The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy and safety of oxygen therapy via high flow nasal cannula in pediatric patients with acute respiratory failure. Patients who were admitted to pediatric intensive care unit and were administered high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy between January 2015 and January 2016 were enrolled. Arterial blood gas parameters, respiratory rates (RR), heart rates (HR), systolic, db > iastolic, and mean arterial pressures (SBP, DBP, MAP), dyspnea scores, fractional oxygen indices (FiO < sub > 2 < /sub > ), and oxygen saturations (SatO < sub > 2 < /sub > ) were recorded at baseline, 30 minutes, and 12 hours. The study enrolled a total of 50 patients of whom 24 (48%) were female and 26 (52%) were male. Statistically significant reductions occurred in mean HR and RR values at 30 minutes and 12 hours compared to those at 0 minute (p < 0.05). Significant increases were observed in SatO2 values at 30 minutes (p.0.001) and 12 hours (p:0.005) compared to SatO2 value at 0 minute (p < 0.05). Similarly, there occurred significant reductions in mean FiO < sub > 2 < /sub > values at 30 minutes and 12 hours compared to baseline (p < 0.05). Significant reductions occurred in mean dyspnea score at 30 minutes (p:0.001) and 12 hours (p:0.001) compared to that at 0 minute (p < 0.05). pH, PaCO < sub > 2 < /sub > , PaO < sub > 2 < /sub > , SBP, and DBP values at 0 minute, 30 minutes, and 12 hours were not significantly different from one another (p > 0.05). No significant correlations were found between treatment failure and age at admission; mean pediatric index of mortality (PIM II), pediatric risk of mortality (PRISM), pediatric logistic organ dysfunction (PELOD) and pediatric multiple organ dysfunction score (P-MODS); and HR, RR, SatO2, pH, PaCO2, PaO2, SBP, DBP, MAP, FiO2 at baseline (p > 0.05). Therapy was successful in 40 (80%) patients whereas there occurred a need for invasive ventilation in 10 (20%) patients. High flow nasal oxygen therapy can be used for patients with acute severe hypoxemic respiratory failure without concurrent hypercapnia when adequate equipment and monitorization tools exist.

Multisystemic inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a new potentially life-threatening disease that is related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The aim of this study is to reveal the clinical and laboratory results of MIS-C and the role of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) in its treatment. Clinical, laboratory and radiological characteristics of the patients who were admitted to the pediatric ward and pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a tertiary hospital with a diagnosis of MIS-C between April 2020 and March 2021 were included in the study. Forty-one patients were admitted to our hospital with a diagnosis of MIS-C. Twenty-one (51.2%) patients were admitted to the PICU. Six patients needed invasive mechanical ventilation (14.6%), 10 patients (24.4%) TPE and 3 patients (7.3%) needed extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The patients were grouped according to need for PICU admission (Group 1: no need for PICU, Group 2: need for PICU admission). Group 2 had significantly higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), ferritin, D-dimer, pro-B type natriuretic peptide (pro BNP) and lactate (p < 0.05). Hyponatremia found to be an independent risk factor for inpatient MIS-C in the PICU. We think that dynamic laboratory trending is beneficial in determining the need for PICU admission and TPE may be effective in critically ill patients.

Y Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most common causes of acute respiratory tract infections among children. 1%-2% of RSV infections require hospitalization. In addition to the respiratory system, cardiovascular system may be also affected by the RSV infection. A 7-year-old, previously healthy, female patient presenting with respiratory difficulties was admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit. The patient was intubated and connected to a mechanical ventilator because of acute respiratory failure. Her tracheal aspirate was studied for viral multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and RSV positivity was detected. Her echocardiogram revealed left ventricular dysfunction. She was put on fluid restriction, intravenous furosemide, and inotropic support. Her cranial magnetic resonance examination showed the signs of acute haemorrhagic encephalopathy. She underwent five sessions of therapeutic plasma exchange with fresh frozen plasma. She was extubated on the 18th day of admission and provided with respiratory support with high-flow oxygen therapy thereafter. On the 23rd day, when her clinical status remained stable, she was transferred to the paediatrics ward. An RSV infection should be considered in cases with acute necrotising encephalitis and myocarditis.

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in cases followed in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Materials and Methods: The study was designed as a prospective cohort in 6 PICUs. There were 3 groups: only RSV (+), RSV (v+) who were positive for another viral agent(s) in addition to RSV, and RSV (b+) who were positive for a bacterial agent(s) in addition to RSV. Results: A total of 119 cases were included in the study, 67 (56.3%) of whom were male. The RSV (+) group had a lower pH compared to the other groups and a higher rate of acute bronc hiolitis/bronchitis diagnoses compared to the RSV (v+) group. The RSV (v+) group had higher bicarbonate levels, higher creatinine levels, longer hospital stays, and higher Pediatric Risk of Mortality-3 scores (PRISM-3) compared to the RSV (+) group. Cases with RSV (b+) were younger and also had lower body weight compared to the other groups. Furthermore, the RSV (b+) group had higher C-reactive protein and Procalcitonin (PCT) levels and higher rates of High Flow Nasal Cannula-Oxygen Therapy (HFNC-OT) use. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that PRISM-3 score, PCT levels, Pediatric Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome diagnoses, inhaled steroid use, chronic illness status, and heart rate on admission were associated with the length of stay in the PICU. Conclusion:High flow nasal cannula-oxygen therapy continues to be the most frequently preferred respiratory support method in RSV infections. Viral infections accompanying RSV can increase the severity of the disease. Cite this article as: Koçoğlu Barlas Ü, Akçay N, Telhan L, et al. Respiratory syncytial virus infections in pediatric intensive care: Association of sociodemographic data and clinical outcomes with viral and bacterial co-infections. Turk Arch Pediatr. 2024;59(5):494-500.

The aim of this work is to determine the prevalence and risk factors of hypophosphatemia in pediatric patients admitted to intensive care unit. The study was performed prospectively in patients admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit between June 2014 and December 2014. Fifty-seven patients were included in the study. The mean age of the study population was 24 months (2-192 months); 25 patients (43.9%) were male and 32 were female (56.1%). The mean body weight z-score was -1.47 ± 2.23, and 23 (40.4%) patients had malnutrition. On admission 16 (28.1%) patients had hypophosphatemia. There were no statistically significant differences between the hypophosphatemic patient group and normophosphatemic patient groups in terms of demographic and clinical characteristics. There were also no significant differences between the two groups in terms of risk factors. Potassium and creatinine levels were significantly lower in the hypophosphatemic group, compared to the normophosphatemic group. According to a multivariate logistic regression analysis, risk factors for hypophosphatemia were low potassium level (OR: 16.76; 95% CI: 2.09 - 134.72; p: 0.008), malignant solid tumors (OR: 52.40; 95% CI: 2.04 - 1,344.32; p: 0.017, p: 0.036). and female gender (OR: 6.18; 95% CI: 1.12 - 34.00; p: 0.036). Prospective studies with larger sample size should be conducted to study the prevalence and risk factors of hypophosphatemia at pediatric intensive care unit.