Objective: We analyzed the echocardiographic findings of children with septic shock who have a high mortality rate in pediatric intensive care units (PICU).

Methods: The study was conducted in the 3rd step PICU as a prospective observational study. Children aged 1 month-18 years, who were followed up with septic shock and started vasoactive medication, were included in the study. Echocardiography was performed within the first hour at the latest in patients diagnosed with septic shock. Echocardiographic findings were compared in non-surviving and surviving patients.

Results: There were 39 (38% female) children diagnosed with septic shock in this study. The median age of the patients was 20 months. The vasoactive medication was started in all patients. There was no statistically significant difference between the patients who non-surviving and those who survived in terms of echocardiographic findings. The ejection fraction (EF) of the patients who died was median 71.5% [minimum (min.) 40, maximum (max.) 79], and the EF of the surviving patients was 72.5 (min. 53, max. 81; p>0.05). The shortening fraction of non-surviving patients was 39.5 (min. 18, max. 46), and 40 (min. 26, max. 48) in surviving patients (p>0.05).

Conclusion: The reason why there is no difference between the echocardiographic findings of the patients who non-surviving and survived septic shock, may be due to the functioning of the compensation mechanisms in septic shock or the immediate initiation of vasoactive drug therapy. Prospective, multi-center, more comprehensive studies with a larger number of patients are needed to obtain clearer information on this subject.

Keywords: Septic shock, echocardiography, pediatric intensive care unit, vasoactive drug, ejection fraction, shortening fraction