The use of recruitment maneuvers (RMs) is suggested to improve severe oxygenation failure in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Lung ultrasound (LUS) is a non-invasive, safe, and easily repeatable tool. It could be used to monitor the lung recruitment process in real-time. This paper aims to evaluate bedside LUS for assessing PEEP-induced pulmonary reaeration during RMs in pediatric patients. A case of a child with severe ARDS due to Haemophilus influenzae infection is presented. Due to his poor clinical, laboratory, and radiological evolution, he was placed on venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Despite all measures, severe pulmonary collapse prevented proper improvement. Thus, RMs were indicated, and bedside LUS was successfully used for monitoring and assessing lung recruitment. The initial lung evaluation before the maneuver showed a tissue pattern characterized by a severe loss of lung aeration with dynamic air bronchograms and multiple coalescent B-lines. While raising a PEEP of 30 mmH₂O, LUS showed the presence of A-lines, which was considered a predictor of reaeration in response to the recruitment maneuver. The LUS pattern could be used to assess modifications in the lung aeration, evaluate the effectiveness of RMs, and prevent lung overdistension.

Introduction. Bronchiolitis is the leading cause of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) admission for lower respiratory tract infection in infants. Although survival has improved, concerns remain regarding potential long-term functional impairments, including alterations in psychomotor development, learning, and behavior. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of children admitted to the PICU for bronchiolitis and to evaluate their functional outcomes at 12-month follow-up. Methods. A retrospective descriptive cohort study was conducted, including all patients admitted to the PICU for bronchiolitis during the 2021–2022 period. Epidemiological, clinical, microbiological, and laboratory data were collected. Functional health status was assessed using the Pediatric Overall Performance Category (POPC), Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category (PCPC), and Functional Status Scale (FSS) at PICU discharge and 12 months. Changes in functional status were categorized as improved, stable, or worsened. Exploratory unadjusted analyses were performed to describe differences between outcome groups. Results. A total of 164 patients were included (43.9% female), with a median age of 51 days (IQR 26.25–118.5). Respiratory syncytial virus was identified in 79.7% of cases. Invasive mechanical ventilation was required in 31.1% of patients, and 45.7% developed complications during PICU admission. Mortality was 0.6%. At 12 months, functional deterioration was observed in 14.6% of patients according to POPC, 16.5% according to PCPC, and 3.6% according to FSS. Higher proportions of functional deterioration were observed among patients with underlying medical conditions, those requiring invasive mechanical ventilation, those with complications, and those with longer PICU and hospital stays, particularly in the PCPC scale. Conclusions. Most children admitted to the PICU for bronchiolitis showed stable or improved functional status at 12 months. However, a subset experienced functional deterioration, more frequently observed in patients with greater clinical severity and complexity during admission. These results support the need for further studies to better characterize long-term outcomes and to identify children who may benefit from closer follow-up.