This prospective study was conducted to determine the outcome of shock in children admitted to a multi-speciality tertiary care teaching hospital.

Subjects and Methods:

All children, 1 month - 15 years of age with clinical evidence of shock admitted in pediatric emergency / ICU over 18 months were included. Shock was classified into etiological groups and categorized as compensated or decompensated.

Results:

Among 98 cases of shock (4.3% of admissions) mean age was 2.8 ± 3.4 years with M: F ratio of 1:6:1. Hypovolemic, septic, cardiogenic and distributive shock was seen in 45.9%, 32.7%, 17.3% and 2.1% cases respectively. Overall survival was 73.6%. Survival rate was highest in hypovolemic (97.7%) followed by septic (53.3%) and cardiogenic shock (43.7%). Survival was not influenced by the age or sex. Nearly 98% patients presenting in compensated shock survived, whereas 2/3rd (67%) children in decompensated shock died (p> 0.05). Presence of respiratory failure, combined metabolic and respiratory acidosis increased mortality significantly. Malnutrition, anemia, renal failure or electrolyte abnormality did not increase mortality.

Conclusions:

Hypovolemia constitutes the commonest cause of shock. Factors influencing outcome of shock were type and stage of shock, combined acidosis, and presence of respiratory failure.

NCPCC 2005 - Conference Abstracts.Pediatric Oncall [serial online] 2006 [cited 15 May 2006(Supplement 5)];3. Available from:
http://www.pediatriconcall.com/fordoctor/Conference_abstracts/
PEdiatric_shock.asp