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PurposeTo examine how intermediate care units (IMCUs) are used in relation to pediatric intensive care units (PICUs), characterize PICU patients that utilize IMCUs, and estimate the impact of IMCUs on PICU metrics.Materials & methodsRetrospective study of PICU patients discharged from 108 hospitals from 2009 to 2011. Patients admitted from or discharged to IMCUs were characterized. We explored the relationships between having an IMCU and several PICU metrics: physical length-of-stay (LOS), medical LOS, discharge wait time, admission severity of illness, unplanned PICU admissions from wards, and early PICU readmissions.ResultsThirty-three percent of sites had an IMCU. After adjusting for known confounders, there was no association between having an IMCU and PICU LOS, mean severity of illness of PICU patients admitted from general wards, or proportion of PICU readmissions or unplanned ward admissions. At sites with an IMCU, patients waited 3.1h longer for transfer from the PICU once medically cleared (p

ObjectivesTo characterize patients who received tracheostomies for airway compromise or were initiated on long-term ventilation for chronic respiratory failure in PICUs and to examine variation in the incidence of initiation, patient characteristics, and modalities across sites.DesignRetrospective cross-sectional analysis.SettingsSeventy-three North American PICUs that participated in the Virtual Pediatric Systems, LLC.PatientsPICU patients admitted between 2009 and 2011.InterventionsNone.Measurements and main resultsAmong 115,437 PICU patients, 1.8% received a tracheostomy or were initiated on long-term ventilation; 1,034 received a tracheostomy only, 717 were initiated on invasive ventilation, and 381 were initiated on noninvasive ventilation. Ninety percent had substantial chronic conditions and comorbidities, including more than 50% with moderate or worse cerebral disability upon discharge. Seven percent were initiated after a catastrophic injury/event. Across sites, there was variation in incidence of tracheotomy and initiation of long-term ventilation, ranging from 0% to 4.6%. There also was variation in patient characteristics, time to tracheotomy, number of extubations prior to tracheostomy, and the use of invasive ventilation versus noninvasive ventilation.ConclusionsAlthough the PICU incidence of initiation of tracheostomies and long-term ventilation was relatively uncommon, it suggests that thousands of children and young adults receive these interventions each year in North American PICUs. The majority of them have conditions and comorbidities that impose on-going care needs, beyond those required by artificial airways and long-term ventilation themselves.

PurposeThe purpose of the study is to compare demographics, intensive care unit (ICU) admission characteristics, and ICU outcomes among adults with childhood-onset chronic conditions (COCCs) admitted to US pediatric and adult ICUs.Materials and methodsRetrospective cross-sectional analyses of 6088 adults aged 19 to 40 years admitted in 2008 to 70 pediatric ICUs that participated in the Virtual Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Performance Systems and 50 adult ICUs that participated in Project IMPACT.ResultsChildhood-onset chronic conditions were present in 53% of young adults admitted to pediatric units, compared with 9% of those in adult units. The most common COCC in both groups were congenital cardiac abnormalities, cerebral palsy, and chromosomal abnormalities. Adults with COCC admitted to pediatric units were significantly more likely to be younger, have lower functional status, and be nontrauma patients than those in adult units. The median ICU length of stay was 2 days, and the intensive care unit mortality rate was 5% for all COCC patients with no statistical difference between pediatric or adult units.ConclusionsThere are marked differences in characteristics between young adults with COCC admitted to pediatric ICUs and adult ICUs. Barriers to accommodating these young adults may be reasons why many such adults have not transitioned from pediatric to adult critical care.

ObjectivesTo determine the rate of unplanned PICU readmissions, examine the characteristics of index admissions associated with readmission, and compare outcomes of readmissions versus index admissions.DesignRetrospective cohort analysis.SettingNinety North American PICUs that participated in the Virtual Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Systems.PatientsOne hundred five thousand four hundred thirty-seven admissions between July 2009 and March 2011.InterventionsNone.Measurements and main resultsUnplanned PICU readmission within 48 hours of index discharge was the primary outcome. Summary statistics, bivariate analyses, and mixed-effects logistic regression model with random effects for each hospital were performed.There were 1,161 readmissions (1.2%). The readmission rate varied among PICUs (0-3.3%), and acute respiratory (56%), infectious (35%), neurological (28%), and cardiovascular (20%) diagnoses were often present on readmission. Readmission risk increased in patients with two or more complex chronic conditions (adjusted odds ratio, 1.72; p < 0.001), unscheduled index admission (adjusted odds ratio, 1.37; p < 0.001), and transfer to an intermediate unit (adjusted odds ratio, 1.29; p = 0.004, compared with ward). Trauma patients had a decreased risk of readmission (adjusted odds ratio, 0.67; p = 0.003). Gender, race, insurance, age more than 6 months, perioperative status, and nighttime transfer were not associated with readmission. Compared with index admissions, readmissions had longer median PICU length of stay (3.1 vs 1.7 d, p < 0.001) and higher mortality (4% vs 2.5%, p = 0.002).ConclusionsUnplanned PICU readmissions were relatively uncommon, but were associated with worse outcomes. Several patient and admission characteristics were associated with readmission. These data help identify high-risk patient groups and inform risk-adjustment for standardized readmission rates.

ImportanceGrowing numbers of persons with childhood-onset chronic illnesses are surviving to adulthood. Many use pediatric hospitals for their inpatient needs. To our knowledge, the prevalence and characteristics of adult pediatric intensive care unit patients have not been reported.ObjectivesTo estimate the proportion of adults admitted to pediatric intensive care units (PICUs), characterize them, and compare them with older adolescents.DesignOne-year cross-sectional analysis.SettingPediatric intensive care units in the United States that participated in the Virtual Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Systems.ParticipantsPediatric intensive care unit patients 15 years or older admitted in 2008.Main outcome measuresWe compared adults with adolescents across clinical characteristics and outcomes. Mixed-effects logistic regression was used to estimate the independent association of age with PICU mortality.ResultsSeventy PICUs had 67 629 admissions; 1954 admissions (2.7%) were patients 19 years or older; and 9105 admissions (13.5%) were patients aged 15 to 18 years. The proportion of adults (≥19 years) varied considerably by PICU (range, 0%-9.2%). As age increased, the proportion of patients who had a complex chronic condition and planned or perioperative admissions increased; the proportion of trauma-related admissions decreased. Patients aged 21 to 29 years had a 2 times (95% CI, 1.3-3.2; P = .004) greater odds of PICU mortality compared with adolescent patients, after adjusting for Paediatric Index of Mortality score, sex, trauma, and having a complex chronic condition. Being 30 years or older was associated with a 3.5 (95% CI, 1.3-9.7; P = .01) greater odds of mortality.Conclusions and relevanceIn this multi-institutional study, adults constituted a small but high-risk proportion of patients in some PICUs, suggesting that these PICUs should have plans and protocols specifically focused on this group.

ObjectiveTo estimate the prevalence of chronic conditions among children admitted to U.S. pediatric intensive care units and to assess whether patients with complex chronic conditions experience pediatric intensive care unit mortality and prolonged length of stay risk beyond that predicted by commonly used severity-of-illness risk-adjustment models.Design, setting, and patientsRetrospective cohort analysis of 52,791 pediatric admissions to 54 U.S. pediatric intensive care units that participated in the Virtual Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Systems database in 2008.MeasurementsHierarchical logistic regression models, clustered by pediatric intensive care unit site, for pediatric intensive care unit mortality and length of stay >15 days. Standardized mortality ratios adjusted for severity-of-illness score alone and with complex chronic conditions.Main resultsFifty-three percent of pediatric intensive care unit admissions had complex chronic conditions, and 18.5% had noncomplex chronic conditions. The prevalence of these conditions and their organ system subcategories varied considerably across sites. The majority of complex chronic condition subcategories were associated with significantly greater odds of pediatric intensive care unit mortality (odds ratios 1.25-2.9, all p values < .02) compared to having a noncomplex chronic condition or no chronic condition, after controlling for age, gender, trauma, and severity-of-illness. Only respiratory, gastrointestinal, and rheumatologic/orthopedic/psychiatric complex chronic conditions were not associated with increased odds of pediatric intensive care unit mortality. All subcategories were significantly associated with prolonged length of stay. All noncomplex chronic condition subcategories were either not associated or were negatively associated with pediatric intensive care unit mortality, and most were not associated with prolonged length of stay, compared to having no chronic conditions. Among this group of pediatric intensive care units, adding complex chronic conditions to risk-adjustment models led to greater model accuracy but did not substantially change unit-level standardized mortality ratios.ConclusionsChildren with complex chronic conditions were at greater risk for pediatric intensive care unit mortality and prolonged length of stay than those with no chronic conditions, but the magnitude of risk varied across subcategories. Inclusion of complex chronic conditions into models of pediatric intensive care unit mortality improved model accuracy but had little impact on standardized mortality ratios.

Background Knowing the temporal trend central line–associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) rates among U.S. pediatric intensive care units (PICUs), the current extent of central line bundle compliance, and the impact of compliance on rates is necessary to understand what has been accomplished and can be improved in CLABSI prevention. Methods This is a longitudinal study of PICUs in National Healthcare Safety Network hospitals and a cross-sectional survey of directors and managers of infection prevention and control departments regarding PICU CLABSI prevention practices, including self-reported compliance with elements of central line bundles. Associations between 2011-2012 PICU CLABSI rates and infection prevention practices were examined. Results Reported CLABSI rates decreased during the study period, from 5.8 per 1,000 line days in 2006 to 1.4 in 2011-2012 ( P < .001). Although 73% of PICUs had policies for all central line prevention practices, only 35% of those with policies reported ≥95% compliance. PICUs with ≥95% compliance with central line infection prevention policies had lower reported CLABSI rates, but this association was statistically insignificant. Conclusion There was a nonsignificant trend in decreasing CLABSI rates as PICUs improved bundle policy compliance. Given that few PICUs reported full compliance with these policies, PICUs increasing their efforts to comply with these policies may help reduce CLABSI rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]