Improving outcome in pediatric intensive care unit in Academic Hospital in Pakistan

Objective: To assess the impact on the clinical outcome of critically ill children before and after introduction of pediatric intensivist in an academic pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) inPakistan. Methodology: : This is aretrospective audit of children (age from one month to 14 years) admitted in the PICU during two 12-month periods in PICU of Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH).Patients in Cohort one were managed by pediatric intensivist while in Cohort two were managed by general pediatricians.Patients were compared during the two 12-month cohort period. Results: During the study, in cohort one, 314 patients were admitted, mean age was 24 months (range, one month -14 year), 37% were less than 1-year old, 66% were male, mean PRISM Score was 13.2(3- 39) while in cohort 2, 99 patients were admitted; mean age was 29 months and 60% were male. There were similar medical diagnostic categories in both cohorts. There were significant differences in two cohort for mortality (35% vs. 14%), length of stay (7.5 days vs. 3.2 days)(p314 vs. 99) Conclusion: Our data showed that implementation of full-time trained pediatric intensivist in a tertiary-care PICU of university hospital was associated with improve outcome of critically ill children

Clinical profile and outcome in a paediatric intensive care unit in Pakistan

Paediatric critical care medicine is a relatively new subspecialty in Pakistan. The clinical profile and outcomes of children admitted in the PICU (paediatric intensive care unit) were retrospectively reviewed from January to December 2007. Mean age of the studied 314 patients was 24 months; 37% were less than one-year-old and 66% was male. Mean PRISM score was 13.2. There were almost equal distribution of medical (46%) and surgical (54%) cases. Ninety percent of patients received mechanical ventilation, while more than 50% received vasoactive drugs. The rate of nosocomial infection was 4.7%. The average length of PICU stay was 3.2 (1-49) days. The overall mortality rate was 14%. The results are encouraging and efforts should be made to establish more PICUs

Pediatric congenital heart diseases: Patterns of presentation to the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital

Objective: To observe presentation of Pediatric congenital cardiac defects to the Emergency Department (ED) of a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan.Methods: This is a retrospective chart review of patients under the age of 16 years with congenital cardiac defects presenting to the Emergency Department of Aga Khan University Hospital over a period of eighteen months, from January 2012 to June 2013. Study population was divided into two groups; first group constituted children with undiagnosed congenital cardiac defects, whereas second group constituted children with diagnosed congenial cardiac defects presented to ED. In previously diagnose cases each visit was counted as a separate encounter.Results: Out of 133 children, 44 (33.5%) were diagnosed congenital cardiac disease for the first time (Group-1) in ED, while 89 (66.5%) children were diagnosed cases of congenital heart disease (Group-2). Among Group-1; main reasons for ED visits were cyanosis, cardiac failure, murmur evaluation and cardiogenic shock where as in Group-2; main presentations were cardiac failure, hyper cyanotic spells, gastroenteritis, lower respiratory tract infection, and post-operative issues. There were total 13 deaths.Conclusion: High index of suspicion is necessary for early diagnosis and management of children with congenital heart disease in the pediatric emergency department

Clinical profiles and outcomes of children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit from the emergency department

The aim of this study was to describe clinical profiles and outcomes of children admitted directly from the Emergency Room (ER) to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of academic hospital. The medical records of all children (1 month to 16 years) admitted in PICU from ER, from January 2011 to December 2012 were reviewed. Of the 26,774 patients seen in the ER during the study period, 468 (1.7%) were admitted to the PICU which constituted about 41.5% (468/1127) of all the total PICU admissions. Sixty three percent (n=294) were under-five; males were 60.9% (285), 82.3% (385) were in medical category. Neurological and respiratory illnesses were the most common groups (\u3e 50% of all ER admissions). Multi-organ dysfunction syndrome and co-morbidity were present in 25.2% (n=118) and 23.5% (n=110) respectively. The mean length of stay was 5 ± 3.7 hours. The case-fatality rate was 20.3% (n=95) as compared to the overall PICU mortality rate of 11.9% (n=135)

Pediatric endotracheal intubations for airway management in the emergency department.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine indications, type of medications used, and immediate complications of pediatric endotracheal intubations in the emergency department. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was done on all pediatric patients (0-14 years old) who required endotracheal (ET) intubation for airway management in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Aga Khan University Hospital from January to December 2009. Data were collected on a preformed questionnaire for age, sex, indications, drugs used, and complications of pediatric ET intubations done in the emergency department. Dead-on-arrival patients and those intubated elsewhere were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 83 pediatric intubations were done during the study period. Indications for ET intubations were respiratory failure in 51 (61%), unresponsiveness in 18 (22%), cardiac arrest in 8 (10%), and trauma in 6 cases (7%). Comorbid conditions were present in 28 (34%). Of 83 ET intubations, drugs were used in 48 cases (58%). Both sedation and neuromuscular blockade were used in 42 cases (51%), 4 cases (5%) received sedation only, and 2 cases (2%) received relaxation without sedation, and in 35 cases (42%), intubation was done without drugs. Drugs used for sedation/induction were ketamine in 22 (26%), midazolam in 14 (17%), propofol in 7 (8%), and etomidate in 3 cases (4%). Neuromuscular blockades used were rocuronium in 27 cases (32%), succinylcholine in 11 cases (13.5%), and atracurium in 5 cases (6%). Complications were noted in 16 cases (19%). CONCLUSIONS: Respiratory failure was found to be the main presenting complaint. Drugs for sedation and relaxation to facilitate ET intubation were underused

Assessing pattern of the Pediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (PMIS) in children during the COVID-19 pandemic: experience from the emergency department of tertiary care center of a low-middle-income country

Abstract Background Pediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (PMIS) is a hyperinflammatory condition affecting multiple organs in children, often resembling incomplete Kawasaki Disease during later phases of COVID-19 infection. Data on PMIS in low-middle-income countries, particularly in emergency department settings, is limited. Objectives This prospective observational study at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, aimed to determine the frequency, clinical presentation patterns, and laboratory parameters of children with PMIS visiting the emergency department during the COVID-19 pandemic. Secondary objectives included assessing factors associated with in-hospital mortality. Methods From March 2020 to September 2021, patients meeting World Health Organization PMIS criteria were enrolled. COVID-19 testing included PCR and antibody testing. Data was collected through a questionnaire and analyzed statistically. Results Among 56 PMIS patients (85.7% male, mean age 7.67 ± 4.8 years), respiratory symptoms (70%), neurological symptoms (57%), and gastrointestinal symptoms (54%) were common presentations. Signs included delayed capillary refill time (93%), low-volume pulses (89%), and hypotension (68%). COVID-19 antibodies were positive in the majority (78.6%) while PCR was positive in 18%. Risk factors for mortality included prolonged emergency department stay, and high Ferritin and Lactate Dehydrogenase levels. Conclusion PMIS affects children of all ages. Respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms are the most frequent presentations. Elevated inflammatory markers, including LDH, Ferritin, D-dimer, and Pro-BNP, correlate with higher mortality risk

Assessing pattern of the Pediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (PMIS) in children during the COVID-19 pandemic: Experience from the emergency department of tertiary care center of a low-middle-income country

Background: Pediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (PMIS) is a hyperinflammatory condition affecting multiple organs in children, often resembling incomplete Kawasaki Disease during later phases of COVID-19 infection. Data on PMIS in low-middle-income countries, particularly in emergency department settings, is limited.Objectives: This prospective observational study at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, aimed to determine the frequency, clinical presentation patterns, and laboratory parameters of children with PMIS visiting the emergency department during the COVID-19 pandemic. Secondary objectives included assessing factors associated with in-hospital mortality.Methods: From March 2020 to September 2021, patients meeting World Health Organization PMIS criteria were enrolled. COVID-19 testing included PCR and antibody testing. Data was collected through a questionnaire and analyzed statistically.Results: Among 56 PMIS patients (85.7% male, mean age 7.67 ± 4.8 years), respiratory symptoms (70%), neurological symptoms (57%), and gastrointestinal symptoms (54%) were common presentations. Signs included delayed capillary refill time (93%), low-volume pulses (89%), and hypotension (68%). COVID-19 antibodies were positive in the majority (78.6%) while PCR was positive in 18%. Risk factors for mortality included prolonged emergency department stay, and high Ferritin and Lactate Dehydrogenase levels.Conclusion: PMIS affects children of all ages. Respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms are the most frequent presentations. Elevated inflammatory markers, including LDH, Ferritin, D-dimer, and Pro-BNP, correlate with higher mortality risk

Outcome of In-Hospital Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Arrest from a Single Center in Pakistan

To review the incidence and outcome of in-hospital pediatric cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA).This retrospective six-year case series was carried out at the PICU and Pediatric Units of Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH). All children aged 1 month to 14 years who underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation from January 2001 through December 2006 were included. Data were recorded according to the Utstein style. The outcome variables were sustained return of spontaneous circulation (initial survival) and hospital discharge (final survival). Factors associated with survival were evaluated using logistic regression analysis.The incidence of CPA was 0.4% of all the admissions. Most of the CPR attempts took place in pediatric intensive care unit (53%) and the most frequent etiology was shock (78%). After initial CPR, the sustained return of spontaneous circulation was achieved in 58 Patients (55%). Only 12 Patients (11%) were discharged alive from the hospital. The most common initial documented rhythm was bradycardia (78%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that prolonged duration of CPR (\u3e 20 min) was the best predictor of initial and final mortality (p \u3c 0.001).The survival rate of in-hospital pediatric cardiopulmonary arrest in the present report is low