Hypophosphatemia and its clinical implications in critically ill children: A retrospective study

Purpose

The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of hypophosphatemia and to discuss the clinical implications of hypophosphatemia in critically ill children.

Materials and Methods

A retrospective review of the medical records of children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit from December 2006 to December 2007 was conducted.

Results

In 60.2% (n = 71) of the patients, any serum phosphorous level at admission and at the third day or seventh day after admission to pediatric intensive care unit was in hypophosphatemic range. Sepsis was present in 22.9% (n = 27) of the children studied and was associated with hypophosphatemia (P = .02). Hypophosphatemia was also associated with use of furosemide (P = .04), use of steroid (P = .04), use of β₂ agonist (P = .026), and use of an H₂ blocker (P = .004). There was a significant association between hypophosphatemia and the rate to attain target caloric requirements by enteral route (P = .007). The median time to attain target caloric requirements by enteral route was 2.9 ± 1.9 (0.2-10) days in the normophosphatemic group and 4.4 ± 2.8 (0.3-12) days in the hypophosphatemic group. In the multiple regression model, solely the rate to attain the target caloric requirements by enteral route demonstrated independent association with hypophosphatemia (P = .006; β = .27; 95% confidence interval, 0.02-0.09). Significant association was found between hypophosphatemia and the duration of mechanical ventilation and between hypophosphatemia and pediatric intensive care unit length of stay (P = .02 and P = .001, respectively).

Conclusions

Critically ill pediatric patients are prone to hypophosphatemia, especially if they cannot be fed early by enteral route. Hypophosphatemia is associated with an increased duration of mechanical ventilation and increased length of stay in the pediatric intensive care unit, suggesting that active repletion might improve these parameters.     

儿科重症监护病房脓毒血症临床及病原学分析

目的:探讨儿科重症监护室(PICU)脓毒血症血培养病原菌的分布特点及其耐药情况,为临床诊疗提供参考。方法:对苏州大学附属儿童医院2008年6月至2011年6月PICU送检的脓毒血症血液标本所分离病原菌的分布及药敏结果进行回顾性分析。结果:共检出45株病原菌,其中革兰阳性(G+)菌29株(64.4%)、革兰阴性菌(G-)15株(33.3%)、真菌1株(2.2%)。前3位的病原菌依次为表皮葡萄球菌(22.2%)、肺炎链球菌(17.8%)、铜绿假单胞菌(17.8%)。G+球菌对儿科常用的β-内酰胺类药物多数耐药,而对万古霉素、复方磺胺甲唑敏感性较高;G-杆菌对第三代头孢菌素高度耐药,而对亚胺培南、环丙沙星、左氧氟沙星敏感性较高。结论:表皮葡萄球菌、肺炎链球菌、铜绿假单胞菌等条件致病菌已成为PICU脓毒血症的主要致病菌,且对常用的多数β-内酰胺类药物耐药。铜绿假单胞菌所致脓毒血症病死率较高,且对多数药物耐药明显。前期经验性抗生素治疗,后期根据药敏结果合理应用抗菌药物是有效控制感染、降低病死率、改善预后的重要手段。     

52例重症患儿万古霉素应用合理性评价及血药浓度监测分析

收集我院PICU内使用万古霉素的重症患儿52例,分析万古霉素的用药合理性、病原学检查、血药浓度检测和有效率等。结果显示,患儿应用万古霉素多为治疗用药,以经验性用药为主（66.7%）,TDM送检率为46%,初次TDM的平均血药谷浓度为14.1 mg·L-1,初次TDM谷浓度达标率仅为33.3%,经给药剂量调整后,谷浓度达标率上升至62.5%且治疗有效率提高至78.95%,与剂量调整前具有统计学差异（P＜0.05）。TDM组和非TDM组的临床疗效具有统计学差异（P＜0.05）;PICU万古霉素的临床应用基本合理,但TDM送检率较低,经验给药剂量的目标血药浓度达标率较低。医生和药师应积极配合,提高TDM样本送检率,并根据结果及时调整给药方案,促进万古霉素的个体化应用。     

Human metapneumovirus and severity of respiratory syncytial virus disease

We screened 23 children with severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease and 23 children with mild RSV disease for human metapneumovirus (HMPV). Although HMPV was circulating in Connecticut, none of the 46 RSV-infected patients tested positive for HMPV. In our study population, HMPV did not contribute to the severity of RSV disease.     

Intensive care — a cost effective option for developing countries?

The estimation of cost-effectiveness of pediatric critical care services is an extremely relevant issue for both developing and industrialized nations. Pediatric critical care is expensive and the long outcomes are still relatively unclear. From the perspective of patients who receive the benefits of these services, there may be little controversy regarding cost-effectiveness. However, the issue becomes very complex when attempts are made to identify which patients will benefit most. This also needs to be considered while developing public policy when decisions for allocation of limited resources need to be made within health care systems, and choices need to be made between the provision of health care and other public services. This article addresses the complex issue of economic evaluations and describes various type of cost analyses. The difference between charges and costs is defined, and a discussion of the measurement of costs and benefits, and their relationship to outcomes research is provided. Although there is not a unique answer to the issue of cost-effectiveness for pediatric critical care services, the available literature particularly from the United States is summarized, and the ethical implications explored. An erratum to this article is available at .     

Admission patterns and outcomes in a paediatric intensive care unit in South Africa over a 25-year period (1971–1995)

Objective: To describe admission and outcome patterns of diseases managed at a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in a developing country between 1971 and 1995, in order to provide data which will assist in improving the management of diseases and the rational allocation of health resources. Method: This study is based on data collated from annual audits conducted by the head of the PICU, King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban, South Africa. This unit serves a childhood population of about 3–4 million aged from 0–12 years. Results: The proportion of children admitted to the ICU as a percentage of the general paediatric admission has increased from 1.5 % in 1971 to 7 % in 1995. During this period, 7580 children were admitted to the unit, an average of 303 cases per annum. The overall mortality rate was 35.44 % (range 29.9 to 45.4 %); over 90 % of the children admitted were intubated and 80 % required intermittent positive pressure ventilation. Common childhood vaccine preventable infections have declined substantially and have been replaced by HIV related syndromes, lower respiratory tract infections, metabolic disorders, septicaemia and hyaline membrane disease. The mean duration of ICU stay per survivor over the study period 1991–1995 was 13.891 days. Tetanus, septicaemia and HIV related diseases required the longest ICU stay per survivor ( > 20 days), while accidental injuries, neonatal apnoea and asthma required the shortest duration of ICU stay per survivor ( < 6 days); 23.9 % of all deaths occurred in the first 24 h. Conclusion: The profile of diseases in children admitted to this PICU has changed considerably over 25 years. Some of these changes can be attributed to the shift in emphasis to primary health care, especially higher vaccination coverage rates. Profitable utilisation of limited ICU facilities would probably be enhanced by the use of outcome measures such as mortality and mean number of ICU days of stay per survivor. Received: 28 October 1997 Final revision received: 27 June 1998 Accepted: 31 July 1998     

PICU呼吸机相关肺炎36例临床特征与病原学分析

目的分析小儿呼吸机相关肺炎(VAP)的临床和病原学特征。方法回顾我院PICU 4年来VAP患儿的临床和病原学特征。结果93例机械通气患儿有36例发生VAP,发生率为38.7%,死亡12例,共培养出致病的革兰氏阴性杆菌22株,革兰氏阳性菌9株,主要病原是铜绿假单胞菌。结论VAP感染的患儿临床预后相对较差,且VAP感染的细菌以革兰氏阴性杆菌为主。     

芬太尼持续静脉泵入在PICU中的镇静作用

目的 探索芬太尼在PICU中的镇静效果.方法 对PICU患儿用芬太尼1～4 μg/(kg·h)持续静脉泵入,定期评价镇静程度,并根据需要调整用量,用药期间监测呼吸、心率、血压、经皮血氧饱和度等.结果 38例危重患儿中36例于用药2 h内达到理想的镇静程度,有效率94.7%;用药后患儿的血气分析各项指标及心率、呼吸、经皮血氧饱和度均明显改善;只有5例患儿出现一过性轻微不良反应,均于减量或停药后恢复正常.结论 芬太尼的镇静、镇痛作用可减轻危重患儿的应激反应,利于安全有效实施各种操作、治疗,而且不良反应较小,有利于提高危重患儿的抢救存活率.     

The challenges of medically complex breastfed children and their families: A systematic review

Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months and then alongside solid food for the first 2 years and beyond is the gold standard in young child nutrition. There is an abundance of literature relating to the preventative nature of breastmilk and breastfeeding against many infectious diseases and chronic conditions. However, despite medically complex infants and children being a group that could benefit most from continued breastfeeding, breastfeeding duration and exclusivity are lower among more complex paediatric populations. The reasons for this are not well known, and there is a paucity of data relating to supporting infants who have acute or chronic illness, disability or congenital anomaly to breastfeed. This systematic review aimed to understand the challenges of breast/chestfeeding the medically complex child and to establish the gaps in healthcare provision that act as barriers to optimal infant and young child feeding. The search was limited to studies published in English, focused on breastfed sick infants in hospital, with no date limits as there is no previous systematic review. Of 786 papers retrieved, 11 studies were included for review, and seven themes identified. Themes included practical and psychological challenges of continuing to breastfeed in a hospital setting, complications of the condition making breastfeeding difficult, lack of specialist breastfeeding support from hospital staff and a lack of availability of specialist equipment to support complex breastfeeding. The findings affirm the lack of consistent high‐quality care for lactation support in paediatric settings and reinforce the need for further focused research in this area.