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Updated: Jul 15, 2026

A Modified Sonographic Algorithm for Image Acquisition in Life-Threatening Emergencies in the Critically Ill Newborn
11:27

A Modified Sonographic Algorithm for Image Acquisition in Life-Threatening Emergencies in the Critically Ill Newborn

Published on: April 7, 2023

Cardiac Dysfunction on Point-of-Care Ultrasound Is Associated With Subsequent Use of Vasoactive Medication in

Robert M Hoffmann1,2, Nathan Georgette1,2, Matthew A Eisenberg1,2

  • 1Division of Emergency Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital.

Pediatric Emergency Care
|July 14, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Reduced cardiac function in children with suspected infection, identified by point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), strongly predicts the need for vasoactive medications and indicates greater illness severity.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
  • Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS)
  • Cardiology

Background:

  • Systemic infections in children can lead to critical illness.
  • Assessing cardiac function is crucial for managing critically ill children.
  • Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) offers rapid bedside cardiac assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if reduced ventricular function on POCUS in children with suspected systemic infection correlates with subsequent need for intravenous (IV) vasoactive medications.
  • To explore the association between POCUS-identified reduced cardiac function and other clinical outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients (1 month to 21 years) with suspected systemic infection.
  • Cardiac POCUS performed by the clinical team before vasoactive therapy.
  • Global ventricular function categorized as reduced or not reduced by expert sonographer review.
  • Multivariable logistic regression analyzed associations with clinical outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Reduced cardiac function on POCUS was found in 8.2% of 329 patients.
  • Reduced function was significantly associated with higher odds of IV vasoactive use (aOR=7.9).
  • Reduced function also correlated with ICU admission and fewer ICU/hospital-free days.

Conclusions:

  • Reduced ventricular function identified by cardiac POCUS in children with suspected systemic infection is a strong predictor of subsequent IV vasoactive therapy.
  • POCUS findings of reduced cardiac function indicate greater illness severity and may aid in early risk stratification.
  • Excellent interrater agreement supports the reliability of POCUS for assessing ventricular function in this population.
Abstract

Keywords:
cardiac ultrasoundinfectioninotropessepsisvasopressors

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