A case of a shocking rhythm

Abstract

We report a case of a 40-day-old patient admitted to the neonatal and paediatric intensive care unit for severe cardiovascular failure with an initial sinus rhythm. The first diagnostic hypothesis was septic shock, thus antibiotics, fluid resuscitation, inotropic drugs and ventilatory supportwere immediately started. After achieving haemodynamic stability, a new cardiovascular failure occurred with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), making diagnosis of cardiogenic shock. Cardiogenic shock should be considered, although it is a rare cause of shock in children. SVT may be a cause of cardiogenic shock, therefore it should be diagnosed whit the aid of a cardiorespiratory monitor, which represents a useful device in the differential diagnosis of the various types of shock.

Keywords

• newborn
• supraventricular tachycardia
• cardiogenic shock