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Minerva Anestesiologica 2011 October;77(10):986-92

Copyright © 2011 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Differences between adult and pediatric septic shock

Aneja R. K., Carcillo J. A. ✉

Departments of Critical Care Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Sepsis is a significant public health problem that affects children and adults alike. Despite some similarities in the approach to pediatric and adult septic shock, there are key differences as it relates to pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and therapeutic approaches. In this review article, we discuss these differences under 4 headings: a) Developmental differences in the hemodynamic response, b) Activated Protein C, c) Thrombocytopenia associated multiple organ failure and d) Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH).