Hemodynamic effects of i.v. milrinone lactate in pediatric patients with septic shock. A prospective, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled, interventional study.

STUDY
OBJECTIVE: To determine the hemodynamic effects of i.v. milrinone lactate in pediatric patients with nonhyperdynamic septic shock. Specifically we tested the hypothesis that i.v. milrinone would increase cardiac index by 20% and decrease systemic vascular resistance index by 20% during a 2-h study period.
DESIGN: Prospective, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled, descriptive, interventional study.
SETTING: Twenty-six-bed pediatric ICU at Children's Medical Center of Dallas and a 10-bed pediatric trauma ICU at Parkland Memorial Hospital. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: Twelve patients (age range, 9 months to 15 years) with nonhyperdynamic septic shock despite administration of catecholamines (cardiac index [CI] normal [3.5 to 5.5 L/min/m2] or low [< or =3.5 L/min/m2]; systemic vascular resistance index [SVRI] normal [800 to 1,600 dyne.s.cm5/m2] or high [> or =1,600 dyne.s.cm5/m2]; and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure [PCWP] normal [8 to 12 mm Hg] or higher) with clinical signs of poor perfusion were enrolled, randomized, and treated in a blinded fashion with i.v. milrinone and placebo.
INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized into two groups. Group A received a loading dose of 50 micrograms/kg i.v. of milrinone followed by a continuous i.v. infusion of 0.5 microgram/kg/min while group B received an equal volume loading dose and continuous infusion of placebo. After 2 h, group A received an equal-volume loading dose followed by a continuous infusion of placebo while the milrinone infusion continued, while group B received a 50 micrograms/kg loading dose of milrinone followed by a continuous infusion of 0.5 microgram/kg/min while the placebo infusion remained. Outcome variable were measured at baseline, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, and 4.0 h. Echocardiographic measurements were taken at baseline, hour 2, and hour 4 in all subjects. No changes in other inotropic or mechanical ventilatory support were allowed during the study period.
MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Milrinone significantly increased CI, stroke volume index (SVI), right and left ventricular stroke work index, and oxygen delivery (Do2) at 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 h postloading dose (p < 0.05) while significantly decreasing SVRI, pulmonary vascular resistance index, and mean pulmonary arterial pressure at 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 h postloading dose (p < 0.05). No clinically or statistically significant changes in heart rate, systolic and diastolic BP, mean systemic arterial pressure, or PCWP were observed during milrinone treatment compared to placebo.
CONCLUSIONS: CI, SVI, and Do2 significantly increased while SVRI significantly decreased when compared to placebo after i.v. administration of milrinone to pediatric patients with nonhyperdynamic septic shock. No adverse effects were observed. In a volume-resuscitated pediatric patient with septic shock, when administered in addition to catecholamines, milrinone will improve cardiovascular function.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes