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Non-anaesthetists commonly administer procedural sedation worldwide, posing the risk of respiratory events that can lead to severe complications. This study aimed to evaluate whether simulation-based learning could lead to enhancements in the clinical proficiency of non-anaesthesiology residents in managing sedation and related respiratory complications. Following the evaluation of baseline clinical performance through a pre-test simulation, 34 residents were randomly allocated to either participate in an innovative simulation-based learning module (intervention group) or view a brief self-learning video (control group). After a one-month period, their clinical performance was assessed again in a post-test simulation involving respiratory arrest during procedural sedation. Two independent assessors rated each resident's performance using video recordings and a scoring tool with scores ranging from 0 to 19/19. The two assessments were averaged for each performance, and the pre- to post-test change was calculated for each resident. While baseline clinical performance was similar, mean (SD) increase in clinical performance was significantly greater in the intervention group than in the control group (+2.4 (1.6) points versus +0.8 (1.3) points, respectively; p = 0.002). Our simulation-based learning sedation module resulted in the enhanced management of sedation-related complications compared to baseline and minimal self-learning. Simulation-based medical education may offer an effective approach for equipping non-anaesthesiology residents with essential skills to mitigate risks associated with sedation. (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02722226). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many applications of transcranial Doppler (TCD) as a diagnosis or monitoring tool have raised interest in the last decades. It is important that clinicians know when and how to perform TCD in this population, what parameter to assess and monitor and how to interpret it. Objective: This review aims to describe the emerging clinical applications of TCD in critically ill children excluding those suffering from trauma. Methods: Databases Web of Science, Cochrane and PubMed were searched in May 2020. We considered all publications since the year 2000 addressing the use of TCD as a prognostic, diagnostic or follow-up tool in children aged 0 to 15 years admitted to intensive care or emergency units, excluding neonatology and traumatic brain injury. Two independent reviewers selected 82 abstracts and full-text articles from the 2011 unique citations identified at the outset. Results: TCD provides crucial additional information at bedside about cerebrovascular hemodynamics. Many clinical applications include the diagnosis and management of various medical and surgical neurologic conditions (central nervous system infections, arterial ischemic stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage and vasospasm, brain death, seizures, metabolic disease, hydrocephalus) as well as monitoring the impact systemic conditions on brain perfusion (hemodynamic instability, circulatory assistance). Conclusion: To conclude, TCD has become an invaluable asset for non-invasive neuromonitoring in critically ill children excluding those suffering from trauma. However, the scope of TCD remains unclearly defined yet and reference values in critically ill children are still lacking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Positive communication behaviour within anaesthesia teams may decrease stress response and improve clinical performance. We aimed to evaluate the effect of positive communication during medical handover on the subsequent team-based clinical performance in a simulated critical situation. We also assessed the effect of positive communication behaviour on stress response.Methods: This single-centre RCT involved anaesthesia teams composed of a resident and a nurse in a high-fidelity scenario of anaesthesia-related paediatric laryngospasm after a standardised handover. During the handover, similar information was provided to all teams, but positive communication behaviour was adopted only for teams in the intervention group. Primary outcome was team-based clinical performance, assessed by an independent blinded observer, using video recordings and a 0-to 100-point scenario-specific scoring tool. Three categories of tasks were considered: safety checks before the incision, diagnosis/treatment of laryngospasm, and crisis resource management/non-technical skills. Individual stress response was monitored by perceived level of stress and HR variability.Results: The clinical performance of 64 anaesthesia professionals (grouped into 32 teams) was analysed. The mean (standard deviation) team-based performance score in the intervention group was 44 (10) points vs 35 (12) in the control group (difference: +8.4; CI95% [0.4-16.4]; P=0.04). The effects were homogeneous over the three categories of tasks. Perceived level of stress and HR variability were not significantly different between groups.Conclusions: Positive communication behaviour between healthcare professionals during medical handover improved team-based performance in a simulation-based critical situation.Clinical Trial Registration: NCT03375073. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The context and causal factors of stress might also explain the stress-related various effects [5]. VAS-S: visual analog scale for stress (from 0: no stress to 100 mm: stress maximal). [Extracted from the article]

Background High fidelity simulation (HFS) in anaesthesiology intentionally provides stress on students, but anxiety may be detrimental if it goes on through debriefing. The primary goal of this study was to estimate the proportion of students with significant anxiety remaining after debriefing (residual anxiety [RA]). Secondary goals were to evaluate the instructors’ ability to estimate students’ RA and to identify potential risk factors for high RA. Subjects and methods Following IRB approval and informed consent, data from a cohort of subjects were prospectively collected by an independent expert. State-anxiety after debriefing (RA) was prospectively measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (a score varying from 20 to 80/80). RA was considered significant when ≥ 36/80. Instructors simultaneously estimated the levels of subjects’ RA via a visual analogue scale. Data about subjects, stress during scenarios (including continuous heart rate monitoring), and debriefings (including DASH © quality scores) were also collected. Results Seventy study subjects (30 residents, 26 nurses and 14 anaesthetists) were enrolled during 52 HFS sessions. As concerns the primary endpoint, RA was ≥ 36/80 in 15 subjects (21%; 95% CI: 13–32). The median RA was 30/80 [25–35]. For secondary endpoints, the instructors’ estimations poorly correlated with measurements: rho = 0.36 ( P < 0.01); limits of agreement: –16 and 22. Subjects with RA ≥ 36/80 had significantly higher trait-anxiety ( P < 0.01). An easy scenario ( P = 0.04) and low quality debriefing ( P = 0.04) were associated with higher RAs. Conclusion Most students experienced low anxiety after debriefing. Instructors seem to be unable to reliably estimate students’ RA. Students with an anxious personality are more likely to be anxious after debriefing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Objective: Children with acute extremity fractures are commonly considered to be at risk of pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents during the induction of anesthesia. This study aimed to evaluate the proportion of such children with high-risk gastric contents using preoperative gastric ultrasound.Design: Prospective observational cohort study.Setting: Specialist pediatric center over a 30-month period.Patients: Children undergoing surgery within 24 h of an acute extremity fracture.Interventions: None.Measurements: According to preoperative qualitative and quantitative ultrasound analysis of the antrum in the supine and right lateral decubitus positions, gastric contents were classified as high-risk (clear liquid with calculated gastric fluid volume > 0.8 mL.kg-1, thick liquid, or solid) or low-risk. Factors associated with high-risk gastric contents were identified by multivariable analysis.Main Results: Forty-one children (37%; 95% CI: 28-47) of the 110 studied (mean(SD) age: 10(3) years) presented with high-risk gastric contents, including 26 (24%; 95% CI: 16-33) with solids/thick liquid contents. Scanning in the supine position alone allowed a diagnosis of high-risk gastric contents in 23 children out of the 63 for whom right lateral decubitus positioning was unfeasible. Gastric contents remained undetermined in 41 children, including one with a non-contributory gastric US (antrum non-visualized). Proximal limb fractures (OR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.0-6.2), preoperative administration of opioids (OR: 3.9; 95% CI: 1.1-13), and the absence of bowel sounds (OR: 8.0; 95% CI: 1.4-44) were associated with high-risk gastric contents. Performing surgery the day following the trauma was a protective factor (OR: 0.1; 95% CI: 0.0-0.6). No cases of pulmonary aspiration occurred.Conclusions: At least one-third of children with an acute isolated extremity fracture had preoperative gastric contents identified as high risk for pulmonary aspiration. Although preoperative history can guide anesthetic strategy in this population, ultrasound allowed clear stratification of the risk of aspiration in most cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Communication and teamwork are critical non-technical skills in the operating theatre. However, prevention of events associated with communication failures by large simulation-based programs remains to be evaluated. The objective was to assess the impact of an interprofessional simulation-based training course on communication, teamwork, checklist adherence, and safety culture. We aimed to assess the impact of an interprofessional simulation-based training course on communication, teamwork, checklist adherence, and safety culture. We conducted a before-and-after interventional study based on a mixed-methods approach combining qualitative and quantitative evaluation criteria. The study was performed in a University Hospital with 39 operating theatres operated by 300 providers before (period 1) and after (period 2) an interprofessional simulation-based training course. Surgical procedures were observed, and the primary outcome measure was the rate of procedures with at least one communication failure associated with adverse event. Additional outcomes measured included the rate of other communication failures, checklist adherence, while teamwork and safety culture were assessed by questionnaires. In total, 46 970 communication episodes were analysed during 131 (period 1) and 122 (period 2) surgical procedures. One hundred sixty-four professionals attended 40 simulation-based sessions. The rate of procedures with at least one communication failure associated with adverse events was not significantly different between the 2 periods (38% in period 1 and 43% in period 2; P = 0.47). Nevertheless, the rate of communication failures reduced between period 1 and 2 (8117/28 303 (29%) vs. 3868/18 667 (21%), respectively; P < 0.01). Teamwork scores and checklist adherence increased significantly after the intervention (8.1 (7.2–8.7) in period 1 vs. 8.6 (8.0–9.2) in period 2; P < 0.01 and 17% (0–35 %) in period 1 vs. 44% (26–57 %) in period 2; P < 0.01). Safety culture ratings did not change significantly. This study shows that although the rate of procedures with at least one communication failure associated with adverse event (primary endpoint) was not significantly different, a large interprofessional simulation-based training course has a positive effect on communication failures, teamwork, and checklist adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to describe the epidemiology and management of chest trauma in our center, and to compare patterns of mechanical ventilation in patients with or without associated moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).Methods: All children admitted to our level-1 trauma center from February 2012 to December 2018 following chest trauma were included in this retrospective study.Results: A total of 75 patients with a median age of 11 [6-13] years, with thoracic injuries were included. Most patients also had extra-thoracic injuries (n = 71, 95%) and 59 (79%) had TBI. A total of 52 patients (69%) were admitted to intensive care and 31 (41%) were mechanically ventilated. In patients requiring mechanical ventilation, there was no difference in tidal volume or positive end-expiratory pressure in patients with moderate-to-severe TBI when compared with those with no-or-mild TBI. Only one patient developed Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. A total of 6 patients (8%) died and all had moderate-to-severe TBI.Conclusion: In this small retrospective series, most patients requiring mechanical ventilation following chest trauma had associated moderate-to-severe TBI. Mechanical ventilation to manage TBI does not seem to be associated with more acute respiratory distress syndrome occurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Little is known about the effect of under triage on early mortality in trauma in a pediatric population. Our objective is to describe the effect of under triage on 24-h mortality after major pediatric trauma in a regional trauma system. Methods: This cohort study was conducted from January 2009 to December 2017. Data were obtained from the registry of the Northern French Alps Trauma System. The network guidelines triage pediatric trauma patients according to an algorithm shared with adult patients. Under triage was defined by the number of pediatric trauma patients that required specialized trauma care transported to a non-level I pediatric trauma center on the total number of injured patients with critical resource use. The effect of under triage on 24-h mortality was assessed with inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW) and a propensity score (Ps) matching analysis. Results: A total of 1143 pediatric patients were included (mean [SD], age 10 [5] years), mainly after a blunt trauma (1130 [99%]). Of the children, 402 (35%) had an ISS higher than 15 and 547 (48%) required specialized trauma care. Nineteen (1.7%) patients died within 24 h. Under triage rate was 33% based on the need of specialized trauma care. Under triage of children requiring specialized trauma care increased the risk of death in IPTW (risk difference 6.0 [95% CI 1.3–10.7]) and Ps matching analyses (risk difference 3.1 [95% CI 0.8–5.4]). Conclusions: In a regional inclusive trauma system, under triage increased the risk of early death after pediatric major trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Goal-Directed Fluid Therapy (GDFT) is recommended to decrease major postoperative complications. However, data are lacking in intra-cranial neurosurgery. Methods: We evaluated the efficacy of a GDFT protocol in a before/after multi-centre study in patients undergoing elective intra-cranial surgery for brain tumour. Data were collected during 6 months in each period (before/after). GDFT was performed in high-risk patients: ASA score III/IV and/or preoperative Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) < 15 and/or history of brain tumour surgery and/or tumour greater size ≥ 35 mm and/or mid-line shift ≥ 3 mm and/or significant haemorrhagic risk. Major postoperative complication was a composite endpoint: re-intubation after surgery, a new onset of GCS < 15 after surgery, focal motor deficit, agitation, seizures, intra-cranial haemorrhage, stroke, intra-cranial hypertension, hospital-acquired related pneumonia, surgical site infection, cardiac arrythmia, invasive mechanical ventilation ≥ 48 h and in-hospital mortality. Results: From July 2018 to January 2021, 344 patients were included in 3 centers: 171 in the before and 173 in the after (GDFT) period. Thirty-six (21.1%) patients displayed a major postoperative complication in the Before period, and 50 (28.9%) in the After period (p = 0.1). In the propensity score analysis, we matched 48 patients in each period: 9 (18.8%) patients in the After period and 14 (29.2%) patients in the Before period displayed a major perioperative complication (p = 0.2). Sixty-two (35.8%) patients received GDFT in the After period, with great heterogeneity among centers (p < 0.05). Conclusions: In our before-after study, GDFT was not associated with a decrease in postoperative major complications in elective intra-cranial neurosurgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Goal-Directed Fluid Therapy (GDFT) is recommended to decrease major postoperative complications. However, data are lacking in intra-cranial neurosurgery. Methods: We evaluated the efficacy of a GDFT protocol in a before/after multi-centre study in patients undergoing elective intra-cranial surgery for brain tumour. Data were collected during 6 months in each period (before/after). GDFT was performed in high-risk patients: ASA score III/IV and/or preoperative Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) < 15 and/or history of brain tumour surgery and/or tumour greater size ≥ 35 mm and/or mid-line shift ≥ 3 mm and/or significant haemorrhagic risk. Major postoperative complication was a composite endpoint: re-intubation after surgery, a new onset of GCS < 15 after surgery, focal motor deficit, agitation, seizures, intra-cranial haemorrhage, stroke, intra-cranial hypertension, hospital-acquired related pneumonia, surgical site infection, cardiac arrythmia, invasive mechanical ventilation ≥ 48 h and in-hospital mortality. Results: From July 2018 to January 2021, 344 patients were included in 3 centers: 171 in the before and 173 in the after (GDFT) period. Thirty-six (21.1%) patients displayed a major postoperative complication in the Before period, and 50 (28.9%) in the After period (p = 0.1). In the propensity score analysis, we matched 48 patients in each period: 9 (18.8%) patients in the After period and 14 (29.2%) patients in the Before period displayed a major perioperative complication (p = 0.2). Sixty-two (35.8%) patients received GDFT in the After period, with great heterogeneity among centers (p < 0.05). Conclusions: In our before-after study, GDFT was not associated with a decrease in postoperative major complications in elective intra-cranial neurosurgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, the use of the plethysmographic variability index (PVI) has not been recommended to guide fluid management in the paediatric surgical population. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarise available evidence about the diagnostic accuracy of digital PVI to predict fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated children. We searched the Pubmed, Embase and Web of Science databases, from inception to January 2022, to identify all relevant studies that investigated the ability of the PVI recorded at the finger to predict fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated children. Using a random-effects model, we calculated pooled values of diagnostic odds ratio, sensitivity, and specificity of PVI to predict the response to fluid challenge. Eight studies met the inclusion criteria with a total of 283 patients and 360 fluid challenges. All the studies were carried out in a surgical setting. The area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve of PVI to predict fluid responsiveness was 0.82. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio of PVI for the overall population were 72.4% [95% CI: 65.3–78.7], 65.9% [58.5–72.8], and 9.26 [5.31–16.16], respectively. Our results suggest that digital PVI is a reliable predictor for fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated children in the perioperative setting. The diagnostic performance of digital PVI reported in our work for discrimination between responders and non-responders to the fluid challenge was however not as high as previously reported in the adult population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]