Pediatric Critical Care Outcomes: State of the Science

Area of Science:

• Pediatric critical care medicine
• Child health outcomes
• Intensive care unit survivorship

Background:

• Children surviving pediatric intensive care units (PICU) are susceptible to post-intensive care syndrome in pediatrics (PICS-p).
• PICS-p encompasses new physical, cognitive, emotional, and social dysfunctions affecting the child and family post-critical illness.
• Synthesizing PICU outcomes research is historically difficult due to inconsistent study designs and outcome measures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the challenges in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) outcomes research.
• To define post-intensive care syndrome in pediatrics (PICS-p) and its impact.
• To identify strategies for mitigating PICS-p risks in critically ill children and their families.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of existing pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) outcomes research.
• Analysis of definitions and impacts of post-intensive care syndrome in pediatrics (PICS-p).
• Identification of best practices and resilience-supporting interventions.

Main Results:

• Inconsistent study designs and outcome measurements complicate PICU research synthesis.
• Post-intensive care syndrome in pediatrics (PICS-p) presents multifaceted health dysfunctions.
• Best practices in intensive care units and family support can mitigate PICS-p.

Conclusions:

• Post-intensive care syndrome in pediatrics (PICS-p) is a significant concern for pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) survivors.
• Standardizing research methods is crucial for advancing understanding of PICS-p.
• Implementing preventative strategies and supporting resilience are key to improving outcomes for critically ill children and their families.