MULTI ORGAN FAILURE IN SEVERE MENINGOCCOCAL SEPSIS

von Rosenstiel IA, de Neef M, Ramsodit PA, van de Sande R

Department of Pediatric Intensive Care, Emma Children’s Hospital, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

 

Objective: The aim of this study is to describe the prevalence and degree of multi organ failure (MOF) in meningococcal septic shock (MSS).

Methods: Retrospective chart analysis of 105 patients with MSS, divided in a group with (MSM n=41) and without meningitis (FMS n=64) admitted to the PICU between Jan. 1993-Dec. 2000. Patients demographics, clinical data, severity of disease (PRISM, GMSPS), MOF and outcome data were recorded. MOF was assessed by the use of the SOFA-score (pediatric version).

Results: Overall MOF occurred in 73.4 % of the total cohort with: 2 organ system failure (OSF) in 21.8 %, 3 OSF in 22.8 % and ³ 4 OSF in 28.8 % of the patients. The overall mortality in MSS with MOF was 20.3 % compared to 3.7 % in patients without MOF. Leading OSF in decreasing sequence was cardiovascular failure (92.4 %), respiratory failure (74.7 %), failure of coagulation (58.1 %), neurological failure (19.8 %) and renal failure (8.8 %). Between the MSM and FMS groups there was a significant difference in GMSPS (p=<0.001) and PRISM (p=0.006) score (GMSPS: 7.0 vs. 9.8, PRISM: 17.4 vs. 24.4). The total number of organs that failed per patient was higher in the FMS-group (P=0.048). In the FMS-group the prevalence of MOF was 75% (48/64) versus 63.4% (26/41) in the MSM-group showing no significant difference.

Conclusion: In MSS there is a high prevalence of MOF which severity is strongly correlated with mortality. The total number of organs failed per patient is significant higher in the FMS-group.

 
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