OBJECTIVE to assess whether 25hydroxivitaminD or 25(OH)vitD deficiency has a high prevalence at pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission, and whether it is associated with increased prediction of mortality risk scores. METHOD prospective observational study comparing 25(OH)vitD levels measured in 156 patients during the 12 hours after critical care admission with the 25(OH)vitD levels o...

OBJECTIVE To identify and summarize the requirements of an optimized CPOE application for pediatric intensive care. METHODS We analyzed the medication process and its documentation in the pediatric and neonatal intensive care units (PICU/NICU) of two university hospitals using workflow analysis techniques, with the aim of implementing computer-supported physician order entry (CPOE). RESULTS...

OBJECTIVE A study to validate and calibrate Pediatric Index of Mortality-2 (PIM2) in children admitted to our pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). METHODS This is a prospective cohort study performed in Bahrami Children's Hospital affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences. We studied the patients admitted to PICU from May 2007 to November 2008. Clinical measures were identified upo...

OBJECTIVE The Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM) score is one of the scores used by many pediatricians for prediction of the mortality risk in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Herein, we intend to evaluate the efficacy of PRISM score in prediction of mortality rate in PICU. METHODS In this cohort study, 221 children admitted during an 18-month period to PICU, were enrolled. PRISM sc...

OBJECTIVES The study assessed dexmedetomidine utilization and practice variation over time in ventilated pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients; and evaluated differences in hospital outcomes between high- and low-dexmedetomidine utilization hospitals. STUDY DESIGN This serial cross-sectional analysis used administrative data from PICU admissions in the pediatric health information sys...

Validated professional knowledge measures are limited in paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) nursing. The Basic Knowledge Assessment Tool for Pediatric Critical Care Nurses (PEDS-BKAT4) measures knowledge, however content and practice differences exist between various PICUs. The study aim was to evaluate the PEDS-BKAT4 in the Australian and New Zealand setting. A panel of 10 experts examined ...

AIM To determine if a standardized asthma severity scoring system (PASS) was associated with the time spent on continuous albuterol and length of stay in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). METHODS This is a single center, retrospective chart review study at a major children's hospital in an urban location. To qualify for this study, participants must have been admitted to the PICU with...

In a prospective 30-month study of nosocomial infections in a pediatric ICU (PICU), the incidence, sites, and causes of infection were determined. Factors associated with increased risk of infection were investigated. In 1,388 patients who remained in the PICU for a minimum of 72 h, 116 infections occurred (6.1 infections/100 admissions). Primary bacteremias comprised 38% of PICU infections and...

OBJECTIVE To measure the workload of residents in a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and to compare this value with the possible explanatory variables "nine equivalents of nursing manpower use score" (NEMS), length of stay (LOS), patient age and severity of illness at admission. METHODS This was a prospective study in a tertiary, interdisciplinary neonatal-paediatric intensive care unit....

OBJECTIVE Clinical Pharmacy Services (CPS) are considered standard of care and they are endorsed by the Joint Commission International, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American College of Clinical Pharmacy. In Brazil, single experiences have been discreetly arising and the importance of these services to children and adolescents care has led to interesting results, but certainly are...