Objective: To assess the performance of the Pediatric Risk of Mortality III (PRISM III) and Pediatric Index of Mortality III (PIM III) indices in a tertiary pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in Saudi Arabia and to identify the factors affecting the observed performance.Design: Retrospective, single-center study using data collected from the Virtual Pediatric Systems web-based database.Setting: King Fahad Medical City PICU, Saudi Arabia.Patients: All pediatric patients <14 years of age admitted between 1 January 2015, and 31 December 2019.Interventions: Comparison of PRISM III and PIM III performances in predicting mortality across different age groups, disease categories, and resuscitation decision statuses.Measurements: Normality of distribution was assessed using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov and Shapiro–Wilk tests. Patient characteristics were compared between survivors and non-survivors. The medians and ranges were calculated for continuous data, whereas frequencies and percentages were used for nominal data. The Mann–Whitney U test, Kruskal–Wallis test, and Chi-square test were used to compare the characteristics of survivors and non-survivors.Main Results: There was a significant difference between the predicted mortality and observed mortality in both the PRISM III and PIM III. Better discrimination was found after excluding do-not-resuscitate (DNR) patients. The worst calibration and discrimination were recorded for infants <12 months of age. The PRISM III performed significantly better in patients with metabolic/genetic and central nervous system illnesses. Non-DNR patients had a lower standardized mortality rate using the PRISM III and PIM III. The PRISM III and PIM III indices performed better in patients who died within the first week of admission.Conclusion: These models had sufficient discrimination ability and poor calibration. Since they were designed for particular patient characteristics and PICUs, further testing in different environments is necessary before utilization for planning and assessing performance. Alternatively, new models could be developed which are suitable for local PICUs.

Background: Mechanical ventilation, a crucial intervention for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), can lead to ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). This study focuses on individualizing mechanical power (MP) in mechanically ventilated patients to minimize VILI and reduce ICU mortality. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using the Amsterdam University Medical Centers Database (AmsterdamUMCdb) data. The study included patients aged 18 and older who needed at least 48 hours of pressure-controlled mechanical ventilation. Patients who died or were extubated within 48 hours and those with inadequate data were excluded. Patients were categorized into hypoxemia groups based on their PaO2/FiO2 ratio. MP was calculated using a surrogate formula and normalized to ideal body weight (IBW). Statistical analyses and machine learning models, including logistic regression and random forest, were used to predict ICU mortality and establish safe upper limits for IBW-adjusted MP. Results: Out of 23,106 admissions, 2,338 met the criteria. Nonsurvivors had a significantly higher time-weighted average MP (TWA-MP) than survivors. Safe upper limits for IBW-adjusted MP varied across hypoxemia groups. The XGBoost model showed the highest predictive accuracy for ICU mortality. An individualization method for mechanical ventilation settings, based on real-time physiological variables, demonstrated reduced predicted mortality in a subset of patients. Discussion: Elevated TWA-MP is associated with increased ICU mortality, underscoring the need for personalized mechanical ventilation strategies. The study highlights the complexity of VILI and the multifactorial nature of ICU mortality. Further studies to define a safe upper limit for IBW-adjusted MP may help clinicians optimize mechanical ventilation settings and decrease the risk of VILI and mortality. Conclusions: Despite the fact that the study’s retrospective design and reliance on a single-center database may limit the generalizability of findings, this study offers valuable insights into the relationship between mechanical power and ICU mortality, emphasizing the need for individualized mechanical ventilation strategies. The findings suggest a potential for more personalized, data-driven approach in managing mechanically ventilated patients, which could improve patient outcomes in critical care settings.

To provide more data regarding the role of an amperometric glucometer in diagnosing meningitis. Methods: This is a prospective study conducted at the Pediatric and Neonatology Department, Qatif Central Hospital, Qatif, Saudi Arabia between March 2017 and September 2018. We measured glucose concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood using a central laboratory and amperometric glucometer (AG). We compared CSF/blood glucose ratios obtained in a central laboratory from clinical bedside examination with a glucometer, and calculated the sensitivity and specificity for detecting cases of meningitis. Results: A total of 101 patients with clinical suspicion of meningitis were recruited for CSF sampling. Of 101 CSF samples, 61 (60%) were suggestive of meningitis. Of 101 samples, 47 had hypoglycorrhachia identified by a standard laboratory, and 17% of them were also detected by AG. The correlation between CSF/blood glucose by AG and laboratory ratios was substantial (r=0.894, p less than 0.01, 95% CI: 0.805-0.983). The AG sensitivity was 100% and specificity was 55% in pediatric cases, while in neonates the sensitivity was 86% and the specificity was 26%. Conclusion: Amperometric glucometers can be used to detect hypoglycorrhachia accurately. This point-of-care testing tool is easily accessible and can be used by health care providers for cases suspected of meningitis.

Foreign body aspiration (FBA) is a life-threatening emergency and a common cause of morbidity and morbidity in children. FBA can lead to rapidly progressive respiratory failure. Stabilizing patients after FBA for bronchoscopic removal of the aspirated object can be complex and may necessitate advanced support such as high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). This case report presents the feasibility of using ultrasound (US) in percutaneous catheterization in infants and the benefit of using venovenous ECMO (VV-ECMO) as rescue therapy in FBA. A 10-month-old girl accidently aspirated a metallic piece that was dislodged further to the right main bronchus after failed trials to remove it. She was intubated and mechanically ventilated, complicated by milk aspiration and bilateral pneumothoraces secondary to high-pressure lung ventilation. She had refractory mixed respiratory failure despite high settings of HFOV and inhaled nitric oxide. Venovenous ECMO (VV-ECMO) was initiated for stabilization and a bridge for bronchoscopic foreign body removal and awaiting lung recovery. She was weaned off ECMO after 166 hours. The patient was extubated after a few days and discharged home 28 days after admission without clinical evidence of neurological or respiratory complications. ECMO has been described in the literature as rescue therapy for FBA resulting in respiratory failure. However, ECMO cannulation in children under these circumstances is challenging because of vessel size restrictions. Two-vessel cannulation or dual-lumen cannulation are available options via open cut-down or percutaneous cannulation techniques, depending on the general expertise. The use of vascular ultrasound to assess vessel size is a helpful tool for cannulating infants. VV-ECMO support is expanding for respiratory failure in pediatric patients. Percutaneous cannulation in infants and children for VV-ECMO is safe and feasible.