The Approach to the Child with Hypotension
摘要
The identification, recognition and treatment of hypotension in infants and children are fundamental components of paediatric medicine, and though seemingly simple, the measurement and assessment of blood pressure and hypotension in paediatric patients present several unique challenges. This chapter aims to explain the various components of blood pressure measurements and integrate the nuances with an appropriate history and targeted physical exam, aiming to better delineate causation, clinical significance and differential diagnosis and improve recognition of confounding explanations for hypotension in children. The initial treatment of hypotension aims to correct any deficits that exist in perfusion or oxygenation to vital organs. This chapter also discusses several different strategies to maintain and optimize cardiac output as dictated by the clinical scenario with a physiological underpinning rooted in the fundamental concepts outlined above.