Adrenal insufficiency in septic shock.

BACKGROUND: Functional adrenal insufficiency has been documented in critically ill adults. OBJECTIVE: To document the incidence of adrenal insufficiency in children with septic shock, and to evaluate its effect on catecholamine requirements, duration of intensive care, and mortality. SETTING: Sixteen-bed paediatric intensive care unit in a university hospital. METHODS: Thirty three children with septic shock were enrolled. Adrenal function was assessed by the maximum cortisol response after synthetic adrenocorticotropin stimulation (short Synacthen test). Insufficiency was defined as a post-Synacthen cortisol increment < 200 nmol/l. RESULTS: Overall mortality was 33%. The incidence of adrenal insufficiency was 52% and children with adrenal insufficiency were significantly older and tended to have higher paediatric risk of mortality scores. They also required higher dose vasopressors for haemodynamic stability. In the survivor group, those with adrenal insufficiency needed a longer period of inotropic support than those with normal function (median, 3 v 2 days), but there was no significant difference in duration of ventilation (median, 4 days for each group) or length of stay (median, 5 v 4 days). Mortality was not significantly greater in children with adrenal insufficiency than in those with adequate adrenal function (6 of 17 v 5 of 16, respectively). CONCLUSION: Adrenal insufficiency is common in children with septic shock. It is associated with an increased vasopressor requirement and duration of shock.     

Adrenal status in children with septic shock using low-dose stimulation test.

OBJECTIVES: There is paucity of data on the magnitude of absolute or relative adrenal insufficiency in septic shock, especially in children. We conducted a prospective study to determine the prevalence of adrenal insufficiency in children with septic shock using a low-dose Synacthen (1 microg) stimulation test. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Pediatric intensive care unit in a tertiary care hospital in northern India. PATIENTS: Children with septic shock. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We performed cortisol estimation at baseline and after low-dose Synacthen (1 microg) stimulation at 30 and 60 mins in children with fluid refractory septic shock admitted to our pediatric intensive care unit. Basal cortisol levels <7 microg/dL and peak cortisol level <18 microg/dL were used to define adrenal insufficiency. An increment of <9 microg/dL after stimulation was used to diagnose relative adrenal insufficiency. As there is lack of consensus on the cutoffs for defining relative adrenal insufficiency using the low-dose adrenocorticotropic hormone test, we evaluated different cutoff values (increment at 30 mins, increment at 60 mins, greater of the two increments) and evaluated their association with the incidence of catecholamine refractory shock and outcomes. Children with sepsis but without septic shock were sampled for baseline cortisol levels as a comparison. Thirty children (15 girls) with septic shock were included; median age (95% confidence interval) was 36.5 (9.39- 58.45) months. Median Pediatric Risk of Mortality score was 22.5 (14.13-24.87). Fifteen (50%) children survived. The median (95% confidence interval) cortisol values at baseline and 30 mins and 60 mins after stimulation were 71 (48.74-120.23) microg/dL, 78.1 (56.9-138.15) microg/dL, and 91 (56.17-166.44) microg/dL, respectively. The median baseline cortisol value in age- and gender-matched children with sepsis was 11.5 microg/dL. None of the children with septic shock fulfilled the criteria for absolute adrenal insufficiency. However, nine (30%) patients had relative adrenal insufficiency (increment in cortisol <9 microg/dL). Of these nine patients, five (56%) died; of the 21 patients with a greater increment in cortisol after stimulation, ten died (p = .69). Compared with patients in septic shock with normal adrenal reserve, those with relative adrenal insufficiency had a higher incidence of catecholamine refractory shock (p = .019) but no difference in mortality rate (p = .69). On the sensitivity and specificity analysis using various cutoffs of increment, the best discrimination for catecholamine refractory shock was obtained with a peak increment <6 microg/dL. CONCLUSIONS: Relative adrenal insufficiency is common in children with septic shock and is associated with catecholamine refractory shock.     

促肾上腺皮质激素刺激对脓毒症及脓毒性休克患儿肾上腺功能评估的意义

目的 探讨小剂量(1μg/1.73 m2)促肾上腺皮质激素(ACTH)刺激实验评估儿童脓毒症和脓毒性休克肾上腺功能状态的价值.方法 患儿入院24h内完成基础皮质醇(T0)测定,静脉注射1μg/1.73m2 ACTH,30 min后测定血液皮质醇(T1),根据T0和皮质醇增值(△max=T1-T0)判断肾上腺功能,以△max≤90μg/L为肾上腺功能障碍(AI)指标.结果 62例中,脓毒症53例,脓毒性休克9例,病死率为27.4%(17/62).肾上腺功能障碍(adrenal insufficiency,AI)发生率40.3%(25/62),其中脓毒症和脓毒性休克患儿AI发生率分别是39.6%和44.4%,差异无显著统计学意义(P>0.05).两组脓毒症和脓毒性休克平均T0和T1分别是(318.6±230.4)μg/L、(452.3±230.7)μg/L和(454.7±212.7)μg/L、(579.3±231.9)μg/L,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).存活组和死亡组患儿T0、T1分别是(320.5±223.9)μg/L、(462.3±212.0)μg/L和(384.3±258.3)μg/L、(500.7±470.6)μg/L,两组AI发生率分别是37.8%和47.1%,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).T0和T1水平与儿童危重病例评分(PCIS)有关(P<0.05),AI发生率与PCIS、PRISMⅢ和器官功能障碍数目无关(P>0.05).结论 儿童脓毒症和脓毒性休克患儿AI发生率较高.小剂量ACTH刺激实验可以判断严重感染患者肾上腺功能,可为激素治疗提供依据.     

小儿肾上腺功能不全与脓毒症

近年来,严重脓毒症及感染性休克发病率及病死率居高不下.在美国,成人严重感染是第10位的致死病因.脓毒症是世界范围内造成儿童死亡的最常见病因之一[1].与其他发展中国家相似,脓毒症和脓毒性休克在我国依然是儿科重症监护病房中危重患儿的主要死亡原因之一.     

Nesiritide in a pediatric oncology patient with renal insufficiency and myocardial dysfunction following septic shock

Nesiritide is a recombinant formulation of B-type natriuretic peptide used most commonly in the treatment of adults with decompensated congestive heart failure. The physiologic effects of BNP include natriuresis, diuresis, and smooth muscle relaxation. These physiologic effects result in its beneficial therapeutic effects, including a decrease in afterload, resulting in increased cardiac output with improved peripheral perfusion. The authors report on a 17-year-old with acute myelogenous leukemia who was admitted to the Pediatric ICU for treatment of septic shock, respiratory failure, myocardial dysfunction, and renal insufficiency. After the initial stabilization of his hemodynamic status, nesiritide was started and resulted in a stable balance of fluid intake versus output without the use of diuretics, improvement in myocardial function, and recovery of renal function manifested by a decrease of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine back to baseline values. The end-organ effects of nesiritide, previous reports regarding its use in the pediatric population, and its potential applications in the ICU setting are discussed.     

Gastric tonometry in septic shock

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prognostic value of intramucosal pH (pHi) and the relation among pHi, arterial pH, base excess, and lactate in children with septic shock. DESIGN: Children admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit with a diagnosis of septic shock were prospectively enrolled. A gastrointestinal tonometer (Tonometrics Division, Instrumentarium Corporation, Helsinki, Finland) was placed into the stomach and intramucosal pH, arterial pH, base deficit, and lactate were measured on admission and six hours later. Sequential data were analysed on 24 patients (17 survivors, seven non-survivors), median age 46 months (range: 2.8-168 months). RESULTS: Median pHi on admission was 7.39 (interquartile range 7.36-7.51) in survivors compared with 7.2 (interquartile range 7.18-7.35) in non-survivors (p = 0.01). There was no significant difference in arterial pH, base excess, or lactate among survivors and non-survivors. Admission pHi < 7.32 predicted mortality with sensitivity (57%), specificity (94%), and positive predictive value (80%). Patients with admission pHi < 7.32 who failed to improve > or = 7.32 within six hours (n = 3) had 100% mortality. CONCLUSION: In children with septic shock the admission pHi is significantly lower in non-survivors. pHi is a better prognostic indicator of mortality than either standard acid-base values or lactate. pHi < 7.32 that does not improve within six hours is associated with a poor prognosis.     

Adrenal insufficiency in the term and preterm neonate

The adrenal gland is part of the endocrine system and produces hormones that are essential for survival. The adrenal cortex, the largest part of the adrenal gland, produces three major hormones. Glucocorticoids regulate metabolism of glucose, protein, and fat and allow the body to respond to stress by increasing blood glucose levels and cardiac output. Mineralocorticoids regulate fluid and electrolyte balance and help maintain blood pressure. Androgens are responsible for sexual differentiation in the fetus. Insufficient production of these hormones can occur for many reasons and can have a profound effect on the newborn. It is important for neonatal nurses to be familiar with signs and symptoms and appropriate treatment of adrenal insufficiency. This article explores causes, signs and symptoms, and treatment of adrenal insufficiency in the newborn.     

What is the rationale for hydrocortisone treatment in children with infection-related adrenal insufficiency and septic shock?

Recent studies show that children who die from fulminant meningococcaemia have very low cortisol:adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) ratios within the first 8 h of presentation to emergency facilities compared with survivors. This observation supports the possibility that adrenal insufficiency may contribute to rapid cardiovascular collapse in these children. In recent years, the use of hydrocortisone treatment has become increasingly popular in the care of adult and paediatric patients with septic shock. In this review, the classical adrenal insufficiency literature is presented and the existing rationale for using titrated hydrocortisone treatment (2-50 mg/kg/day) to reverse catecholamine-resistant shock in children who have absolute adrenal insufficiency (defined by peak cortisol level <18 microg/dl after ACTH challenge) or pituitary, hypothalamic or adrenal axis insufficiency is provided. In addition, the concept of relative adrenal insufficiency (basal cortisol >18 microg/dl but a peak response to ACTH <9 microg/dl) is reviewed. Although there is a good rationale supporting the use of 7 days of low-dose hydrocortisone treatment (about 5 mg/kg/day) in adults with this condition and catecholamine resistant septic shock, the paediatric literature suggests that it is prudent to conduct more studies before recommending this approach in children.     

感染性休克治疗的新进展

感染性休克现多称为脓毒症休克(septicshock) ,是由微生物及其毒素等产物,直接或间接引起机体的急性微循环功能障碍,其主要病理生理变化包括有效血容量减少、组织灌注不良、细胞代谢和器官功能紊乱。临床特征包括:面色苍白、四肢湿冷、脉细速、呼吸急促或发绀、精神萎靡或烦躁不安、血压降低、脉压小及尿少等。如不及时抢救,可发生多器官功能不全综合征(MultipleOrganDys functionSyndrome ,MODS)。通过近年的研究,人们认识到MODS的实质是失控的全身炎症反应,故同时提出了全身炎症反应综合征(SystemicInflammatoryResponseSyndrome ,…