To assess the experience with oxygen therapy with a high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) in hospital on patients with asthmatic exacerbation (AE) in a paediatric ward, and to assess the clinical outcome according with the initial oxygen flow (15lpm or <15lpm). This was a retrospective study of children aged 4 to 15 years with AE admitted to a paediatric ward in a tertiary level hospital between 2012 and 2016. Two groups of patients were compared; Group 1: patients treated with HFNC, and Group 2: patients treated with conventional oxygen therapy. A logistic regression model was constructed in order to identify predictive variables of HFNC. The clinical outcome of the patients was also compared according to the initial flow of HFNC (15lpm VS <15lpm). The study included a total of 536 patients with AE, 40 (7.5%) of whom required HFNC. The median age was 5 (4-6) years. Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR) and Pulmonary Score (PS) significantly decreased at 3-6hours after starting HFNC in Group 1. In the multivariate analysis, patients with high Pulmonary Score values and greater number of previous admissions required HFNC more frequently. Patients treated with an initial flow of 15lpm were admitted less frequently to the PICU than those with an initial flow less than 15lpm (13% vs 47%, p=.05). HFNC seems to be a useful therapy for asthma exacerbation in paediatric wards. Severity of Pulmonary Score and the number of previous admissions could enable a risk group that needs HFNC to be identified.

Introducción: La desnutrición en el paciente pediátrico hospitalizado es una comorbilidad prevalente que puede influir en la evolución clínica y se estima en un 31,4% en nuestro medio. Objetivo: Nuestro objetivo fue describir el riesgo de desnutrición de los pacientes que ingresan en nuestro centro, mediante la herramienta Screening Tool for the Assessment of Malnutrition in Paediatrics (STAMP), así como analizar su asociación con la evolución del ingreso hospitalario. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio prospectivo, unicéntrico y analítico desde octubre hasta diciembre de 2017 en pacientes hospitalizados, de edades entre 1 mes y 15 años. Se recogieron variables clínicas y datos antropométricos (peso, talla, peso según Waterlow al ingreso (T0), a las 48 h (T1) y al alta (T2). Se construyeron modelos multivariantes para identificar variables predictoras de gravedad. Resultados: Analizamos a 200 pacientes (55% varones) con una mediana de edad de 15,8 meses (RIQ 2,5-42,8) y una estancia media de 3 días (RIQ 1-18 días). El 48,3% presentaba alto riesgo de desnutrición en T0 (STAMP ≥ 4) y un 48,2% riesgo moderado (STAMP = 2-3). En el análisis bivariante, una mayor puntuación de STAMP se asoció a mayor estancia media (p < 0,01) y a mayor gravedad (p < 0,01). En el análisis multivariante, el STAMP en T0 fue predictor de gravedad (OR 1,48; IC 95%: 1,18-1,86; p < 0,01). Conclusiones: Casi el 50% de los pacientes ingresados tenían un elevado riesgo de desnutrición durante el ingreso. El riesgo de desnutrición al ingreso medido según el cribado nutricional STAMP se asoció con una mayor estancia media y mayor gravedad. Es importante evaluar el riesgo de desnutrición al ingreso dada su influencia en la evolución de la enfermedad. Introduction: Paediatric malnutrition during hospital admission is a prevalent comorbidity, which it is estimated around 31.4% in our environment, and could influence the clinical outcomes of paediatric patients. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the malnutrition risk in hospitalised children using STAMP (Screening Tool for the Assessment of Malnutrition in Paediatrics), and to study its relationship with clinical outcomes. Methods: A single-centre, analytical and prospective study was conducted on children aged 1 month to 15 years hospitalised in a tertiary hospital between October and December 2017. An analysis was made of the clinical data and anthropometric measurements (weight, height, Waterlow weight classification). Patients were classified according to STAMP, which is a validated screening tool used to classify the risk of paediatric malnutrition during hospital admission. Multivariate statistical analysis was used to identify predictive variables of illness severity. Results: An analysis was made on a total of 200 patients (55% male), with a median age of 15.8 months (IQR 2.5-42.8), and a median length of stay of 3 days (IQR 1-18 days). Almost half (48.3%) of them had high risk of malnutrition at admission (STAMP ≥4), and 48.2% showed medium risk (STAMP 2-3). A higher STAMP score was associated with longer length of hospital stay (P<.01) and greater severity (P<.01). Multivariable analysis showed that STAMP could be a predictor of illness severity (OR 1.48, 95% CI: 1.18-1.86, P<.01). Conclusions: Nearly 50% of hospitalised children have a high risk of malnutrition at admission according to the STAMP screening tool. Risk of malnutrition at admission measured according to STAMP nutritional screening was associated with a longer length of stay and greater severity of illness. It is important to evaluate the risk of malnutrition as this could be related to illness severity.

The humanisation of health care involves considering the patient as an integral human being, providing assistance beyond medical care, and covering other fields such as social, emotional, spiritual, or relational areas. To evaluate the requirements and concerns of the hospitalised children. A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted using an anonymous questionnaire on children aged 12-16. The study included 39 patients, with a median age of 14 years. The most unpleasant experience during the hospitalisation was the invasive procedures. Almost all (95%) of patients suffered from pain, and 17% of them felt at some point that a procedure was performed without them being fully aware. More than 75% of children asked for more entertainment, with the lack of Wi-Fi being the more demanded item. The needs of the population included in this survey, showed the importance to consider cognitive (necessity of obtaining clear and extensive information), social (maintaining everyday relationships), emotional (illness and its diagnostic and therapeutic procedures often generate mood disorders), and practical (environmental and architectural aspects can lead to either an improvement or a worsening of the hospitalisation perception) factors. All of these factors have shown a beneficial contribution, leading to an earlier recovery of health.

Parents and caregivers should receive training regarding pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) because this knowledge improves survival. We conducted a study as part of a Patient Safety Project to improve caregivers’ CPR knowledge and skills. We also aimed to improve the quality of patient care. We performed a prospective, longitudinal study in 2013–2014 in a pediatric hospital. We enrolled the caregivers of all patients admitted with a diagnosis of an acute life-threatening event, apnea, or choking. We provided a 45-minute CPR workshop for parents at discharge and evaluated the results using a test before, immediately after, and at 1 and 3 months after the workshop. Participants also completed an evaluation survey about the CPR workshop. We admitted 62 patients [median age, 1 mo (0.5–2 mo)]. We provided 62 pediatric CPR workshops to 106 enrolled relatives. The median score was 5 (CI, 3–6) out of 10 at baseline, which increased to 8 (CI, 7–10) immediately after the workshop (P < 0.01). After 1 and 3 months, the median score was 8 (CI, 6–9; P < 0.01). The severity of the acute life-threatening event episode correlated with a better score (P = 0.02). The utility of the workshop scored 9.9 out of 10. This CPR workshop significantly increased CPR knowledge and confidence, and this was maintained up to 3 months post-training. Caregiver satisfaction was high.

Readmission rate is an indicator of the quality of hospital care. The aim of the study is to identify potential preventable factors for paediatric readmission. A descriptive, analytical, longitudinal, and single centre study was carried out in the Paediatric Hospitalisation ward of a tertiary hospital during the period from June 2012 to November 2015. Readmission was defined as the one that occurs in the first 30 days of previous admission, as very early readmission if it occurs in the first 48hours, early readmission in the 2-7 days, and late readmission if occurs after 7 days. Preventable readmission is defined as one that takes place in the first 15 days and for the same reason as the first admission. Epidemiological and clinical variables were analysed. A univariate and multivariate study was carried out. In the study period, 5,459 patients were admitted to the paediatric hospital, of which 226 of them were readmissions (rate of readmission: 4.1%). When the hospital occupation rate was greater than 70%, the overall percentage of readmissions was significantly higher (8.5% vs 2.5%; P<.001). In the multivariate analysis, it was found that having a chronic disease and the number of visits to emergency care units before admission, are predictive factors of preventable readmission. The rate of readmissions is greater in the periods of higher care pressure. The readmission of patients with chronic condition is preventable, and therefore strategies must be designed to try to avoid them.