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Children with medical complexity and paediatric palliative care: data by a respiratory intermediate care unit
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  • Serena Caggiano,
  • Martino Pavone,
  • Claudio Cherchi,
  • Maria Giovanna Paglietti,
  • Alessandra Schiavino,
  • Francesca Petreschi,
  • Beatrice Chiarini Testa,
  • Renato Cutrera
Serena Caggiano
Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Martino Pavone
Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS
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Claudio Cherchi
Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS
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Maria Giovanna Paglietti
Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS
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Alessandra Schiavino
Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS
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Francesca Petreschi
Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS
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Beatrice Chiarini Testa
Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS
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Renato Cutrera
Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS
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Abstract

Pediatric palliative care (PPC) is an active and total approach to the care of children with life-limiting conditions and to their families. PPC programs provide ongoing care for children with medical complexity (CMC), many of whom will reach adulthood. The aim of the study is to describe a population of CMC afferent in 4 months to the Intermediate Care Unit of a tertiary referral hospital for southern and central Italy. We enrolled all CMC patients admitted at our unit in 4 randomized months. We registered pathologies and different categories of childhood diseases, devices and needs, hospitalization and home care plan. Among 195 admitted to our unit, 87 CMC were included. Median age was 9 (0.1 – 35.7) years. The main pathologies recorded were neuromuscular, neurological, respiratory, metabolic, malformative, genetic syndromes and outcomes of prematurity. Comorbidity made by respiratory, digestive, neurological, cardiac and urological involvement was present in a high percentage of cases. Among our patients, only 24 hadn’t any devices. The average length of hospitalization was 7.0 (1.0 – 270.0) days with 2 (1.0 – 7.0) admissions per year for patient. Home care activation was not required for only 24 of 87 patients. Children eligible for CPP are increasing and their survival results in a rise in comorbidities and special needs demanding multi-level interventions. Respiratory symptoms are the most recurrent observed demonstrating the need for an expert in CPP to have respiratory skills. Sharing data and knowledge of CMC needs may help to improve care coordination and interventions.
02 May 2021Submitted to Pediatric Pulmonology
03 May 2021Submission Checks Completed
03 May 2021Assigned to Editor
06 May 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
28 May 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
29 May 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Major
28 Feb 20221st Revision Received
01 Mar 2022Submission Checks Completed
01 Mar 2022Assigned to Editor
01 Mar 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
04 Apr 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
15 Apr 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
08 Jul 20222nd Revision Received
01 Sep 2022Submission Checks Completed
01 Sep 2022Assigned to Editor
01 Sep 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
11 Oct 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
15 Oct 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
11 Nov 20223rd Revision Received
01 Dec 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
01 Dec 2022Submission Checks Completed
01 Dec 2022Assigned to Editor
01 Dec 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
09 Dec 2022Editorial Decision: Accept
20 Dec 2022Published in Pediatric Pulmonology. 10.1002/ppul.26278