The objective of this study was to understand the vulnerability experienced by the family of children hospitalized in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). The Symbolic Interactionism and the Concept of Family Vulnerability were the frameworks used to understand this experience. Qualitative Content Analysis was used. Data was collected through interviews and observation with 11 families of ch...

IMPORTANCE Functional status assessment methods are important as outcome measures for pediatric critical care studies. OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationships between the 2 functional status assessment methods appropriate for large-sample studies, the Functional Status Scale (FSS) and the Pediatric Overall Performance Category and Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category (POPC/PCPC) scales....

BACKGROUND Tracheal intubation-associated events (TIAEs) are common (20%) and life threatening (4%) in pediatric intensive care units. Physician trainees are required to learn tracheal intubation during intensive care unit rotations. The authors hypothesized that "just-in-time" simulation-based intubation refresher training would improve resident participation, success, and decrease TIAEs. ME...

The practice of pediatric critical care medicine has matured dramatically during the past decade. These guidelines are presented to update the existing guidelines published in 1993. Pediatric critical care services are provided in level I and level II units. Within these guidelines, the scope of pediatric critical care services is discussed, including organizational and administrative structure...

BACKGROUND The pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), with limited number of beds and resource-intensive services, is a key component of patient flow. Because the PICU is a crossroads for many patients, transfer or discharge delays can negatively impact a patient's clinical status and efficiency. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to describe, using direct observation, PICU bed utilizat...

OBJECTIVE There is lack of evidence to guide thromboprophylaxis in the pediatric intensive care unit. We aimed to assess current prescribing practice for pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis in critically ill children. SETTING Pediatric intensive care units in the United States and Canada with at least ten beds. DESIGN Cross-sectional self-administered survey of pediatric intensivists using ado...

Objectives: To describe and compare the medication consumption and expenditure on medication at pediatric intensive and semi-intensive care units. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, exploratory, descriptive study using a quantitative approach based on simple descriptive statistics. Data collection was conducted from June 2007 to May 2008 at the pediatric intensive and semiintensive care uni...