Anaphylaxis is rarely seen in the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU), and there is not a single entry for 'anaphylaxis' in the index of a recently published paediatric ICU textbook. There are two potential scenarios where anaphylaxis could be encountered in the PICU: (i) a child who is admitted for intensive care after anaphylaxis; or (ii) a patient who develops anaphylaxis to therapy while ...

The pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) poses unique pain and sedation management challenges. Treatment of pain and anxiety in the PICU has historically been accomplished with opioids and benzodiazepines. More recently, drug therapy has been complemented with sedation scales and nonpharmacologic treatment measures, such as parental presence at the bedside and psychologic interventions (i.e. di...

OBJECTIVE To estimate the additional cost attributable to nosocomial infection (NI) in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and related factors. METHODS A prospective cohort study was conducted in all children admitted to the PICU of a tertiary-care pediatric hospital between 2008 and 2009. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were conducted of total direct costs due to PICU stay and medical ...

OBJECTIVE To investigate pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission in children with malignant and nonmalignant diseases who developed life-threatening complications. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between 1999 and 2010, of the 1278 eligible pediatric patients treated for a malignant or nonmalignant disease, 54 were admitted to the PICU for respiratory distress (40.7%), neurological events (33.3%),...

A 2-year-old Hispanic girl was brought to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) with acute respiratory distress. She was transferred from a local hospital, where she was admitted with diffi culty swallowing, sore throat, and changes in her voice. The symptoms started 2 days before hospital admission. Initially, the girl suffered from an episode of choking while she was eating a piece of saus...

End-of-life decisions represent one of the most complex and challenging issues in pediatric intensive care. These recommendations aim to offer Italian pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) teams a framework for the end-of-life decision-making process. The paper proposes a process based on the principle that the use of a diagnostic or therapeutic tool must comply with a 'criterion of proportional...

BACKGROUND Despite considerable efforts, engaging staff to lead quality improvement activities in practice settings is a persistent challenge. At British Columbia Children's Hospital (BCCH), the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) undertook a new phase of quality improvement actions based on the Community of Practice (CoP) model with Participatory Action Research (PAR). This approach aims to m...

BACKGROUND Pediatric empyema necessitates prompt resolution and early hospital discharge with minimal morbidity. However, the most effective treatment approach is not yet established. OBJECTIVES To assess the efficacy of an intrapleural streptokinase washing protocol as a non-operative treatment for stage II pediatric empyema as compared to operative decortications, by the number of pediatric...

Respiratory distress is a common phenomenon in children with cancer. It is the most frequent cause of admission to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in this group of patients. Its etiology is varied, and early and appropriate treatment is required. This review describes the most prevalent forms of respiratory distress in children with cancer without bone marrow transplantation. The sympt...

Objectives: To analyze the clinical profile, etiologies and outcome of seriously ill patients admitted in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Study Design: Cross Sectional study. Setting: PICU Nishtar Medical Hospital, Multan, Pakistan. Period: January 2018 to December 2018. Material & Methods: During study period, a total 150 children, aged 1 12 years, with better prognosis post-surgical...