How Do you Focus on Quality of Life When Kids Cannot Go to School or Outside?
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis paper seeks to explore the definitions of quality of life and its application to pediatric research and clinical practice. This paper also highlights some of the imperfections in evaluating patient-reported outcomes designed to measure quality of life in pediatrics. Additionally, this paper explores some of the unique challenges in promoting quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic.Recent FindingsThere are numerous different measurement scales to examine quality of life in children of different ages, and with a variety of disease states.SummaryDespite the number of quality of life measurem...
Source: Current Pediatrics Reports - March 12, 2021 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: research
Current Research and Viewpoints on Internet Addiction in Adolescents
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis review describes recent research findings and contemporary viewpoints regarding internet addiction in adolescents including its nomenclature, prevalence, potential determinants, comorbid disorders, and treatment.Recent FindingsPrevalence studies show findings that are disparate by location and vary widely by definitions being used. Impulsivity, aggression, and neuroticism potentially predispose youth to internet addiction. Cognitive behavioral therapy and medications that treat commonly co-occurring mental health problems including depression and ADHD hold considerable clinical promise for int...
Source: Current Pediatrics Reports - January 9, 2021 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: research
The Basics of Ventilator Waveforms
AbstractPurpose of ReviewKnowledge of ventilator waveforms is important for clinicians working with children requiring mechanical ventilation. This review covers the basics of how to interpret and use data from ventilator waveforms in the pediatric intensive care unit.Recent FindingsPatient-ventilator asynchrony (PVA) is a common finding in pediatric patients and observed in approximately one-third of ventilator breaths. PVA is associated with worse outcomes including increased length of mechanical ventilation, increased length of stay, and increased mortality. Identification of PVA is possible with a thorough knowledge of...
Source: Current Pediatrics Reports - January 5, 2021 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: research
Impact and Clinical Implications of Prematurity on Adaptive Immune Development
AbstractPurpose of ReviewDetail normal adaptive immune maturation during fetal and neonatal life and review the clinical implications of arrested immune development.Recent FindingsAdvancements in the field of immunology have enabled investigations of the adaptive immune system starting during fetal life. New insights have drawn important distinctions between the neonatal and adult immune systems. The presence of diverse immunologic responses in the perinatal period suggests the importance of in utero immune development. Disruption of immune maturation due to premature birth may have significant implications for clinical pa...
Source: Current Pediatrics Reports - October 26, 2020 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: research
Current Practices and Updates in Neonatal Resuscitation
AbstractPurpose of ReviewTo outline our current neonatal resuscitation practices and discuss changes that have occurred in the field since the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) guidelines were published in 2015.Recent FindingsThere have been interesting developments in delayed cord clamping, heart rate assessments, and oxygen delivery.SummaryNew developments continue to emerge in the field of neonatal resuscitation, some of which have been adopted into mainstream practice, while others still require more research to establish efficacy and safety. (Source: Current Pediatrics Reports)
Source: Current Pediatrics Reports - October 23, 2020 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: research
How Should the Preterm Infant Grow?
This report is an update of the topic previously reviewed for this journal.Recent FindingsNew intrauterine growth curves including BMI are now available for preterm infants. Extrauterine growth curves (post-natal) are available for BMI as well, but these types of curves for weight, length, and head circumference are not current or are under development. Body composition data for preterm infants is emerging but still limited to measurements at birth and corrected term age. The present recommendations for dietary intake do not allow for the necessary “catch-up” growth after the period of inadequate nutrition of preterm i...
Source: Current Pediatrics Reports - October 17, 2020 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: research
Pediatric Palliative Care and the PICU: Where We Have Been and Where We Are Going
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis review provides pediatric intensivists and other pediatric clinicians a review of pediatric palliative care, focusing on its integration into the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and outlining vital skills for the intensivist.Recent FindingsPediatric palliative care is a relatively young but growing field and is becoming increasingly available at many children ’s hospitals. However, there has been a shortage of palliative care physicians historically (Lupu, J Pain Symptom Manag. 40(6):899–911,2010). Palliative care teams are multidisciplinary and focus on assisting the PICU with pain a...
Source: Current Pediatrics Reports - September 21, 2020 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: research
Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Congenital Heart Disease: A Review
AbstractPurpose of ReviewWe review the etiologies of neurodevelopmental outcomes in patients with congenital heart disease.Recent FindingsDevelopmental delays have been identified in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). Though historically neurodevelopmental morbidity in patients with CHD was thought to be surgically related, recent advances in imaging technology and the ability to prospectively provide longitudinal follow-up indicate multiple complex etiologies of neurodevelopmental delay in this group. It has been suggested that alterations in cerebral perfusion is related to cerebral dysgenesis and immaturity. ...
Source: Current Pediatrics Reports - September 20, 2020 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: research
Adjunctive Neuroprotective Therapies for Treatment of Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)
AbstractPurpose of ReviewTo highlight emerging adjunctive neuroprotective agents for treatment of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).SummaryHIE is a common cause of neonatal neurologic morbidity and mortality. Therapeutic hypothermia is a standard therapy, but neuroprotection is incomplete. There are several potential adjunctive agents that can be used to augment neuroprotection when combined with hypothermia.Recent FindingsSeveral recent studies have evaluated the use of adjunctive therapies that, when used in combination with therapeutic hypothermia, may improve short- and long-term outcomes. (Source: Current Pediatrics Reports)
Source: Current Pediatrics Reports - September 14, 2020 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: research
Burnout in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit
AbstractPurpose of ReviewBurnout syndrome is characterised by depersonalisation, emotional exhaustion, and low personal accomplishment. This paper seeks to discuss the prevalence of burnout in the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU), contributing factors, and potential interventions.Recent FindingsThere is marked variation in the reported prevalence rates for burnout syndrome among healthcare workers, but PICU physicians appear to be at increased risk. There is currently insufficient evidence to support any one intervention to ameliorate the symptoms of burnout syndrome, but a multifaceted approach with systematic interv...
Source: Current Pediatrics Reports - September 5, 2020 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: research
Current Trends and Critical Care Considerations for the Management of Single Ventricle Neonates
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe diagnostic capabilities, palliative procedures, and critical care therapies for neonates with single ventricle heart disease have rapidly evolved. We aimed to review current trends for intensivists and cardiologists caring for this population.Recent FindingsEnhanced diagnostics and 3-dimensional modeling can be instrumental in planning care pathways for these neonates. Additionally, the ability to palliate many of these patients with catheter-based therapies rather than traditional surgical approaches has allowed for reduced morbidity. There are significant improvements in the understanding of ...
Source: Current Pediatrics Reports - September 1, 2020 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: research
Recent Advances in Simulation for Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis review highlights the emerging fields of simulation research by tying innovation into principles of learning and process improvement.Recent FindingsAdvances have been made in both educational simulation and simulation for quality improvement, allowing this versatile modality to be more broadly applied to healthcare and systems.SummarySimulation in pediatric critical care medicine continues to evolve. Although the majority of simulation is focused on learner education, emerging research has broadened to focus on patient- and system-centered outcomes, leading to improvement in the quality of car...
Source: Current Pediatrics Reports - August 27, 2020 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: research
Preparing the Child with End-Stage Renal Disease for a Renal Transplant: the Pre-transplant Assessment
AbstractPurpose of ReviewWe review the pre-transplant assessment of the renal transplant candidate, highlighting specific issues that are unique to the pediatric patient.Recent FindingsThe pre-transplant assessment consists of a thorough history and physical examination, supplemented by laboratory evaluations based on a systems-based approach. Considerations that are unique to the pediatric population include the assessment of immunization, nutritional and developmental status, as well as for underlying urological abnormalities that require management prior to transplantation.SummaryA thorough and complete pre-transplant a...
Source: Current Pediatrics Reports - July 24, 2020 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: research
Advances and Current Issues in Adolescent Sleep
This article aims to review and highlight recent advances in these areas.Recent FindingsThere is a greater understanding of the natural tendencies of adolescent sleep towards circadian phase delay. New research has better delineated the effects of artificial light and school start times, on sleep and circadian phase. There have also been updates about the diagnosis and management of narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, and idiopathic hypersomnia.SummaryGreater understanding of how light exposure affects the circadian system allows for more concrete recommendations about managing electronics exposure. Growing evidence sugge...
Source: Current Pediatrics Reports - July 8, 2020 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: research
Medication-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Children
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe purpose of this article is to review common mechanisms of drug-induced nephrotoxicity (DIN) while highlighting some of the common medications in each category, as well as risk factors and preventative strategies with a focus on mitigating the risks of kidney injury with the use of potentially nephrotoxic medications in children.Recent FindingsThere have been recent reports about DIN associated with well-established and newer medications based on pathogenic mechanisms, new biomarkers being researched to identify DIN, and the recent development of standardized phenotypes to characterize DIN.Summa...
Source: Current Pediatrics Reports - July 4, 2020 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: research
