Anaesthesia | Paediatrics | Paediatric Septic Shock

Paediatric Septic Shock
Session Overview
Description
This session looks at how to identify and treat paediatric septic shock, including that caused by meningococcal septicaemia.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• List the common clinical causes of sepsis in children
• Identify the characteristics that determine the severity of shock in the sick child with sepsis
• Explain the management of paediatric sepsis with reference to early goal-directed therapy

Prerequisites
Before commencing this session you should complete the following:

• Definitions of sepsis (001-0327)
• Nosocomial infections and Infection Control (001-0330)
• Septic shock (001-0332)
• Paediatric & Neonatal Basic Life Support (001-0410)
• Advanced paediatric life support (001-0411)

Previously healthy children can present to district general hospitals (DGHs) with overwhelming life-threatening sepsis.

The initial management in the first hour following a child’s arrival in the DGH is critical.

This session will concentrate on the initial management of the child in this crucial first hour.

Adult guidelines for targeted therapy are inappropriate in infants and younger children. Separate targets are required for different ages of children.

Children, however, can make a full recovery from an episode of sepsis that would be fatal in older patients.