Table 1.
Patients' characteristics and adrenal function on admission according to intubation and etomidate use
| Reference values | Intubated with etomidate (n = 23) | Intubated without etomidate (n = 8) | Not intubated (n = 29) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 3.7 (0.9–9.4) | 4.0 (0.8–7.6) | 4.9 (2.3–10.4) | |
| Sex (M/F) | 19/4a, b | 2/6 | 16/13 | |
| Septic shock (%) | 23 (100)b | 8 (100) | 20 (69) | |
| Vasopressor score | 40 (15–60)b | 35 (6–105)b | 5 (0–18)a, c | |
| PRISM score | 25 (20–33)b | 26 (18–35)b | 17 (9–20)c | |
| Survival (%) | 16 (70)b | 7 (88) | 29 (100)c | |
| IL-6 x 103 (pg/ml) | < 0.01 | 135.0 (40.0–853.1)b | 63.2 (15.1–70.5) | 8.3 (1.1–80.9)c |
| Lactate (mmol/l) | < 2.0 | 4.7 (3.1–6.9)b | 4.0 (2.6–6.8) | 3.0 (2.2–4.6)c |
| Glucose (mmol/l) | 2.6–11.0 | 5.7 (4.1–7.7)b | 7.8 (5.5–14.2) | 7.7 (6.7–8.7)c |
| Cortisol (nmol/l) | 200–800* | 620 (502–782)a, b | 1173 (818–1263) | 1089 (971–1346) |
| ACTH (pmol/l) | < 11* | 146.1 (79.3–222.0)a, b | 53.7 (10.8–116.0) | 14.0 (5.6–64.2) |
| Cortisol/ACTH (nM/pM) | 4.7 (2.3–8.4)a, b | 20.7 (3.5–112.7) | 89.4 (21.0–205.2) | |
| 11-deoxycortisol (nmol/l) | < 50* | 181 (137–248)a, b | 49 (36–69) | 62 (44–88) |
| Cortisol/11-deoxycortisol | 3.2 (2.1–4.3)a, b | 21.6 (16.7–25.8) | 19.2 (13.6–24.5) |
All values are expressed as median (25th to 75th percentiles); * Non-stressed reference values (for cortisol morning values at 8:00 AM); a Significantly different from children who were intubated without etomidate, p < 0.05; b Significantly different from patients who were not intubated, p < 0.05; c Significantly different from patients who were intubated, independently of etomidate use, p < 0.05