TABLE 1.
Baseline Characteristics of the Study Population
| Characteristics | Norepinephrine Plus Dobutamine Group (n = 34) | Epinephrine Group (n = 33) |
|---|---|---|
| Age (yr) | 7.5 (3–10) | 5 (1.5–10) |
| Gender (boys), n (%) | 20 (58.8) | 18 (54.5) |
| Pediatric Index of Mortality-3 predicted mortality (%) | 25 (16.3–35.5) | 27.2 (18.8–40.5) |
| Underlying medical condition, n (%) | 17 (50) | 20 (60.6) |
| Neurologic | 5 (29.4) | 10 (50) |
| Hematological malignancies | 1 (5.8) | 2 (10) |
| Respiratory | 3 (17.6) | 5 (25) |
| Immunodeficiency | 0 | 1 (5) |
| Renal disorder | 5 (29.4) | 1 (5) |
| Connective tissue disorders | 3 (17.6) | 0 |
| Liver disorder | 0 | 1 (5) |
| Focus of infection, n (%) | ||
| Respiratory | 9 (26.4) | 16 (48.4) |
| Gastrointestinal | 8 (23.5) | 5 (15.1) |
| CNS | 10 (29.4) | 6 (18.1) |
| Skin and soft tissue | 3 (8.8) | 1 (3) |
| Others | 4 (11.7) | 5 (15.1) |
| Hemodynamic variables | ||
| Heart rate (beats/min) | 155 (136–172) | 156 (136–168) |
| Mean blood pressure (mm Hg) | 62 (58–73) | 61.5 (57–70.5) |
| Hypotensive shock (blood pressure < fifth centile), n (%) | 11 (32.3) | 13 (39.3) |
| Capillary refill time (s) | 4 (3–4) | 3 (3–4) |
| Laboratory parameters | ||
| Hemoglobin (g/dL) | 9.1 (7.4–11.1) | 8.9 (7.9–11.5) |
| Total leukocyte count (/mm3) | 9,505 (6,900–16,450) | 12,610 (5,980–22,470) |
| Platelet count (×105/mm3) | 1.3 (0.8–2.4) | 1.9 (1–4.3) |
| Bicarbonate (mEq/L) | 18.4 (15.4–21.7) | 17.2 (13.6–21.1) |
| Base deficit (mEq/L) | 7.7 (2.2–10.4) | 9 (4.5–13.6) |
| Lactate (mmol/L) | 2.6 (2.4–3.6) | 3.2 (2.5–4.5) |
| Amount of fluids given before starting vasoactive agent (mL/kg) | 40 (20–40) | 40 (20–40) |
| Median IVC distensibility index | 22.6 (10.5–36.5) (n = 13) | 23 (20.2–30.9) (n = 13) |
| Median IVC collapsibility index | 43.4 (26–53.6) (n = 6) | 37.5 (26.6–52) (n = 3) |
IVC = inferior vena cava.
Data are presented as median (interquartile range), unless otherwise specified.