Our study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and predictive factors of withholding life support for children suffering from severe neurological impairment before admission to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

Children under 18 years of age with severe neurological impairment, who were hospitalized between January 2006 and December 2016, were included in this retrospective study. They were allocated to a withholding group or a control group, depending on whether life support was withheld or not, before admission to the PICU.

Overall, 119 patients were included. At admission to the PICU, the rate of withholding life support was 10 % (n = 12). Predictive factors were: (1) a previous stay in the PICU (n = 11; 92 %, p<0.01, odds ratio [OR]: 14 [2–635], p = 0.001); (2) the need for respiratory support (n = 5; 42 %, p = 0.01, OR: 6 [1–27], p = 0.01); (3) the need for feeding support (n = 10; 83 %, p = 0.01, OR: 10 [2–100], p = 0.001); and (4) a higher functional status score (FSS: 16 [12.5–19] vs. 10 [8–13], p<0.01).

The withholding of life support for children suffering from severe neurological impairment appeared limited in our pediatric department. The main predictor was at least one admission to the PICU, which raised the question of the pediatrician's role in the decision to withhold life support.