• Ahmed Ahmed El-Nawawy, Shimaa Mohammad Hassaan, and Hadir Mohamed Hassouna.
• From the Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
• Pediatr Emerg Care. 2022 May 1; 38 (5): 201206201-206.

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate the venous-to-arterial carbon dioxide tension difference during early resuscitation in pediatric septic shock.MethodsA prospective observational study was conducted in the pediatric intensive care unit of a tertiary care teaching. Children having septic shock aged from 3 to 60 months were studied within the first 24 hours of admission. Central venous and peripheral arterial blood samples for blood gases analysis at time of central venous catheter insertion and after 6 hours were obtained. Central venous carbon dioxide pressure, arterial carbon dioxide pressure, and their difference (delta Pco2) were recorded. Patients were categorized, accordingly to delta Pco2 after 6 hours of resuscitation, into high delta Pco2 group (≥6 mm Hg) and low delta Pco2 group (<6 mm Hg).ResultsOxygen extraction ratio at 6 hours of resuscitation was significantly lower among the low delta Pco2 group. Arterial lactate showed marked improvement in the low delta Pco2 group to be less than 2 mmol/L at 12 hours of resuscitation. Low delta Pco2 group showed significant higher shock reversal with shorter shock reversal time. Mortality was significantly lower among low delta Pco2 group with shorter pediatric intensive care unit stay.ConclusionsDelta Pco2 after 6 hours of resuscitation of <6 mm Hg indicates normalization of tissue perfusion during pediatric septic shock management. It could be used as a complementary tool to guide the resuscitation in the early phase of pediatric septic shock.Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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