this systematic review and meta–analysis, published in Crit Care Med (2016; 44:819), showed a low incidence but a high mortality

its results also indicate that both incidence and mortality of pediatric acute respiratory distress

syndrome have not changed over the last two decades and that mortality depends on the geographic location of studies

'Ventilatory Support in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Patients' (VESPer) assessed ventilatory support settings in critically ill pediatric patients across European centers, and explored ventilatory support variables and parameters amongst various groups of critically ill patients receiving invasive or noninvasive ventilation

VESPer served as a pilot for PRoVENT–PED, an international multicenter prospective observational study (registered at clinicaltrials NCT06220825); the first analyses was published in Intensive Care Medicine – Peadiatric & Neonatal (2025: 3: 12)

connect with Martin Kneyber or David van Meenen for secondary analyses of the VESPer database

the ‘Current Practice of Ventilation Strategies in Children undergoing General Anesthesia and Associations with Postoperative Pulmonary Complications’ (BIG APPLE) is a multicenter observational study that will describe the epidemiology, ventilation practive and outcome of pediatric patients receiving intraoperative ventilation under general anesthesia for surgery

BIG APPLE is a stepping stone towards a larger global study

BIG APPLE will be registered at clinicaltrials (NCT06166706); the study protocol will  be published soon

the database of BIG APPLE will be harmonized with those from other observational studies, like LAS VEGAS and AVATaR, and future studies in children, in a pooled database

the database of BIG APPLE is not yet available for secondary analyses

contact us in case you have question

the ‘PRactice of VENTilation in PEDiatric patients’ (PRoVENT–PED) is a new international multicenter prospective observational study, planned to capture data on epidemiology, ventilation characteristics, and outcomes in critically ill children

the ‘PRactice of VENTilation in PEDiatric patients’ (PRoVENT–PED) is a new international multicenter prospective observational study, planned to capture data on epidemiology, ventilation characteristics, and outcomes in critically ill children

PRoVENT–PED is registered at clinicaltrials (NCT06220825); the study protocol was published in Critical Care Science (2025; 37:e20250398)

the study protocol has started  per March 1, 2024 and is now in the second phase

PRoVENT–PED  is designed so that its database can be harmonized and pooled with PRoVENT and PRoVENT 2+.

contact us in case you have questions

we will perform an analysis of the ELSO database, investigating the association between mechanical power, mechanical energy and driving pressure with outcomes in children under veno–veneus ECMO

the database is now available, an updated and finalized analysis plan is under construction; the study will be registered at clinicaltrials (pending)