An email-based survey of treatment strategies in children with septic shock in China / 中国小儿急救医学

ABSTRACT

Objective:To describe the treatment strategies in children with septic shock in China.Methods:A questionnaire was prepared and 368 pediatric intensivists from the Pediatric Critical Care Physician Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association were surveyed about the treatment of pediatric septic shock from April to June 2017.Results:Surveys were received from 87.2%(68/78) institutions and 368 questionnaires (response-rate 45.1%) were included.59.2% and 77.7% of the respondents chose debridement surgery and fluid drainage as source control intervention.Antibiotics were used within 1 hour of shock in 90.8% of respondents.98.4% of respondents chose normal saline, 72.3% of respondents chosen albumin, and 53.8% of respondents chosen plasma for fluid resuscitation.When no venous access was available during shock resuscitation, 57.1% of respondents preferred intraosseous access.79.3% and 83.2% of the respondents used the adjuvant therapy such as glucocorticoids and intravenous immunoglobulin.96.7%, 85.3% and 22.0% of respondents were likely to provide oxygen and mechanical ventilation, continuous renal replacement, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as organ support, respectively.Additionally, 322 (88.7%), 188 (51.1%), and 85 (23.1%) respondents chose the "best advice" options to simulated clinical cases of fluid resuscitation, inotropic agents, and vasoactive agents, respectively.In the simulated cases of vasoactive drugs and inotropic drugs, 69.3% and 24.2% of the respondents chose fluid resuscitation strategy, respectively.In cases of fluid resuscitation, 49.7% (183/368) of respondents reported performing fluid responsiveness and volume status assessment, and instruments used in the assessment included bedside echocardiography[39.4% (145/368)], bioreactance[10.3% (38/368)], transpulmonary thermodilution devices[6.3% (23/368)]. Pediatricians who received advanced life support courses for children ( P=0.006) and intensive care specialist training center training ( P=0.002) were more likely to choose the " best recommendation" option than those who did not attend the training. Conclusion:The current status of pediatric septic shock treatment strategies in China are active source control intervention, antibiotic use and organs support, and increased awareness of non-invasive hemodynamic monitoring.However, there may be excessive fluid infusion and inappropriate use of plasma, glucocorticoids and intravenous immunoglobulin.Different training and continuing education may improve rational treatment strategies.