Abstract
This article discusses the challenges in balancing the utility and harm associated with pediatric medical devices. Takashima et al. explored the prevalence and complications of invasive devices across three Australian pediatric tertiary hospitals and reported a high prevalence of complications, particularly with vascular access devices. We also highlight the need to pay attention to the use of these devices, particularly intravenous catheters, and the importance of a culture of patient safety in healthcare systems. We emphasize the need for a nuanced approach that carefully weighs the benefits against potential risks and encourages collaboration among stakeholders to establish robust regulatory frameworks and prioritize the safety and well-being of pediatric patients. Finally, we conclude by advocating the involvement of parents and families in gathering information about hospital safety incidents and fostering a culture of safety that supports reporting, flexibility, and learning.
Impact
-
Reporting adverse events and their consequences is essential in the strategy to prevent them, allowing comparison with national or international standards, and identifying indicators to optimize and harbor the possibility of determining improvement measures that pursue a multifactorial approach and are cost-effective.
-
Our comment advocates limiting the prevalence of medical invasive devices and their consequences by reviewing their epidemiology.
-
Although advancements in medical technology have undoubtedly improved the diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities, the delicate balance between device utility and potential harm necessitates careful consideration.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 14 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $18.50 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Takashima, M. et al. Pediatric invasive device utility and harm: a multi-site point prevalence survey. Pediatr. Res. https://doi.org/10.1038/S41390-023-03014-1 (2024).
Indarwati, F., Mathew, S., Munday, J. & Keogh, S. Incidence of peripheral intravenous catheter failure and complications in paediatric patients: systematic review and meta analysis. Int. J. Nurs. Stud. 102, 103488 (2020).
Indarwati, F., Munday, J. & Keogh, S. Peripheral intravenous catheter insertion, maintenance and outcomes in Indonesian paediatric hospital settings: a point prevalence study. J. Pediatr. Nurs. 73, 106–112 (2023).
Brady, P. W., Varadarajan, K., Peterson, L. E., Lannon, C. & Gross, T. Prevalence and nature of adverse medical device events in hospitalized children. J. Hosp. Med. 8, 390–393 (2013).
Atkinson, M. K. et al. Adverse events and patient outcomes among hospitalized children cared for by general pediatricians vs hospitalists. JAMA Netw. open 1, e185658 (2018).
Letica-Kriegel, A. S. et al. Identifying the risk factors for catheter-associated urinary tract infections: a large cross-sectional study of six hospitals. BMJ Open 9, e022137 (2019).
Khan, A. et al. Parent-reported errors and adverse events in hospitalized children. JAMA Pediatr. 170, e154608 (2016).
Stockwell, D. C. et al. Adverse events in hospitalized pediatric patients. Pediatrics 142, e20173360 (2018).
Mueller, B. U. et al. Principles of pediatric patient safety: reducing harm due to medical care. Pediatrics 143, e20183649 (2019).
Choosing Wisely Campaign Toolkit. https://www.aap.org/en/news-room/campaigns-and-toolkits/choosing-wisely/.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jorro-Barón, F., Taffarel, P. Balancing pediatric device utility and harm: navigating the challenges for safer healthcare. Pediatr Res (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-024-03126-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-024-03126-2