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Review
. 2022 May;161(5):1297-1305.
doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2021.12.648. Epub 2022 Jan 7.

PICU in the MICU: How Adult ICUs Can Support Pediatric Care in Public Health Emergencies

Mary A King  1 , Renee I Matos  2 , Mitchell T Hamele  3 , Matthew A Borgman  2 , Luke A Zabrocki  4 , Samir K Gadepalli  5 , Ryan C Maves  6
Affiliations
Review

PICU in the MICU: How Adult ICUs Can Support Pediatric Care in Public Health Emergencies

Mary A King et al. Chest. 2022 May.

Abstract

Initial waves of the COVID-19 pandemic have largely spared children. With the advent of vaccination in many older age groups and the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant, however, children now represent a growing percentage of COVID-19 cases. PICU capacity is far less than that of adult ICUs. Adult ICUs may need to support pediatric care, much as PICUs provided adult care earlier in the pandemic. Critically ill children selected for care in adult settings should be at least 12 years of age and ideally have conditions common in children and adults alike (eg, community-acquired sepsis, trauma). Children with complex, pediatric-specific disorders are best served in PICUs and are not recommended for transfer. The goal of such transfers is to maintain critical capacity for those children in greatest need of the PICU's unique abilities, therefore preserving systems of care for all children.

Keywords: disaster; pediatric critical care; surge responses.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Proposed staffing model for the care of critically ill children in adult ICUs. RN = Registered Nurse.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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Supplementary concepts