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Echocardiographic characteristics in neonates with septic shock

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Abstract

Clinical parameters used for hemodynamic assessment and titration of vasopressor therapy in neonates with septic shock have several limitations. Functional echocardiography is an emerging tool for bedside assessment of cardiac function and may be useful for diagnosis of shock and assessing the response to therapy. Data regarding echocardiographic parameters in neonates with shock is lacking. This prospective observational study was conducted in a Level III NICU with the primary objective of comparing echocardiographic characteristics of neonates with septic shock at diagnosis, following fluid boluses, and after maximum inotropic support [A1]. Additionally, we compared these characteristics with those of healthy stable neonates who were gestation and postnatal age-matched. A total of 36 neonates with septic shock and 30 gestation and postnatal age-matched controls were enrolled. The mean (SD) gestation and birth weight of neonates with septic shock were 30.6 (4.0) weeks and 1538 (728) g, respectively. Gram-negative bacilli constituted 78.9% of all isolates. At presentation, there was no significant difference between neonates with shock and controls in terms of ventricular outputs, shortening fraction, ratio of early to late diastolic trans-mitral flow velocity, and myocardial performance indices. The distensibility index of inferior vena cava was higher in neonates with shock compared to controls, (17% vs 10%, (p < 0.01)). Left ventricular output was 209 (92) and 227 (102) ml/kg/min (p = 0.53) and right ventricular output was 427 (203) and 459 (227) ml/kg/min, (p = 0.03), respectively, before and after inotropic therapy. 

    Conclusion: Echocardiographic parameters may not differentiate neonates with septic shock from hemodynamically stable neonates. Neonates with shock associated with predominantly gram-negative sepsis are not able to augment cardiac functions, either at the onset or after administration of inotropes. 

     Trial registration: (CTRI/2017/12/010766).

What is known:

• For neonates with shock, echocardiography is becoming increasingly popular as an objective method of evaluating hemodynamics.

• In healthy preterm neonate, cardiac output has been known to increase in response to altered hemodynamics during states of increased oxygen demand.

What is new:

•  In the setting of septic shock induced by gram-negative organisms, echocardiographic parameters are less likely to assist in the assessment of the response to vasoactive agents. Cytokines, induced by gram-negative organisms, may alter adrenoreceptors in myocardium and vasculature.

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Availability of data and materials

The data that support this study are available on request from corresponding author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neonatology, Institute of Child Health, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, India

    Kumari Gunjan, Manoj Modi, Anup Thakur, Arun Soni & Satish Saluja

Authors
  1. Kumari Gunjan
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  2. Manoj Modi
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  3. Anup Thakur
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  4. Arun Soni
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  5. Satish Saluja
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Contributions

MM, SS, and KG conceptualized the project. KG had the primary responsibility of patient screening, enrolment, and data collection. MM performed echocardiography. KG, SS, and MM performed the statistical analysis and wrote the manuscript. AS and AT supervised during enrolment, outcome assessment, and manuscript writing. All authors approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Satish Saluja.

Ethics declarations

Ethical approval

This study was performed in line with principles of Declaration of Helsinki. Approval was granted by ethics committee, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (EC/07/17/1194).

Consent to participate

Written informed consent was obtained from the parents.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

CTRI No:

CTRI/2017/12/010766.

Additional information

Communicated by Daniele De Luca

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Gunjan, K., Modi, M., Thakur, A. et al. Echocardiographic characteristics in neonates with septic shock. Eur J Pediatr 183, 1849–1855 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-024-05444-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-024-05444-3

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