group (p = .06). No significant differences were found for the other outcome measures at time of discharge. No adverse events were reported. Within the intervention group, a significant reduction in RR adjusted for age was found.

Discussion

As no adverse events were reported, and AAD did not prolong hospitalization; AAD might be considered as safe and effective in young children with uncomplicated pneumonia. However, a larger multicentred RCT is warranted to determine the efficacy of AAD compared to standard nursing care.     

Impact of Providing a Combination Lipid Emulsion Compared With a Standard Soybean Oil Lipid Emulsion in Children Receiving Parenteral Nutrition

Background: Soybean oil lipid emulsion may compromise immune function and promote hepatic damage due to its composition of long‐chain fatty acids, phytosterols, high proportion of ω‐6 fatty acids, and low α‐tocopherol levels. Combination lipid emulsions have been developed using medium‐chain triglyceride oil, fish oil, and/or olive oil, which provide adequate essential fatty acids, a smaller concentration of ω‐6 fatty acids, and lower levels of phytosterols. The purpose of this systematic review is to determine if combination lipid emulsions have a more favorable impact on bilirubin levels, triglyceride levels, and incidence of infection compared with soybean oil lipid emulsions in children receiving parenteral nutrition. Methods: This study comprises a systematic review of published studies. Data were sufficient and homogeneous to conduct a meta‐analysis for total bilirubin and infection. Results: Nine studies met the inclusion criteria. Meta‐analysis showed that combination lipid emulsion decreased total bilirubin by a mean difference of 2.09 mg/dL (95% confidence interval, –4.42 to 0.24) compared with soybean oil lipid emulsion, although the result was not statistically significant (P = .08). Meta‐analysis revealed no statistically significant difference in incidence of infection between the combination lipid emulsion and the soybean oil lipid emulsion groups (P = .846). None of the 4 studies that included triglyceride as an outcome detected a significant difference in triglyceride levels between the combination lipid emulsion and soybean oil lipid emulsion groups. Conclusion: There is inadequate evidence that combination lipid emulsions offer any benefit regarding bilirubin levels, triglyceride levels, or incidence of infection compared with soybean oil lipid emulsions.     

Plasma Aluminum Concentrations in Pediatric Patients Receiving Long‐Term Parenteral Nutrition

Background: Patients receiving long‐term parenteral nutrition (PN) are at increased risk of aluminium (Al) toxicity because of bypass of the gastrointestinal tract during PN infusion. Complications of Al toxicity include metabolic bone disease (MBD), Al‐associated encephalopathy in adults, and impaired neurological development in preterm infants. Unlike the United States, there are no regulations regarding Al content of large‐ and small‐volume parenterals in Canada. We, therefore, aimed to present our data on plasma Al concentration and Al intake from our cohort of pediatric patients receiving long‐term PN. Methods: Plasma Al concentration was retrospectively gathered from the patient charts of all 27 patients with intestinal failure (IF) receiving long‐term PN at The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada, and compared with age‐ and sex‐matched controls recruited for comparison. In addition, Al concentration was measured in PN samples collected from 10 randomly selected patients with IF and used to determine their Al intake. Results: The plasma Al concentration of patients with IF receiving long‐term PN was significantly higher than that of control participants (1195 ± 710 vs 142 ± 63 nmol/L; P < .0001). In the subgroup of 10 patients for whom Al intake from their PN solution was determined, mean ± SD Al intake from PN was 15.4 ± 15 µg/kg, 3 times the Food and Drug Administration upper recommended intake level, and Al intake was significantly related to plasma Al concentration (P = .02, r² = 0.52). Conclusion: Pediatric patients receiving long‐term PN for IF in Canada are at risk for Al toxicity.     

Aplasia cutis congenita: a conservative approach of a case with large,extensive skin,and underlying skull defect

Aplasia cutis congenita is a disease in which skin, bone, and dura mater can be absent. In majority of the cases it affects the scalp. We report a baby girl born at term with a large scalp and skull defect measuring 9 × 10 cm. Conservative treatment led to complete epithelization.