Bronchiolitis Module

See the PARIS Paper

This is the biggest and most robust trial yet done to assess the value of high-flow in bronchiolitis. The primary outcome shows that there is a role for high-flow in the non-ICU management of this disease. Importantly PARIS has shown in a large cohort of children that high-flow, when used within the parameters of the trial protocol, does not lead to an increase in adverse events which in-turn suggests the increased patient:nurse ratios for kids on high-flow that are often mandated by hospital policies may not be necessary (depending on the severity of disease of course). Some caution must be used around the potential for erroneous use of the high-flow circuits themselves and the interpretation of early warning scores in the context of high-flow use.

PARIS was supported with significant nursing education resources potentially reducing errors to a level that were below what could be expected with the standard resourcing of mixed EDs and other environments where high-flow use in children may be infrequent. As with many grey areas in medicine protocols as to how we use high-flow vary by institution with little more than opinion to guide them.

Though neither the intention nor the conclusion of this paper in showing the progress of such a large number of children on high-flow, this trial also provides a basis for more robust decision making around how we use high-flow itself.

NICE feeding guidance

• Give fluids by nasogastric or orogastric tube in children with bronchiolitis if they cannot take enough fluid by mouth.
• Give intravenous isotonic fluids (see the NICE guideline on intravenous fluids therapy in children) to children who: do not tolerate nasogastric or orogastric fluids; or have impending respiratory failure.

• What has been the onset of symptoms? Progressive over days is most consistent with bronchiolitis. Onset of wheeze and respiratory distress over hours is most consistent with bronchospasm (viral induced wheeze).
• What has been the pattern of their work of breathing? 
• How significant is the work of breathing? 
• What are the auscultation findings – is there presence of focal findings? Wheeze? Crackles? 
• Is this affecting the child functionally with feeding or sleeping difficulties?
• If auscultation is suggestive of possible viral induced wheeze or at least, a component of wheeze that may be responsive to bronchodilators (If wheeze is present and no crackles or focal findings) and presuming the child has more than just mild work of breathing -then we suggest this may be a possible candidate for viral induced wheeze.  

• (Note – This is a good opportunity to survey your team and colleagues to see what the practice is at your local department). 
• Regarding this grey area question, in Australian practice, some clinicians will trial salbutamol for potential viral induced wheeze if the child is 12 months or older. Other doctors may wish to trial if the child is slightly younger (e.g. from 10 months) if they have a strong family history of asthma and atopy or if they have had previous ventolin use reported by their family with good effect. The younger the child is, the less likely that the story and case is to fit viral induced wheeze.

It would be prudent to give 6 puffs (or do you use another number?) and reassess following to see if there is any improvement or change.

Consider revisiting history, respiratory examination and consider adjuncts to assessment such as a capillary or venous blood gas.

• For example, Do they have an NG tube on free drainage, are they nil by mouth and on IV fluid support at ⅔ maintenance
• Are their family actually compliant with this or have also been feeding them via a bottle? 
• Are they working harder to breathe because they are getting “hangry” and might actually tolerate a continuous NG or comfort feed?

• Consider whether the HFNP has led to no change, improvement and then deterioration or simple worsening of symptoms due to patient distress.
•  If no improvement was observed on commencement – it may be worth de-escalating them – ie. lower flow rates or low flow nasal prongs

Consider your confidence of whether you have the right diagnosis or if there is need to assess for a secondary pathology such as pneumonia, foreign body, cardiac contribution? Do you need to further investigate with bloods, CXR? Do you need to append your management and provide antibiotic coverage? Do you need to assess for a complication from treatment e.g. pneumothorax.

• Have you sought a senior review/notified the admitting paediatrician?
• Do you need an ICU consult, NETS consult or retrieval to a tertiary centre?
• How long are you comfortable to wait to see if there is a response to high flow?

• What settings would you start on?
• Where could you move up to (in terms of peep, FiO2)
• How soon would you reassess – what are you looking for?

• How would you determine this?
• Who should be involved in the conversation? Who should perform the intubation?
• What sedation would you use?
• What equipment would you use?
• What settings would you use?

In bronchiolitis, children do not respond to salbutamol because:

A: They don’t have beta receptors until they are older.

B: The beta receptors are immature and do not begin functioning correctly until the child is older.

C: The large amount of secretions interfere with it and prevent it binding to the receptors

D: There is no bronchospasm for the salbutamol to act on.

The correct answer is D.

All humans have beta receptors. Foetuses develop them from around 15 weeks gestation and are therefore born with them. Developing beta receptors after 1 year of age is a common paediatric myth! In fact, in bronchiolitis, there is no bronchospasm in the same way as there is in viral induced wheeze. Bronchiolitis is a illness developing gradually over 4 days and then slowly improving. Patients have increased mucous rather than bronchospasm, which does not respond to a bronchodilator.

A 3 month old baby presents to ED with coryza, cough, and poor feeding. Breastfeeding is going ok, but the baby is feeding for shorter periods, more frequently than usual. She is having wet nappies as normal. Saturations are 93% on room air, RR is 62, and there is moderate subcostal recession with some nasal flaring. Which of the following is an indication to admit this baby to hospital?

A: The reduced breastfeeding

B: The oxygen sats

C: The work of breathing

D: The age of the baby

The correct answer is C.

The criteria for admission usually are:

• feeding less than half of usual, or less wet nappies
• saturations less than 92% on air
• increased WOB
• apnoeic episodes

Risk factors such as:

• Ex-prem
• Age less than 12 weeks or less than 37 weeks CGA
• history of lung disease or congenital heart disease or neurological problems
• smoke exposure

In clinical practice, you would use your judgement to assess if hospitalisation was necessary. Social concerns should always be considered.

In this case, the baby is maintaining good urine output and the feeds, although shorter, are more frequent. The age alone is not an indication for admission. Obviously, an O2 requirement would be an indication for admission but most units would consider sats of 92% or less as reduced. There is significantly increased work of breathing with recession and nasal flaring, however, so this would be the main indication for admission.

You have a 10 month old baby with bronchiolitis who is to be commenced on high flow. Which of the following is false?

A: Nasal prongs size should be estimated based on the width of the patient’s nostrils.

B: Patients can be NG fed immediately once on high flow. 

C: High flow improves the functional residual capacity.

D: The humidified oxygen help clearing mucous secretions.

The correct answer is B.

Patients on high flow will likely need an NG inserted due to abdominal distention, but should usually not be fed for the first couple of hours on high flow. The aim of high flow is to provide humidified, high flow to improve clearance of secretions and to increase the functional residual capacity. Together this should reduce the work of breathing.