Purpose: To investigate association of static and dynamic lactate indices with early mortality (within 48 hours of admission), as well as need for vasopressors and mechanical ventilation in pediatric severe sepsis/shock. To explore optimal cutoffs of lactate indices. We hypothesized that dynamic indices are superior to static indices in predicting early mortality. Methods: This prospective cohort study involved children (aged <14 years) admitted in emergency department, tertiary care teaching hospital in North India with severe sepsis/shock (2015-2016). Arterial lactate was measured at admission (X0) and after 6 hours (X6). Primary outcome of the measurement was early mortality. Association between lactate indices— lactate at 0 hours (Lac0), lactate after 6 hours (Lac6), time-weighted average (LacTW), delta (ΔLac), clearance (LacCl%) and early mortality, need for vasopressors, and mechanical ventilation—was assessed using Student t test/Mann-Whitney test. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) for early mortality deduced for all lactate indices and compared with reference (Lac0). Optimal cutoffs (maximizing both sensitivity and specificity) and their positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were determined. Results: During the study period, 116 children were assessed. Septic shock was present at admission in 56.9% children; 50% of children died during the next 48 hours. Lac0, Lac6, and LacTW were significantly higher, and LacCl% was lower in nonsurvivors versus survivors (all P < .001). Lac6 (0.837 [0.76-0.91]) had significantly higher AUROC (95% confidence interval) than Lac0 (0.77; P = .03). Abnormal lactate metrics (higher Lac0, Lac6, LacTW, and lower LacCl%) were associated with vasopressors need and mechanical ventilation. On logistic regression, Lac6 emerged as an independent predictor of early mortality as well as vasopressor and mechanical ventilation need. The optimal cutoff of Lac6 for identifying early mortality with good sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV was ≥2.65 (76, 85, 83, 78). Conclusions: Lactate6 is the best marker associated with early mortality and higher level of care in severe sepsis/septic shock in resource-poor regions.

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Objective: To describe the clinical-laboratory profile of pediatric Guillain-Barre syndrome and delineate features associated with need of mechanical ventilation. Methods: In a prospective observational study at tertiary care hospital, clinical-laboratory assessment and nerve conduction studies were documented in consecutive children hospitalized with Guillain-Barre syndrome according to Brighton criteria. Clinical-laboratory features were compared between ventilated and nonventilated patients using univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: Forty-six children (27 boys) with a mean age of 69.1±35.2 months were enrolled. History of preceding infection was present in 47.8%, bulbar palsy in 43.5%, feeble voice in 41.3%, sensory involvement in 13%, and autonomic involvement in 39.5%. Tetraparesis was noted in 87% of cases. Hughes disability scale >3 was noted in 44 children at admission and 39 (84.7%) at discharge. The most common electrophysiological type was acute motor axonal neuropathy (46.5%) followed by acute motor sensory axonal neuropathy (39.5%), acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (7%), and inexcitable nerves (7%). Nine (19.7%) children were ventilated, 3 (6.5%) died or were lost, and 43 were discharged. Factors associated with need of mechanical ventilation on univariate analysis were older age, hypertension, bulbar palsy, feeble voice, lower Medical Research Council (MRC) sum, raised total leucocyte count, and history of preceding infection. Logistic regression revealed older age, history of predisposing illness, lower MRC sum at presentation, and bulbar palsy as independent predictors of mechanical ventilation. Conclusions: The most common electrophysiological subtype in northern Indian children is acute motor axonal neuropathy. Older age, preceding infection, low MRC sum, and bulbar palsy are predictors of mechanical ventilation in pediatric Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Background: Aim of the study was to analyze the association of shock index (SI) from 0 to 6 hours with early mortality in severe sepsis/septic shock and to explore its age-specific cut-off values. To investigate association of change in SI over first 6 hours with early mortality. Methods: A prospective cohort study of children (<14 years) admitted in emergency department, tertiary care hospital with severe sepsis or septic shock, divided into 3 groups: group 1: 1 month to <1 year; group 2: 1 to <6 years; group 3: 6 to 12 years. Shock index (SI = heart rate/systolic blood pressure) measured at admission (X0) and hourly till 6 hours (X1-6). Primary outcome was death within 48 hours of admission. Area under receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed for SI (0-6). Optimal cut-offs of SI 0 and SI 6, maximizing both sensitivity and specificity were determined and positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV) were calculated. Results: From 2015 to 2016, 120 children were recruited. Septic shock was present at admission in 56.7% children. Early mortality was 50%. All hourly shock indices (SI 0-6) were higher among nonsurvivors in group 2 ( P ≤ .03) and group 3 ( P < .001). In group 1, SI after 2 hours was higher in nonsurvivors ( P 2-6: ≤ .02). Area under receiver operating characteristic curves (95% CI) for SI at 0 hour was 0.72 (0.5-0.9), 0.66 (0.5-0.8), and 0.77 (0.6-0.9) and at 6 hours was 0.8 (0.6-1), 0.75 (0.6-0.9), and 0.8 (0.7-1) in 3 groups. The cut-off values of SI 0 (sensitivity; specificity; PPV; NPV) in 3 groups: 1.98 (77; 75; 67; 83), 1.50 (65; 65; 68; 63), and 1.25 (90; 67; 77; 83) and SI6: 1.66 (85; 80; 73; 89), 1.36 (73; 70; 73; 70), and 1.30 (74; 73; 78; 69). Improvement of SI over 6 hours was associated with better outcome. Children with higher SI at both time points had higher mortality than those with SI score below the cut-offs ( P = .001). Conclusions: Age-specific SI cut-off values may identify children at high risk of early mortality in severe sepsis/septic shock and allow for better targeted management.

Objectives: Efforts are being made worldwide to prevent abandonment in children with leukaemia. The study aimed to determine changes in treatment refusal, treatment abandonment rates, and its reasons in response to financial support and focussed group counselling.Methods: A retrospective cohort study conducted at paediatric haematologyoncology unit, King George's Medical University, Lucknow among children <18 years admitted with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia from 1995 to 2017. Study divided into three periods: Phase ): Financial, social support with group counselling. Phase 3-subdivided into 3a: group counselling and 3b: intensified group counselling. Results: Number of children registered for treatment during phase 1, 2, 3a, 3b: 176, 200, 360, and 305. Treatment refusal decreased significantly over time: 21% vs 14.5%vs 12.5% vs 5.9% (P < 0.001), especially during phase 3b. Although no change was found in treatment abandonment during phase 2, abandonment significantly reduced in phase 3a (20.3%) as compared with phase 1 (30.2%), with the proportion of children abandoning, due to financial constraints, declining. Abandonment further reduced in phase 3b vs phase 3a (11.1% vs 20.3%) (P = 0.001). After adjusting for other variables, abandonment was found to decrease independently in phase3 (a, b) as compared with phase 1 (P1 = 0.017, P2 = 0.007). Conclusions:Although helpful, financial assistance unaccompanied by counselling may be insufficient to bring a radical change. Hence, parental counselling, emphasising on treatment adherence and the aftermaths of treatment abandonment, is indispensable for preventing abandonment in semi-literate populations.