🧒 Pediatric Sepsis/Septic Shock Fluid Resuscitation (SSC)
UseUse in children with sepsis or septic shock to set the first-hour fluid strategy and the timing of vasoactive…
SourceWeiss SL, et al. Surviving Sepsis Campaign International Guidelines for the Management of Septic Sh…
This-shift next steps
After scoring: open the scene pack, peer scores, and the matching pathway. Local reference — no HIS write.
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Methodology · worked example, guidelines & full notes
Each bolus is followed by reassessment (heart rate, perfusion, hepatomegaly, rales, work of breathing) and stopped immediately at any sign of fluid overload.
When to use
Use in children with sepsis or septic shock to set the first-hour fluid strategy and the timing of vasoactive drugs and antibiotics.
How it works
With ICU or no ICU + hypotension: boluses allowed (specific doses without a source have been hidden); no ICU + no hypotension: no bolus, start maintenance fluids. Epinephrine or norepinephrine first-line; antibiotics as soon as possible in shock.
Key points
- Each bolus is followed by reassessment (heart rate, perfusion, hepatomegaly, rales, work of breathing) and stopped immediately at any sign of fluid overload.
- Where intensive care is unavailable and there is no hypotension, the guideline strongly recommends against bolus fluids, favoring maintenance fluids.
- Epinephrine or norepinephrine — not dopamine — is the first-line vasoactive agent for fluid-refractory shock, titrated to perfusion and blood pressure.
References
Worked calculation
The values below come from this tool's own example placeholders and are computed server-side with the formula shown on this page, so the arithmetic can be checked quickly. It demonstrates how to substitute values only — it is not clinical advice and not a real case.
| Intensive care available (locally or by transfer) | ICU available |
|---|---|
| Hypotension present | Hypotension present |
| Weight (to calculate bolus volume, optional) | 15 kg |
→ResuscitationBolus allowed
- Resuscitation strategy：ICU available: fluid boluses allowed (specific doses without a source have been hidden); reassess hemodynamics after each bolus, titrate to cardiac-output measures, stop at any sign of fluid overload (hepatomegaly/rales/increased work of breathing)
- Bolus volume (for 15 kg)：Unsourced specific doses are hidden; follow current guidelines and local protocols.
- Vasoactive drugs：Fluid-refractory shock: epinephrine OR norepinephrine first-line (do not use dopamine first-line); titrate to perfusion/blood pressure
| Intensive care available (locally or by transfer) | No ICU |
|---|---|
| Hypotension present | No hypotension |
| Weight (to calculate bolus volume, optional) | 15 kg |
→ResuscitationNo bolus · maintenance fluids
- Resuscitation strategy：No ICU + no hypotension: do not give fluid boluses (strong recommendation), start maintenance fluids directly; monitor closely, manage as above if hypotension/shock develops
- Vasoactive drugs：Fluid-refractory shock: epinephrine OR norepinephrine first-line (do not use dopamine first-line); titrate to perfusion/blood pressure
- Antibiotic timing：Septic shock: empiric broad-spectrum antibiotics as soon as possible; sepsis without shock: after evaluation (sooner if shock develops)
Verification & sources · governance
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
- What are the limits and cautions when using Pediatric Sepsis/Septic Shock Fluid Resuscitation (SSC)?
- For licensed clinicians and clinical researchers. Interpret results with history, investigations and local protocols; not a diagnosis or prescription, and not a substitute for multidisciplinary decision-making or local guidelines.
- Does Pediatric Sepsis/Septic Shock Fluid Resuscitation (SSC) upload patient data? Where is it calculated?
- Calculation runs locally in the browser; inputs and results are not uploaded. For licensed clinicians only; interpret with history, investigations and local protocols — not a diagnosis or prescription.
- How is Pediatric Sepsis/Septic Shock Fluid Resuscitation (SSC) calculated in practice? Can you show a worked example?
- Inputs: Intensive care available (locally or by transfer) ICU available, Hypotension present Hypotension present, Weight (to calculate bolus volume, optional) 15 kg → Result: Resuscitation Bolus allowed（Resuscitation strategy: ICU available: fluid boluses allowed (specific doses without a source have been hidden); reassess hemodynamics after each bolus, titrate to cardiac-output measures, stop at any sign of fluid overload (hepatomegaly/rales/increased work of breathing), Bolus volume (for 15 kg): Unsourced specific doses are hidden; follow current guidelines and local protocols., Vasoactive drugs: Fluid-refractory shock: epinephrine OR norepinephrine first-line (do not use dopamine first-line); titrate to perfusion/blood pressure） Inputs: Intensive care available (locally or by transfer) No ICU, Hypotension present No hypotension, Weight (to calculate bolus volume, optional) 15 kg → Result: Resuscitation No bolus · maintenance fluids（Resuscitation strategy: No ICU + no hypotension: do not give fluid boluses (strong recommendation), start maintenance fluids directly; monitor closely, manage as above if hypotension/shock develops, Vasoactive drugs: Fluid-refractory shock: epinephrine OR norepinephrine first-line (do not use dopamine first-line); titrate to perfusion/blood pressure, Antibiotic timing: Septic shock: empiric broad-spectrum antibiotics as soon as possible; sepsis without shock: after evaluation (sooner if shock develops)）