Background: Implementing recommendations to improve in-hospital resuscitation is a complex process. The extent to which an advisory statement formulating ten theses to improve resuscitation quality in paediatrics is applied in clinical practice across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (D-A-CH-region) remains unclear. Methods: A web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among paediatric physicians in the D-A-CH region between November 2022 and May 2023, comprising 50 questions focusing on experience and safety in paediatric emergency management and on the structural conditions at hospitals required to implement the ten theses. Ethics approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee Leipzig, Germany (218/19-ek). Results: Structural recommendations were implemented to varying and often limited degrees: An emergency telephone chain was available in 91% of workplaces, 19% had a Paediatric Early Warning System, and 38% had a designated resuscitation supervisor. Although in-house training was available to 89% of respondents, 31% had not participated in in-house training in the preceding 12 months, and 37% had not attended a certified resuscitation course in the last five years. A total of 48% of respondents reported that structured debriefings following emergency events were rarely or never conducted. Internal guidelines for post-resuscitation care were available in 26% of institutions. Only seven respondents (less than 1%) worked in a setting where all the recommendations surveyed were in place. No significant differences were observed according to hospital size or type. Conclusions: Structural implementation of paediatric resuscitation recommendations remains markedly inadequate across the D-A-CH region, with likely multifactorial causes that are not yet fully understood.

Background:Infant lung transplantation (LuTx) has been rarely performed in Europe and poses unique challenges. Methods:We reviewed referrals for LuTx to our center for patients below 1 year of age from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2022. Clinical data and outcomes of transplanted infants and data on patients who were declined for evaluation, not listed after evaluation, or died before LuTx were collected. The number of donor lungs from organ donors younger than 1 year of age offered to our center and their utilization were analyzed for the same time period. Results:A total of 18 referrals were analyzed. Ten referrals were declined; 2 had contraindications to transplant and 2 infants died after full evaluation. A total of 4 infants (median age 185 days, range 85-225; mean weight 6063 g, standard deviation [SD] ±438 g) underwent bilateral LuTx after a mean waiting time of 52, SD ±43 days. Underlying diseases included surfactant protein deficiencies (n = 3) and lung hypoplasia with pulmonary hypertension due to congenital diaphragmatic hernia (n = 1). Patients required oxygen supplementation (n = 1), noninvasive (n = 1), or invasive (n = 2) ventilation pre-LuTx. ABO blood group incompatible LuTx was performed in 2 patients. After a mean follow-up of 37, SD ±20 months, all patients are alive. Of 13 infant donor lungs offered to our center, 10 (76.9%) were declined due to the lack of a suitable recipient. Two of 3 infant donor lungs were transplanted to infants, 1 was transplanted to a 23-month-old recipient. The other 2 infants received lungs from donors aged over 12 months. Conclusions:Our longitudinal analysis highlights the high pre-LuTx morbidity of infants with respiratory failure and challenges associated with timely evaluation and listing. Nevertheless, infant LuTx shows promising results in selected candidates, including ABO blood group incompatible transplantations.

Background Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis (PAP) is extremely rare and can be caused by hereditary dysfunction of the granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor (GM-CSF) receptor, autoantibodies against GM-CSF, or other diseases leading to alveolar macrophage (AM) dysfunction. This leads to protein accumulation in the lung and severe dyspnea and hypoxemia. Whole lung lavage (WLL) is the first line treatment strategy.Methods Here, we present data from more than ten years of WLL practice in pediatric PAP. WLL performed by the use of a single lumen or double lumen tube (SLT vs. DLT) were compared for technical features, procedure time, and adverse events.Results A total of n=57 procedures in six PAP patients between 3.5 and 14.3 years of age were performed. SLT based WLL in smaller children was associated with comparable rates of adverse events but with longer intervention times and postprocedural intensive care treatment when compared to DLT based procedures.Discussion Our data shows that WLL is feasible even in small children. DLT based WLL seems to be more effective, and our data supports the notion that it should be considered as early as possible in pediatric PAP.Conclusion WLL lavage is possible in small PAP patients but should performed in close interdisciplinary cooperation and with age appropriate protocols.

Background Constantly elevated intra-abdominal pressure (IAH) can lead to abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS), which is associated with organ dysfunction and even multiorgan failure. Our 2010 survey revealed an inconsistent acceptance of definitions and guidelines among pediatric intensivists regarding the diagnosis and treatment of IAH and ACS in Germany. This is the first survey to assess the impact of the updated guidelines on neonatal/pediatric intensive care units (NICU/PICU) in German-speaking countries after WSACS published those in 2013. Methods We conducted a follow-up survey and sent 473 questionnaires to all 328 German-speaking pediatric hospitals. We compared our findings regarding awareness, diagnostics and therapy of IAH and ACS with the results of our 2010 survey. Results The response rate was 48% ( n = 156). The majority of respondents was from Germany (86%) and working in PICUs with mostly neonatal patients (53%). The number of participants who stated that IAH and ACS play a role in their clinical practice rose from 44% in 2010 to 56% in 2016. Similar to the 2010 investigations, only a few neonatal/pediatric intensivists knew the correct WSACS definition of an IAH (4% vs 6%). Different from the previous study, the number of participants who correctly defined an ACS increased from 18 to 58% ( p < 0,001). The number of respondents measuring intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) increased from 20 to 43% ( p < 0,001). Decompressive laparotomies (DLs) were performed more frequently than in 2010 (36% vs. 19%, p < 0,001), and the reported survival rate was higher when a DL was used (85% ± 17% vs. 40 ± 34%). Conclusions Our follow-up survey of neonatal/pediatric intensivists showed an improvement in the awareness and knowledge of valid definitions of ACS. Moreover, there has been an increase in the number of physicians measuring IAP in patients. However, a significant number has still never diagnosed IAH/ACS, and more than half of the respondents have never measured IAP. This reinforces the suspicion that IAH and ACS are only slowly coming into the focus of neonatal/pediatric intensivists in German-speaking pediatric hospitals. The goal should be to raise awareness of IAH and ACS through education and training and to establish diagnostic algorithms, especially for pediatric patients. The increased survival rate after conducting a prompt DL consolidates the impression that the probability of survival can be increased by timely surgical decompression in the case of full-blown ACS.

The worldwide incidence of neonatal HSV infections is 10/100,000 live births. Severe infections of neonates occur primarily in the case of a maternal primary infection during pregnancy. A mortality of untreated disseminated neonatal HSV infections of up to 85% is described in the literature. Early differential diagnostic inclusion of HSV infections in critically ill neonates and in neonates with acute liver failure is essential and the low threshold initiation of high dose aciclovir therapy can favorably influence the course of the infection. This report describes a case of severe disseminated HSV infection with primary liver involvement that was treated at this center and survived without liver transplantation.

Physical and mental disabilities resulting froma child's cardiac arrest are of exceptional family and social concern. Recent studies showed that the quality of pediatric resuscitation often does not meet recommended standards. Implementation of these 10 evidence-based measures published here can help improve survival rates and morbidity in resuscitated children. These 10 theses are intended to focus on the broad range of issues surrounding resuscitation of children and adolescents. It begins with improved prevention and recognition of life-threatening events in children to prevent respiratory and circulatory arrest. In the case of resuscitation, it can only be effective if consistent and sustained training is provided. Learning from each patient is the most important thing. The quality of resuscitation and the postresuscitation phase must be measured and evaluated to identify aspects for optimization. Structured collection of treatment and outcome data in a centralized, mandatory registry offers the opportunity to identify strengths of in-hospital and out-of-hospital care and to develop concepts for quality improvement. These theses and basic principles are also supported by the Austrian, German, and Swiss Resuscitation Councils and have already been published in Frontiers in Pediatrics.

The measurement of quality indicators supports quality improvement initiatives. The German Interdisciplinary Society of Intensive Care Medicine (DIVI) has pub lished quality indicators for intensive care medicine for the fourth time now. After a scheduled evaluation after three years, changes in several indicators were made. Other indicators were not changed or only minimally. The focus remained strongly on relevant treatment processes like management of analgesia and sedation, mechanical ventilation and weaning, and infections in the ICU. Another focus was communication inside the ICU. The number of 10 indicators remained the same. The development method was more structured and transparency was increased by adding new features like evidence levels or author contribution and potential conflicts of interest. These quality indicators should be used in the peer review in intensive care, a method endorsed by the DIVI. Other forms of measurement and evaluation are also reasonable, for example in quality management. This fourth edition of the quality indicators will be updated in the future to reflect the recently published recommendations on the structure of intensive care units by the DIVI.

Zusammenfassung Weltweit beträgt die Inzidenz neonataler Herpes-simplex-Virus(HSV)-Infektionen 10/100.000 Lebendgeburten. Schwere Infektionen bei Neonaten treten in erster Linie bei einer mütterlichen Primärinfektion während der Schwangerschaft auf. In der Literatur wird eine Mortalität unbehandelter disseminierter neonataler HSV-Infektionen bis zu 85 % beschrieben. Die frühe differenzialdiagnostische Einbeziehung einer HSV-Infektion beim kranken Neugeborenen und bei neonatalem Leberversagen sowie der niederschwellige Beginn einer hochdosierten Aciclovirtherapie sind von essenzieller Bedeutung. Dieser Fallbericht beschreibt einen Patienten mit einer schweren disseminierten HSV-Infektion und primärer Leberbeteiligung, der in unserem Zentrum behandelt wurde und ohne Lebertransplantation überlebt hat.

In pediatric liver transplantation (pLT), the risk for the manifestation and relevance of intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is high. This observational study aimed to evaluate the incidence, relevance and risk factors for IAH and ACS by monitoring the intra-abdominal pressure (IAP), macro- and microcirculation (near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)), clinical and laboratory status and outcomes of 27 patients (16 female) after pLT (median age at pLT 35 months). Of the patients, 85% developed an elevated IAP, most of them mild. However, 17% achieved IAH° 3, 13% achieved IAH° 4 and 63% developed ACS. A multiple linear regression analysis identified aortal hepatic artery anastomosis and cold ischemia time (CIT) as risk factors for increased IAP and longer CIT and staged abdominal wall closure for ACS. ACS patients had significantly longer mechanical ventilation (p = 0.004) and LOS-PICU (p = 0.003). No significant correlation between NIRS or biliary complications and IAH or ACS could be shown. IAH and ACS after pLT were frequent. NIRS or grade of IAH alone should not be used for monitoring. A longer CIT is an important risk factor for higher IAP and ACS. Therefore, approaches such as the ex vivo machine perfusion of donor organs, reducing CIT effects on them, have great potential. Our study provides important basics for studying such approaches.

The need for filtering intravenous infusions has long been recognized in the field of venous access, though hard scientific evidence about the actual indications for in-line filters has been scarce. In the last few years, several papers and a few clinical studies have raised again this issue, suggesting that the time has come for a proper definition of the type of filtration, of its potential benefit, and of its proper indications in clinical practice. The WoCoVA Foundation, whose goal is to increase the global awareness on the risk of intravenous access and on patients' safety, developed the project of a consensus on intravenous filtration. A panel of experts in different aspects of intravenous infusion was chosen to express the current state of knowledge about filtration and to indicate the direction of future research in this field. The present document reports the final conclusions of the panel.

Background: The interindividual variability of children's susceptibility to even slightly elevated IAP (intra-abdominal pressure) is unknown, as is the mechanism of transition from IAH (intra-abdominal hypertension = IAP > 10 mm Hg) to abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS = IAH+ organ dysfunction) and/or multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Therefore, to improve the monitoring and assessability of micro- and macrocirculation in the context of IAP/IAH/ACS, we developed a multimodal monitoring concept and evaluated it as a prognostic tool.

AbstractBackground:Constantly elevated intra-abdominal pressure (IAH) can lead to abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS), which is associated with organ dysfunction and even multiorgan failure. Our 2010 survey revealed an inconsistent acceptance of definitions and guidelines among pediatric intensivists regarding the diagnosis and treatment of IAH and ACS in Germany. This is the first survey to assess the impact of the updated guidelines on pediatric intensive care units (PICU) after WSACS published those in 2013.Methods:We conducted a follow-up survey and sent 473 questionnaires to 328 German- speaking pediatric hospitals. We compared our findings regarding awareness, diagnostics and therapy of IAH and ACS with the results of our 2010 survey.Results:The response rate was 48% (n=156). The majority of respondents was from Germany (86%) and working in PICUs with mostly neonatal patients (53%). The number of participants who stated that IAH and ACS play a role in their clinical practice rose from 44% in 2010 to 56% in 2016. Similar to the 2010 investigations, only a few pediatric intensivists knew the correct WSACS definition of an IAH (4% vs 6%). Different from the previous study, the number of participants who correctly defined an ACS increased from 18% to 58% (p<0,001). The number of respondents measuring intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) increased from 20% to 43% (p<0,001). Decompressive laparotomies (DLs) were performed more frequently than in 2010 (36% vs. 19%, p<0,001), and the reported survival rate was higher when a DL was used (85%± 17% vs. 40± 34%).Conclusions: Our follow-up survey of pediatric intensivists showed an improvement in the awareness and knowledge of valid definitions of ACS. Moreover, there has been an increase in the number of physicians measuring IAP in patients. However, a significant number has still never diagnosed IAH/ACS, and more than half of the respondents have never measured IAP. This reinforces the suspicion that IAH and ACS are only slowly coming into the focus of pediatric intensivists in German-speaking pediatric hospitals. The goal should be to raise awareness of IAH and ACS through education and training and to establish diagnostic algorithms, especially for pediatric patients. The increased survival rate after conducting a prompt DL consolidates the impression that the probability of survival can be increased by timely surgical decompression in the case of full-blown ACS.

Körperliche und geistige Behinderungen, die aus dem überlebten Atem‑/Herz-Kreislauf-Stillstand eines Kindes resultieren, sind von außergewöhnlicher familiärer und gesellschaftlicher Bedeutung. Aktuelle Studien zeigen, dass die Qualität der pädiatrischen Reanimation häufig nicht die empfohlenen Standards erreicht. Die Umsetzung der hier publizierten 10 evidenzbasierten Maßnahmen kann dazu beitragen, die Überlebensraten und die Morbidität reanimierter Kinder zu verbessern. Mit diesen 10 Thesen soll das weite Feld der Themen rund um die Reanimation von Kindern und Jugendlichen fokussiert werden. Es beginnt mit der verbesserten Prävention und Erkennung von lebensbedrohlichen Ereignissen bei Kindern, um einen Atem‑/Herz-Kreislauf-Stillstand zu vermeiden. Im Falle einer Reanimation kann diese nur dann effektiv sein, wenn ein konsequentes und nachhaltiges Training angeboten wird. Von jedem Patienten zu lernen, ist das Wichtigste. Die Qualität der Reanimation und der Postreanimationsphase muss gemessen und ausgewertet werden, um Aspekte zur Optimierung zu identifizieren. Eine strukturierte Sammlung von Behandlungs- und Ergebnisdaten in einem zentralisierten, verpflichtenden Register bietet die Möglichkeit, Stärken der inner- und außerklinischen Versorgung zu identifizieren und Konzepte für Qualitätsverbesserungen zu erstellen. Diese Thesen und Grundprinzipien werden auch vom österreichischen, deutschen und schweizerischen Rat für Wiederbelebung unterstützt und wurden bereits in englischer Sprache in Frontiers in Pediatrics publiziert.

Introduction: Liver transplantation (LT) in children has undergone significant changes over the last years. Especially the use of split and living donor transplants even for infants has led to new challenges in pre- and post-operative care. Systemic inflammatory response syndromes (SIRS, sepsis) as well-known complications after LT have not yet been systematically examined in the pediatric population. Methods: We analyzed clinical data of 39 pediatric liver transplant recipients regarding potential risk factors for post-transplant SIRS and sepsis. Secondly, the prognostic impact of SIRS and sepsis on post-transplant clinical course, patient and transplant-survival has been analyzed. Results: 64% of patients developed either SIRS (n = 16, 41%) or sepsis (n = 9, 23%) within 30 days after transplantation. No pre-transplant risk factors for increased susceptibility for SIRS or sepsis could be identified. Secondary closure of the abdomen (p = 0.045) and secondary biliary reconstruction (p = 0.043) were associated with a higher incidence of sepsis and were associated with significantly prolonged mechanical ventilation times in the presence of sepsis (p = 0.001). Patients with sepsis, but not SIRS, stayed significantly longer on PICU (p = 0.021) and suffered from higher mortality (n = 3 versus 0; p = 0.0006). All deaths within 30 days of transplantation were due to septic multiorgan failure. Neither early SIRS nor sepsis were associated with loss of transplant function. Conclusions: SIRS and sepsis are frequent events after pediatric liver transplantation. Sepsis increased length of PICU-stay and mortality significantly and prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation. Secondary biliary reconstruction and closure of the abdomen could be identified as potential risk factors for sepsis.

Background In critically ill children, detection of intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH > 10 mmHg) and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS = IAH + organ dysfunction) is paramount and usually monitored through intra-vesical pressures (IVP) as current standard. IVP, however, carries important disadvantages, being time-consuming, discontinuous, with infection risk through observer-dependent manipulation, and ill-defined for catheter sizes. Therefore, we sought to validate air-capsule-based measurement of intra-gastric pressure (ACM-IGP). Methods We prospectively compared ACM-IGP with IVP both in vivo and in vitro (water column), according to Abdominal-Compartment-Society validation criteria. We controlled for patient age, admission diagnosis, gastric filling/propulsive medication, respiratory status, sedation levels and transurethral catheters, all influencing intra-abdominal pressure (IAP). Results In tertiary care PICU setting, finally, n = 97 children were enrolled (median age, 1.3 years [range 0 days–17 years], LOS-PICU 8.0 [1–332] days, PRISM-III-Score 13 [0–35]). In n = 2.770 measurements pairs, median IAP was 6.7 [0.9–23.0] mmHg, n = 38 (39%) children suffered from IAH > 10 mmHg, n = 4 from ACS. In vitro against water column, ACM-IGP correlated perfectly ( r 2 0.99, mean bias − 0.1 ± 0.5 mmHg, limits of agreement (LOA) − 1.1/+ 0.9, percentage error [PE] 12%) as compared with IVP ( r 2 0.98, bias + 0.7 ± 0.6 mmHg, LOA − 0.5/+ 1.9, PE 15%). With larger IVP catheters at higher pressure levels, IVP underestimated pressures against water column. In vivo, agreement between either technique was strong ( r 2 0.95, bias 0.3 ± 0.8 mmHg, LOA − 1.3/+ 1.9 mmHg, PE 23%). No impact of predefined control variables on measurement agreement was observed. Conclusions In a large PICU population with high IAH prevalence, ACM-IGP agreed favourably with IVP. More widespread usage of ACM-IGP may improve detection rates of ACS in critically ill children. Trial registration WHO-ICTRP-No. DRKS00006556 (German Clinical Trial Register). Registered 12th September 2014, URL: https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00006556

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted healthcare systems worldwide. In addition to the direct impact of the virus on patient morbidity and mortality, the effect of lockdown strategies on health and healthcare utilization have become apparent. Little is known on the effect of the pandemic on pediatric and adolescent medicine. We examined the impact of the pandemic on pediatric emergency healthcare utilization. Methods We conducted a monocentric, retrospective analysis of n = 5,424 pediatric emergency department visits between January 1st and April 19th of 2019 and 2020, and compared healthcare utilization during the pandemic in 2020 to the same period in 2019. Results In the four weeks after lockdown in Germany began, we observed a massive drop of 63.8% in pediatric emergency healthcare utilization (mean daily visits 26.8 ± SEM 1.5 in 2019 vs. 9.7 ± SEM 1 in 2020, p < 0.005). This drop in cases occurred for both communicable and non-communicable diseases. A larger proportion of patients under one year old (daily mean of 16.6% ±SEM 1.4 in 2019 vs. 23.1% ±SEM 1.7 in 2020, p < 0.01) and of cases requiring hospitalisation (mean of 13.9% ±SEM 1.6 in 2019 vs. 26.6% ±SEM 3.3 in 2020, p < 0.001) occurred during the pandemic. During the analysed time periods, few intensive care admissions and no fatalities occurred. Conclusions Our data illustrate a significant decrease in pediatric emergency department visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Public outreach is needed to encourage parents and guardians to seek medical attention for pediatric emergencies in spite of the pandemic.

• Quality and outcome of pediatric resuscitation often does not achieve recommended goals. • Quality improvement initiatives with the aim of better survival rates and decreased morbidity of resuscitated children are urgently needed. • These initiatives should include an action framework for a comprehensive, fundamental, and interprofessional reorientation of clinical and organizational structures concerning resuscitation and post-resuscitation care of children. • The authors of this DACH position statement suggest the implementation of 10 evidence-based actions (for out-of-hospital and in-house cardiac arrests) that should improve survival rates and decrease morbidity of resuscitated children with better neurological outcome and quality of life.

Waterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome in an InfantA 10-week-old infant was admitted with acute fever (up to 39.8°C) and sudden loss of vigilance.According to the parents, the previously healthy child had had an upper airway infection for a week.The patient's general condition worsened rapidly after admission; petechial hemorrhages occurred.Intravenous volume substitution was initiated immediately.We suspected Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome and started the patient on cephalosporins (third generation).Circulatory and respiratory insufficiency necessitated intubation and urgent transfer to a pediatric intensive care center, where the infant was placed in isolation.Compartment syndrome developed in the lower extremities, requiring bilateral dermatofasciotomy.Despite intensive care the patient suffered progressive multiorgan failure and died 24 h after transfer.The suspicion of meningococcal sepsis, which typically occurs in the first 2 years of life, was confirmed when Neisseria meningitidis was detected in blood samples.Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome, a complication of acute bacterial meningitis, is associated with severe disseminated intravasal coagulopathy and adrenocortical insufficiency.It often ends in death despite early initiation of treatment.