Abstract

BURASTERO, Marina et al. Incidence of withdrawal syndrome in critically ill children. Arch. Pediatr. Urug. [online]. 2017, vol.88, n.1, pp.6-11. ISSN 0004-0584.

Objective: The study aims to determine the incidence of withdrawal syndrome, its clinical features and the presence of risk factors. Methodology: An observational and prospective study.  Assessment was repeated and the Sophia Observation Withdrawal Symptoms Scale (SOWS) was used. The study was conducted at the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of Centro Hospitalario Pereira Rossell (CHPR). Hospitalized children in PICU between 1/11/2013- 30/9/2014 and treated with benzodiazepines and opioids during 5 days or more were included in the study. Days of stay at the PICU, agents used for sedation (dose, duration) and cumulative doses were recorded. Withdrawal syndrome diagnosis was done using the SOWS. Results: 39 children were included in the study. The incidence of withdrawal syndrome was 18% (7/39). Children who developed withdrawal syndrome presented higher cumulative doses of midazolam (54.1 mg/kg vs. 44.2 mg/kg) and fentanyl (464.2µg/kg vs. 380.1 µg/kg) than those without withdrawal syndrome. Conclusions: the withdrawal syndrome was frequent in this population. Cumulative doses of midazolam and fentanyl were higher in those with withdrawal symptoms. The SOWS is a useful resource for diagnosis.

Keywords : SUBSTANCE WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME; CRITICAL ILLNESS; INCIDENCE; CHILD.

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