Photo provided by the interviewee
It is suspected that the 3-year-old boy suffered from refractory septic shock due to intestinal infection caused by picking fruits without washing and eating directly. At the same time, he was also seriously affected by multiple organ functions such as respiration, blood coagulation, and kidneys. His condition was dangerous and at stake. The PICU medical team of Shanghai Children’s Hospital has helped the child through the crisis through anti-infection, mechanical ventilation, blood purification, membrane lung (ECMO) and other “gamble-style” rescues. After 37 days of hospitalization, he has recovered and been discharged.
Xin Xin (pseudonym) came to the outpatient service of Shanghai Children’s Hospital because of abdominal pain and persistent high fever over 39 degrees for two consecutive days. B-ultrasound examination revealed edema of the gallbladder wall. Abdominal effusion, for further diagnosis and treatment, was admitted to the hospital. After being admitted to the hospital, Xinxin had repeated high fever, and the pain in the right upper quadrant continued to worsen. The child was irritable and crying. Although he received active treatment, his condition was not relieved, and he began to experience shortness of breath, blood pressure and blood oxygen saturation. At this time, Xinxin was in critical condition, so he decided to quickly transfer him to the PICU for treatment.
Zhang Yucai, director of the PICU, led the medical team to conduct a rapid and comprehensive analysis of Xinxin’s various indicators. He believed that Xinxin had septic shock due to intestinal sepsis, and had already occurred when he was transferred to the PICU. Life-threatening conditions such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis-related coagulopathy, acute kidney injury, severe intra-abdominal leakage, increased intra-abdominal pressure, and severe metabolic acidosis. Circulation, respiration, gastrointestinal, blood coagulation, kidney, so many organ failures surged within 24 hours of admission… Xinxin’s blood pressure still fluctuated like a roller coaster, and his heart function was also in jeopardy. On the front line, if there is no more advanced life support treatment, it may be difficult for Xinxin’s parents waiting outside the PICU to see the hope of lively and lovely Xinxin again. Membrane lung, only membrane lung! The ECMO team assembled quickly without hesitation. The ECMO nursing team prefilled the pipeline, and the two groups of catheter-inducing doctors punctured the catheter at the same time. It only took 15 minutes, which symbolized that the newly-born VA-ECMO (cardiopulmonary combined support ECMO) was successfully established and started to operate.
During Xinxin’s treatment, the PICU team has always worked hand in hand with the children’s parents, analyzed the condition of the child, and provided warm companionship and encouragement. When she learned that her child was going to ECMO, the collapsed mother Xinxin couldn’t help but burst into tears. Director Cui Yun gave her a hug and comforted her by saying, “We have to trust him and work hard with him. , give him some time.”
Thanks to the timely organ function support and effective anti-infective treatment by the PICU team, Xinxin’s condition was quickly brought under control. Five days later, Xinxin’s various indicators quickly recovered to Normal level, 12 days after admission, Xinxin tasted delicious food again, and was successfully transferred out of PICU for follow-up treatment 15 days after admission.
What caused Xinxin to have such a serious intestinal infection? After questioning the medical history, the medical staff learned that Xinxin’s family went to the suburbs the day before, and Xinxin may have eaten freshly picked and unwashed fruit without washing his hands. Here, parents are also reminded to be cautious about eating and drinking, and to ensure the cleanliness of food as much as possible to avoid causing intestinal infectious diseases.
Correspondent Liu Xuanyan Xinmin Evening News reporter Zuo Yan