The Chronically Critically Ill Patient: Pediatric Considerations

The chronically critically ill patient: pediatric considerations.

Whether defined as chronically critically ill, long-term mechanical ventilator dependent (or otherwise chronically medically supported), or medically fragile, a population of infants and children with chronic illness clearly exists. Infants and children with chronic healthcare needs are at an increased risk for physical, developmental, behavioral, and/or emotional conditions and generally requ...

Pressure ulcers in the chronically critically ill patient.

All chronically critically ill patients are at high risk for development and progression of pressure ulcers. Constant surveillance including daily examination of the skin must be part of the care protocol. All pressure ulcers are chronic wounds that have an inherent, physiologic impairment to healing. As soon as a pressure ulcer develops, intervention should begin immediately, and a treatment p...

An emerging population: the chronically critically ill.

Pediatric Health Care. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in

The vulnerable microcirculation in the critically ill pediatric patient

In neonates, cardiovascular system development does not stop after the transition from intra-uterine to extra-uterine life and is not limited to the macrocirculation. The microcirculation (MC), which is essential for oxygen, nutrient, and drug delivery to tissues and cells, also develops. Developmental changes in the microcirculatory structure continue to occur during the initial weeks of life ...

The microcirculation of the critically ill pediatric patient