Volume 8 | Issue - 8
Volume 8 | Issue - 8
Volume 8 | Issue - 7
Volume 8 | Issue - 7
Volume 8 | Issue - 6
Background: Sepsis remains a significant health burden worldwide, especially among children, with an estimated annual incidence of 1.2 million cases. Mortality rates for sepsis range from 1% to 5%, while severe sepsis has a higher mortality of 9% to 20%. Early initiation of appropriate treatment, especially for children in septic shock, is crucial. This study focuses on the effectiveness of epinephrine, an agent known for its potent inotropic effects and minimal impact ‘on systemic vascular resistance, in managing fluid-refractory hypotensive septic shock in pediatric patients’. The study aims to evaluate the efficacy of ‘epinephrine in treating fluid refractory hypotensive septic shock’ in children at Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar. Methodology: This was a descriptive study, was conducted in the Department of Pediatrics at Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar and was carried out from August 20, 2022, to February 20, 2023. A total of 146 ‘children with fluid-refractory hypotensive septic shock’, of both genders, were included. Each child received an epinephrine infusion at a dosage of 0.1–0.3 µg/kg/min. The infusion rate was adjusted every 10 minutes, increasing by 0.5 mL/hr, with a ‘maximum limit of 1.5 mL/hr, until shock resolution’. The efficacy of treatment was assessed based on clinical resolution of shock. Results: The study included children aged 1 to 12 years, ‘with a mean age of’ 7.35±1.75 ‘years’. The mean duration of complaints was 7.54±2.03 days. Males comprised 58.9% of the sample, while females accounted for 41.1%. Epinephrine demonstrated efficacy in 51.4% of the cases. Conclusion: The findings suggest that epinephrine is effective in achieving early resolution of fluid-refractory hypotensive septic shock in children.