Outcome of Children Post Mechanical Ventilation

This is a prospective longitudinal cohort study of pediatric patients requiring mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours, in all 4 PICUs in the province of Quebec (Canada). In follow-up PICU clinics, children and family outcomes will be evaluated 2, 6 and 12 months post PICU discharge.Children and their families will be enrolled locally from each PICU, their baseline data will be collected by local research staff and their post-discharge outcomes will be followed centrally from the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine. The specific aims are to determine the functional, respiratory and neurocognitive function of PICU survivors and Health related Quality of life. Psychosocial status of the child and parents will also be determined. The primary goal is to describe the impact of a critical illness and mechanical ventilation on PICU survivors and their families in order to improve the health and well-being of PICU survivors and their families, and ultimately to improve the care of children after a PICU stay.