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. 2022 Oct 1;23(10):801-811.
doi: 10.1097/PCC.0000000000003022. Epub 2022 Jul 29.

Long-Term Pulmonary Outcomes in Children Mechanically Ventilated for Severe Bronchiolitis

Eleonore S V de Sonnaville  1   2 , Hennie Knoester  1 , Suzanne W J Terheggen-Lagro  3 , Marsh Kӧnigs  2 , Jaap Oosterlaan  2 , Job B M van Woensel  1
Affiliations

Long-Term Pulmonary Outcomes in Children Mechanically Ventilated for Severe Bronchiolitis

Eleonore S V de Sonnaville et al. Pediatr Crit Care Med. .

Abstract

Objectives: Bronchiolitis is a common indication for mechanical ventilation in the PICU. Both bronchiolitis and invasive mechanical ventilation may cause adverse long-term pulmonary outcomes. This study investigates children with a history of invasive mechanical ventilation for bronchiolitis, addressing: 1) the extent, 2) potential explanatory factors, and 3) possible impact on daily life activities of adverse long-term pulmonary outcomes.

Design: Single-center cohort study.

Setting: Outpatient PICU follow-up clinic.

Patients: Children 6-12 years old with a history of invasive mechanical ventilation for bronchiolitis (age < 2 yr).

Interventions: None.

Measurements and main results: Long-term pulmonary outcomes were assessed by a standardized questionnaire and by spirometry. Nineteen out of 74 included children (26%) had adverse long-term pulmonary outcomes, of whom the majority had asthma (14/74, 19%). By logistic regression analysis, we assessed whether background characteristics and PICU-related variables were associated with long-term pulmonary outcomes. In general, we failed to identify any explanatory factors associated with adverse long-term pulmonary outcomes. Nonetheless, atopic disease in family and longer duration of invasive mechanical ventilation (days) were associated with greater odds of having asthma at follow-up (odds ratio, 6.4 [95% CI, 1.2-36.0] and 1.3 [95% CI, 1.0-1.7], respectively). Adverse pulmonary outcome at follow-up was associated with more frequent use of pulmonary medication after PICU discharge. In comparison with those without adverse pulmonary outcomes, we did not identify any difference in frequency of sports performance or school absenteeism.

Conclusions: In this single-center cohort, one-quarter of the children attending follow-up with a history of invasive mechanical ventilation for bronchiolitis had adverse, mostly previously undetected, long-term pulmonary outcomes at 6-12 years. Atopic disease in family and longer duration of invasive mechanical ventilation were associated with presence of asthma. The presence of adverse pulmonary outcomes was associated with more frequent use of pulmonary medication after PICU discharge.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dr. de Sonnaville’s institution received funding from Janivo, C.J. Vaillant, Louise and Vehmeijer charity foundations. The remaining authors have disclosed that they do not have any potential conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Flowchart of participants.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Flowchart of children with and without adverse pulmonary outcomes.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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