Prevalence and Outcome of Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure in Children.

Prospective, multicenter, observational study focused on the prevalence and outcomes of Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure in children. From a total of 40 pediatric ICUs in Spain, 22 PICUs agreed to participate.

All consecutive patients from 7 days to 16 years old admitted in the PICU will have been enrolled if they fulfilled the following criteria: 1) acute episode (within 7 days of a clinical insult), 2) on invasive mechanical ventilatory support, 3) PaO2/FiO2 ≤ 300 mmHg (or SpO2/FiO2 ≤ 264), 4) Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) ≥ 5 cmH2O and FiO2 ≥ 0.3.

This study is considered an audit, and informed consent is waived.

Period of study: 2 years (October 2019 to September 2021). Recruitment period: two consecutive months (i.e October-November followed by a period of no recruitment) until complete 12 months of recruitment (September 2021).

All investigators have received guidelines outlining the study design and the methods for data collection. All PICU admissions are screened daily for AHRF. Onset of AHRF was defined as the day on which the patient first met all inclusion criteria. All data are collected on standardized forms. Demographics, comorbidities, reason for initiation of IMV, arterial blood gases, laboratory, radiographic, hemodynamic and ventilator data were collected at study entry and during the first three days of AHRF diagnosis (T0 or time of inclusion in the study, 24 hours, days 2 and 3). Chest imaging (chest radiographs, lung ultrasound or computed tomography) were evaluated daily for the presence or absence of infiltrates, atelectasis, acute pulmonary edema, pleural effusion or pneumothorax. Tidal volume (VT) was calculated on the basis of the predicted body weight (PBW). Plateau pressure (Pplat) was determined after the application of a 0.5- to 1.0-sec end-inspiratory hold. Driving pressure was calculated as the difference between Pplat and PEEP. Patients meeting pediatric ARDS criteria were stratified into a mild, moderate, and severe according to PALICC definition and/or berlin definition. All patients are followed until PICU and hospital discharge.