Clinical characteristics of mechanically ventilated children in pediatric intensive care unit: A single-center study

OBJECTIVE: Mechanical ventilation (MV) remains the most challenging and important issue in the field of pediatrics. It is a life-saving, invasive procedure that supports the cardiovascular and respiratory systems until the underlying disease is cured. The aim of this study was to evaluate the demographic profile, clinical aspects, indications and complications of MV, and outcome of the children in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a tertiary hospital in a developing country. METHODS: The demographic profile, clinical aspects, MV indications and complications, and outcomes of pediatric patients (0–18 years of age) who required MV in the Sancaktepe Sehit Prof. Dr. Ilhan Varank Training and Research Hospital PICU from February 2022 to January 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 139 patients were analyzed, of whom 79 (56.8%) were males. The median age was 36 months (1–214). Respiratory diseases (38.8%) were the most common indication for MV. We observed a 19.4% mortality rate with a statistically significant association with sepsis (p=0.001). Compared to other diseases, a large number of sepsis patients were found to require a variety of critical care treatment modalities and prolonged respiratory support. CONCLUSION: Although MV is an indispensable treatment method in PICUs, it should not be forgotten that it carries the risk of morbidity and mortality in addition to the underlying disease. Therefore, the establishment of experienced teams in PICUs could make an important contribution to the prognosis of the patients.